Whitney sings it slow, but not down. It’s very “uplifting”, major key, dramatic upwards key change near the end, triumphant high note at the climax, blah blah blah. Certainly not a candidate for a “downer”.
I went and listened to songs listed on some website, a “these ones are the gloomiest and darkest you’ll ever hear” type of list.
In almost all of them, the bands (and/or the writers) seem to give in to an irresistible urge to move it along and lighten it up.
I seriously wonder if pop music’s denial that real sadness - without a “silver lining”, without any “up side” to it - is a thing, is part of why there are so many people getting and staying depressed. Of course it would be ridiculous to claim pop music by itself was ruining people’s lives, just maybe it’s a clue to a bigger picture where true grief and true sadness are just about universally treated as unacceptable.
Sublime’s “Wrong Way” is not a happy song, but it’s an upbeat song.
I guess the same could be said for “Date Rape” but the title kinda gives it away.
“Seasons in the Sun”, most famously covered by Terry Jacks. It’s about a man who is dying. In each verse, he says goodbye to a friend or a relative.
Don Mclean refuses to explain the meaning of “American Pie”, but it is generally believed to be about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.
Some people think “And as the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown” is a reference to Elvis Presley. Some people think “I met a girl who sang the blues” is a reference to Janice Joplin. Some people think “when the flames climbed high into the night” is a reference to the Rolling Stones concert at Altamont.
“Tainted Love” originally recorded by Gloria Jones, covered by Soft Cell, has a tune far more cheerful than the lyrics.
“Hey Ya!” by Outkast.
Really peppy song but it’s about being stuck in a loveless relationship.
“She Works hard for the Money” - Donna Summer
“Gina” - The Bar-Kays
“Beach Party Vietnam” by the Dead Milkmen
"Hooray, They’re Hanging Father"
A joyous song about various members of the world’s most dysfunctional family getting their due.
Performed by The Joy Buzzards, don’t know who the original artist was.
About “Seasons in the Sun” - the original was much better. The English lyrics by Rod McKuen are sentimental mush with few redeeming qualities.
A fairly literal translation of Jacques Brel’s original lyrics
Even though the literal translation isn’t pretty, it’s still a better song, with something real to say.
I like Dave Barry’s description of the song – “It’s about a guy who’s dying, but not fast enough.”
Honestly, though – do you think the Terry Jacks version sounds cheerful?
To me it sounds as if they recorded it, pressed it into vinyl, then drilled a new alignment hole for it an inch off the center and played it on a kid’s record player.
[quote=“Serenata67, post:40, topic:812217”]
Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel. This woman is freaking cheating on you… and you’re happy she’s back?
I was led to believe that he was referring to Saint Cecilia, and thus the muse - and so this is actually a song about songwriting. Am I wrong?
j
…and I’ll go for Subterranean Homesick Blues. Jolly little number.
j
If so, I stand corrected on Cecilia.
But I maintain that You Can Call Me Al and Escape both fit the post criteria.
It’s hard to pin down exactly what to call the tone of that version, isn’t it? 
The dying man singing basically “Goodbye all you lying cheating bastards”, in a sweet sounding song with sweet sounding words - as the original was - at least has something going for it. Whether it’s your kind of song or not is a different question, but you can’t say it has no personality.
[quote=“Treppenwitz, post:51, topic:812217”]
I think the fact it’s so easy to mistake, would have to show either bad songwriting or intentional ambiguity. I’d vote for the second possibility.
Written almost 100 years ago: Ready for the River
The blues.
57 posts and nobody has mentioned “Brick” by the Ben Folds Five? If you aren’t familiar with the song, it’s about a guy taking his girlfriend to have an abortion the day after Christmas.
I’d place “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” on this list as well.
What? Nobody’s linked to the relevant TV Tropes page yet (Lyrical Dissonance)?
But who would say that song sounds cheerful?