Secretly sad songs...
I hope we've come up with a theme for Wednesday which will provide a challenge and give you something to get your teeth into. It's 'sad songs that actually sound happy and happy songs that sound a wee bit sad'. I saw Raul Malo in concert a few weeks ago and was struck by how many of his sad songs sounded cheery and upbeat. Dance The Night Away is a good example. There are other songs that fit the bill like Here Comes My Baby or even Road To Nowhere.
Sad sounding songs that are secretly happy could be more of a challenge, but as I say this is a theme designed to make us all get the thinking caps on...
Comment number 1.
At 15th Feb 2011, JuliefromEdinburgh wrote:I posted about this recently. The idea came about through listening to the song 'Iceberg' by 10CC...a really jaunty jolly tune with really quite dark lyrics.
Having been really into punk and new wave in my formative years, it took a wee while to rediscover how very clever and inventive 10CC were.
'Iceberg' - 10CC
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Feb 2011, norriemaclean wrote:Secretly Happy:
Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Gome
Secretly Sad:
Bruce Springsteen - Bobby Jean
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Comment number 3.
At 15th Feb 2011, Scotch Get wrote:WEDNESDAY
Sounds upbeat, but a sad subject. Something for all of us to look forward to. If we live that long...
'Old Folks Boogie' - Little Feat
The guys do their best to make this song sound sad, but they're enjoying themselves too much. And it is very funny!
'It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long'
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Comment number 4.
At 15th Feb 2011, Scotch Get wrote:DC,
So, your roof is leaking?
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Comment number 5.
At 15th Feb 2011, Madmacfraeclydebank wrote:Meat Purveyors ~ Hey Little
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Comment number 6.
At 15th Feb 2011, henri hannah wrote:The Happening - The Supremes
amazingly happy pop tune, the funk brothers at their best, and you'd have thought 'The Happening' was a happy happening -but a really unhappy dark lyric.Suicidal, almost.
#1 total agreement, Julie. I first saw 10CC in the Apollo in 1974 when Sheet Music came out - totally blown away by the musicianship (Eric Stewart must be our greatest unsung guitarist heros) and hilarious Jewish humour.Sheet Music remains one of the best albums ever made imho.
By the way, I've been petitioning to have something from Plastic Beach played for the last year - my album of 2010 - and today put the case once more. Pleased to hear Melancholy Hill, but yet again, no acknowledgment
regardez youse
henri
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Comment number 7.
At 15th Feb 2011, dale_kelvin wrote:'you can go your own way'....fleetwood mac (is back,were nivver away, hooray)
comes under the category............sounds happy but is quite sad really
cheers frae the dale.
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Comment number 8.
At 15th Feb 2011, dale_kelvin wrote:another 'appy little ditty but sooooooo sad.
'you were right'...............badly drawn boy
is worth it just to hear him 'turn madonna down'
cheers frae the dale
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Comment number 9.
At 15th Feb 2011, mary-doll wrote:Some miserable sounding songs are actually quite reassuring and life-affirming. They don't necessarily translate into happy. Happy is overrated. Reassuring suits me better.
Carole King You've Got A Friend
REM Everybody Hurts
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Comment number 10.
At 15th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:A Brighter Beat - Malcolm Middleton
Now you've gone and left me and there's nothing here
Thairis air a' Ghleann - Runrig - achingly sad melody, uplifting lyrics
I looked behind me
Without rancour without pity
To where my footprints were scattered
On their journey through the dust
From the beginning to an end of time
And to the bright everlasting days
Beyond the valley
We will praise
The love and the grace
That gave us our existence
So lowly beneath a sun
As it poured out its light
On alien stars
You came down
To a barren wilderness
And you raised the shadow from the valley
Gratitude and shame
The measure in each hand
We will proclaim your name in voice
On Gods way
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Comment number 11.
At 15th Feb 2011, Rex Titter wrote:Happy ... yet sad?
'Beautiful World' ... Devo
Disco beat disguises apocolyptic thoughts
Sad ... yet happy?
'Because We're Dead' ... The Slow Club
Anything but!
