Why do we listen to sad music when we are sad?

[Rex]

Why do we listen to sad music when we are sad?

Its just dumb.. Happy music makes me happy.

My only view on it is that some might "bond" with the lyrics and that happy music is simply cheesy or something.

Typical sad music i listen to when im sad. How about you..
http://open.spotify.com/track/7lPQvMxejpa0MwHuU11P00
http://open.spotify.com/track/12XRmFL9DD4sQTwn8g6yPq
http://open.spotify.com/track/02r1YYEekEf31UMaFPj1Jc
http://open.spotify.com/track/1dJXhFiHZegeXQfwK50fl2

 

[Lark]

DING-DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD! THE WICKED WITCH IS DEAD!

 

[Rex]

DING-DONG WHAT THA HELL DOES THAT MEAN DING-DONG IS EVERYBODY ABSOLUTELY MAD THIS WEEK IN HERE!?

Dont bother i goggled it.

 

[Jaguar]

IS EVERYBODY ABSOLUTELY MAD THIS WEEK IN HERE!?

There's always that possibility.

 

[Valiant]

I always avoid sad music, it really is stupid to listen to.
What's the point of being scared, sad or otherwise negative when you don't have to?
The world surely is depressing enough, well at least the people in it.

My scale of music never goes into "sad" music, it stops at "romantic" music or such.
That's in my world where the divide is. Romantic music can be either happy or sad, I surely only listen to the happy side.
Irish folk music is extremely jovial and nice, it has saved me out of many a hole in this time.

 

[Fan.of.Devin]

I tend to listen to music that suits whatever mood I'm in, and I don't usually find that music can change my mood one way or the other.

Some people I've talked to claim to be reactive, though.

 

[Rex]

I tend to listen to music that suits whatever mood I'm in, and I don't usually find that music can change my mood one way or the other.

Some people I've talked to claim to be reactive, though.

oh i am! very... don`t you force me to listen to some aggressive "rap"

 

[Phantonym]

For me, listening to music mostly helps bring the emotions I'm going through closer to my thoughts, so I can analyze them with greater detail. But, at the same time, it can also have a contrary effect, music can be a distraction that brings relief when emotions are too strong to evaluate and analyze in a constructive manner, so it could have a supporting effect at that moment until I am ready to deal with the emotions.

I know that when I'm leaning towards melancholy, listening to music helps and I guess it might be somewhat instinctive that I choose more melancholic music then, but I don't choose music deliberately to alter my moods. I don't usually "bond" with the lyrics at all, to me it's more about the melody and the "vibe" and how it supports my mood. Listening to "happy" or energetic music at the moment I feel more melancholic seems too invasive, like the emotion in that piece of music is suddenly being forced on me, like I'm supposed to feel the same emotions as are in the music when I'm not really ready to do so.

However, I think it's also individual, music is subject to individual interpretations and what one person "reads" in different kinds of music is not the same for other people.

 

[Arclight]

I believe Elton John and Bernie Taupin tackled this philosophical question years ago.

"Sad Songs Say so Much"

Guess there are times when we all need to share a little pain
And ironing out the rough spots
Is the hardest part when memories remain
And it's times like these when we all need to hear the radio
'Cause from the lips of some old singer
We can share the troubles we already know

Turn them on, turn them on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Why don't you tune in and turn them on

They reach into your room
Just feel their gentle touch
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much

If someone else is suffering enough to write it down
When every single word makes sense
Then it's easier to have those songs around
The kick inside is in the line that finally gets to you
and it feels so good to hurt so bad
And suffer just enough to sing the blues

Turn them on, turn them on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Why don't you tune in and turn them on

They reach into your room
Just feel their gentle touch
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much

Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say
Sad songs, they say so much
Turn them on, turn them on
Turn on those sad songs
When all hope is gone
Why don't you tune in and turn them on

They reach into your room
Just feel their gentle touch
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much

When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much
When all hope is gone
Sad songs say so much

 

[CuriousFeeling]

For me, it gets the sadness out, rather than holding it in and letting it fester. I find that if I fake happiness by listening to a happy song when I am feeling sad, it will only draw out the sadness for a longer period... good mask for the time frame, but it just goes back to melancholia. Would rather experience the sadness and confront it with music. Getting the emotions out is good for the healing process.

