Songs That Sound Happy, But Are Actually Super Dark 2

[@artvjon]

Wanna see part 3 in the future? Drop a like & comment what songs you think deserve a spot on the list! I’ve already got plenty in mind 👀

[@corbinm5237]

ARTV Final Warning by Skylar Grey

[@FabulousKilljoy]

"O Valencia!" by the Decemberists

[@BauhausBarbie]

Choke - iDKHOW

[@FabulousKilljoy]

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" by the Beatles

[@GoodFunVideos]

Well there's Blow by Kesha. Maybe I'm the only one but I kinda just thought that the song was about partying but nah, just a song about a terrorist attack in a nightclub

[@purpleheadedhedgehog3821]

I can think of 12 songs that sound happy but are actually dark it's called....... After laughter

[@fictionalfears]

purple headed hedgehog Oath to that

[@JStorkey6]

Paramore have like four actually happy songs among every single one of their upbeat sounding ones 😂

[@purpleheadedhedgehog3821]

@@JStorkey6 my god it's a miracle

[@madeleinep.828]

The entire album has a pretty colorful sound, though 26 and Tell Me How actually do sound sad.

[@SigfriedBigcheeseVanMemelordII]

@Joe Where The Lines Overlap, Looking Up, that's literally all I can think of

[@julie3507]

honestly every song on after laughter fits this criteria

[@mirrorofnight]

And 26/Tell Me How, because they sound as sad as they are.

[@itsruarc]

Hard Times jumped in my head at the video title.

[@gracemagisana5503]

Chandelier by Sia is another good example of this. The chorus and the beat make it sound like a party song but the lyrics are actually pretty depressing.

[@mar6488]

Idk, it sounds so haunting, I would never think it's a "happy sounding song"

[@davearmstrong1722]

That one two, three drink refrain. It’s definitely very bittersweet

[@causechaos9415]

It always deeply bothered me to hear this played at parties.

[@QJ89]

Sia's voice is a huge deal-breaker for this one. She sounds halfway between a Rihanna rip-off and a sow in labour. Still better than Alive, at least...

[@282toto]

🎵Hey how you doing? well I'm doing just fine I lied I'm dying inside 🎵

[@VictoriaSobocki]

Iconic Vine TM

[@iDKVibe]

I'm lowkey expecting some iDKHOW or Brobecks Edit: I was correct

[@Draaaaaaaaa]

I love how Choke sounds so upbeat but the lyrics are just... cHOKE yourself to sLeep

[@iDKVibe]

@@Draaaaaaaaa and then there's bleed magic..

[@vermillion6805]

yeah same plus twenty one pilots

[@versatilelord8893]

Bullet is such a great song to be honest

[@shaggymatt92jacobs70]

My legs are dangling off the edge...

[@katherinejacko830]

•Anything by TØP •The whole After Laughter album

[@Paul_Walker]

Tøp? Ughhh

[@katherinejacko830]

@@Paul_Walker .... huh?

[@Paul_Walker]

@@katherinejacko830 eww

[@katherinejacko830]

@@Paul_Walker I’m so confused

[@Paul_Walker]

@@katherinejacko830 tøp's r basically male Billie Ellish... So ewww

[@yourkingreturns]

I wish that I could fly, Way up in the sky, Like a bird so high, Oh I might just try 🎶

[@pottedplant2303]

BULLETTTTT

[@reply4732]

The messed up part was that it was one of their daughters singing that part

[@twoleafclover2368]

@@reply4732 wait, SERIOUSLY!?