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Comment number 12.
At 15th Feb 2011, norriemaclean wrote:Anyway Bryan you would be sad too if Tricia Yearwood chucked you.
Which reminds me
Trishia Yearwood - believe me baby I lied
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Comment number 13.
At 15th Feb 2011, DC wrote:#4 nope
Jeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzz.........
A boat is a vessel which may or may not have a "roof" (as you put it). If it doesn't, there's no roof to leak so you are wrong. If there is a facility to go below decks, there has to be a means of getting there. Now that means that rain can collect in that area and thence overflow into the cockpit drains. Now such drains do not flow directly into the sea because that could mean that, in turn, the sea could flow into the boat (ie the boat will leak). To avoid this, the drains flow into the bilge where the water can be collected for removal by pump in a controlled manner.
And so you have been telt
Again
DC
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Comment number 14.
At 15th Feb 2011, DC wrote:Wednesday:
New Faces - The Rolling Stones
A sad story about someone who is intensely worried that his girl fancies somebody else. It is sung in a jaunty manner with no fewer than three accoustic guitars, each expertly played.
Get It On Bryan.
DC
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Comment number 15.
At 15th Feb 2011, DC wrote:But you're more likely to play
When I'm dead and gone - McGuinness Flint
but I'll leave it up to you
(as though I have a choice...)
:-)
DC
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Comment number 16.
At 15th Feb 2011, Rex Titter wrote:#5
a dead cert ... If ever there was a competition to find the winner of the most certain certainty in certainville!
... that'll be the kiss of death then old son ...
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Comment number 17.
At 15th Feb 2011, henri hannah wrote:Bryan, if you're doing 'Here Comes My Baby - The Tremeloes' there is a a recent remaster of the original hideous mix in which the bass level is totally out of kilter with the rest of the recording.
It's worth a listen as it actually improves on an absolute pop classic,
regardez youse
henri
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Comment number 18.
At 15th Feb 2011, joe-k-brown wrote:Happy to second Believe me baby I lied (#12)
Slow me down - Aberfeldy
The one that got away - Allison Moorer
Livin' on a prayer - Bon Jovi
Substitute - the Who
Dreaming of you - the Coral
Misguided angel - Cowboy Junkies
Little bird - Emmylou Harris
Little does she know - Kursaal Flyers
Relator - Yorn/Johansonn
Since you been gone - Rainbow
Stay - Sugarland
Joe
Linlithgow
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Comment number 19.
At 15th Feb 2011, Willie B wrote:Sad songs that sound happy ?How about Country Joe and the Fish's infamous antiwar anthem "Feel like I'm fixing to Die,Rag".In the Woodstock film there was even a little"tempo ball" over the words inviting us to sing along to the happy refrain"Hooray, we're all going to die!"I saw them at Isle of Wight in 1970 when they preceded the song with notorious(1970, remember)"Fish Cheer"where Joe would spell out the word fish beginning with of course "Give me an F"and so on but the audience had other ideas and soon it became another "F"word!Now, Joni Mitchell..love her but "Big Yellow Taxi"drives me nuts it annoys me so much.There she is yodeling away about "You dont know what you got till it's gone"(the planet ,that is)and even ending with a giggle!I love the Mamas and the Papas cover of Rodgers and Hart's paradoxically titled "Glad to be Unhappy"No explanation needed here.Could we have Country Joe please Bryan?..All together now,"Give me an F"!!Cheers,Willie Bartke
Tempo Ball...mmm,now where have I heard that before! ;0)
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Comment number 20.
At 16th Feb 2011, Willie B wrote:#1,#6.10CC are coming to Glasgow on 5th March,Julie and Henri.I was at the Apollo ,probably Greens then too ,Henri.Brilliant band that they were I think they suffered a bit (imho)from not having much stage charisma and no front man really.One of UK's best groups ever just the same.Will definitely be checking out that March gig.Funny, Henri, I was going to suggest the Supremes"The Happening"too! Cheers(but no fish)!Willie Bartke
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Comment number 21.
