Assignment 23 - Erin

“Your problem is that you’re not happy being sad. But that’s what love is, Cosmo -- happy-sad.”

The above quote comes from one of my favorite “teen” films: John Carney’s Sing Street (2016). As an overly emotional angsty teen who loves music and art myself, this film resonated deeply with me. In the film, fifteen year old Connor (later nicknamed Cosmo) forms a band with boys from his school to impress Raphina, the alluring sixteen year old model quoted above. Connor’s band --Sing Street-- experiments with different styles as the film progresses, my personal favorite of which was their “Happy-Sad” phase. This phase took most of its inspiration from The Cure. Connor’s older brother recommends him a Cure album when Connor is confused by what Raphina means by “Happy-Sad.”

And so I present to you my very own Happy-Sad playlist. This is best listened to when you want to hear some upbeat music but you’re also a little cynical about the world around you. The songs sound happy and are definitely dance-able, but if you stop and really listen to the lyrics you’re in for some major heartstring tugs. Along with each track I’ve included a lyric or two that really drive home the ambivalence, as well as an interpretation of the song*.

1.) “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by the Beach Boys.

“You know it seems the more we talk about it / It only makes it worse to live without it”

This is a song about loving someone at a point in time where you can’t have what you truly want with that person, especially in the context of young love.

2.) “Cold Hands (Warm Heart)” by Brendan Benson

“Old habits, young ways / Maybe we’re just a phase”

This song details the thoughts that come along with a failing relationship, as both parties slowly begin to realize it’s not working out and have to decide what to do.

3.) “In Between Days” by the Cure

“And I know I was wrong, / When I said it was true, / That it couldn’t be me, / And be her in between / Without you”

This song is featured in the film Sing Street as the definition of happy-sad, finding contentment in being sad (perhaps about a lost love/friendship).

4.) “In Heaven” by Japanese Breakfast

“How can you believe in heaven / Like you believed in me? / Oh it could be such      heaven / If you believed it was real”

   The lead singer/writer of this song has said that it is about the loss of a loved one and the raw emotion in the aftermath of that loss.

5.) “Pot Kettle Black” by Wilco

“You're tied in a knot / But I'm not gonna get caught / Calling a pot kettle black"

I take this song to be about recognizing poor qualities in the world and people around you. But also acknowledging that you can’t criticize others because you too possess those flaws.

If you're in the right mood, here's a link to my playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/owlet42/playlist/6lIYL7nK1LxpOKEajDvsq6?si=2yRBcmF2RQCjvUAQ4DnllA

*All songs have different meanings to everyone, some of these interpretations are just mine and don't necessarily reflect the intentions of the original artist.