[@reply4732]

@@twoleafclover2368 yup. Listen to the end of the song

[@davidnissim589]

@@reply4732 I think they said in an interview that it was the producer's daughter or something, but still

[@anikamusic6382]

Honorable mention: viva la vida by Coldplay

[@SonofSethoitae]

I dunno, it always sounded pretty down to me

[@ahumanbeing8495]

@@SonofSethoitae that's what i was thinking

[@omniomelet1472]

I love viva la vida

[@ahumanbeing8495]

@@omniomelet1472 me too! It's so good

[@isaacalexander9461]

Fake Happy by Paramore is my favorite song that’s dark but sounds happy/upbeat

[@emierehema5593]

Fake happy is one of my favourite paramore songs 💕

[@worstusernameintheworld9871]

Fake Happy is also one of my favorite songs from After Laughter. Its so upbeat but it makes me cry 😅😂

[@xLextonx]

Mine is pumped up kicks

[@sacredtime950]

Ironically Bullet helped me through my darkest time where I really wanted to die...

[@tarotfiend]

I feel like Riptide by Vance Joy is kind of a bittersweet song. It has a very upbeat melody with its ukulele, but talks about being scared of relationships and it talks about running away from your problems. It’s a very pretty song and I know it by heart.

[@iliketrains3495]

Eh you can kind of tell from his voice it ain't happy

[@josueescarcega322]

What about songs that sound sad but are actually very happy?

[@artvjon]

That would be tough but I’ll see what I can do

[@iliketrains3495]

Everlong?

[@andysee6996]

Uh, the vocal version of Christmas Time is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas?

[@artificialgummies7416]

I actually never knew the Outkast one...huh. I never paid attention to those lyrics. Little talks is a wonderful sad happy song. OMAM have a ton of dark happy songs, like Sloom, which is about murder told backwards, and Black Water, which is an anxiety attack. Bullet is a fitting number 1. It’s pretty much begging to be number 1.

[@amyb5]

“today”- smashing pumpkins

[@Cohaki]

*all the other kids with the pumped up kicks*

[@irenecamargomacedo6626]

Better run, better run, faster than my bullet

[@gaminganimators7000]

@@irenecamargomacedo6626 all the other kids with the pumped up kicks

[@underscoreophelia]

So every song from After Laughter? Great video, as always!

[@MyoticTesseract]

Shit not even After Laughter, how about like half of all Paramore songs? :P

[@emiliojaureguiplatt8463]

I really like what you do, keep up the good work!

[@jorgemartinezlamigueiro6607]

Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life it's so happy but dark too

[@sammylane21]

I love that song.

[@WITNESSREVENGE]

Bullet by Hollywood Undead ❤️

[@disneyfan8719]

Fake Happy is very relatable to me as well since I myself have been feeling either depressed or scared of my future for 3 years now, especially after a bad breakup I had, and sometimes I do try to hide it with a smile or even cynical or mocking humor (since it's one of my favorite types of humor)

[@theabacross1581]

Can you do a list of Graduation songs? I'm gonna be graduating from High School this June, and It would be really cool to have a list and a playlist of songs that would really fit for moving on from something and growing older. Your Graduation by Modern Baseball would obviously be number 1.

[@zaksharman2903]

Gratuate by Third Eye Blind. Good Riddence Time Of Your Life by Green Day

[@nickk6747]

I’m graduating 8th grade

[@aperson.7585]

@@zaksharman2903 I was gonna say time of your life but you beat me to it

[@no_peaches_8085]

idk... maybe forever and always by bfmv?

[@maxshuval9561]

Don’t Come Down by The Maine definitely sounds like a graduation song. Either that or a fun song.

[@rhys5597]

Sex Yeah - MARINA (Marina and the Diamonds) Is a perfect example.

[@lizvalenz2128]

Most of her songs sound upbeat but then you listen to the lyrics 😂

[@moonlightriverra6019]

@@lizvalenz2128 lmao true

[@antitheticaldreamgirl]

she's the queen of sad songs in a major key

[@ss-ml6hp]

i love that song

[@azuldanae2557]

Living dead!

