No matter your opinion on it, pop music seems to be becoming sadder over time. Researchers have noted a steady decrease in songs that sound joyful while an increase has occurred for songs with sadder tones and emotional content.
This trend marks a revival in “sad girl” pop from artists such as Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, and Olivia Rodrigo – but can pop music really be classified as sad music?
Why is it so popular?
Pop music has the power to move you. But why? Perhaps the answer lies within our listener habits. With handheld devices and earbuds making up our daily musical consumption habits, many listeners consume music alone without sharing emotions with anyone else when listening, leading them to perceive pop songs as much sadder than they actually are.
But that doesn’t mean we listen to less sad music now; according to a recent study, our tastes for sad tunes have only become more emotive in recent years. Researchers conducted an in-depth examination of hundreds of popular songs and found that as upbeat pop tracks declined while melancholy ones increased; additionally more and more minor key songs are written; which may reflect how many are feeling more dejected or sorrowful now than they once were.
Sad music may also provide people with an outlet to vent their feelings safely. With mental health stigma fading and more artists opening up about their struggles, people may also turn to sad music for comforting relief – or “sad girl pop,” as this genre encapsulates young adulthood’s frustrations and discomforts.
While pop’s latest iteration can provide an effective outlet for expressing personal emotions, when applied incorrectly it can also be harmful. Labeling songs as “sad girl” may be demeaning for artists creating such music and make it appear that they are simply exploiting sadness for popularity purposes.
Pop music has an even deeper significance when heard in context, such as as soundtrack for movies or television shows. This makes its impact that much greater, as these moving scenes only reinforce its power further.
What makes it so sad?
Sad pop’s rise has coincided with celebrities and artists opening up about their mental health, creating an opportunity for more people to connect with music that speaks directly to their emotional experience. Artists such as Billie Eilish have done just this by revisiting ’90s “sad girl” music while Taylor Swift released one about heartache from failed relationships; all using personal struggle as inspiration to craft relatable hits for fans to relate to. All this happens during an age when discussing depression and anxiety is less stigmatized – many Gen Z artists come out about their personal battles while inspiring fans by talking openly about their own battles while Gen Z artists come out about sharing experiences from within themselves, creating relatable hits which draw fans closer together as an audience shares experiences as an audience member can relate.
The popularity of playlist-friendly moody pop capturing the emotional turmoil of modern life has found new audiences, particularly among teenagers who identify with this style. Gen Z have enthusiastically taken to this genre, with artists like MARINA and Olivia Rodrigo pouring their hearts out in songs such as ‘Drivers License’ and ‘With Every Heartbeat.’
Sad pop music typically utilizes a minor key, which accentuates its melancholic undertones through lyrics. Furthermore, the lower pitch creates an intimate sound which gives off feelings of closeness and vulnerability. Furthermore, its tempo and tone also play a part in its appeal, with slower tempos having an more melancholy tone to them.
Studies have demonstrated that contemporary pop music has become less optimistic over time, as evidenced by studies which show less love songs being written now while more desperation and fear-themed ones have surfaced instead. This trend could be explained by increased mental health awareness with more people seeking treatment for depression and more being diagnosed as such.
Sad pop is a reflection of what many young people are going through today – be it personal heartbreaks, fears of losing relationships or keeping up with social media; many find comfort hearing about other people experiencing similar difficulties.
How do you know if a song is sad?
Creating music to convey sadness or other negative emotions is an incredibly effective form of artistic expression for musicians. This art form can act as an outlet, helping artists release difficult feelings and move past melancholic periods in life, while listeners connect to and identify with it. For a good sad song to come through, singer-songwriters should use honest lyrics that take audiences on an emotional journey through tension and anticipation; metaphors, idioms and double entendre can also help convey desired sentiments effectively.
Studies have demonstrated that people typically prefer sad music when they’re experiencing feelings that correspond with those being conveyed in its lyrics. Furthermore, studies suggest that people may prefer it over happier tunes in stressful or tense situations due to its potential ability to relieve tension. Sad music may therefore serve as an effective form of stress relief.
People may enjoy sad music because it helps foster empathy for other people, particularly when the song depicts serious events like death or relationship breakup. Listening can make listeners empathize with both the artist and story being told – it also acts as a great distraction from one’s own problems by tuning into someone else’s struggle and empathizing with them instead of themselves.
Studies have also demonstrated that certain acoustic characteristics of music can help determine whether a piece is sad or happy; slow rhythms and minor chords were found to trigger sadness in listeners while faster rhythms with major chords tend to invoke happiness in listeners.
How can you tell if a pop song is sad? A reliable indicator is whether it was written and performed by a well-known artist; otherwise it may be less so. An unfamiliar band or solo artist are less likely to create sad music.
What can you do about it?
No one would dispute that our musical tastes have become increasingly saddening over time. From listening to albums at home on personal stereos to public blasting through headphones, many popular hits are now designed to induce feelings of despair.
And that doesn’t necessarily have to be seen as a negative thing. While positive emotions tend to be beneficial for mental health, research indicates that sadness can also be quite pleasurable when used within music context. Listening to songs with sad music can even make one feel less alone and isolated (Van den Tol & Edwards 2013).
This trend may be driven by similar forces as any other pop music trend: audiences like to listen to songs they can relate to. Artists such as Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and other rising stars create music that speaks directly to their generation, which contributes greatly to its popularity.
They sing about the insecurities and pain of young adulthood that many can relate to, creating a lasting bond with their fans through shared experience.
Mental health awareness has increased significantly. Pop stars such as Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomez and Dua Lipa are all willing to speak publicly about their own experiences with anxiety and depression; similarly other musicians within genres may openly share about them on social media platforms such as Twitter.
With streaming platforms facilitating independent artists’ releases directly to audiences, aspiring musicians are now more easily able to release their music directly into mainstream culture – but given how often music is consumed on handheld devices it can quickly turn dark or melancholic without much warning.
Though many popular pop hits of recent years may sound more melancholic than cheerful, there have been exceptions that manage to bring joy. Blinding Lights by The Weeknd and Levitating by Dua Lipa stand out as upbeat numbers that still manage to make you smile.