This is not a love song this is not a love song

June 11, 2006 2:08 AM

Help me find upbeat, melancholy free songs about love. There's

It seems hard to find happy, upbeat songs about the joys of love: for now, all I've come up with is J'Lo's 'My love don't cost a thing' (a bit overproduced to my taste) and 'Wouldn't it be nice' by the Beach Boys. Okay, and 'You're the one for me, fatty' by Morrissey, but that's a bit heavy on the irony.

Most other songs about love I can find are never completely free of melancholy or bittersweetness, which is not what I'm looking for.

Double points if it's one of those songs everybody can hum along with. Small bonus if it has latin/tropical feel to it. Go, hive.

posted by NekulturnY to society & culture (36 comments total)

Keb Mo' - Tell Everybody I Know
Mary Ford & Les Paul - I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Olu Dara - Your Lips
Alex Chilton - Oogum Boogum
Avett Brothers - At The Beach

And while this song is melancholy the joy on display between Chet Atkin & Dolly Parton playing together makes it a joyous love song in my book:

Chet Atkins & Dolly Parton - Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
posted by snez at 2:43 AM on June 11, 2006

I'm not sure if Darren Hayes' "So Beautiful" is too melancholy for you (he's rather poetic) but it's a nice, smile-inducing, love song.

Clay Aiken's "Touch" fits your Latin criteria, surprisingly.

There's bound to be a bunch of Aqua songs that fit...
posted by divabat at 2:45 AM on June 11, 2006

'Dont talk to me about love' by Altered Images despite the title is very upbeat.

Matthew Sweet 'Where you get love' is also good.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 2:51 AM on June 11, 2006

Friday, I'm in Love-The Cure. Despite the gloomy rep, they can knock out a happy pop love moment better than most!
posted by merocet at 3:03 AM on June 11, 2006

Do I Love You - Frank Wilson

Can't not dance to that. Or hum along.
posted by girlwonder at 3:07 AM on June 11, 2006

'Friday I'm in Love' is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for, although not strictly about love. 'My Baby Just Cares for Me' by N. Simone is also on my list already (forgot to mention that earlier).

I listened to a few of the other suggestions and they were a bit too, er, cooing perhaps. I'm looking for a party atmosphere rather than a 'romantic dinner soundtrack'.
posted by NekulturnY at 3:12 AM on June 11, 2006

There ought to be a ton of loungy stuff that fits.
"I've Got You Under My Skin" for instance.
posted by juv3nal at 4:20 AM on June 11, 2006

The Beatles - All You Need Is Love. Ultimate happy love song.
posted by hazelshade at 4:39 AM on June 11, 2006

Peter Mulvey's version of "You Meet The Nicest People In Your Dreams."
posted by EarBucket at 4:47 AM on June 11, 2006

"She Bangs the Drum" by the Stone Roses
"There She Goes" by The La's (it might be about heroin, but it's definitely about love)
"She's Got A New Spell" by Billy Bragg
posted by bunglin jones at 5:11 AM on June 11, 2006

Ironically, Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" might just qualify. Nice and upbeat, and considering the title and refrain, not really a melancholy song.
posted by EarBucket at 5:11 AM on June 11, 2006

"Happy Together " by The Turtles.
posted by essexjan at 5:16 AM on June 11, 2006

Harvey Danger - Happiness Writes White
posted by mumble at 5:17 AM on June 11, 2006

I always think of the Wannadies' You and Me Song as a super happy love song, especially during the kickass chorus.
posted by web-goddess at 5:17 AM on June 11, 2006

some of the magnetic fields 69 love songs are meloncholy free. some are very full of it though.
posted by milarepa at 5:44 AM on June 11, 2006

Yay! Happy love songs! Here's what I found in my collection:

A band called La Casa Azul has some really happy upbeat pop sounding stuff - It's in Spanish and I'm not sure if it's positive about love, but it sure sounds like it is. But I could totally be wrong with them.

