Why do you think people enjoy listening to sad music?

Question

Do you enjoy listening to sad music?  What are your favorite artists that create sad songs you enjoy? Does it help you heal? I don't enjoy sad music, so I hardly listen to it but sad music seems to sell pretty well in the music industry...  Is it because people relate? Sad music sells as each note hits your emotions.  The only sad music I would listen to is a rendition I'll do while playing piano and singing. What do you do?

VinnyMac · Accepted Answer

Listening to sad music when we're sad can be like an escape. It's a moment where sometimes it seems like you're not alone in your sadness and you won't always be sad forever; things will get better

Many times when I'm sad I'll tend to listen more to instrumental music. For the most part always piano music. Yiruma plays beautifully, but there are certain songs that at certain times will make me feel sad. I find many violin music are able to do the same.

There's some movie soundtrack music like Celine Dion singing my heart will go on, the song in Gladiator, I'll see you again (Fast and Furious 7, honors Paul Walker) etc. There's also some artists who have quite a bit of music that is really sad like Adele, James Blunt, Sam Smith, Lady Ga Ga. . .

I think one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs is by Ennio Marconne in the movie the mission called Gabriel's Oboe. He was a master of transforming emotions into music.

Sonorous · Accepted Answer

The reason why I listen to sad music isn't because I want to be sad. Oftentimes, I just like the peaceful melody & vibe. Because when I'm sad, I tend to listen to ambient things. Things like this:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/JRL1fqhDV1I

But when I'm just calm & vibin, I'll listen to stuff like this:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/WldTsZdGc8o

The1Girl · Accepted Answer

I love 'sad' music. It's the most beautiful type of music, the most heartfelt and hard-hitting. Jeff Buckley, Eliott Smith, Elbow, Radiohead... to name a few. Below are some of my favourites.

Apulu_3 · Accepted Answer

Actually listening sad songs helps controlling sad mood. It's a psychological fact that sad stuff like poetry, music, story or whatever helps you get out of sad mood and you feel better. I surely love sad K-pop songs a lot because of their deep meaning.

HighlyVolatile · Answer

I tend to oddly like sad music and even sad films because they have the opposite effect of usual in making me happy. It's like they remind me to be thankful that I don't have such a bad life. I can't explain it so well. But this makes me happy:

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

A lot of the times it calls out to something primal in ourselves.

it makes us think, to feel and to remember.

Music is often about passion, raising spirits, quieting things down, making things come alive and for reflection.

one from this morning and a chat about stuff.

blackgaletiger · Answer

I listen to 'sad' music for the melody. Their notes just hit a little differently. I can forget about the lyrics and just listen to the instrumental. I also listen to the piano rendition as i find it calming. Or the violin rendition from time to time. Sad song musically I find calming.

Gigi2019 · Answer

Because it sounds good. I like Don McLean's "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)". It's about Vincent Van Gogh's tragic life; it's very sad, but, the lyrics and the musical arrangement are lovely.

ChiTown33 · Answer

Some. I don't really think of it as sad as I do "moving". Sometimes you can identify with some lyrics. Or maybe you take the opposite approach and say, "well at least my reality isn't as bad as the guy in the song lol".
Here's a few I like
Everybody hurts- R. E. M.
Hurt- Johnny Cash
Tears in heaven -Eric Clapton
I will remember you-
Sarah Mclachlan
With or without you- U2

JustiReno · Answer

Blue Sky Black Death makes me wanna jab a heroin needle into heart and die

DarkCarousel · Answer

Makes you feel less alone in the world, to know that someone feels similarly.
Also, sometimes I need to acknowledge my sadness or grief, to ride the wave so to speak, so that I can enjoy the happier moments when it’s time.

exitseven · Answer

Sometimes sad songs can help you process whatever terrible thing has happened.

becee23love · Answer

I think for me I can relate to a song or just want to cry out my feelings or remember a memory more intensely.

Daniela1982 · Answer

Because sad sons say so much?

SlothySlob · Answer

I think it's about relating to something, not feeling like you're the only one who is suffering right now.

Waldoe · Answer

sad music is usually about "Lost Love" the worst kind of pain... sad songs remind us of the Loss.. and in my mind... And my Tears belong to "Her" (don't tell her I said that) "her" depends on which break-up I'm think about... hehehe

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Sometimes, you just need to. It kinda helps get through a bad emotional time. Kinda the same reason people seem to love the blues.

Aurora1010 · Answer

It pulls at the soul. There is a poetic and nostalgic beauty about it.

kellytheman · Answer

Yeah I don't listen to sad music much but I think some people can relate or give a emotional connection to it like hope or joy and saying everything is going to be all right.

Desconhecida · Answer

Music tend to take our minds to the past and memories flood back.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I think they associate love with sadness because their parents pitied them but did not celebrate or delight in them when they were growing up.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

I wondered this as well, I hate sad music, or music in general thats just complaining.

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

I guess they have trouble crying so they listen to it.

loveslongnails · Answer

Emotions make people feel they're alive. I can only take so much sad stuff though.

Why do you think people enjoy listening to sad music?

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