What are some other upbeat songs actually sing about being/going/moving "up"?
November 6, 2010 2:54 PM

What upbeat songs have the word "up" in the title, or as a main focus of the lyrics?

I've recently turned the corner from a bummer of a breakup, and have discovered that two peppy songs with the word "up" in the title have really helped lift my spirits over the last few weeks. More specifically, these include "Move on Up" by Curtis Mayfield and "Up Up Up" by Givers. Are there any other upbeat, catchy or inspiring songs that have the word "up" in the title or as a main focus of the lyrics?

(I've reviewed some similar questions about inspiring songs, but am trying to get pretty specific as far as lyrics/titles go)
posted by mostly vowels to Media & Arts (53 answers total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
The Only Way Is Up
posted by shinybaum at 2:56 PM on November 6, 2010


Arcade Fire - Wake up
posted by nitsuj at 2:58 PM on November 6, 2010


(might not be as up beat as you're looking for, inretrospect)
posted by nitsuj at 2:58 PM on November 6, 2010


Let's go fly a kite
("Up in the atmosphere, up where the air is clear..")
posted by amethysts at 2:58 PM on November 6, 2010


Up, Shania Twain
Rise Up, Yves La Rock

Up where we belong? I can't remember who sung it. Up, The Saturdays ( I don't get the lyrics though so I dunno).
posted by shinybaum at 3:02 PM on November 6, 2010


Shake it Up - The Cars
Pump it Up - Elvis Costello
Shut Up & Let Me Go - Ting Tings
Add it Up - Violent Femmes
posted by contessa at 3:06 PM on November 6, 2010


Pulled Up - Talking Heads
posted by InfidelZombie at 3:06 PM on November 6, 2010


Meta MeFi answer: MeFite clcapps' Everybody (Turn the Beat Up)
posted by iamkimiam at 3:07 PM on November 6, 2010


5th dimension "up up and away"
posted by HuronBob at 3:07 PM on November 6, 2010


Also, the Postal Service's breakup album, titled "Give Up" is a fantastic and somewhat upbeat catharsis.
posted by iamkimiam at 3:12 PM on November 6, 2010


Wise up Sucker by Pop Will Eat Itself
posted by blaneyphoto at 3:14 PM on November 6, 2010


"Get Up" by R.E.M.
posted by aka burlap at 3:14 PM on November 6, 2010


!!! covering Nate Dogg's Get Up. Ten solid minutes of booty-shakin' beat.
posted by carsonb at 3:14 PM on November 6, 2010


Gosh, sorry for the multiple postings. They just keep comin' at me.

LCD Soundsystem has a song called "Give it Up"

For more angsty upbeatness:
Bondage. Up Yours! - Xray Specs
Piss Up a Rope - Ween

(And if you want some down 'up' songs, I could really crank 'em out. Just say the magic words. Also, sorry about the breakup...they do suck.)
posted by iamkimiam at 3:17 PM on November 6, 2010


"Get Up" by REM
posted by unknowncommand at 3:18 PM on November 6, 2010


The Fall - Australians in Europe

Australians in Europe-up! up! up! up!
posted by porn in the woods at 3:18 PM on November 6, 2010


Lively Up Yourself by Bob Marley
posted by BitterOldPunk at 3:19 PM on November 6, 2010


Hold Your Head Up - Argent
All Shook Up - Elvis
Tear it Up - Queen
I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys
Time's Up - Hall and Oates
Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind - Lovin' Spoonful
Get Up Offa That Thing - James Brown
Up Around the Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival
What's Up - 4 Non Blondes
Woke Up This Morning (Sopranos) - A3
Wise Up - Aimee Mann
Tighten Up - Archie Bell and the Drells
Up on the Roof - The Drifters
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham!
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
I'm Leaving It All Up to You - Dale and Grace
Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic
You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
Stand Up - Minor Threat
Up on the Bridge - The Chiffons
Givin' Up - The Darkness
Rise Up - The Parachute Club
posted by phunniemee at 3:19 PM on November 6, 2010


M People - Moving on up
posted by eau79 at 3:19 PM on November 6, 2010


Sleater-Kinney- "Get Up"
posted by ifjuly at 3:20 PM on November 6, 2010


Oh, sorry, didn't see the "upbeat" requirement--totally blurred in with all the other mentions of up. There are still several that should work.
posted by phunniemee at 3:21 PM on November 6, 2010




When I'm Up — Great Big Sea
posted by Johnny Assay at 3:24 PM on November 6, 2010




Ooh, sorry for multiple posts, but also:
Wake Up Neesie by Kermit Ruffins
Wake Up by the Walkmen
and of course, lots from James Brown:
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
Get Up Offa That Thing
Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
posted by aka burlap at 3:25 PM on November 6, 2010


Paul McCartney - Coming Up
posted by John Cohen at 3:29 PM on November 6, 2010


I can't believe I forgot to mention James Brown in my original post. I've been listening to Get Up Offa That Thing on repeat for the last several two weeks...