Latin/Island sounds:
"The Vow" by The Skatalites
"Aganju" by Bebel Gilberto (it's Portuguese - I think it's positive about love)
"Dos Gardenias" Buena Vista Social Club (& many other groups)
"Loco de Amor" David Byrne

Not Latin sounds but happy love stuff:
"I'm in love with you" Eric Hesson
"If Love Was A Train" Michelle Shocked
"La La Love You" Pixies
"Have Love Will Travel" The Black Keys
"Love Bug" George Jones
"I Love You" Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies
"Can I Steal A Little Love" Frank Sinatra
" I Love You" Anita O'Day
"I Just Want To Make Love To You" Ann-Margret
"Hallelujah, I Love Him So" Peggy Lee
"Isn't She Lovely" Stevie Wonder
"One Love" Bob Marley
"Makin' Love Ukulele Style" Arthur Godfrey
"Fly Me To The Moon" Astrud Gilberto
"Nothing Can Stop Us" Saint Etienne
"Singing in the Rain" Mint Royal or Frank Sinatra

And I know it's maybe a little cheesy to like corporate produced compilations but Pottery Barn's A Fine Romance has a lot of really nice classic standards on it. You might be able to find it on Ebay.

Okay I've waxed romantic long enough here. Thanks for indulging my long comment.
posted by dog food sugar at 6:14 AM on June 11, 2006

"Everybody's Gonna Be Happy" by The Kinks
"Breathin" by Asylum Street Spankers
"They All Laughed" by the Charlie Biddle Trio
posted by heatherann at 7:02 AM on June 11, 2006

Elvis's "All Shook Up" was the first song that sprang to mind.
posted by Neiltupper at 7:15 AM on June 11, 2006

"For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder is downright exultant.
posted by jrossi4r at 7:38 AM on June 11, 2006

<>"For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder is downright exultant.

And "Sunshine of My Life", also by Mr. Wonder
posted by doctor_negative at 8:01 AM on June 11, 2006

There are lots of happy Motown love songs--"The Way You Do The Things You Do" by the Temptations, "ABC" by The Jackson Five, etc.
posted by jrossi4r at 8:31 AM on June 11, 2006

Have you tried the six million other threads about this on AskMe?
posted by klangklangston at 8:38 AM on June 11, 2006

From Rhett Miller's The Instigator:

Four-eyed Girl
Our Love
The El
posted by donpardo at 9:12 AM on June 11, 2006

Crazy Little Thing -- Queen (earworm virus alert)
posted by Rumple at 9:31 AM on June 11, 2006

The Ramones - Baby I Love You
Fat Larrys Band - Zoom

Two songs that just make me smile and want to sing (badly)..
posted by Nugget at 10:44 AM on June 11, 2006

The Beatles - And I Love Her
The Beatles - Eight Days A Week
The Beatles - I've Just Seen a Face
The Beatles - From Me to You
The Beatles - P.S. I Love You
The Beatles - Til There Was You
The Beatles - All My Loving
The Beatles - Michelle
The Beatles - The Word
The Beatles - If I Needed Someone
The Beatles - I Will
The Beatles - Here There and Everywhere
The Beatles - When I'm 64

The Lucksmiths - Under the Rotunda
The Lucksmiths - Great Lengths
The Lucksmiths - Sunlight in a Jar
The Boy Least Likely To - I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to your Star
posted by ludwig_van at 10:57 AM on June 11, 2006

Jeez, I think most songs are about love. So there ought to be plenty to choose from. Here are some from a quick scan of my iTunes

Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
U2 - Everlasting Love (cover)
Lick The Tins - I Can't Help Falling In Love With You (cover)
Elton John & Kiki Dee - Don't Go Breaking My Heart
Jackie Wilson - Higher and Higher
Katrina and the Waves - Walking on Sunshine
Surprisingly, Led Zeppelin - Fool in The Rain. You wanna talk about a Latin feel - the samba breakdown in the latter part of this song will even make the accounting department dance!
Steve Winwood - The Finer Things (sort of a rocksteady/reggae beat. Very bouncy)
posted by kookoobirdz at 11:14 AM on June 11, 2006

