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ISO suggestions for uplifting / happy / upbeat songs...
...to try and lighten up my mood.
I'm not even sure the title is in proper english. Anything goes, bonus points if there's a fun brass section included. Decent lyrics are a plus, but not essential, I'd love to hear languages I can't even understand. Artist + song title will be enough, no need to waste your time searching for links, that's on me. Thanks. Here's a reward for you: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/ |
Nic! I'm supposed to be working...
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.c...24786286280704 This is a return to song writing form right here... The first foreign language band that springs to mind is legendary Turkish 'a forest' worshipers, She Past Away. I'm pretty sure they use tinny terrible/amazing brass section samples sometimes reminiscent of 80's Depeche Mode. She Past Away |
ISO? :D
well, my recommendation is not going to be any kind of avant garde obscure stuff but i often look to new orleans music to put me in a festive mood. goes great with cooking and eating. eg any and all professor longhair should fit the bill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srlwp6tjys0 for brass, i listen often to a lot of rebirth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAdZ0-NUa2o also aurora nealand https://vimeo.com/269275745 and throw in a lil bit of bonerama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG13EKb00Bc :D haha i hope you enjoy some of those |
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https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.c...82101169471488 for you thanks, I'll save links/names from this thread and listen asap Quote:
Thanks man! Absolutely no need for obscure stuff, even ultrafamous shamelessy commercial songs will be appreciated. ISO possibly not the most correct use for it, but today I can't communicate properly, not even IRL :D Quote:
thanks Mr. Clone! nice to see some familiar faces replying. |
Upbeat tracks with brass-section:
The Sound - Words Fail Me - I mean, it's as upbeat as you can get with The Sound The Honeymoon Killers - Fonce à Mort - More quirky and fast-paced than happy-go-lucky, but it has some brassy goodness in there. Material Girls - Tightrope Same ilk as The Honeymoon Killers. Fast-paced and quirky. But seedy and erratic lyrics-wise. Kind of James Chance-esque with a slightly poppier sentiment. KONK - Your Life - Life-affirming 80s Dance-number. A Tribe Called Quest - Excursions - That beat is a pure manifestation of the warm and fuzzies. Thelonious Monk - Misterioso - Some actual Jazz maybe? I find this one quite uplifting And that's about all of the more upbeat brassy stuff I can come up with right now that isn't just straight-up Jazz (except for the bonus monk number). As for generally upbeat/uplifting stuff: Camper Van Beethoven - Life Is Grand - I know they aren't exactly popular on this board, but hey, they have a few awesome tunes. This one's unapologetically optimistic. The Magnetic Fields - Long Forgotten Fairytale As with most Magnetic Fields songs, the lyrics aren't exactly feel-good. But I'll be damned, if this doesn't sound like a high-energy mashup between Erasure and OMD. The Garden Club - Little Girl Lost And Found Obscure little psychedelic gem from the late 60s, apparently a micro-genre some call "Toytown". Vocals by Ruthann Friedman (writer of the massive 60s Association smash-hit "Windy) Ruthann Friedman - Windy - And while we're at it - the writer performing her song, completely blowing the more well-known chart-topper version out of the water. Cornelius - Perfect Rainbow - Shibuya Kei is probably one of the go-to genres for upbeat melodies. Also, not in the English language for once The Pillows - Happy Bivouac More Japanese goodness. Hi-Posi - You Are My Music Let's triple down on the Japanese goodness. This is super sugarcoated. I guess it's upbeat, but it's also quite weird in it's 90s candystore kind of way. Actually quite surreal in its reverance for kitsch. But damn is it catchy. And that outro is absolutely fucking gorgeous. Velocity Girl - Audrey's Eyes Themes of loss notwithstanding - this one of those gorgeously bubbly and warm sounding 90s alternative songs. Clouds - Sweetest Thing Somewhat some vein as Velocity Girl. Little known Aussie-band though. Eve's Plum - Jesus Loves You (Not As Much As I Do) In keeping with bubbly 90s stuff - upping the ante on the bubblegum here. A bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. Yes, that's Vitamin C before she threw all pretension out of the window and went full Pop. The Meters - Cissy Strut An absolute classic. Had to think of it when I saw symbols mention New Orleans music. The Blue Hearts - Mirai Wa Bokura No Te No Naka - Additional Japanese goodness. Punk this time. The title translates to "The Future Is In Our Hands" - a stark contrast to the "No Future"-ethos that's been floating around in that genre. |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQUlA8Hcv4s (i cant listen to this without thinking of the royal tenenbaums ha ha. even though it was in a different movie. what is wrong with me?) back to brass & new orleans: kid ory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06FEKDVxVe8 preservation hall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7M8ZkQma3I treme brass band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BBO6chcIk0 |