This is great, keep 'em coming!
posted by mostly vowels at 3:45 PM on November 6, 2010


Uh, Word Up by Cameo!
posted by two or three cars parked under the stars at 3:45 PM on November 6, 2010


David Bowie, Up the Hill Backwards

Eddie Floyd, Big Bird (chorus; sorry that the sound isn't great.)

Paul Weller, From the Floorboards Up, Wake Up the Nation, and Up the Dosage (plus his cover of Move On Up when he was in the Jam, and the instrumental Mick's Up from his days in The Style Council). Also Hung Up, though lyrically may not be as upbeat as you want (though it's still pretty catchy). There are yet others, but I will stop, with apologies for being such a geek.

X-Ray Spex, Oh Bondage, Up Yours!

World Party, Call Me Up
posted by scody at 3:46 PM on November 6, 2010


Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
Smash it Up - The Damned
Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley
posted by cazoo at 3:47 PM on November 6, 2010


You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
posted by Sassyfras at 3:54 PM on November 6, 2010


KC and the Sunshine Band - Give it Up
posted by K.P. at 3:58 PM on November 6, 2010


Wind It Up, by Gwen Stefani
posted by hermitosis at 4:06 PM on November 6, 2010


The Up - Utopia (go to 7:04)
posted by mintcake! at 4:23 PM on November 6, 2010


My Beautiful Balloon (up, up and away). Also:they don't make videos like this any more!
posted by rongorongo at 4:25 PM on November 6, 2010


Up With People
posted by Kangaroo at 4:32 PM on November 6, 2010


Boo Radleys, "Wake Up Boo!"
Ja'net Du Bois, "Movin' On Up" (theme from The Jeffersons).
posted by kirkaracha at 4:43 PM on November 6, 2010


Otis Clay's original version of The Only Way is Up is also pretty good.
posted by rongorongo at 4:48 PM on November 6, 2010


The Lucksmiths - Up
The Libertines - Up the Bracket
Saturday Looks Good to Me - Lift Me Up
Orange Juice - Upwards and Onwards
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 4:57 PM on November 6, 2010


I Won't Grow Up, originally from the musical Peter Pan, most favoritely sung by Rickie Lee Jones
posted by drlith at 5:04 PM on November 6, 2010


Gotta Get Up From Here by Ellie Lawson
Up Up Up Up Up Up Up by Ani DiFranco
posted by athenasbanquet at 5:51 PM on November 6, 2010


Tubthumping. I get knocked down but I get UP again.
posted by Sassyfras at 5:55 PM on November 6, 2010


Not Giving Up On Love by Armin Van Buuren (featuring Sophie Ellis Baxtor)
Move Your Hands Up by Clubraiders
Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
Back Up Grinnin' Again by Kathy Mattea
Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) by Kylie Minogue
Don't Give Up by Michael W. Smith
Don't Give Up by Midway State featuring Lady Gaga
Let The Music Lift You Up by Reba McEntire
Soak Up The Sun by Sheryl Crow
Get Up Stand Up by Stellar Project
Up & Down by the Vengaboys
posted by IndigoRain at 6:12 PM on November 6, 2010


Pump up the volume by Marrs
posted by five toed sloth at 6:27 PM on November 6, 2010


More Great Big Sea - Goin' Up
posted by hangashore at 8:18 PM on November 6, 2010


Moving on Up by Primal Scream.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 8:23 PM on November 6, 2010


Little Richard - Rip It Up

The Beach Boys - When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)

The Beatles - You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)

John Lennon - Cleanup Time

Paula Abdul - Straight Up

Nine Inch Nails - Down In It (In the verse: "I was up way up in the sky." In the chorus over and over: "I was up above it.")
posted by John Cohen at 10:02 PM on November 6, 2010


Rise Up by Parachute Club
posted by tangerine at 10:50 PM on November 6, 2010


"Wake Up" - The Ditty Bops
posted by OneOliveShort at 2:35 AM on November 7, 2010


Hold Your Head Up by Argent
posted by TedW at 3:29 AM on November 7, 2010


Oh, and it's cheating since you already mentioned the original Curtis Mayfield, but Mark Eitzel has covered "Move On Up" too.
posted by ifjuly at 7:51 AM on November 7, 2010


This is awesome! Thanks y'all.
posted by mostly vowels at 12:25 PM on November 8, 2010


Balloons - Julia Nunes
"Up up and away like a rising balloon"
posted by alon at 3:46 PM on November 20, 2010


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