 

[guesswho]

Because beauty is subjective, and sad songs can be beautiful.

 

[Llewellyn]

Recently I've found out it works for me at set times to listen to sad music. For me it works to listen to a type of music that fits the mood i'm in. I kind of have a hard time adjusting when I or someone else plays music that doesn't. So I'm off now for some sad music. I think just having done the dishes is what actually does work for me to feel better (just as being outside, so it's on another scale than music). I think it was Leonard Cohen's quote that when you made a record, people'd only listen to it while doing the dishes. I don't know whether that quote is related, but it popped up.

It isn't easy to find sad music. By 'YouTubing' the word 'sad' I can find some... Most of it is straightforward (or at the same time actually not quite hitting it), although it does have its value, like 'Dark sad beat' or 'Sad romance'/'Sad violin'. Thanks for your links, the first two already sound good.

 

[JoSunshine]

Because it makes me feel less alone in my sorrow. Someone "understands" the pain.

 

[Rail Tracer]

It allows us to let out the mood. It is sort of like a diary or a journal. You write to let out your experience (your grievances, your happiness, your sadness, your anger, etc.)

I always avoid sad music, it really is stupid to listen to.
What's the point of being scared, sad or otherwise negative when you don't have to?
The world surely is depressing enough, well at least the people in it.

My scale of music never goes into "sad" music, it stops at "romantic" music or such.
That's in my world where the divide is. Romantic music can be either happy or sad, I surely only listen to the happy side.
Irish folk music is extremely jovial and nice, it has saved me out of many a hole in this time.

DENIAL!

Fake happiness is worse than true sadness. At least, that is how I see it.

 

[INTP]

i remember reading somewhere that INTPs usually listen to music that matches their feelings and ENFPs tend to listen the type of music that is more about how they want to feel. I guess this might be Fe/Ti vs Fi/Te thing

 

[Kasper]

I think it's I v E. Weather we draw from inside or outside.

For me listening to sad music will make me sad, and if I'm sad listening to happy music will make me happy.

Introverts tend to feel the opposite, music matches rather than influences their moods.

 

[Nicodemus]

I almost always listen to music, except when I am hungover.

 

[skylights]

i remember reading somewhere that INTPs usually listen to music that matches their feelings and ENFPs tend to listen the type of music that is more about how they want to feel.

my INTP brother seems to listen to the same style of music pretty much all the time, and not really care about the feelings. i tried asking him the question and he wasn't really interested. he seems more concerned about the musical technicalities of the songs than about how they affect his emotions.

personally, having music around that doesn't match my mood is very hard, because it throws me off inside. it's like the music takes over my head and fills me up with whatever its meaning and intonation in. i have a hard time concentrating on other things. sometimes it's okay if it's not happy - for a long drive on a dreary day, sometimes i like listening to a little sweet, melancholy music, and when i'm working out, sometimes i like to listen to angry music. but in general i filter music by the meaning of the lyrics... in general i don't like to listen to anything that i find offensive or harmfully negative (ie, raping bitches, etc). i'm most often on my "fun" playlist.

 

[Night]

Without commenting on the probability for a feedback loop as a result of circular expectation (sad music will necessarily invite sadness for most), the purpose of music has always been the development of emotional connection to the outside world. The point of any art form is the discovery of the emotional self, set in context of the particular medium (watercolor, for example).

So, it shouldn't surprise us that we seek out music to match our moods. That we want to further connect our emotional identity to something tangible and pleasant to listen to. Music is just another path to self-discovery.

All art is emotion. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

 

[wolfy]

I think it's I v E. Weather we draw from inside or outside.

For me listening to sad music will make me sad, and if I'm sad listening to happy music will make me happy.

Introverts tend to feel the opposite, music matches rather than influences their moods.

I don't know about this one. I remember you said it before. I was wondering about it so I played a variety of songs on the way to work, they pull me in their direction. I know that sad songs make me sad and thirsty for a shot of spirits, especially Johnny Cash. And really aggressive music tends to pull me into a more aggressive mood. I know 'cause I use music that way. To pull me into moods.