History Main / LyricalDissonance

-->'''Clown:''' (''singing cheerfully'') Hey, kids, it's me! I bet you thought that I was dead! But when I fell over, I just broke my shoulder and got a hemorrhage in my head!

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark: Bigger, Longer & Uncut'' is built almost entirely on this trope:
** "Up There": A rousing Broadway showtune about loneliness and wanting to get out of a bad place. Sung by Satan.
** "La Resistance": "They'll cut your dick in half/ and serve it to a pig./ And though it hurts you'll laugh,/ and dance a dickless jig/ for that's the way it goes/ in war your shat upon/ though you die, La Resistance lives on." ''Sung by a choir of eight year olds.''

--> Emma: Exactly! A nooner is when you sneak out for desert in the middle of the day... right?

* The 2005 ''Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' film opens with the Guide narrating to us about how on Earth, man was only the third-most intelligent species on the Earth. The second most intelligent species, were in fact dolphins, who curiously enough knew of the impending destruction of the planet Earth. made many attempts to alert mankind to the fact that [[EarthShatteringKaboom the Earth was going to be destroyed]], but most of their communications were misinterpreted as amusing attempts to punch footballs or whistle for titbits. So they eventually decided to leave Earth by their own means. The last ever dolphin message was misinterpreted as a surprisingly sophisticated attempt to do a double backward somersault through a hoop while whistling the Star-Spangled Banner, but in fact the message was this: "So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish", an upbeat song with these catchy lyrics:

** And we can't forget Glee's choice for a graduation song, GloryDays by BruceSpingsteen. The problem? It's about a bunch of people who look back fondly at their high school years while wallowing in the drunken monotony of their adult lives.

And the worst part is, the happy, upbeat music just keeps going. That's Lyrical Dissonance: when the music and the lyrics are going in opposite directions. Happy upbeat lyrics set to sad music also qualifies. This can also be used for comic effect, either by putting serious, dramatic music to silly lyrics, or by simply treating the subject matter as if it did fit the tune. This trope also applies with lyrics that seem unfitting for reasons other than happiness versus sadness - for instance, a particularly angry or violent-sounding song that has lyrics that are clearly humorous, or sad, or perhaps just thoughtful and introspective; or the reverse, a cheery tune with angry or violent lyrics[[hottip:*:such as this [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc-V3NYckOI humorous arrangement of a brutal death metal song]].

* As an example from a musical - ''Disney/TheLionKing 2'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJGqxf86cZs&feature=related "My Lullaby"]], [[VillainSong a brutal declaration of war and violence]] set to the tune of a children's lullaby. On the other hand, it grows to be pretty creepy...

* On {{ANTFarm}}, Chyna wrote a few songs like this. First, when she and Fletcher are trying to get Gibson to stop from hanging out with them so much.The tempo and melody are upbeat and happy, however the lyrics are quite dark. She says things like, "...feed him fatty foods till his heart explodes" and "dehydrating his skin and make Gibson-jerky"

* From the SlenderManMythos, we have [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihzJaCaJEd4&feature=related Slendy's Watching Me]]. It's a cute, upbeat song about a child being kidnapped by the Slender Man.

* The Island of Misfit Toys segment from ''RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer'' starts with a song about the toys being unloved and missing out on the joys of Christmas, when the song itself sounds very cheerful.

* [[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=imKPenpVyPQ&feature=related "L'il Ark Angel"]] from ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' starts with Darla singing about the world being destroyed in a flood and people and animals drowning in exactly the same cheerful tone she later sings about the various animals she's rescuing. If you hadn't already realized she'd be the BigBad of the film from the foreshadowing in the intro, it's hard to miss it after that.

* Another example from a cartoon, namely "DrawnTogether", is Foxxy Love's touching ballad [[GrotesqueCute "Crashy Smashy Die Die Die."]]
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXSsagwvo3M&feature=related "Batty Rap"]] from ''[[FernGully FernGully: The Last Rainforest]]''. It has a fast and springy beat and tune.....with the lyrics being about how Batty was used in animal testing laboratory, with strong implications that ''he was conscious throughout all the processes''. Due to its 'adult' nature, quite a bit of the song was cut from the film, but was [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1g5Oajn5UE left in on the CD]].

* "Christmastime Is Here" from ''ACharlieBrownChristmas''. It has lyrics that describe how wonderful Christmas is ("Fun for all that children call their favorite time of year") but has a very slow, almost melancholy feel to it. This makes it memorable.

* This is pretty much the entire gimmick of Dethklok on ''{{Metalocalypse}}'', as they render ''everything'', from the blues to a jingle for a coffee shop to a birthday song, as over-the-top death metal.
* The song "The Violin", by Brian Dewan, is included on the album ''Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?,'' notably a [[WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiego kid's show]]. It is set to decidedly upbeat, Irish-sounding music. The song's lyrics discuss a kid who is constantly trying to break away from his controlling parents' desire to make him learn the violin, getting snubbed by his crush for someone who ''does'', and then ultimately drowning in a shipwreck. It's a children's album, fun for the whole family!

