Looking for upbeat dance songs like Capital Cities’ “Safe and Sound”
January 17, 2023 12:39 PM   Subscribe

I am looking for more songs like Safe and Sound by Capital Cities. I think what I love about it is that it’s cheerful and dancey, with a strong drum beat. I also like the horns and the sort of—orchestral? feel of it at certain points. Any recommendations are welcome, because I’ve got it on repeat now and I’m afraid I’ll make myself sick of it!

(I don’t know how similar it is, but another example of a song I’m wearing out these days is Dario G’s Sunchyme. Also upbeat, happy, makes me want to get up out of my chair and dance. Normally I am not a big fan of electronica but this is definitely up my alley. It doesn’t hurt that it reminds me of the lovely, joyous scene in the Derry Girls finale where Orla is dancing to it.)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl to Media & Arts (22 answers total) 27 users marked this as a favorite
 
I love this kind of thing and if I have more time to think of it, I'll loop back around, but Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet" occupies a beautiful place between a pop song and a show tune, with lots of upbeatness and horns and such.

The Beautiful South sound positive (but are actually very sardonic), and a lot of their music bridges pop and has horns -- 36D is one of many, many songs that falls broadly into the space.

No horns, but Black Kids' "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You" feels similar.

Will watch this thread with interest! Thank you for asking the question!
posted by Shepherd at 12:46 PM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]


Other songs from the same period that have a similar feel:

Fitz and the Tantrums - Out of My League

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream

Walk the Moon - Do You Have a Boyfriend

Considering that the Sunchyme song is built on an '80s song (Life in a Northern Town by Dream Academy ) then '80s Depeche Mode tracks might be up your alley.
The Meaning of Love
Just Can't Get Enough
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:53 PM on January 17, 2023 [6 favorites]


Ooooh, The_Vegetables' mention of Depeche Mode reminded me of Everything Counts which I have a hard time not dancing around the house to whenever I put it on.
posted by jabes at 12:56 PM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]


Misterwives -- Our Own House
posted by foxfirefey at 1:01 PM on January 17, 2023 [4 favorites]


Metric - Now or Never
posted by gemutlichkeit at 1:06 PM on January 17, 2023 [1 favorite]


For general positivity can I recommend pretty much anything by OK Go? YMMV on it's danceability but I always feel a bit better after listening. Can I suggest This Too Shall Pass?
posted by kaymac at 1:14 PM on January 17, 2023 [1 favorite]




For a similar track from a similar time with a similar insistent horn line, this might be just your type.
posted by eschatfische at 1:20 PM on January 17, 2023 [4 favorites]


Maybe Ageless Beauty - Stars?
posted by barnoley at 1:21 PM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]


A song that has a similar feel for me is Phoenix's 1901.
posted by odd ghost at 2:07 PM on January 17, 2023 [4 favorites]


I love that Safe and Sound song too, and while I don't think any of these have horns I love all of these songs in the same way:
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Sia - Clap Your Hands
Miike Snow - Ghengis Khan
The Shins - Australia
posted by lovableiago at 2:18 PM on January 17, 2023 [1 favorite]


The Capital Cities track has a beat in it that strongly reminds me of MGMT - Kids, which in turn is similar to Empire of the Sun mentioned above.

The other thing I thought of if you don't mind your electronica quirky and Icelandic is Sigur Rós - Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur. If you like that, lead singer Jónsi also put out a solo album with songs in English which might also appeal, for instance Go Do.

And for something almost completely different, Chvrches - Clearest Blue will always get me moving, even if it's just chair dancing. No horns though.

And one more which I can't resist - more orchestral than electronica - Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position.
posted by Athanassiel at 7:00 PM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]


Oh yeah, also I forgot The Go! Team - The Wrath of Marcie - great horns - which I got due to an AskMe recommendation years ago, they're great!
posted by Athanassiel at 7:23 PM on January 17, 2023 [1 favorite]


“Something Just Like This” by the Chainsmokers scratches the same itch for me.
posted by mekily at 8:18 PM on January 17, 2023 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Oh my goodness, what a treasure trove of answers! So much good music I have never heard before. Also, some new wave oldies but goodies.

Thank you everyone, I have a lot of listening enjoyment here. Much chair dancing will ensue.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:22 PM on January 17, 2023


Take a Walk by Passion Pit (and their other music) definitely has this feel.

I'd put Feel it Still by Portugal the Man on this playlist too.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 6:10 AM on January 18, 2023 [2 favorites]


I don't know if this is exactly the same sort of song, but it gives me a similar feeling: Har Mar Superstar - Restless Leg
posted by zoetrope at 9:19 AM on January 18, 2023


I came back! What a great thread!

The 2 Bears - Not This Time
Jungle - Busy Earnin'
Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
Chromeo - Juice
!!! - Man on the Moon
Radio Radio - My Dance Floor
posted by Shepherd at 9:20 AM on January 18, 2023 [1 favorite]


Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon
Kinda Complicated by Scott Helman
Both bouncy and happy
I'd add Exes and Ohs by Meghan Trainor, too.
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:40 AM on January 18, 2023


I looove this stuff and look forward to listening through the answers. Here are a few contributions:

Hercules and Love Affair - Blind
STR4TA - Turn Me Around (more funk but very dancy I think)
Tears for Fears- Mad World
Daft Punk - Get Lucky
posted by bananapants at 10:42 AM on January 18, 2023


Along with Safe and Sound all of these are on my running playlist and reliably get me going: Ya Ya Yas Heads Will Roll, Metric Help I'm Alive, The New Pornographers Mass Romantic, Martin Solveig & Dragonette Hello, Neon Jungle Trouble, Darude Sandstorm , Icona Pop I Love It and All Night. I also really like most MGMT for this.
posted by Cuke at 10:49 AM on January 18, 2023




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