Ever since I began regularly listening to music, I’ve been a sad-song enthusiast. I became a Phoebe Bridgers fan several years ago, and Bridgers’s music fostered my love for sad songs.
Along with Phoebe Bridgers, some of my most-listened-to artists include Lana Del Rey, Ethel Cain, Searows, Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine, and Conan Gray. If you also enjoy listening to these artists, welcome to the “sad music club.” Sad music moves us, which is why we love it so much.
The Emotional Experience of Listening to Sad Music
Although some people express concern for me when I tell them that my favorite genre of music is “sad songs,” I feel completely fine. Listening to depressing songs doesn’t automatically make you a sad person. We often find a strange sense of joy in listening to sorrowful melodies, and psychology supports this phenomenon
Although feeling sad isn’t a pleasurable experience, listening to sad music can actually benefit us psychologically, according to the National Library of Medicine. Listening to sad music can help us regulate our moods and express our emotions. Sad music also activates the brain regions responsible for memory, learning, and emotions more than “happy” music does. This means that “sad music enthusiasts” can process and understand their emotions more quickly than those who only listen to happier songs.
So the next time you want to judge someone for streaming their “cry in the car” playlist, remember that their music choices may actually help them.
A Philosophical View of Sad Music
Some philosophers believe that listening to sad music doesn’t truly evoke genuine sadness. In contrast, others think that the cathartic act of listening to sad music induces a genuine sadness that feels rewarding to the listener. However, most philosophers agree that sad music doesn’t necessarily negatively impact most people.
Whether sad music evokes true sadness in us or not, we often feel positive emotions, like “awe, transcendence, and chills” when we hear sad music. Experiencing sadness in others’ art is different from feeling sad ourselves because we feel comforting connections with our favorite artists when we hear their sadness.
The Cross-Generational Interest in Sad Music
Sad music is for everyone. No matter who you are, you’ll experience sadness, loss, and misery in your life. Perhaps this is why people of all generations enjoy sad music — it’s an artful expression of a raw, real-life experience.
Bonding with fellow fans of your favorite “sad music” artists is also emotionally uplifting. Whether you’re screaming songs about heartbreak at your favorite artist’s concert or visiting online forums to express how relatable your favorite sad songs are, you feel comfort in finding community with others who enjoy the same types of music. Music — even sad music — can easily bring together people from all walks of life.
If you enjoy listening to sad music, keep listening, no matter what others say. Sad music isn’t “depressing;” it’s a transcendent, emotional art form that reminds us what it means to be human.
Featured Photo by Howz Nguyen on Unsplash.
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I guess I can finally claim that my “cry in the car” playlist is a sophisticated ginnyandgeorgiatest tdtechnique for emotional regulation rather than just me being dramatic.
Loved this take on why listening to sad songs can actually be good for your mind – it really captures how art helps us process emotions and build connections. On a related note, it’s also reminder of how important our senses are in shaping emotional experiences – whether that’s letting music move us or simply enjoying everyday sounds. For anyone concerned about how well they’re hearing the world around them, resources like https://nychearing.com offer useful insights into hearing health and care.