Top 10 Happy Sounding Songs That Are Actually Depressing

[Music] these songs might sound like sunshine lollipops and rainbows but their lyrics could not be more devastating [Music] welcome to watchmojo.com and today we're counting down our picks for the top ten happy sounding songs that are actually depressing [Applause] [Music] for this list we've narrowed our picks down to songs whose instrumentals sound rather catchy and upbeat but whose lyrics are quite dark or sad by comparison number 10 Pumped Up Kicks Foster the People it's got a catchy bassline and it's falsetto chorus would make anyone think it's a pretty cheerful tune [Music] which is not surprising given that frontman Mark Foster worked as a commercial jingle writer before finding success with his band [Music] but pumped up kicks' lyrics are actually quite sinister describing the thoughts of a disturbed young man who has fantasies about murdering people the dark lyrical content sure didn't faze listeners and the track spent eight consecutive weeks at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2011 [Music] number nine LDN Lily Allen [Music] our number nine entry is a Scott influenced song featuring a rhythm derived from a Colombian Caribbean dance styles [Music] so it's not unreasonable to think it'll be light summary and only about good times right wrong [Music] on this track MS Allen takes us through the more impoverished areas of London talking about how things might seem lovely but in reality they're very much the opposite [Music] the video for the song shows an idealistic version of the city but contrasts it with a much greater more depressing depiction [Music] yeah okay I suspect you later then [Music] number eight some nights fun at times this song sounds an awful lot like simon and garfunkel cecilia which is a happy but depressing song in its own right more power pop than afrobeat some nights layered harmonies and frontman nate ruess is soaring freddie mercury esque vocals would make you think it's happier than it actually is in truth it's a song about a young man being far away from his home and his family and having an existential crisis as a result [Music] [Music] number seven Electric Avenue Eddie grant [Music] this song's upbeat feel made it one of the most popular songs of 1983 in the United States it fuses early 80s new wave with reggae influences in a way that makes you want to dance and feel good however the lyrics referenced the Brixton riots in London that took place a year before the track came out in its native UK and the title refers to a Market Street in the Brixton area the lyrics also lament poverty more generally expressing frustration about food shortages and a low-income existence [Music] number six Rock the Kasbah the clash [Music] this slice of dancing new wave is one of the most radio-friendly tracks the clash ever made inspired by the ban on western music in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution it's a myth like tale of a king banning music and that band being clouded by the people under the buoyant rhythm its lyrics are overtly political calling out the hypocrisy of Middle Eastern leaders enjoying the benefits of oil revenue and Western luxuries while trying to keep the population poor and ignorant [Music] number five you can call me al Paul Simon a lead single from Simon's seminal album Graceland this song talks about going through a midlife crisis all the while sung over a joyous Afrobeat inspired instrumental walk down despite the happy backing track the singer-songwriters lyrics describe a man who seems to even question his existence at times inspired by an incident at a party when French composer Pierre Boulle a accidentally referred to Simon as Al the track still made the top 30 in the United States and was a much bigger hit in the rest of the world [Music] number four Detroit Rock City kiss [Music] compared to what this song is actually about the course can be incredibly misleading on first listen [Music] [Music] despite the anthemic nature of the track it tells the tale of a real-life kiss fan that died while driving to one of the Bands concerts [Music] top man Paul Stanley describes how the fan drinks and smokes before getting in his car and drives at lightning speed on his way to the show where he hits a truck and died [Applause] [Music] released as a single the song did not perform well outside of Detroit but eventually became a fan favorite [Music] number three jump van Halen the synth riff that defines this entire track is so fist-pumping ly happy yet the chorus hides a dark secret [Music] according to frontman David Lee Roth the song's lyrics were inspired by a new story he saw on TV that showed a man about to jump off a building and commit suicide [Music] the peppy synth line was probably what helped us tune become the band only number one single to be released during their career [Music] number two semi charmed life Third Eye Blind in a textbook case of dark lyrics over a happy instrumental track this 3eb song opens with one of the most joyous sounding guitar riffs you will ever hear [Music] what frontman Steven Jenkins sings over it though is a detailed account of getting high on crystal meth and the sexcapades that ensues [Music] as dark and weird as the lyrical content may be it sure didn't phase listeners who helped semi charmed life reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997 on the belly face down on the mattress before we unveil our top pick here are some honorable mentions [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] number one 99 luftballons Nina [Music] at our number one spot we have one of the most successful non-english songs in US history [Music] [Applause] [Music] and with it's typically 80s keyboard riff and upbeat tempo it's not hard to see why [Music] however the lyrics tell a frightening tale of balloons being mistaken for missiles by an early warning system resulting in all-out nuclear war we did not see that one coming its initial release in German it has been re-recorded covered and parodied many times firmly lodging it forever in our collective memory do you agree with our list which song do you think is the most depressing yet happy sounding of all time with the new top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com [Music] thanks for watching be sure to check out these other great watch mojo videos

Channel: WatchMojo.com

Views: 9,654,417

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Keywords: music, songs, happy, depressing, sad, nena, 99 luftballons, third eye blind, van halen, kiss, paul simon, the clash, eddy grant, fun, lily allen, foster the people, rock, alternative rock, hard rock, heavy metal, pop, folk, punk, soul, rhythm and blues, Song (Composition Type), Top 40 (Radio Format)

Id: IwzEbFZjj0M

Length: 14min 12sec (852 seconds)

Published: Sat Oct 25 2014