* Music by Jody Gray are great examples of this trope. Both [[WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}} "Arthur's Missing Pal"]] and ''[[CliffordTheBigRedDog Clifford's Really Big Movie]]'' features upbeat music... with downer lyrics about the protagonist's lost dog?!? In the latter, the opposite also occurs on a tribute CD: the owner of said big red dog sings upbeat lyrics about her dog to a bitter-sounding tune.
* "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EETGwAYoHgU Little Brothers"]] from PhineasAndFerb is sung to an extremely sweet heart-warming tune, complete with an adorable through-the-years montage of Candace's relationship with her brothers. Then, you get to the silly chorus.
-->You will always be my little Brothers,\\

* In "The Singin' Kid" on ''[[WesternAnimation/PBAndJOtter PB&J Otter]]'', there's Jelly Otter singing about friends and family keep her strong and being true to herself at the same time she lets fame go to her head in "The Singin' Kid."

Except [[MediumAwareness there won't be a rescue before the credits roll]] cause I'm gonna be top of the woods."''

* The 2005 ''Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' film opens with the Guide narrating to us how man is only the third-most intelligent species on the Earth. Dolphins, the second most-intelligent, have made many attempts to alert mankind to the fact that [[EarthShatteringKaboom the Earth was going to be destroyed]], but most of their communications were misinterpreted as amusing attempts to punch footballs or whistle for titbits. So they eventually decide they will leave Earth by their own means. Their last ever message is misinterpreted as a surprisingly sophisticated attempt to do a double backward somersault through a hoop while whistling the Star-Spangled Banner, but in fact the message was this: "So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish". Cue an upbeat song with these catchy lyrics:

* Episodes of ''{{Castle}}'' often begin with cheerful, bouncy tunes being played over scenes of horrific violence. A good example is the episode "Home is Where the Heart Stops", which begins with "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A58_LRXF_w Birds of a Feather]]" by The Rosenbergs, a perky, light, bouncy love song, being played over blood-soaked images of a woman who has been shot, bent in half forcibly, and stuffed into a wall safe.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXSsagwvo3M&feature=related "Batty Rap"]] from ''[[FernGully FernGully: The Last Rainforest]]''. It has a fast and springy beat and tune.....with the lyrics being about how Batty was used in animal testing laboratory, with strong implications that ''[[NightmareFuel he was conscious throughout all the processes]]''. Due to its 'adult' nature, quite a bit of the song was cut from the film, but was [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1g5Oajn5UE left in on the CD]].

* ''Theatre/Wicked'' has ''Thank Goodness''- A song about how happy Glinda is, while she sounds like she's about to cry.

* ''Theater/Wicked'' has ''Thank Goodness''- A song about how happy Glinda is, while she sounds like she's about to cry.

* How is the best way to promote [[Film/IndependenceDay Roland]] [[Film/TheDayAfterTomorrow Emmerich's]] latest film ''[[Film/TwentyTwelve 2012]]''? Give it [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhNuMKe84Do a trailer tune]] sung by ''[[AmericanIdol Idol]]'' Runner-up Adam Lambert, that's what! And the title of this song is "Miracle", of all things.

--> -- ''FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' Episode 8: Cherry Bomb

->'''Pinkie Pie:''' Wanna hear the song I sang to my parents? Oh, sorry, the son they sang to me?\\
'''Applejack:''' Doesn't matter which one, Pinkie. As long as it's not one of those sad ones with a deceptively happy tune.
--> -- ''FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' Episode 8: Cherry Bomb

->'''Pinkie Pie:''' Wanna hear the song I sang to my parents? Oh, sorry, the son they sang to me?\\
'''Applejack:''' Doesn't matter which one, Pinkie. As long as it's not one of those sad ones with a deceptively happy tune.\\
--> -- ''FriendshipIsWitchcraft'' Episode 8: Cherry Bomb

->'''Pinkie Pie:''' Wanna hear the song I sang to my parents? Oh, sorry, the son they sang to me?\\
'''Applejack:''' Doesn't matter which one, Pinkie. As long as it's not one of those sad ones with a deceptively happy tune.\\
-->--''FriendshipIsWitchcraft Episode 8: Cherry Bomb''

->'''Pinkie Pie:''' Wanna hear the song I sang to my parents? Oh, sorry, the son they sang to me?\\
'''Applejack:''' Doesn't matter which one, Pinkie. As long as it's not one of those sad ones with a deceptively happy tune.\\
-->--''[[FriendshipIsWitchcraft]] Episode 8: Cherry Bomb''

