Looking for an upbeat but melancholic song for a crush who's gone

October 26, 2013 5:08 PM

for when you just met someone and are totally crushing but the timing means it just won't work

I'm looking for something a little happy for that crushing feeling but sad at the same time because they're moving across the country for a great new real job.

posted by chrysanthemum to Media & Arts (38 answers total)

Best answer: Elite Gymnastics - Omamori
Russian Futurists - Golden Years
Deerhunter - Back to the Middle
posted by julthumbscrew at 5:22 PM on October 26, 2013

Magic - Ben Folds Five
posted by Tsuga at 5:27 PM on October 26, 2013

Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime
posted by billiebee at 5:28 PM on October 26, 2013 [5 favorites]

Mystery Jets - Young Love
posted by telegraph at 5:32 PM on October 26, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Brian Eno, An Ending (Ascent).
posted by 517 at 6:15 PM on October 26, 2013 [1 favorite]

Cat Stevens, Wild World.
posted by sweetkid at 6:17 PM on October 26, 2013 [2 favorites]

Cyndi Lauper Time after Time.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 6:28 PM on October 26, 2013

Tom Waits - I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You
posted by entropyiswinning at 6:28 PM on October 26, 2013 [2 favorites]

Long May You Run Neil Young
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:48 PM on October 26, 2013 [3 favorites]

Adele is pretty much perfect for this. Here's Someone Like You.
posted by Weeping_angel at 6:58 PM on October 26, 2013

Came to recommend Bob Dylan's "You're Going to Make Me Lonesome When You Go", but there's nothing but covers on YouTube. A Simple Twist of Fate is also good. In fact, there are several songs on Blood on the Tracks that seem applicable to your situation.
posted by she's not there at 7:02 PM on October 26, 2013 [2 favorites]

Oh, sorry, Adele isn't necessarily uplifting (but I do like it for that "this sucks but I'm empowered" feeling). Anyway, here's Ingrid Michaelson's Be Ok.
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:02 PM on October 26, 2013

"Come back from San Francisco" by the Magnetic Fields

I'm pretty sure "Just Like Heaven" was written for this exact situation.

Same with "Maybe You Can Owe Me" by Architecture in Helsinki

Tire Swing by Kimya Dawson?
posted by lunasol at 7:06 PM on October 26, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'm pretty sure "Just Like Heaven" yt was written for this exact situation.

once more with VOLUME
posted by philip-random at 7:08 PM on October 26, 2013

also, few have walked the line between joy and sorrow as beautifully as the Boo Radleys
posted by philip-random at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2013

Niko Some Days
posted by From Bklyn at 7:57 PM on October 26, 2013

Something About What Happens When We Talk by Lucinda Williams
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:00 PM on October 26, 2013 [1 favorite]

You and I Both - Jason Mraz
posted by yawper at 8:03 PM on October 26, 2013

The Go! Team - Ready To Go Steady
posted by Quilford at 8:56 PM on October 26, 2013

Best Coast, "Up All Night"
posted by so_gracefully at 9:18 PM on October 26, 2013

Nobody's thought of these two?

1. Tongue Tied, by Grouplove (or, GROUPLOVE)
2. Blue Jeans, by Lana Del Rey (nee Elizabeth Woolridge Grant)

First is cheerier than the second.
posted by simulacra at 9:26 PM on October 26, 2013

Aimee Mann's Observatory is about an ill-timed affair, but it gives me this feeling perfectly.
posted by mykescipark at 1:47 AM on October 27, 2013

Best answer: Hop a Plane by Tegan and Sara
posted by sarae at 4:03 AM on October 27, 2013 [1 favorite]

Angus and Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane or Mango Tree.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:33 AM on October 27, 2013

Hop A Plane is pretty much perfect. Also from that album (The Con): Are You Ten Years Ago, Call It Off, Soil, Soil.
posted by corvine at 4:37 AM on October 27, 2013

Best answer: Ani DiFranco - Untouchable Face
posted by AV at 5:45 AM on October 27, 2013

(Oh, and although it's not *exactly* what you asked for, I'm Not Crying by Flight of the Conchords is pretty funny and great for cheering up in exactly the situation you describe)
posted by AV at 5:54 AM on October 27, 2013

It's a bit slower, but Ride's Dreams Burn Down is the perfect bitter-sweet 'if only' song...
posted by Chairboy at 6:04 AM on October 27, 2013

I would totally recommend "Long Island" by that dog if I could find a decent YouTube version of it.
posted by Kitteh at 6:34 AM on October 27, 2013

IMpossible - Figurine

Someday You Will Be Loved - Death Cab for Cutie
posted by John Cohen at 8:51 AM on October 27, 2013

Daft Punk - Something About Us
Neil Young (or Johnny Cash) - Four Strong Winds
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 10:09 AM on October 27, 2013

Bad Timing by Blue Rodeo
posted by pick_the_flowers at 10:33 AM on October 27, 2013

Brad Paisley - Wish You'd Stay

I once faced a very similar situation after 6 months of a really great relationship and this song was so accurate I could barely listen to it. It still makes me a bit teary seven years later.
posted by *becca* at 10:49 AM on October 27, 2013

I'm Sorry That I Love You by the Magnetic Fields

Some Day I Will Treat You Good by Sparklehorse
posted by Hogshead at 11:09 AM on October 27, 2013

Lorelai by The Fleet Foxes.
posted by derogatorysphinx at 11:27 AM on October 27, 2013

Best answer: LCD Soundsystem, Someone Great ("With someone new I couldn't start it, too late for beginnings. The little things that made me nervous are gone in a moment."). If there were a genre called Dance and Cry, this would go there.
posted by *s at 10:31 AM on October 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Again by Lenny Kravitz is one of my favorites for exactly these situations.
posted by ohyouknow at 3:28 PM on October 28, 2013

Response by poster: These are all great! Thank you all!!!
posted by chrysanthemum at 12:03 PM on November 6, 2013 [1 favorite]