this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2025
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The two I can think of are:

  • It's Not Unusual
  • Escape (The Piña Colada Song)
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[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Bullet by Hollywood undead.

Singing about killing himself in a super upbeat song, even has kids at the end going "I wish that I could fly, way up in the sky", the part where he was singing about jumping off a skyscraper.

[–] vortexal@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

For happy/energetic sounding but sad anime-style touhou songs there is also Stack, Stack, and Stack

[–] charade_you_are@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

I always thought Free Four by Pink Floyd fit that category well.

[–] JTskulk@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago
[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 2 points 1 month ago

Fast Car

Pumped Up Kicks

Flowers on the Wall

[–] FanciestPants@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Hey Jealousy by The Gin Blossoms comes to mind.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago (3 children)

The Motown hit Keep Me Hanging On by the Supremes is the classic example of this.

It was even recognized for its pathos and turned into a sadder slow version by psychedelic band Vanilla Fudge

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[–] roscoe@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago

Brown Sugar

A lot of that album was pretty subversive but hidden behind upbeat rock. The olds didn't realize what the kids were listening to because they just heard pop rock.

[–] remon@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago

Rise Against - Tragedy + Time

[–] Zweiblum@feddit.org 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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.

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[–] zlatiah@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

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

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

[–] sanguinepar@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] Jomega@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Charlie's Inferno is about an innocent man being tortured in Hell. It's a 50's style tune reminiscent of Mr Sandman.

[–] jobbies@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] chiruyuki@ani.social 2 points 1 month ago

Ruru's suicide stream ? Would that one count ? Damn it's like all the songs flew out of my brain the moment I read this question ahahahh

[–] absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 month ago
[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Living La Vida Loca and Macerena are both pretty dark.

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[–] gabbath@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago
[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Boys of Summer is about toxic obsession.

[–] Appleseuss@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Little Foot Big Foot - Childish Gambino

[–] Prime@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 month ago

Renai circulation, from the monogatari series. It's super cute but hidden inside is a cry for help.

[–] EponymousBosh@awful.systems 1 points 1 month ago

Like half of Fall Out Boy's discography. "Hum Hallelujah" gets a special mention for literally being about a suicide attempt. Also "Dance In the Dark" by Lady Gaga, "Stomach Vs Heart" and "Humor of the Situation" by Barenaked Ladies ("Angry People" as well), "Slip Slidin Away" by Paul Simon, "When I Come Around" by Green Day...suffice it to say, I enjoy this trope a lot :P

[–] cdf12345@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 month ago
[–] knife@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

on melancholy hill - gorillaz

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago
[–] geogaddi@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago
[–] happysplinter@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

A lot of Elliott Smith songs.

[–] magusfungus@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes

Mew - She came Home for Christmas

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