Theories about why we like to listen to sad music

Sad songs are some of my favorite songs to listen to. In fact, my top ten favorite songs of all time are probably all sad. It seems paradoxical that while we generally don’t like being sad in real life, we choose to engulf ourselves in sad entertainment. Why are some of our favorite movies/TV shows the ones with tragic endings? Why do we enjoy listening to depressing songs that make us emotional? Here are some of my ideas:

1: Sad songs give us comfort

Sad songs have the ability to help us discover emotions we never realized we were feeling and help us process those negative emotions. For some people, sad songs help remind them of old memories, bringing feelings of nostalgia or bittersweetness. The bike bells featured on Pheobe Bridgers' "Scott Street" personally bring me a lot of feelings of nostalgia. For others, sad songs help remind them that they are not alone in their discomfort, and listening to sad music helps them feel validated and helps them release their bad emotions.

Photo from Bandcamp Daily

2: We are attracted to things that make us feel strongly

Many people find beauty in entertainment that greatly moves them. The peak emotional swing experienced from happy music is not as close to the peak of how much sad music can emotionally move you. Strong, intense feelings are very stimulating, and they release chemicals that people look for. Similar to how some people feel attracted to the rush they get from a great sense of danger, music listeners may also feel attracted to the strong feelings they experience from sad songs.

3: It’s fun to romanticize sadness

Sad music can be seen as aesthetic or beautifully artistic. This can help audiences escape daily life and encourage imagination. Doing this can help remind others that their negative emotions are a normal part of life and realize that without sadness, there isn’t happiness in our lives. Doing this can definitely help with mood regulation and distract listeners from their current circumstances.

In some cases, sad music can surprisingly help people heal. However, it is extremely important for people to recognize if sad music is exacerbating their negative emotions. If you ever notice this happening, it is a good sign to stop listening to sad songs for the moment.

Thank You for reading my blog! What are your favorite sad songs to listen to and why?

Caleb G / Industry Insider