At 16th Feb 2011, paolopablo wrote:Sounds Happy but sad
There's a ghost in my house / R Dean Taylor
Harvest for the world / Isley Brothers
Love Lies Bleeding / Elton John
Dancing The Night Away / Motors
Your Favourite Shade of Blue / Adventures
In Your Letter / Reo Speedwagon
Sounds sad but happy
After all these years / Journey
Celebration of a life together
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Comment number 22.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:#18 seconds for Relator and # 19 for Country Joe.
He Didn't Have to Be - Brad Paisley (thanks to SG)
never fails to raise a tear, it's probably the happiest song I know
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Comment number 23.
At 16th Feb 2011, mikeshropshire wrote:Happy lyrics to a sad tune:
Wonder if we might get a Chris Wood track tonight Bryan, now that some more of the world has heard of him with his double-success in the recent 'Folk Awards' (one for Best Folk Singer Of The Year).
'Summerfield Avenue' is a collection of happy childhood memories, deliverd in Chris Woods typical understated and refective style.
Got tickets to see the man himself in Shrewsbury next month... can't wait!
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Comment number 24.
At 16th Feb 2011, DC wrote:Changed my mind
Free Four - Pink Floyd.
A short, very cheery little song about old age and impending death. Just the thing to get folk's feet tapping.
In fact, I like this song so much, I have it for my ringtone.......
Have a happy day
:-)
DC
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Comment number 25.
At 16th Feb 2011, Thing-Fish wrote:#19 No fishin' chance!
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Comment number 26.
At 16th Feb 2011, Willie B wrote:Am I the only one who will be having a "Fish cheer"if they play Scissor Sisters "Comfortably Numb"?:0)Willi Bartke
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Comment number 27.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:- Frankie Miller
and we won't be having that one either.
#26 DC will join you, with a lobster or two to chuck at the radio
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Comment number 28.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues - David Lindley
a tragic little tale to a jolly tune
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Comment number 29.
At 16th Feb 2011, DC wrote:#26 / #27 the radio will be used for bait
DC
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Comment number 30.
At 16th Feb 2011, Adam_from_Rio wrote:Previously on the Blog....
EC in the North Sea - forget Yosemite Sam, should read Gattuso.
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Comment number 31.
At 16th Feb 2011, Adam_from_Rio wrote:"Dont Worry, Be Happy" - a happy tune but it makes me so depressed whenever I hear it. I wonder why?
Here's a little song I wrote
It might make you wanna boak
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Comment number 32.
At 16th Feb 2011, JuliefromEdinburgh wrote:How many of last night's songs were actually by artists who have been depicted in cartoon form?
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Comment number 33.
At 16th Feb 2011, JuliefromEdinburgh wrote:'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do' - Neil Sedaka. Think he did a slow version but the original was quite jaunty.
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Comment number 34.
At 16th Feb 2011, Adam_from_Rio wrote:#33
Surprised you didnt ask for the DC version, Julie.
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Comment number 35.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:Sally Don't You Grieve - Woody Guthrie
Grown So Ugly - Captain Beefheart
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Comment number 36.
At 16th Feb 2011, Adam_from_Rio wrote:#34
This DC, of course
Though, Oor DC has a sleeveless cardigan very much like that one.
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Comment number 37.
At 16th Feb 2011, Senga wrote:This one is a shoo-in.
Still Gonna Die - Old Dogs
A bunch of grown men having a ball pointing out the inevitability of death.
You can laugh or you can cry. But you're still gonna die!
;o)
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Comment number 38.
At 16th Feb 2011, Senga wrote:#36 - Adam - You owe me a lunch. I just lost mine.
;o)
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Comment number 39.
At 16th Feb 2011, DC wrote:#36 You mean the one you left last time you were here? Ah, I wondered who owned that 70s item
DC
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Comment number 40.
At 16th Feb 2011, paolopablo wrote:#31 if you're happy and you know it clap your hands has the same depressing effect on me.
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Comment number 41.
At 16th Feb 2011, Senga wrote:Stamp your feet.
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Comment number 42.
