Studies on adolescents revealed that those suffering from depression with poor relationships with either their parents or peers were more likely to listen to sad music and engage in rumination and lack of emotional stability.
Why do people listen to sad music?
Scholars have long recognized music’s profound effect on both body and mind. Ancient Greeks used music as medicine and to influence temperament; medical doctor Agnes Savill warned in 1950s of its harmfulness when producing moods of bewilderment or fear, possibly harmful for anxious listeners. While musicians or critics might argue against its acceptance as valid psychological reward, many individuals cannot stop listening to sad music despite any psychological arguments to stop listening to this type of tunes.
Scholarly studies have provided several explanations as to why people enjoy sad music. One common theory suggests that listeners use sad music as an outlet to safely process negative emotions in an emotionally safe setting, which helps them cope with life’s difficulties by venting feelings and sadness. Another possibility may be listening to sad music to feel connected with other people – by listening to lyrics of their favorite songs they can sense someone understanding and sharing similar experiences.
Sad music often stirs feelings of nostalgia within listeners, prompting vivid recall of past events that are significant or memorable – creating a comforting sense of hopefulness for listeners who may have experienced significant losses or deaths. Such songs can bring back those memories in an overwhelming rush of emotion that makes listening enjoyable.
Listening to sad music has also been proven to increase prolactin levels – a naturally stress-reducing hormone which works against grief’s effects. Unfortunately, researchers have determined that when there is no actual emotion that needs relieving, this effect won’t kick in and listeners remain in an emotionally draining mood.
Research has consistently demonstrated that most people enjoy sad music because it brings pleasure. This could be related to emotion elicited by songs, context of listening or social and cultural associations of such songs. Scholars suggest the pleasure we derive from sad music may also stem from its ability to bring up specific feelings like grief and melancholia while making us feel more connected with others.
How do sad songs make you feel?
Sad songs elicit an array of emotions in listeners, from sadness to nostalgia and peace. Some of these responses may be directly tied to the music itself while others can stem from personal experiences or mood. For instance, sad songs may jog memories of past heartbreaks and losses which can have an adverse impact on your emotions; listening to this same track repeatedly may help process these memories over time and help move you on from these negative memories.
People often take great pleasure in listening to beautiful pieces of music. This may be because slow, sorrowful music offers emotional context and support; or simply listening can distract listeners from their troubles while providing transcendence. One study demonstrated this phenomenon: participants rated sad song artwork higher than happy music on an equal scale scale!
Other studies have demonstrated the ability of sad music to reduce stress when played collectively, providing you with the sense that you’re part of something larger and not alone in your suffering.
Studies have also demonstrated the power of music to help lift your mood. One experiment involved people suffering from depression listening to various forms of classical music while rating their emotions; researchers noted that those affected were more likely to select slower tunes than upbeat tracks as it helped regulate their emotions and regulate their state of mind.
Sad songs offer people an escape from everyday stressors while also reminding them of themselves and what matters to them – this can have a powerful effect on one’s emotional wellbeing, making people feel connected and supported, which in turn improves mood. For example, hearing an old favorite song as someone laments over their heartbreak can provide comfort because it shows they understand your pain.
Finally, sadness in a song can also bring back happy memories with friends and family that can have a positive effect on your mood. There may be many reasons for our affinity towards sad songs; ultimately the answer lies within each individual person themselves. Although music can influence moods and emotions greatly, if you find yourself struggling with depression or another mental illness it is wise to consult a professional for assistance.
What makes a sad song sad?
Sad songs are pieces of music designed to elicit feelings of sorrow through musical characteristics and lyrics, specifically slow tempo, melancholic melody, poetic words and meaningful lyrics. A great example is Glimpse of Us by Joji which uses this combination to produce feelings of melancholy sadness for listeners; its meaningful lyrics further invoke those feelings.
For optimal success in writing sad songs, authenticity must be at the center of all writing decisions. Listeners need to connect emotionally with a song before it has any chance of becoming meaningful to them; writing from the heart also prevents cliches or common errors that detract from its emotional impact.
An essential factor of making a sad song is using emotional-evoking instruments and vocals, both natural and deep in tone, that evoke feelings of sorrow in listeners. Furthermore, lyrics should describe specific events or experiences which cause sadness in listeners.
Finally, lyrics of a sad song should convey an optimistic and upbeat message to its listeners. John Lennon’s Hey Jude depicts grief over a loved one’s departure while also serving as an anthem for love and forgiveness.
Research has demonstrated that mumbling, dark timbre and lowest pitch are strongly correlated with sadness capacity; however, low energy may not be an apt proxy for measuring sadness capacity.
Instead, it may be more insightful to consider that acoustic features that predict sadness capacity might be related to instruments’ abilities to manipulate pitch, timbre, loudness and articulation in ways similar to human vocal performance; as this would explain why these particular acoustic features correlate strongly with expression of sadness.
What makes a happy song happy?
When it comes to writing happy songs, the key ingredients include melodic phrasing, chord progression and musical breaks that create an uplifting feel in the music. Lyrics and vocal style also play a critical role in how people will perceive this music; using major tonality may make the song sound bright and optimistic while adding seventh chords or modal shifts can bring even greater feelings of joy and happiness into play.
Melody is the cornerstone of song, serving as its foundation. Happy songs usually use major keys for their melody to evoke positive emotions while sad songs may use minor keys instead. Furthermore, its note sequence may influence perception: descending chords tend to elicit feelings of melancholia while ascending ones tend to bring joyousness and upbeat vibes.
An upbeat song usually contains lyrics with positive themes such as love or joy that uphold or inspire listeners, with its rhythm and tempo having an effect on how listeners respond. Instrumentation also has a significant role, with pianos or guitars more often associated with happy music versus orchestral and electronic instruments that tend to dominate sadder songs.
Music therapists leverage their understanding of how different musical elements evoke emotions to help their patients improve mood and overall wellness. According to research by Mullerlight, 32% of adult respondents use music daily as a form of therapy, turning specifically to specific tracks when feeling down and trying to lift their mood. This was reported as effective way of creating smiles on people’s faces!
Examples of happy songs include The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun”, Pharrell Williams’s “Happy”, and Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”. All three utilize upbeat melodies, catchy rhythms, and positive messages to create their impactful messages and provide listeners with comforting nostalgia or warmth that are particularly beneficial.