History Main / MerryInMinorKey

** Zigzagged with "WEIRD," which is in D Minor. The verses tell about how John has been bullied and [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer treated like an outcast]] for his weird behaviors, but overall, the message of the song is that John doesn't mind what other people think of him, because he enjoys being "weird," and he wouldn't have it any other way.

** Zigzagged with "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7ejFwxdPgA Carousel A]]." This tune goes back and forth between C Major and C Minor, creating a quirky, dissonant mood.

** Double subverted with "[[https://youtu.be/cBTgCJvvsQA?si=kjdy7AvSlNCnzJh3 Dance Like an Idiot]]," the Jester's song, which they sing snippets of throughout the game. It's in A Minor, and the lyrics are all about letting go of logic and giving in to craziness. Since the Jester initially seems to be evil, the minor key definitely helps their song sound like a VillainSong. However, [[spoiler:they're GoodAllAlong, and they just want to restore a sense of childish innocence and fun to the mind]].

[[folder:Anime]]

* Played with in the ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'' song "Remember that We Suffered". Like the genre it's a MusicalPastiche of (Jewish folk songs), it's an upbeat group dance number in a minor key...all about the suffering Jewish people have endured. Lampshaded:

* Music/BillBailey discusses and plays with this trope in his "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dVFknALySA Happy Birthday in Minor Key]]" routine:

** Averted with his minor key version of "Happy Birthday," which Bill expressly intends to be depressing, and to which he gives very cynical lyrics.

* Music/BillBailey discusses and plays with this trope in his "[[https://youtu.be/kF1GsAHBzeY Happy Birthday in Minor Key]]" routine:

** "[[https://youtu.be/DePKKHoFOoA Friend Like Me]]" is a big band-style number in D Minor. It introduces the [[BenevolentGenie Genie]] and shows his powerful wish-making abilities, as well as his kind personality and eagerness to help Aladdin with whatever he wishes.
** "Prince Ali" is an energetic and bombastic number in which Genie introduces Aladdin (in disguise as a wealthy and heroic prince) to the people of Agrabah. It's mostly in A Minor, with a TruckDriversGearChange to C Minor.

* Music/WeirdAlYankovic: "Albuquerque" is, well, a ''weird'' example. Most of the song is played in F Minor, although aside from the guitars playing F notes, the verses are mostly atonal. The chorus, which is repeated several times throughout the song, are where you can hear the minor key most clearly. However, there's also one short segment ("If you'd like to make a call...") which is played in F Major. The song tells a story that is quirky and fun, even though it occasionally dips into BlackComedy.

But not all minor key songs are "bad." Sometimes, songs in a minor key can convey good things. They can be associated with heroic characters, be ideal for dancing, or provide a little extra flair to the soundtrack.

* ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'''s Theme of Samus Aran is played with a Harmonic Minor scale.[[note]]Natural Minor scale has the third, sixth and seventh notes lowered by a half step, while Harmonic Minor scale only lowers the third and sixth.[[/note]]

When you think of "happy" music, there are a few different types of music that may come to mind. You may think of pop music that plays on the radio every day. You may think of traditional kids' songs that you heard when you were young. You may think of generic corporate music that plays in advertisements or Website/YouTube compilations of cute animal videos. These types of songs are all usually written in a [[{{Scales}} major key]] since major keys tend to be seen as uplifting.

** ''VideoGame/{{Riven}}'': The ending theme (Atrus' Theme) when you get the best case scenario; trap Gehn, free Catherine, and signal Atrus, [[spoiler:which in turn, starts the destruction of the age of Riven]], is very mournful and mystical. However, the ending itself is not necessarily bad: [[spoiler: the age of Riven is collapsing in on itself, but everyone important is safe, including Atrus, Catherine, the innocent villagers, and the rebels who fought against the oppressive rule of Gehn.]] Plus, Atrus has gone on a hunch [[spoiler:that you, the player, will be taken home as well by the enigmatic Star Fissure, as his Myst Book fell into that very same fissure, and found its way into your hands, somehow, kicking off the events that brought you together to save Atrus, his family, and the people of Riven,]] which also brings about a contemplative air to the theme.
** ''VideoGame/MystIIIExile'': And as happens to be: [[spoiler:Atrus was correct, as 10 years after the events of Riven, you return to Atrus safe and sound for a visit.]] However, a new danger threatens Atrus' people. The leitmotif of the villain, Saavedro, who makes the threat, is just as sad and longing. However, again, if you are able to bring the game to its best-case conclusion, [[spoiler:Saavedro's leitmotif plays in full, melancholy, but triumphant, as he is now able to reunite with his people after being separated from them for 20 years.]] Plus, [[spoiler: you are able to return the book that links to the age of Releeshahn back to Atrus and Catherine, with a triumphant choir and orchestra, still in minor key, finishing the final game cutscene.]]

When you think of "happy" music, there are a few different types of music that may come to mind. You may think of pop music that plays on the radio every day. You may think of traditional kids' songs that you heard when you were young. You may think of generic corporate music that plays in advertisements or Website/YouTube compilations of cute animal videos. These types of songs are all usually written in a major key since major keys tend to be seen as uplifting.

* Several national anthems, including Israel's "Hatikvah" and Japan's "Kimigayo", are in a minor key. ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:National_anthem_compositions_by_key link to more examples]])

When you think of "happy" music, there are a few different types of music that may come to mind. You may think of pop music that plays on the radio every day. You may think of traditional kids' songs that you heard when you were young. You may think of generic corporate music that plays in advertisements or Website/YouTube compilations of cute animal videos. These types of songs are all usually written in a major key, since major keys tend to be seen as uplifting.

** He claims that the harmonic minor scale is more fun because it sounds like Arabian music, and that it's impossible to play the scale without getting the urge to turn it into Arabian-style music.
** Averted with his minor key version of "Happy Birthday," which Bill expressly intends to be depressing, and which he gives very cynical lyrics to.

* Music/EltonJohn: The chorus of "I'm Still Standing" is in a minor key, but it's actually the more hopeful sounding than the verses, which are ironically in major key.

* ''VideoGame/BalanWonderworld'': "[[https://youtu.be/ROnfJ660F40 Balan's Bout]]" is the {{leitmotif}} of Balan, the mysterious, powerful BigGood. Since Balan has a showman/theater motif, the song has a jazzy showtune style. It's played in B Minor.

* Several national anthems, including Israel's "Hatikvah", and Japan's "Kimigayo" are in a minor key. ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:National_anthem_compositions_by_key link to more examples]])