At 16th Feb 2011, Thing-Fish wrote:TEAR STAINED LETTER from HAND OF KINDNESS by RICHARD THOMPSON
THE ANGELS TOOK MY RACEHORSE AWAY from HENRY THE HUMAN FLY by RICHARD THOMPSON
I’M GLAD from SAFE AS MILK by CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND HIS MAGIC BAND
DON’T SING NO MORE SAD SONGS from ODD DITTIES by KEVIN AYERS
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Comment number 43.
At 16th Feb 2011, norriemaclean wrote:#30 Maybe EC is Rank Bajin?
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Comment number 44.
At 16th Feb 2011, Glen Miller wrote:#42
Here's a version of a great song
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Comment number 45.
At 16th Feb 2011, henri hannah wrote:Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee
jaunty little number, but heard in a particular way, quite sad
regardez youse
henri
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Comment number 46.
At 16th Feb 2011, Senga wrote:#42 - #44 - I didn't know that was one of his! Support for Tear Stained Letter
:o)
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Comment number 47.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:Dancing by Myself - Generation X
Crossroads - Cream
Born Under a Bad Sign - Albert King
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Comment number 48.
At 16th Feb 2011, DC wrote:#43 ah, you've met him?
DC
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Comment number 49.
At 16th Feb 2011, Adam_from_Rio wrote:Previously on the Blog.....
#128 - Nothing new there Gaie. On Wild Men night we had Ozzy Ozbourne (Crazy Train) in the first hour and Black Sabbath (Paranoid) in the second.
/programmes/b00xnkrc
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Comment number 50.
At 16th Feb 2011, Adam_from_Rio wrote:#39
In which case send it waast by to Senga.
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Comment number 51.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:#49 Och well, maybe they'll make up for it tomorrow when we have blues night. That's what they mean by musicians who sing about their own genre? You don't hear people singing 'I got the folk song/heavy metal/trance/indie/techno/punk/dubstep for you' do you?
Sorted.
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Comment number 52.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:and in any case
We're All Going to Die - Malcolm Middleton
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Comment number 53.
At 16th Feb 2011, DC wrote:#50 too late, I chucked it out a couple of years ago because it was beginning tae ferment
DC
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Comment number 54.
At 16th Feb 2011, Thing-Fish wrote:#46 Someone else does it?
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Comment number 55.
At 16th Feb 2011, henri hannah wrote:Almost forgot - another Holland - Dozier - Holland classic:
Band of Gold - Freda Payne
comes complete with the completely common sense advice not to consummate your marriage - much less expensive
regardez youse
henri
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Comment number 56.
At 16th Feb 2011, Gaz B wrote:Squeeze - up the junction
James - sit down
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Comment number 57.
At 16th Feb 2011, paolopablo wrote:A very sad tale of a ordinary bloke going about his daily business who falls in love, gets mixed up in a love triangle and is slain by his love rival. All sung in a most jolly manner.
Ernie / benny Hill
Or even better
Bryan / blogetariat.
Has noone recorded it yet?
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Comment number 58.
At 16th Feb 2011, Adam_from_Rio wrote:Glen, further to your comparison of Bruce's "Working on a Dream" and Teddy Thomson's "In My Arms"...
Whatabout Ron Sexsmith's "Believe It When I See It" and Bruce's "Girls in their Summer Clothes"?
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Comment number 59.
At 16th Feb 2011, Glen Miller wrote:I believe it's being reissued as a covers album under the title Play Jar Eyes
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Comment number 60.
At 16th Feb 2011, norriemaclean wrote:You are worrying about Bruce copying others songs at a time like this - inflation up, unemployment up, our hero mariner manning the pumps and we don't even know if Handley has had a second date?!!!
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Comment number 61.
At 16th Feb 2011, Glen Miller wrote:He's seeing her again - she deliberately left her pension book
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Comment number 62.
At 16th Feb 2011, gaie wrote:Strange. There were several sad tune/happy lyrics suggestions here on the blog that were ignored in spite of requests for same.
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Comment number 63.
At 16th Feb 2011, DC wrote:So nothing new then
Bilges cleared btw
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