There are a lot of songs out there with upbeat melodies but also boast depressing or bittersweet lyrics. But, what about the other way around? This is a little rarer, but here are three songs that fit the bill. From The Cure to The Beach Boys, these songs are tender, expressive, and often about love. However, their melodies possess a hint of melancholy.
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“Lovesong” — The Cure
“Lovesong” was released in 1989 on The Cure’s eighth album, Disintegration. It was a huge success in the United States and is the band’s only Top 10 chart hit in the US as well. It has a bit of a melancholy melody that evokes a certain bittersweetness. However, the lyrics are tender, loving, and generally positive.
“Whenever I’m alone with you / You make me feel like I am home again / Whenever I’m alone with you / You make me feel like I am whole again.“
“Do You Realize??” — The Flaming Lips
Released in 2002 on The Flaming Lips’ album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, “Do You Realize??” initially sounds like it would be a bittersweet song. However, its melody hides an ethereal positivity in the lyrics.
It starts with the line, “Do you realize / That everyone you know will someday die?” That, on first listen, is kind of a dark sentiment. However, it’s followed immediately by “And instead of saying all of your goodbyes / Let them know you realize that life goes fast / It’s hard to make the good things last / You realize the sun doesn’t go down / It’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning round.“
“God Only Knows” — The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys released “God Only Knows” in 1966, and it remains a huge hit from their legendary album Pet Sounds. Similar to “Lovesong”, it’s a bittersweet track, while the lyrics are a little more on the positive side. Or, at least, they’re tender and loving in the same way.
“God only knows what I’d be without you / If you should ever leave me / Though life would still go on believe me / The world could show nothing to me / So what good would living do me.“
Featured Image by Fin Costello/Redferns
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