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Genius! I discovered this band recently; Sweeping Promises, reminds me of early Strokes but with a motorik post-punk chorus style bass and lo-fi tone: Sweeping Promises |
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I was thinking of this song earlier. Good call :D |
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Thanks man. I love this band so much. My first gig was SFA at London ULU. |
Shonen knife, watch some live videos especially
https://youtu.be/ccNpXsp5V3U For some reason I can only think of non-English music right now. (addition: probably because you asked for it and I had already forgotten, nevermind) There used to be a German band called Wir Sind Helden, very poppy rocky and their uptempo numbers are very happy-making if that's a word. Just skip the slow ballad songs :) There's a French singer named Phillippe Katerine (not to be confused with the jazz guitarist with similar name), who's unique in music making and lyrics Bla bla bla Banane Les derniers seront toujours les premiers Juifs arabes Also French, Les Rita Mitsouko, but they especially make me happy because it reminds me of summer holidays C'est comme ça Oh and here's something Flemmish that I'm not sure if you like if you don't understand. They're sort of a comedy act like Spinal Tap and sing in very deep dialect about drilling machines or women asking if their ass is too fat for their skirt Last but not least Frank Zappa. Not sure which album is best or funniest, but I guess this one will do Sheik Yerbouti |
Oh oh oh wait wait wait
I didn't read it all. You want brass? The Ex & Brass Unbound or even Madness or Specials, that's what comes to my mind further when I think of it. Not that I really know them Edit: last one really There's a Dutch brass band Jungle By Night. Don't really know them, but perhaps you like |
oh, there's always rossini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3QDi7el3jk in its most popular version... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yebj37BMIO4 (they mixed in a bit of mendelssohn near the end lol) |
Move on up by Curtis Mayfield has some of the best brass ever
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duke ellington had some cheerful tunes
https://vimeo.com/295641290 and the most accessible coltrane is pretty cheerful also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI however, this one puts an insane grin on my face https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30FTr6G53VU and this little video maybe explains why https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62tIvfP9A2w even though i know zero music theory. but the ear hears. |
last for today, the eroica, which i listen to on the regular, while not exactly a "happy" piece of music (it even has a funeral march) gives me a great sense of struggle and overcoming. i like to listen to it when i need to "charge" against some sort of difficulty and it gives me a sense of euphoria in the end.
i have not seen the movie this is from but it's an interesting clip i found while looking for a link for you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJy5NzDq2Dk the horn is the hero! hahahaha. love it. (now i wanna see the movie) |
"A rArArArA", by YUTAoshimiO (YoshimiO of Boredoms and her daughter Uta): An hybrid of studio experimentalism, free improvisation and the candid vocalizations of a child. :)
https://shochy.bandcamp.com/album/a-rararara  |
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Star Feminine Band
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Wild Classical Music Ensemble Quote:
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ah, this of course, love the intro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4rXEKtC8iY plus another of his https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmwsQ_dHrFM which gets a bit of caribbean flavor here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GO8lTVOKag and speaking of the caribbean, dizzy & chano pozo's "manteca" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Tt6W-TxXs here also dizzy's "salt peanuts" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrUBEtoNQU |
how can you not smile for this song!?