Old 97's - Oppenhiemer
(or anything from Rhett Miller's solo carreer)

Onelinedrawing - Perfect Pair
Jack Johnston - Never Know
Jennifer Jackson - Power of Love
REM - Perfect Circle
Paul Westerberg - Born for Me

Just a few off the top of my head...
posted by Benway at 1:12 PM on June 11, 2006

I likes me a little LOUD in my music and have been known to thrash around with the dark and morose on my ipod....

but these make me wanna sneak up on my lil lady and hold her hips and sing in her ear, thus wiping the usual scowl from my face...

they make me feel happy, like floatin' and runnin around a field of flowers in a game of tickle tag....

ugh....how gay is that?

anyways here goes...

Polyphonic Spree- Follow the Day

Flaming Lips- Do You Realize?

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole- Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World

Margo Guryan- Sunday Morning

Moby- God Moving Over the Face of the Waters

and that's all I've got.... enjoy!!
posted by stavx at 1:22 PM on June 11, 2006

It's bluesy, sloppily played, and endearing:

I Love You
by G. Love And Special Sauce
album: G. Love and Special Sauce (1994)

I guess I'm lucky
It's in my blook I've got you and us two
That's what I'm thinking of
So you're moving into my place
That's a 24 hour taste
That's n ocan that's a case
This feeling I sure can't erase
I know it sound old
But I love you
I love you
So we seem a little young we have fun
We're friends we're lovers
Who cares about those others
Already got fathers and mothers
Two can be a crew got plenty to do something to see
Look in my eyes baby
Believe me
I know it sounds old
But I love you I love you
I love you
Your pops don't like me
Your moms sure does
She's seen the looks that I give you
Seen them enough
To know this ain't no phase
Or some part time craze
It's a love affair that lasts during the weekdays
I know it sounds old
But I love you I love you
I love you
I believe in luck and money
I've got ten bucks and a honey
I know I'm lucky
Just look at you and me
Move on in move on in
That ain't no sin
It ain't gonna be a sin
When we turn the lights to dim
I know it sounds old
But I love you I love you
I love you
posted by Devils Slide at 1:29 PM on June 11, 2006

"Love, Love Me, Do" by the Beatles
And for something with a cool South African beat, try the little heard "Dela"/I know why the dog howls at the moon" by Jonny Clegg & Savuka on their cd "Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World".
posted by annieb at 2:12 PM on June 11, 2006

How strange. Just as I read this question, "Human Hands" by Elvis Costello started playing.

Whenever I put my foot in my mouth and you begin to doubt
That it's you that I'm dreaming about
Do I have to draw you a diagram?
All I ever want is just to fall into your human hands
posted by baltimore at 2:31 PM on June 11, 2006 [1 favorite]

You're the One by the Vogues does mention tears in one line but then comes back to say that the subject of the song will be smiling through them.

The Hollies' The Air That I Breathe is another one I like.

There are a lot of nice love songs in musicals, too.
posted by srah at 7:33 PM on June 11, 2006

"Hey Julie" — Fountains of Wayne
"I Love You More Today than Yesterday" — Spiral Staircase

(Not sure if that's the title of the second, but it is the chorus.)
posted by MarvinTheCat at 10:34 PM on June 11, 2006

Madonna is the queen of upbeat love songs:
True Blue
Angel
Dress You Up
Amazing
Cherish
Deeper & Deeper
Impressive Instant (more about instant lust than love per se)
Like A Prayer
Love Profusion
Lucky Star
Nothing Really Matters

No Doubt:
New
Hella Good
Making Out
Bathwater

Natasha Bedingfield:
These Words

OMD:
Talking Loud and Clear

a-ha:
Take On Me

Michelle Branch
You Set Me Free
posted by witchstone at 12:01 PM on June 12, 2006

Late to the game, but geez, how come nobody mentioned The Refreshments' Down Together? That's gotta be my favorite carefree-happy-love-song ever.

C'est La Vie by B*Witched, though teenybopper, is also upbeat and fun.
posted by po at 1:37 AM on July 2, 2006