Mood: self-defeating but energetic
July 28, 2019 10:23 AM Subscribe
I realized I really enjoy songs about bad situations and sad sacks that make me smile. Do you have any to add to my repertoire? Examples within.
My favorite song like this is probably Ben Folds’s “Army.” (I know Mefi doesn’t feel great about Ben Folds, but I’m afraid I like what I like.) I also enjoy the Police’s “Can’t Stand Losing You,” the Smiths’ “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” the Decembrists’ “Everything Is Awful,” and basically all of Belle & Sebastian. I’m sure there are more out there somewhere; please send your recs my way!
My favorite song like this is probably Ben Folds’s “Army.” (I know Mefi doesn’t feel great about Ben Folds, but I’m afraid I like what I like.) I also enjoy the Police’s “Can’t Stand Losing You,” the Smiths’ “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” the Decembrists’ “Everything Is Awful,” and basically all of Belle & Sebastian. I’m sure there are more out there somewhere; please send your recs my way!
Spent - "Excuse Me While I Drink Myself to Death"
posted by easy, lucky, free at 10:42 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by easy, lucky, free at 10:42 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Paramore, "Hard Times"
Emmy the Great, "We Almost Had a Baby"
The Magnetic Fields, "I Don't Really Love You Anymore"
Jonathan Coulton, "Shop Vac"
They Might Be Giants, "They'll Need a Crane"
Rilo Kiley, "Breakin' Up"
Tegan and Sara, "How Come You Don't Want Me"
The New Pornographers, "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism"
The Weakerthans, "Plea from a Cat Named Virtute"
Kate Miller-Heidke, "I'll Change Your Mind"
Almost too obvious but: The Mountain Goats, "No Children"
(Sourced mostly from a collaborative playlist project from a few years ago on exactly this subject—you're not alone in liking this mini-genre)
posted by babelfish at 10:50 AM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
Emmy the Great, "We Almost Had a Baby"
The Magnetic Fields, "I Don't Really Love You Anymore"
Jonathan Coulton, "Shop Vac"
They Might Be Giants, "They'll Need a Crane"
Rilo Kiley, "Breakin' Up"
Tegan and Sara, "How Come You Don't Want Me"
The New Pornographers, "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism"
The Weakerthans, "Plea from a Cat Named Virtute"
Kate Miller-Heidke, "I'll Change Your Mind"
Almost too obvious but: The Mountain Goats, "No Children"
(Sourced mostly from a collaborative playlist project from a few years ago on exactly this subject—you're not alone in liking this mini-genre)
posted by babelfish at 10:50 AM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
The Cat’s in the Cradle.
posted by Melismata at 10:50 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 10:50 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Wayne Sutton, Garbage Can (and most of the rest of his repertoire, really.) Bob Dylan-y vocals but super strong guitar and songwriting.
posted by restless_nomad at 10:53 AM on July 28, 2019
posted by restless_nomad at 10:53 AM on July 28, 2019
John Prine, That's the Way That the World Goes Round
posted by gorillawarfare at 11:01 AM on July 28, 2019
posted by gorillawarfare at 11:01 AM on July 28, 2019
This is pretty much the Counting Crows entire schtick.
Our Lady Peace Thief
Dolly Parton's Jolene might count similarily Neil Young The Needle and the Damage Done
Possibly Nine Inch Nails Hurt or (my preference) as covered by Johnny Cash
Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here
posted by mce at 11:05 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Our Lady Peace Thief
Dolly Parton's Jolene might count similarily Neil Young The Needle and the Damage Done
Possibly Nine Inch Nails Hurt or (my preference) as covered by Johnny Cash
Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here
posted by mce at 11:05 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Courtney Barnett, Pedestrian At Best
My internal monologue is saturated analog
It's scratched and drifting, I've become attached to the idea
It's all a shifting dream, bittersweet philosophy
I've got no idea how I even got here
I'm resentful, I'm having an existential time crisis
Want bliss, daylight savings won't fix this mess
Under-worked and over-sexed, I must express my disinterest
The rats are back inside my head, what would freud have said?
posted by ejs at 11:07 AM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
My internal monologue is saturated analog
It's scratched and drifting, I've become attached to the idea
It's all a shifting dream, bittersweet philosophy
I've got no idea how I even got here
I'm resentful, I'm having an existential time crisis
Want bliss, daylight savings won't fix this mess
Under-worked and over-sexed, I must express my disinterest
The rats are back inside my head, what would freud have said?
posted by ejs at 11:07 AM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Heh, I know and like a lot of these (like the canonical “No Children”)! Got to curate my song library better.
posted by ferret branca at 11:10 AM on July 28, 2019
posted by ferret branca at 11:10 AM on July 28, 2019
Since we're on an Evangelion kick, Komm, Süsser Tod
Also maybe Death as a Fetish from Starfucker?