Mambo miam miam most what Serge Gainsbourg did was uplifting, perhaps except for the Melody Nelson album. His early work is more jazzy, and this entire album, his second from 1959, has lots of brass. Lateron the brass were replaced with strings, such as on the Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg Album There's hardly any strings on this album, and no brass. But it has Brigitte Bardot :) And it does make me very happy: Serge Gainsbourg - Initials B.B. |
here's the correct link for
Katerine - Juifs Arabes suggested by _tunic_. Loved it. Also, that Star Feminine Band album sounds really refreshing! The Ex & Brass Unbound (and the record with Getatchew Mekuria) are permanent residents in my music library. Quote:
Rossini + Looney tunes = gold Quote:
Overall, happy hardcore :D and the more jazzy stuff (even masterpieces) don't really do it for me for the specific purpose of this thread, so to speak. That doesn't mean you should stop posting that kind of stuff AT ALL. This thread could uncover some gems for a lot of people passing by. hipster_bebop_junkie, that's a bit too much, eheh :D, the noisier side outweighs the lighter parts. Perhaps I'm more inclined to appreciate shorter/more melodic things when I need to distract my mind. Antagon, thanks a lot for your suggestions too. As weird as it may sound, my favorite out of that list is probably the track by KONK, which reminded me of the "good side" of disco-electro music from the 80s. In my little selection in the previous post there's a couple disco tracks (old and new) that give similar vibes in some ways. _tunic_ that Mambo miam miam reminded me of this little gem from 1959 Bruno Martino - Dracula Cha Cha Cha |
oh hm i think you might be looking for something like that "ultra lounge" collection that came out in the 90s?
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Aren't those more chillout-exotica centered (assuming that does actually mean something...)? I wouldn't say that I'm looking for a specific "genre". Some Calypso would be nice, though. CALYPSO: MUSICAL POETRY IN THE CARIBBEAN 1955-69 - worth listening to the whole playlist. Selection courtesy of our good old Danny Himself! |
They did several and threw a bunch of mid-century stuff like mambo and bossa nova swing etc.
see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-Lounge that calypso link is broken but i got harry belafonte on the headphones rn lol. first time ever for everything. how is danny? i heard he became a dj or something. |
Link works for me, but here’s an alternative: https://youtu.be/PTYCVWsPFM4
Haven’t communicated directly with Danny in quite a while, but yes, he works spinning LPs (dunno if he has other jobs beside djing and curating releases such as that Calypso one). Aaaand I hope he’s fine. A couple years ago he even came to my city in Italy to put on records in a club I love but I was out of town :( |
wow, that is brilliant, thank you! to avoid youtube commercials i went looking for the compilation in apple music. unfortunately it's not there, but the search turned up the same artists listed on the lp and i'm listening right now.
and then... check this! https://www.mixcloud.com/DannyFitzgerald/uploads/ |
oh, some of the links you posted reminded me of this which i first heard on breaking bad and you might like/probably already know:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0-grYfYaPQ and another italian tune that was transported/translated here by [correction: i dont know] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30HsgKTkQ68 and this is something else but has funny lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6OYSDYuvoA and last that tune i associate with this cultural relic which is a little funny too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPzt3A4Se_U fast forward to this century maybe gogol bordello? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkkIwO_X4i4 |
In the 80's there was a Dutch band that was bigger than the Beatles, but only over here, including fainting girls at their concerts etc. And this was one their most famous songs
Doe Maar - Nederwiet Translate the lyrics, they are very educational :) addition: this band had two singers, but some songs were sang by this other guy, and I always liked those ones the most. The above is one of them, one of the others is this one: Doe Maar - Te Laat and here's the full album if you want more. They made more albums but this one was made before they became really big, and it's always been my favourite, it's more laidback than the others. Doe Maar - Skunk |
I've adapted the previous post, and as a continuation with 80's reggae-rock: If you haven't heard it a million times yet like me, the first Police album is mighty fine:
