Mmmm Bop
this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2025
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Radiohead - No Surprises
Komm Süsser Tod from The End Of Evangelion.
I didn't see wake up boo by the boo radleys in here.
It's about suicide
I think Enola Gay by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark is a perfect example.
It sounds upbeat and fun but it's about the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Some of the lyrics are incredibly powerful and I still get chills when I hear it.
Ring around the rosey
And
Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear
I always found The Scientist by Coldplay to be a pretty upbeat song about the death of a loved one. And Viva la Vida upbeat, and all about the fall from grace.
It's a little more than kind of depressing but Bullet by Hollywood Undead comes to mind.
I wish that I could fly!
Sad lyrics and fast tempo :
Kazim Koyuncu - Narino
Bagpipe song with the lyrics "I lost my sanity", "I sat down and cried", and "I wish someone knew my pain" especially. Can find longer versions on youtube.
French Gal - Poupèe de cire
Lyrics are about feeling more like a doll than human. TRIGGER WARNING FOR FRENCH LANGUAGE
Kazim Koyuncu - Fadime
Kemençe song with lyrics along same lines. Takes a bit before beat changes.
Sad lyrics and happy music/tone :
Danny Gonzales - Downhill
Song argues with a young adult on how rest of their life will suck.
Istanbul12 Orkestrasi - Bile Bile
Song about being unable to accept rejection.
Ayase/YAOSABI - Into the night
I am 70% sure "upbeat sounding song about suicide" is a genre in Japanese music.
Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank by Barenaked Ladies is about the real stalking of a Canadian celebrity by a mentally unstable man who thought she was in love with him.
Fast Car
Pumped Up Kicks
Flowers on the Wall
Ye, Renew the Plaintiff by Of Montreal
May I introduce you to The Smiths. Rusholme Ruffians and There is a Light That Never Goes Out are great examples, but really it describes most of their catalogue.
The entirety of hissing fauna are you the destroyer by of Montreal
That's like Paul Simon's entire schtick. Alongside downbeat songs with uplifting lyrics.
Little Foot Big Foot - Childish Gambino
Someone else mentioned this too, but if anyone is into Japanese songs: I think there are probably more songs (especially Vocaloid ones) with extremely messed-up (and convoluted) lyrics than those that do not... I don't think most of them are well-known outside anime/vocaloid circles though. Trying to think about the more "cute and depressing" ones I could find:
NSFL
- Iyowa - Kyu-Kurarin: song is extremely cute. Supposedly implies breakup and suicide
- MikitoP - Shoujo Rei: involves two girls and one of them killed herself
- Mili - Nine Point Eight: one of my all time favorited; the title is somewhat self-explanatory
These are just what I could think of for now... A lot of songs with mentions of depression, suicide, etc... Other forms of messup, Telecaster B Boy is about being trans & not fitting in society I believe (song is a banger)
And this one is not "depressing" as-is, but Senbonzakura (that super famous Japan-esque song sung by Hatsune Miku that everyone has heard of) is about Imperial/WWII Japan sooo... take that as you will
Lots of great choices here - I'll throw in Moon Over Marin by Dead Kennedys.
Sounds like a bop, but is actually about the destruction of the environment.
On the documentary 'shifty' they claimed that 'the land of make believe' by bucks fizz was written about Margaret Thatcher/Thatcherism. Really puts a depressing spin on it.
I always find it funny how upbeat the Cambodia version by Pulsedriver is. PTSD and dropping bombs on cambodia. What a topic for a dance tune.
Checked out Apoptygma Beezerk's cover?
Charlie's Inferno is about an innocent man being tortured in Hell. It's a 50's style tune reminiscent of Mr Sandman.
I know that there are probably a lot that I'm forgetting but here are the ones I remember:
No more crying by Sound Holic (lyrics)
Border of my life by Sound Holic (lyrics)
THE END by A-One
IT IS SO by A-One
U.N. Owen Was Her? by A-One
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