posted by gaybobbie at 11:18 AM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Also maybe Death as a Fetish from Starfucker?
posted by gaybobbie at 11:18 AM on July 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
A lot of Dan Reeder's catalog might suit. E.g., Nobody Wants to Be You.
posted by bricoleur at 11:25 AM on July 28, 2019
posted by bricoleur at 11:25 AM on July 28, 2019
Jens Lekman, Opposite of Hallelujah
posted by to recite so charmingly at 11:27 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by to recite so charmingly at 11:27 AM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Dessa - Dixon's Girl - "Call me up day or night / for free drinks and bad advice..."
posted by purpleclover at 11:55 AM on July 28, 2019
posted by purpleclover at 11:55 AM on July 28, 2019
Father John Misty!
posted by gumtree at 12:24 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by gumtree at 12:24 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Tracy Lawrence -- Time Marches On.
posted by Gino on the Meta at 12:42 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Gino on the Meta at 12:42 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Go-Kart Mozart - When You're Depressed.
Shane MacGowan & the Popes. - That Woman's Got Me Drinking.
Supersuckers - A Good Night For My Drinkin'.
Specials - I Can't Stand It.
Songs: Ohia - Almost Was Good Enough, etc.
posted by misteraitch at 12:47 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Shane MacGowan & the Popes. - That Woman's Got Me Drinking.
Supersuckers - A Good Night For My Drinkin'.
Specials - I Can't Stand It.
Songs: Ohia - Almost Was Good Enough, etc.
posted by misteraitch at 12:47 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is like one-half the Mountain Goats' ouevre, but I think my particular favorite out of the group is Song for Dennis Brown.
posted by praemunire at 1:51 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by praemunire at 1:51 PM on July 28, 2019
I feel like most of Squeeze's work hits this spot: Up the Junction, or Cool for Cats, for example, sound kind of cheerful, but feature hapless London lads trying to get things right and some how messing it up and soldiering on a little sadly.
posted by penguin pie at 1:58 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by penguin pie at 1:58 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Archers Of Loaf - Underachievers March And Fight Song
posted by Francolin at 2:02 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Francolin at 2:02 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Probably not your genre but fits your specs: I've Still Got My Health. "When I started stripping, they shouted PUT IT ON..."
posted by huimangm at 2:15 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by huimangm at 2:15 PM on July 28, 2019
I am a Man of Constant Sorrow - Soggy Bottom Boys (from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?)
This is a less jaunty version.
posted by fuse theorem at 2:17 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is a less jaunty version.
posted by fuse theorem at 2:17 PM on July 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Goalhanger, Billy Bragg. A goalhanger is a footballer who isn't into the teamwork as much as the individual glory of skulking round the penalty area hoping to score. Your sport of choice may have similar epithets for those types of player.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 2:40 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 2:40 PM on July 28, 2019
Keb Mo"s The Worst is Yet to Come may be too feel-good for you; or not.
posted by mightshould at 3:17 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by mightshould at 3:17 PM on July 28, 2019
Everything ever by Stephen Merritt slash The Magnetic Fields. How about I Don't Want to Get Over You which is pretty overtly funny (to me at least) and also a total jam.
posted by moons in june at 3:24 PM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by moons in june at 3:24 PM on July 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
One more, The Dismemberment Plan The Ice of Boston
posted by moons in june at 3:33 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by moons in june at 3:33 PM on July 28, 2019
Don’t forget The Beautiful South. Chosen at random: Old Red Eyes.
posted by dreamphone at 3:39 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by dreamphone at 3:39 PM on July 28, 2019
Neil Young, especially O Lonesome Me, on the Gold Rush album.
posted by Enid Lareg at 4:16 PM on July 28, 2019
posted by Enid Lareg at 4:16 PM on July 28, 2019
You need to just binge The Weakerthans if you're not familiar, a lot of their songs would qualify.
Jonathan Coulton's album Artificial Heart has a lot of songs that might work for you.
Harvey Danger's "Sometimes You Have To Work On Christmas (Sometimes)" and "Wine, Women, and Song."
Two Gallant's "Despite What You've Been Told" and "Steady Rollin'"
I don't think MeFi likes Amanda Palmer either, but "Girl Anachronism" and "Runs in the Family."
The Barenaked Ladies (I'm serious): "Running Out of Ink," "Bank Job," "Too Little Too Late," and "Never Do Anything."
These may be too low energy: David Ford "Cheer Up You Miserable Fuck" and "Go to Hell."
posted by Caduceus at 4:47 PM on July 28, 2019
Jonathan Coulton's album Artificial Heart has a lot of songs that might work for you.