Outlandos d'Amour and it has a funny track about a love relation with a blowup doll named Sally (apologies for the spoiler alert) One more band from back in the day, but French and totally funny, are Elmer Food Beat. Here's one of my favourite songs: Brigitte. Let's put it mildly, it's one of there more appropriate songs in the current #metoo world :D And they still exist, here's again the same song, live in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4xHbjslnFs 30cm was their first album, and still the best I keep coming up with old music from 80's and 90's. If you're into metal, the lyrics on some Primus songs are hilarious. And heck they've covered the entire Charlie And The Chocolate Factory soundtrack (the first movie with Gene Wilder, not the Depp one)!! I still prefer their first two or three albums, such as this song, one of their most famous ones: Tommy The Cat But this video is from way before (two years?) the song was actually released more suggestions for fun rockers: early Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Ween, The Presidents of the United States of America, Ben Folds Five, Breeders. And the mighty Sebadoh, not always the most happy lyrics perhaps, but their music makes me very happy, especially the Bakesale and Harmacy albums. Bill Callahan wrote some very funny lyrics, his music is not always uplifting though. Here's two songs: A Hit, Eid Ma Clack Shaw Hey, has noone mentioned the Beastie Boys yet ???? Jeez! Beck used to be fun too, the Odelay album. Have lost track of what he did the last 20 years ;) Will I get banned if I mention Madonna's Ray Of Light album (or just that song)? then please ignore what I said Metal Molly was a Belgian band, they made I believe two albums which are very fun to sing along with. They sound a bit like dEUS, but more happy. Fuck me, love this album, and haven't heard it in ages!!! yes, I keep updating and updating and now I can't stop Speaking of dEUS, some of their songs are uplifting but most of them probably not. But that I didn't think of him earlier. Their first guitarist was Rudy Trouvé, and the guy is hilarious, especially live, amazing dry humour, similar to Lou Barlow. He plays solo, but I can't find the funny song just now. He's also in many different bands, this is his last one Dino and The Chicks or how about some Jackson 5? Last for now: watching failed auditions on Idols and X-factor is always fun Quote:
sorry and thanks, I corrected it in my original post. If you want more, most of his albums are well worth the effort (I must admit that I haven't checked out his last albums though). But these songs are from his 2010 self-titled album Quote:
hahaha, very cool! |
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speaking of funny songs then i realized we forgot the most uplifting of them all :D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUhlRoBL8M |
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The 3rd link by blunderbuss reminded me of this album.
Asphalt Orchestra plays Pixies Asphalt Orchestra is a brass band affiliated with the Bang On A Can Orchestra. Wouldn't necessarily call this uplifting nor funny, but you might like if you like brass and Pixies |
This is as silly as it gets, but I can't stop listening
Nicola Basca, Danielle Milocchi (Baskov, Milokhin) - La Baldoria |
Laurel Halo - "Supersymmetry" (2010)
Irresistible. :cool: Martha & The Vandellas - "Third Finger, Left Hand" (1967) I picked this one because a back-in-the-day pre-gone-down-the-drain Morrissey said it was his "favourite record of all time, which can lift me from the most doom-laden depression" and listed it as a "single to be cremated with". But I prefer "Live Wire" (1964), "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" (1963), "Jimmy Mack" (1967)... Actually, Laura Nyro and Labelle's take on "Jimmy Mack" (1971) is the fucking definitive one. |
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If you're into it, here's the soundtrack for the SPAMALOT musical (the UK Cast edition). There's also an album with the original Broadway cast. Nobody mentioned them yet on this thread, shame on you folks (even though Antagon named them on the Listening thread), but the B-52's are fun as hell, stylistically, musically, lyrically and vocally! Especially their first album |
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We like what we like. Rest easy, I've evoked the wicked mention before and am still very much a member on this board! ;) It's a legitimately fine album. |
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Damn right. I need some free time to catch up with the suggestions, thank you to all of you guys, much appreciated, hope others are discovering new/interesting stuff. Today I’m listening to the whole Galavant OST. And laughing. In a good way. |
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