[@FabulousKilljoy]

"Ode to Sleep" and "Migraine" by TØP

[@FabulousKilljoy]

LexiGuiney Naw, "Fall Away" sounds pretty dark

[@allison7003]

Guns for Hands is about suicide🤷

[@FabulousKilljoy]

Ace The Cat Well, it's more anti-self-harm more than anything, as well as anti-suicide. But yeah, I totally forgot and now I feel bad for leaving that out 😅

[@TheSwanqueenAndTheEldricth]

Fabulous Killjoy what about guns for hands

[@FabulousKilljoy]

Twenty_Øne_Piløts panicking_at_the_disco! Oof I try not to sing that part too much because I know how annoying it can get, especially since it gets stuck in my head all the time 😂

[@lexizheng2472]

I absolutely love “Little Talks”, and I don’t know why. I knew from the start how dark the words were, but both the music and lyrics pulled me in.

[@alexigra2235]

What about Basket Case?

[@hankcyrus9776]

Isn't that more sarcastic?

[@alexigra2235]

@@hankcyrus9776 Yes, but it was based on actual issues Billy had.

[@nobodys99]

Today I learned what Hey Ya was about. I am so surprised.

[@ineedsomespace3038]

So glad to see Of Monsters and Men in this list, my fave band! Still waiting for their new album...

[@billyallen4228]

Alligator’s pretty sick though

[@johnindigo5477]

Semi charmed life - third eye blind That song is about a drug addicted couple but has the do do do 90 pop Rock sound And Maniac from the film flash dance, which seems like a 80 synth dance song but actually is about a serial killer.

[@thatalbumreviewerguy2169]

What about songs that are happy, but sound sad?

[@3xtan327]

truce by tøp

[@Draber2b]

Oh yes please Up

[@jdawg9722]

Definitely flusha OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU

[@catherineluk2414]

i remember hearing lollipop by mika for the first time in like 3rd grade, bopping along, a few years later hearing it again and going oh damn it’s not happy

[@Ashfall98]

Fake happy is one my anthems for me personally. It was really nice to find something to completely connect to.

[@aymannnn8315]

70% of pop punk music is bright with darker lyrics, also tøp, I suppose.

[@rhysdavid6655]

"This one's contradiction because of how happy it sounds but the lyrics are so down"

[@UntitledNameGangIsTouringAmmos]

Wow it makes me so happy to see an Andy Hull song on this list!! Doesn't get enough love

[@davidellis5141]

There is a very ominous vibe to Brian Wilson's masterpiece " Good Vibrations " A subtle intensity. All time classic .

[@introtomadness6940]

I remember several years ago seeing Hollywood Undead in concert. When they played bullet they got out the acoustic guitars, and played it like a singalong with the crowd. Best part of the show.

[@juliehankinson4891]

One song to consider if it is not on one of these videos: Death Cab for Cutie--I will follow you into the dark. A song with melodic acoustic guitar that glosses over the fact that it's about death.

[@madisonb5395]

A great version of Little Talks that does a good job of capturing a little more of the depth of the lyrics is Alex and Sierra's rendition. Not fully a sad cover, but just two voices and some scaled-back instruments really do help highlight the lyrics.

[@Simon-xt5tv]

THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH ARTV!!!

[@Draaaaaaaaa]

Honestly Choke by IDKHBTFM fits, the beat sounds like a typical upbeat pop song, but the lyrics are literally go die. Im not a psycho I swear.

[@coyoteartist]

We use to get a local channel that would play a program made up of animated shorts, often college projects. Listening to the song Little Talks seems almost a soundtrack for some of the more heartbreaking ones. Particularly one that you find out in the end is an old couple trying to care for each other while suffering from radiation sickness.

[@ashleywass4]

When I saw the title I was thinking pretty much anything Dallon Weekes has ever written. Thank you for including The Brobecks. I put this on the last couple videos so I'm sorry if it is getting annoying, but this is actually the perfect video to mention it. Violent Things turns 10 on May 18 and I know you did a four song review on twitter before, but would you consider doing a ten year anniversary review of the whole album?

[@artvjon]

Possibly!

[@artvjon]

Possibly!

[@ashleywass4]

@@artvjon YES! That would be so awesome.

[@ThExXxSiLeNt25]

Should've put choke by idkhow

[@stormytempleton4372]

It makes me so happy to see the Brobecks on this!

