Music can be an amazing medium for expressing our emotions. It can help us cope with difficult feelings and cope with heartache more effectively, so here are some songs you should listen to when feeling sad.
Forty-four Western-educated musicians were asked to assess the relative sadness of various instruments familiar to them as well as estimate some acoustical properties of these instruments.
Mercedes Sosa
Mercedes Sosa was an esteemed singer of folk music who advocated using art as a form of social activism. One of her best-known songs, “Gracias A La Vida”, which describes life’s blessings and struggles, has since been covered by several artists such as Joan Baez and Kacey Musgrave.
Sosa was born and raised in Tucuman and felt an immense connection to her home city. As one of the pioneers of the Nuevo Cancionero movement, and one of Argentina’s foremost representatives of folk music. Through her music she emphasised storytelling while making people feel alive.
Sosa’s performance of Alfonsina y el mar was notable in that it subtly lessened patriarchal bias in its song material and offered an understanding of Storni’s historic character. Her provincial diction and simple emission, without vibrato or vibrato-free emission matched well with rural folk singing style expected of zamba singers; additionally her deep, dark timbre conveyed messages of truthfulness and communication that were appreciated by audiences both locally and internationally.
Reik
Reik has become known for their chart-topping latin pop songs. Of those, one standout track, Sabes, dealt with sadness. The song expresses how hard breakups can be; its YouTube views reached over 140 Million. Even years after its release people still listen to this timeless tune.
Recent research examined the frequency with which humans voice are used versus other instruments for conveying sadness through music. It revealed that voice was most frequently employed when conveying sad feelings in music, although violin, viola and piano also provided expressive support; violin and viola weren’t as successful while piano excelled in conveying emotional despair.
Mercedes Sosa’s song with its high vocal register and passionate string accompaniment is perfect for conveying feelings of sorrow. It tells the tale of poet Alfonsina Storni’s suicide; therefore it serves as an emotional tribute. Additionally, its musical structure recalls that of traditional Argentina dance called zamba.
Cristina Y Los Subterraneos
Cristina Y Los Subterraneos’ track “Corre” from their 2010 album combined pop and ranchera elements into its lyrics to convey a woman’s sadness over a failed relationship and wish that her partner would leave. It hit #1 worldwide charts and earned them the Latin Grammy Award.
Tu Falta de Querer by Cristina Y Los Subterraneos follows. This expressive track explores the singer’s desire to leave her lover, which she feels necessary for her happiness. The track features high vocal registers, yearning cello sounds, and passionate string instruments in an emotive song with expressive singing styles and expressive arrangements.
This track features slower tempo music that lends it a softer, more tranquil vibe. Expressive singing and instrumentation convey sadness over her lover leaving permanently; this sad Spanish song has been widely interpreted. Its words and melodic progression provide comforting comfort during heartbreak – plus this track includes an emotive chorus.
Lui Fonsi
Luis Fonsi first rose to global stardom as the singer of Despacito. Before that song became an international phenomenon, however, he was already an established Spanish-language heartthrob with pop charisma. Touring with Britney and recording with Christina were among his accomplishments; yet his greatest triumph came through evocative Latin balladry albums like Comenzare and Eterno which captured markets throughout Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela respectively; Paso a Paso even introduced him into international markets!
This song is an emotional ballad about two lovers experiencing tough times together. The voices of its singers are breathtaking and may cause tears to fall if you listen closely enough. Perfect for romantic scenes such as first wedding dances or other romantic ceremonies!
Luis Fonsi had long dreamed of joining Menudo as a boy band member; unfortunately he wasn’t successful at doing this; instead he participated in local boy bands such as Big Guys where he met future ‘N Sync member Joey Fatone. In 2002 he released his English-language album Fight the Feeling in an attempt to cross over into American audiences.
Andres Calamaro
Andres Calamaro was an exceptional keyboardist and key member of Los Abuelos de la Nada, helping craft many of their biggest hits such as Sin Gambulan and Mil Horos. Additionally, he collaborated with other bands and singers such as Charly Garcia, Indio Solari, Fabiana Cantilo.
Cuando Te Conoci captures the heartache experienced when one you love leaves for someone else. Its lyrics capture this sense of loss while conveying feelings such as regret and anger from its narrator.
This song has become one of the most acclaimed rock en espanol hits worldwide. Its sad sierreno sound and personal lyrics resonate deeply with new generations of fans, showing just how far Spanish rock en espanol has come in terms of style and emotion over time.
Gianluca Grignani
Una Chica Normal’s lyrics reveal how its protagonist wants his partner to remove her makeup because she looks better without it. He appreciates her natural beauty and believes she is more than just another pretty face. It is an ideal song to listen to while learning Spanish as its slow music and clear words make learning easy.
Gianluca Grignani’s Destinazione Paradiso was released in 1995 as his Sanremo Festival debut and quickly became one of his biggest hits in Italy – as well as serving as an opening act to his career in Spain.
Many of Grignani’s Italian colleagues relaxed their style once they reached middle age, yet Grignani maintained his rock look for poster boy appeal. One scroll through a TikTok page dedicated to him shows outfits resembling those worn by Kurt Cobain and Alice in Chains; additionally his long dark hair and large striped sweater worn over bare skin evoke a punk aesthetic.
Vicente Fernandez
Fernandez was popularly dubbed by his fans as “Chente”; one of the most successful ranchera singers. Beginning his career as a busker at bars and cantinas in the early 1960s, by mid-1970 he had recorded with Discos CBS (later Sony Music) records while beginning to dabble with acting; ultimately appearing in over 30 films before choosing music as his sole career path.
He is the recipient of numerous honors and accolades, such as being awarded with the key to San Antonio, Texas; being honored on Hollywood Walk of Fame; five Billboard/Univision Latin Music Awards for Mexican Regional Male Artist of the Year from 1989 through 1993 and receiving a Grammy award.
His music represents “old Mexico – an idyllic life of rural ranches, revolution and caballeros”. However, his life was marred by controversy when his son was kidnapped for ransom in 1998 and two of his fingers were cut off during captivity; later however he was returned home unharmed and died on December 12, 2018 aged 81 years.
Aitana
Aitana found fame as the youngest finalist on Spanish reality show Operacion Triunfo season nine. This achievement marked an amazing breakthrough after only three years since she first launched her musical career by posting cover versions on YouTube. Shortly afterwards she recorded self-penned songs in a professional studio before releasing them as her debut album Spoiler later that same year, where singles such as Telephono reached number 1 charts across Spain and Mexico.
Townes Van Zandt was one of the premier writers of country sad songs of the ’70s, crafting some of its most heartbreaking ballads like this one from his debut album that catapulted his career: an old-fashioned yet overpowering tale of outlaw tragedy, cruelty and heartbreak that has since been covered by various artists such as Natalie Imbruglia, The Corrs and Psychic TV among others – it remains a powerful, poignant number today.
This slow and sombre pop song sets your pulse racing even before its lyrics have started, yet is not suitable for everyone. Although the cool guitar, great beat and applause-like sounds don’t hide its sad tale of heartache, this track should still leave you in no doubt about its message of anguish and sadness.