Although fun.’s album Some Nights made its debut over ten years ago, I rediscovered my love for the work this past summer. As a child, I remember hearing the single “Some Nights” in the car with my mother after a back-to-school shopping trip and being fascinated by the verse “Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle/ Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off.” I remember arguing with my sister, theorizing about what those lyrics could mean.
One of the reasons I was so drawn to the song “Some Nights” is its melancholic nature paired with a cheery beat. There is so much questioning and longing woven between a hopeful melody. The melody hops from slow and solemn to quick and ceremonious. The juxtaposition of these elements seems rare and adds a sense of creativity.
Consequently, when choosing what to write about for my first article, the choice seemed easy — music. As a constant consumer of music, I knew I wanted to include it in my writing. I decided to recommend songs similar to “Some Nights” because I find it incredibly fascinating how well deep meaning is interwoven with a hopeful tone. Although none of these songs deliver the exact same tone or messages as “Some Nights,” I find myself left with a similar impact.
- “Fourth Of July” by Sufjan Stevens
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This song is quite similar to “Some Nights” in the sense that it has an upbeat melody and contrasting sorrowful lyrics. Stevens spends much of the song pondering death, repeating “We’re all gonna die” over and over again. The song’s chipper melody gives a similar feeling to “Some Nights,” and you really have to listen to the lyrics to feel Stevens’ emotions. This combination of sad lyrics and happy melodies is quite common in Stevens’ music.
- “Jane Says” by Jane’s Addiction
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Similar to “Fourth of July,” “Jane Says” has a consistently cheerful melody. Heavy on the guitar, the song tells the story of someone named Jane. In the song, there’s a sense of hope for Jane, who appears to be stuck with someone named Sergio who does not treat her well. It feels like a coming-of-age movie, where Jane is growing up and trying to get better. Some of the lyrics that capture the solemn undertones of this piece are “‘I ain’t never been in love/I don’t know what it is’/She only knows if someone wants her/‘I want them if they want me/I only know they want me.’” To me, this verse captures Jane’s loneliness and her need to be validated by others. There is a sense of optimism in the piece, though, when it says “Jane says ‘I’m goin’ away to Spain/When I get my money saved/Gonna start tomorrow.’”
- “Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins
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Much like the last two songs, “Tonight, Tonight” starts strong with an upbeat melody that continues throughout the entire song. The melody feels incredibly hopeful to me, while the lyrics are almost wistful. It reminds me of youth, and its lyrics and melody combine to make me feel like time is of the essence. It is symphonic; it feels like a ballad to living in the moment. Some of my favorite lines are “The indescribable moments of your life, tonight/The impossible is possible tonight, tonight/ Believe in me as I believe in you.” I think they reveal the song’s themes: presence and contemplation.
- “My Alcoholic Friends” By The Dresden Dolls
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When I heard this song for the first time, I was not drawn to it. Its beat reminded me of a piece from a musical. Once I listened to it again, though, I became infatuated with it. There’s something that feels quite ambiguous about the song, as it jumps from subject to subject, and the lyrics are consistently shrouded in mystery by the loud and overbearing melody. The song as a whole seems quite chaotic, and the narrator seems really lost in life. There is a sense of self-deprecation and anger in the lyrics, singing “Should I choose a noble occupation?/If I did I’d only show up late and sick/And they would stare at me with hatred.” It reminds me of “Some Nights” because it has that underlying theme of sadness, even if it’s not the same type of sadness.
- “Ivy” by Frank Ocean
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Quite arguably the saddest song of the ones I have listed, “Ivy” does not make any attempt to mask its solemnity. It feels very introspective, reminiscing on the past and missing what used to be. In most manners, it is quite different from “Some Nights,” as it does not have an upbeat melody or tone. It does, though, feel incredibly melancholic. One section that sticks with me is “Ooh, I could hate you now/It’s quite alright to hate me now/But we both know that deep down/The feeling still deep down is good.” It seems trapped, wanting to resent someone but being unable to let go. The end of the song is also reminiscent of elements in “Some Nights,” and the sound effects are unique and playful. Although this song is probably the least similar to “Some Nights,” its effect seems very alike to me.
Those are my recommendations for “Some Nights” lovers. I hope you enjoy them and perhaps find a new song to add to your playlist!
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