[@pludie4465]

holy shit better than me was a surprise but such a good one!

[@Chris24_]

“You know like it” by AlunaGeorge is an interesting one. When listening to the original, the song is a happy song about breaking loose and living, while the remix by DJ Snake where the lyrics are the EXACT same can be interpreted much much darker, almost sarcastic and pessimistic 🤔

[@HaunaMyKiki]

"27th Avenue Shuffle"- Foxboro Hot tubs Such a fun danceable little tune... but then read the lyrics and, JESUS MOTHER FUCKING CHRIST! 😨😨

[@sammylane21]

Classic rockband Eagles, have HOTEL CALIFORNIA. it is a relaxing sounding song until you try to find out what the lyrics mean. Or how about Semi Sonics song Closing Time.

[@madeleinep.828]

Nice to see The Brobecks get some recognition!

[@Simon-xt5tv]

PART 3! hit that by the offspring!!

[@clairemarquis6632]

Love this idea! I feel like a few songs by bleachers would also work, especially something like “I wanna get better”, which was about his sisters suicide. Another one I recently realized was sad is “Brian wilson” by the barenaked ladies, which was about Steven pages depression.

[@hi-pm8il]

jack (from bleachers)'s sister had a disease and that disease made her passed away at 13 when jack was in high school. and jack always had like a haunting memory of her and the imagination of 13 years old her in his life. correct me if i'm wrong.

[@chrisheath687]

What about "Lola" by the kinks lmao you gotta check the lyrics out on that one, I promise you won't regret it

[@davidellis5141]

Little trannie action !

[@xandermclaughlin3039]

Free Four / Pink Floyd

[@erikkoski6129]

" ill see you when i fall asleep" i knew it was about death to begin with with that line

[@Gabby-kc8cy]

Hey Ya was played at my parents wedding oh boi

[@jooree7696]

Cherofobia by Martina Attili Or everything by Caparezza Italy is full of this music

[@jamilhneini1002]

Fall away - twenty one pilots or choke - idk how but they found me

[@stybchkngfdxgh]

Or literally any TOP song 😂 Not Today directly states it too. Also I love Choke, what a jam

[@mai-ya-hee]

Plus, bleed magic?

[@jamilhneini1002]

@@mai-ya-hee yes

[@clairemarquis6632]

Love this idea! I feel like a few songs by bleachers would also work, especially something like “I wanna get better”, which was about his sisters suicide. Another one I recently realized was sad is Brian wilson by the barenaked ladies, which was about Steven pages depression.

[@QJ89]

I thought about 'Green Light' by Lorde: an angry break-up song on top of a catchy Indie pop beat. That may be a bit shallow a pick, tho. Same for 'Jump' by Van Halen. Also, 'Hey Ya' may be an obvious choice, but only after you actually read up on the lyrics. The beauty of tonal dichotomy!

[@mirrorofnight]

Everything on AL (but 26 and Tell Me How because they sound as sad as they are) definitely fit this criteria.

[@mehya3266]

Ah now I can't listen to Little Talks without crying anymore And don't forget one line in it- "I'll see you when I fall asleep" 😭

[@vermillion6805]

Meh Ya wtf I’ve always said that song was stupid and it’s sucked but now I kinda like it now that I know the meaning

[@thismayaswellhappen]

A few more songs that I haven't seen too many people mention, and I feel, fit the bill: Gorillaz - "Do Ya Thang" (about the desire to commit suicide and failing relationships), "Don't Get Lost in Heaven" (drug addiction) There are honestly so many more Gorillaz songs that I think could potentially qualify, but these two stand out for me. Lana Del Rey - "Butterflies Pt. 2" (not an official release but it's about someone who's in a relationship with a man that either targets/murders young girls and/or is a pedophile but still stays with him) The Offspring - "Come Out and Play" Bobby Darin - "Mack the Knife" Nena - "99 Luftballoons" RHCP - "Aeroplane" The Weeknd - "Can't Feel My Face" (genuinely surprised that some people didn't know this was about drugs) Lily Allen - "LDN", "Everything's Just Wonderful" Like the Gorillaz, so many of her songs can honestly qualify. M.I.A - Paper planes Also I'm going to toss in "Komm, susser Tod" from Neon Genesis Evangelion because it really is a great happy song to get depressed to (and, you know, cause the end of all human kind).