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* TimBurton is a master of mixing the macabre and the lighthearted, so it's no surprise that the music in his movies are the same. The best example is "Remains Of The Day" from ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'', a swinging jazzy tune about death and murder. Even while you're tapping your feet to the beat, you probably don't miss the extremely dark chorus:
--> "Die, die, we all pass away, but don't wear a frown, cause it's really ok! You might try to hide, and you might try to pray, but we all end up the remains of the day!"
** In ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', he does this with the Oompa-Loompa songs about each child's fate. The biggest offender is Veruca's, which is sung to a Beatles-y tune.
* "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind", from ''TheGreatMouseDetective'', is one of Disney's cheeriest villain songs. The most disturbing lyrics?
--> Even Meaner? You mean it? Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned?
* ''{{Hoodwinked}}!'' crosses it over with SoundtrackDissonance in a JustBetweenYouAndMe. After Red's fight with Boingo in the tram terminal, he orders Dolph to tie her up. She says, "You're crazy!" and he replies "Maybe, but I'm top of the woods now, baby!" So he sings "[[VillainSong Top of the Woods]]", an upbeat song with lyrics about oppression, getting children addicted to goodies, and becoming a ruthless dictator, like:

-->''"When you're hopping on down the bunny trail, the critters all seem to look down\\
You're fuzzy and small\\
Your ears are too tall\\
And goodies make the woods go round"''

-->''"Now I'm not a pig\\
But you gotta think big when you're competing with the girl in the hood\\
So you won't be a fan of my evil plan, but I'm gonna be top of the woods!"''

-->''"When your only desire is to dominate the land of the wolves and the squirrels\\
You've got to think with a open mind and learn to detest little girls\\
And everyone knows at the end of a show the villain puts his plan into words\\
Except [[MediumAwareness there won't be a rescue before the credits roll]] cause I'm gonna be top of the woods."''

-->''"Now the kids will be packed with my [=BoingoSnax=]\\
Construction begins in a day\\
And all of the bears will be ruled by the hare\\
As I maniacally plot from my evil lair!"'' [''cue [[EvilLaugh evil laugh]]'']

** At the end, with some nice upbeat chords: "[[TitleDrop You've been hoodwinked, baby!]] Oh, yeahhh"

** The soundtrack dissonance comes when you consider his audience (Red, who is tied up with ropes).
** After the song ends:
-->'''Granny Puckett:''' Sweet tea and cookies! We've got to do something!
-->'''The Wolf:''' I know. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint The song was catchy, but the choreography was terrible.]]

* As an example from a musical - ''Disney/TheLionKing 2'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJGqxf86cZs&feature=related "My Lullaby"]], [[VillainSong a brutal declaration of war and violence]] set to the tune of a children's lullaby. On the other hand, it grows to be pretty creepy...
* The [[NightmareFuel children's movie]] ''TheBraveLittleToaster'' contains a song near its end which the other wiki sums up perfectly: "''Worthless'' is sung by the junkyard's broken down cars, each singing a few verses about their life before being smashed and killed by the compactor." However, they fail to mention the upbeat music it's sung to.

* The song "Mother Knows Best" in ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'' is a cheerful, bouncy song where Gothel terrifies Rapunzel by listing off all the "scary and dangerous" things in the outside world and how all of them ''will'' happen to Rapunzel if she steps out of the tower. Throughout the song, Gothel is intentionally [[AbusiveParents emotionally abusing]] Rapunzel by playing with her fears to make her seem like she's the only one in the cruel world Rapunzel could trust.

!!Examples:

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* In Steve Martin's famous stand-up routine, "Excuse Me!", Steve gets angry with "the backstage crew", and then cheers himself up by playing the banjo. Which leads to this lyrical dissonance:
--> You just can't sing a depressing song when you're playing the banjo. You can't go:
--> [grins, plays happily and sings] "Oh, murder and death and grief and sorrow!" [continues grinning and playing happily]
* In his stand-up show "Dress To Kill" EddieIzzard points out the difference between American gospel and European hymns:
-->"There's something phenomenally dreary about Christian singing. The gospel singers are the only ones that go crazy. It's amazing, and it's borne out of kidnapping, imprisonment, slavery, murder, all of that, and this joyous singing. And the Church of England, all the Christian religions, which is mainly Caucasian white people with power and money, enough to make Solomon blush, they're all singing...(Dirge-like) "O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to... ?" They're the only people that can sing hallelujah without feeling like it's a hallelujah moment. "Haaallelujah, Haaaalleeelujah Joyfully we...Lark abooouuut..." And...No, it's...It's just not kicking, is it?"

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* As an example from a musical - ''TheLionKing 2'' has [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJGqxf86cZs&feature=related "My Lullaby"]], [[VillainSong a brutal declaration of war and violence]] set to the tune of a children's lullaby.
** On the other hand, it grows to be pretty creepy...