Since the advent of “sad girl” pop, songs about heartbreak and loss have become immensely popular on TikTok. Songs by Leith Ross such as ‘Drivers License” to Katie Gregson-MacLeod’s Complex have taken over TikTok’s “For You” page with songs expressing despair dominating.
But is their impact beneficial or detrimental? Here is what you should know.
2. Relatable Lyrics
Grieving for loved ones, experiencing heartbreak or trying to navigate life on your own – there will likely be a song that resonates with you. The “sad girl” pop trend has been fuelled by artists such as Lana Del Rey (her palpable longing became heart-wrenching anthems); Taylor Swift (with Red featuring heartbreaker “All Too Well”); Robyn (Crying on My Own); or even MARINA who brought back depressed Barbie era music via album Electra Heart).
These songs resonate with listeners as the artists not only produce music, but are sharing personal experiences as well. Their vulnerability can help those around them heal while at the same time glorifying an idea that it’s cool to be sad – which may be demeaning to themselves as artists.
TikTok users tend to be young and impressionable; therefore, its algorithms utilised by TikTok are tailored towards appealing to this demographic. When someone likes a video with someone singing about heartbreak-inducing experiences that resonated with you, the app may push similar videos your way – this could potentially become addictive, or it may help provide comfort through songs that capture what feels like your personal reality.
3. Helps to Vent Your Emotions
TikTok sad songs have quickly become an outlet for people to express themselves emotionally and find comfort or healing through these tunes. Their relatable lyrics enable listeners to express themselves without risk. It has become an outlet to explore feelings safely.
These songs tend to address heartbreak or other negative experiences people are going through. Additionally, these tunes can often focus on school or workplace struggles. Such music can be especially therapeutic for young people as it helps them feel less alone in the world.
However, this genre’s rise may also come with an associated downside. It can give rise to an impression that being sad is fashionable – which is rarely intended by artists who use this genre – instead they are likely trying to cope with emotional traumas of their own and find others who understand. Instead of being stigmatized for sharing personal experiences they should be celebrated and celebrated for being courageous enough to share them openly.
4. Helps to Improve Your Mental Health
Sad songs and videos can serve as an excellent form of therapy for people suffering from mental health conditions, helping relieve stress, anxiety and improving overall mood. Listening to sad music may also give the listener a sense of belonging while increasing self-esteem; however it should be remembered that overindulgence in sad music could actually worsen feelings and lead to even further distress.
Studies have demonstrated that people often turn to sad music when going through difficult times, as this allows them to relate more closely with the lyrics and emotions expressed within it. They can also connect with both artists as well as fellow listeners experiencing similar circumstances – this acts as an emotional support network and allows them to feel understood by another listener who understands. It can even serve as an outlet to vent about feelings with someone sympathetic.
Listening to music can not only alleviate emotional distress but also ease symptoms of depression. According to researchers at BAST, listening to soothing music improved concentration and helped listeners focus more easily on tasks at hand – students in one study could concentrate for 13 more minutes when exposed to soothing music rather than listening alone.
TikTok videos featuring corecore music are extremely popular among college-age audiences, drawing their interest with its ability to evoke feelings of sadness, vulnerability and heartbreak that many young adults face today. Furthermore, viewers can relate to artists posting about their own struggles with mental health struggles.
As such, these videos can provide a cathartic release for young adults suffering emotional distress and loneliness. Furthermore, these videos provide a sense of validation and belonging for those feeling disconnected from friends and family members; artists pouring out their hearts can serve as role models for those experiencing mental health issues.