[@catherinegomez2055]

you should consider Passion pits songs "Little secrets" "I'll be alright" "Little secrets" is about his struggle with bipolar syndrome "I'll be alright" is i think about his relationship

[@lucabratz4452]

I would say Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) by Styx from The Grand Illusion album. With the sound of a carnival merry-go-round and bright organ tones, but the themes of a young man who hates their life and a voice with the bright nature akin to Mr Rodgers telling them that they are the only ones who can save them from their own torment and to get up, back on their feet, is a huge contrast to the sound.

[@LisaKokx]

I love this series! I pay a lot of attention to lyrics, so when I hear songs like these that came out before I knew English I am stunned.

[@Mharriscreations]

Here's a couple of songs that popped into my mind. The Rakes Song -by- The Decemberists: a straight up murder ballad about a father killing all his children with a really upbeat sound. Goodbye Goodbye -by- Tegan and Sara: a poppy breakup song about never knowing the person you were with. He Said He Had A Story -by- The Dear Hunter: A guy telling a story about mistreating a whore during wartime with a really upbeat sound with horns etc. Cruisin' The Strip -by- Calibretto 13: Mocking young people who do anything to fit in. Telling them its all worthless. If You Don't, Don't -by- Jimmy Eat World: A song about failed relationships and being stuck in ambiguity and not being able to connect. It's super happy sounding but the lyrics are pretty heartbreaking. Noises -by- Mike Mains And The Branches: All about just wanting to give up and die, but hoping to fight your way out of it.

[@thatoneperson7133]

camisado by Panic! like just the first line hurts me to think about "the iv in your hospital bed , this was no accident this was a therapeutic chain of events" you kind of just brush it off then i remembered that ryan had been the one who wrote it, and his father had died from alcohol abuse he was in a hospital with an iv and it wasn't an accident he used the alcohol as a way of therapy plus if you just look at the lyrics of that song "this is the scent of dead skin on a linoleum floor, this is the scent of quarantine wings in a hospital" and don't forget "the camera caught you causing a commotion on the gurney again" that one honestly sounds like someone having a seizure or something

[@corbinm5237]

Creature Lives by Mastodon sounds pretty happy,but it feels like a ballad that’s metaphorically about someone being outcasted and moving into isolation. Literally speaking,it could even be about Shrek haha. Relative to the rest of the music I listen to,Final Warning by Skylar Grey seems like a very happy song. It has a good melody and it’s pretty upbeat. But the lyrics are about a woman being cheated on and then killing her partner.

[@basicbeachesnotwanted7203]

For me, a part of the song Bullet that you wouldn't get it you didn't get it you didn't hear the rest of the song, I wish that I could fly! Way up in the sky! Like a bird so high, oh I might just try, oh I might just try.

[@rommelivan9134]

I think that "No Surprises" and "True Love Waits" (live version) by Radiohead are some other good example of this. I like that feeling that gives you a song that sounds calm or happy but with sad lyrics.

[@nitenite8698]

I really love these videos!! If you do ever make a 3rd one, you should check out Christmas Kids by Roar! I think the song would really fit into these types of videos!

[@sonaldj182]

Very happy hey ya and fake happy made the list

[@kenzij]

So my store plays Michael Bublé's song "It's a Beautiful Day". This morning I actually listened to the words, and oh my god it's horrible. He's freaking celebrating that his relationship is over and he wasn't the one who had to do the hard part. Im pretty sure there's also something about feeling freed too.