Harvey Danger's "Sometimes You Have To Work On Christmas (Sometimes)" and "Wine, Women, and Song."
Two Gallant's "Despite What You've Been Told" and "Steady Rollin'"
I don't think MeFi likes Amanda Palmer either, but "Girl Anachronism" and "Runs in the Family."
The Barenaked Ladies (I'm serious): "Running Out of Ink," "Bank Job," "Too Little Too Late," and "Never Do Anything."
These may be too low energy: David Ford "Cheer Up You Miserable Fuck" and "Go to Hell."
posted by Caduceus at 4:47 PM on July 28, 2019
Richard Thompson is past master at this, any album has several, starting with Henry the Human Fly in 1972, which has the songs "Cold Feet" and "Twisted". Or "Tear Stained Letter" on Hand of Kindness.
posted by JonJacky at 6:53 AM on July 29, 2019
posted by JonJacky at 6:53 AM on July 29, 2019
Maybe not jaunty enough, but I think John Prine's "Donald and Lydia" is one of the greatest sad sack songs of all time. (I believe "Sam Stone" is more depressing than you're looking for)
posted by qldaddy at 7:28 AM on July 29, 2019
posted by qldaddy at 7:28 AM on July 29, 2019
Dolly Parton -- I Will Always Love You
Maura O'Connell, James Grant & Nanci Griffith -- Blue Train
Patty Loveless -- Soul of Constant Sorrow
Rhiannon Giddens -- Wayfaring Stranger
Jack White -- Wayfaring Stranger
John Conlee -- I Don't Remember Loving You
Statler Brothers -- Flowers on the Wall
Tom T. Hall -- The Year that Clayton Delaney Died
Tracy Lawrence -- Time Marches On
Willie Nelson -- Nothing I Can Do About It Now
Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens -- Streets of Bakersfield
The Black Lillies -- Same Mistakes
Don Williams -- Good Ole Boys Like Me
Gordon Lightfoot -- Early Morning Rain
Neil Diamond -- I Am... I Said
Simon & Garfunkel -- The Boxer
Emmylou Harris -- Where Will I Be, and basically anything off the Wrecking Ball album
Emmylou Harris -- The Pearl, and a large part of the Red Dirt Girl album
posted by TrishaU at 8:29 AM on July 29, 2019
Maura O'Connell, James Grant & Nanci Griffith -- Blue Train
Patty Loveless -- Soul of Constant Sorrow
Rhiannon Giddens -- Wayfaring Stranger
Jack White -- Wayfaring Stranger
John Conlee -- I Don't Remember Loving You
Statler Brothers -- Flowers on the Wall
Tom T. Hall -- The Year that Clayton Delaney Died
Tracy Lawrence -- Time Marches On
Willie Nelson -- Nothing I Can Do About It Now
Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens -- Streets of Bakersfield
The Black Lillies -- Same Mistakes
Don Williams -- Good Ole Boys Like Me
Gordon Lightfoot -- Early Morning Rain
Neil Diamond -- I Am... I Said
Simon & Garfunkel -- The Boxer
Emmylou Harris -- Where Will I Be, and basically anything off the Wrecking Ball album
Emmylou Harris -- The Pearl, and a large part of the Red Dirt Girl album
posted by TrishaU at 8:29 AM on July 29, 2019
Response by poster: Wow, I didn't realize that actually all of my taste was this genre; y’all have named so many of my favorites (Magnetic Fields, Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, the Beautiful South) and I look forward to trying out the other artists I don’t know!
posted by ferret branca at 8:54 AM on July 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by ferret branca at 8:54 AM on July 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is pretty much Daniel Knox's whole thing, but a favorite of mine is Chores.
posted by cmoj at 10:02 AM on July 29, 2019
posted by cmoj at 10:02 AM on July 29, 2019
Jonathan Richman, who is a bit more upbeat than a lot of these, but who has the lovable sad-sack thing down.
Important in Your Life
That Summer Feeling
You Must Ask the Heart
Just for a start.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:12 AM on July 29, 2019
Important in Your Life
That Summer Feeling
You Must Ask the Heart
Just for a start.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:12 AM on July 29, 2019
I feel like this is the theme of a good number of They Might Be Giants songs. Beyond the previously mentioned They'll Need a Crane, there's Sleeping in the Flowers, Don't Let's Start, Twisting, Lucky Ball and Chain, etc.
posted by Hactar at 10:08 AM on August 1, 2019
posted by Hactar at 10:08 AM on August 1, 2019
"get me away from here I'm dying" , Belle and Sebastian.. a lot of Belle and Sebastian fits this bill i think : )
posted by elgee at 9:40 AM on December 20, 2019
posted by elgee at 9:40 AM on December 20, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by AuroraSky at 10:27 AM on July 28, 2019