[@JamesKovacic]

Walk The Moon - Anna Sun Radiohead - No Surprises Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life M.I.A. - Paper Planes R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People The Beatles - Maxwell’s Silver Hammer Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

[@spoon2818]

I'm so happy to see The Brobecks in this video!!!

[@Acadiaspartan]

I knew HU was gonna be in the video the second I saw the title lol

[@markflaherty7362]

Another song like this is Waiting for the End

[@emierehema5593]

Yes💔😭

[@yalda6937]

But it doesn’t sound happy at all especially when Chester starts to sing his parts.

[@yungelmo1829]

i love your hair in this video

[@jeremysommer147]

Pillow from Half an Orange and Blonde Maze sounds so upbeat but is seriously dark. It tackles depression, anxiety, loneliness, apathy

[@andysee6996]

I watched the videos in the order of 3-1-2 and I realized you got through all those videos without mentioning 99 Red Balloons by Nena. It's an upbeat New Wave German song about nuclear war.

[@ForbiddenFruit73]

My interpretation of Little Talks was that the man in the song is already dead and is trying to console the grieving woman even though she can't see or hear him.

[@GrimmFLawless]

Grouplove even have an album called Never Trust A Happy Song. “Itchin’ On A Photograph” the defining song.

[@Andrea-jn6ww]

The majority of songs by Mika are pretty dark too but most people don't realize it because of the upbeat melodies... You have to pay more attention to the lyrics and read between the lines.

[@xVenova]

are you literally in my house or something? i was JUST listening to paramore this morning

[@RastaSaiyaman]

It's funny when I did a thread on a forum about this topic, somebody mentioned Tears for fears' "Mad world" which made me go "No way, that song isn't just sad lyric wise but the music which accompanies it also SOUNDS sad with the minor chords and the desperate way Curt Smith sings it." at which the poster clarified that he based his opinion on the music video which shows Roland Orzabal dancing to the beat of the song. Talk Talk's "Such a shame" is another good example of a song which people mistake as being happy because of its video. Lead singer Mark Hollis (RIP) greets us by exclaiming "Hello, how are you?" is seen smiling and laughing throughout the duration of the video but even before I mastered the English language I could already tell from the music itself that "Such a shame" is anything BUT a happy song.

[@samg1803]

So Long and Thanks For All The Fish, by APC is the most utterly sarcastic dark song masqueraded by the sound that I've ever heard.

[@mophead_xu]

>be me >unable to be a patron nor buy any merch to support jon >watch all ads without skipping >remembers the current state of copyright claims fest and demonetisation of youtube >ANGERY

[@phoenixraine2002]

Not sure if anyones ever suggested it..but the Cure's "Just Like Heaven"

[@maxpalmer3212]

I like the song fake happy it was my first paramore song

[@pongodongo645]

nice

[@rubenmunoz6031]

I view life like bullet at time but im to strong to do it ironicly. The song reminds of tragic&comedy the lyrics/sound remind me of a comedy yet a covered in darkness but theres a sweetness to it especially at the end with the kid saying "i wish that i could fly way up in the sky like a bird so high" those are word of a dreamer it mades me smile in a strange way

[@stranget92]

"Can't Hardly Wait" by The Replacements "Diamond Smiles" by The Boomtown Rats "Jimmie Jones" by The Vapors "Sloop John B" by Beach Boys

[@omnik5850]

Today by Smashing Pumpkins

[@bethanyhanna9464]

Elvis Costello ~ Veronica is perfect for a list like this. It's one of my favorites, even with its dark, yet touching message.

[@shaylamyers9734]

I would highly recommend How I Waited by Andy Hull. It is undoubtedly the most depressing song I have ever heard .

[@probablyjoeyy]

The Mountain Goats and Tallahassee is one of my favorite pieces of work I have ever heard.

[@calbarto7803]

Man fake happy gets me tearing up

[@nathanjones8263]

Part 3 coming?

[@syazanigagaa]

the drums - best friend

[@isaacalexander9461]

Jon, would you ever bring back the hoodie to your store? When I was finally going to get it a while back it was gone