When I was little my mother would sing me very sad World War I and II songs and songs about death, tragedy, etc.
Songs about children dying, fathers dying in coal mines, etc.
I can still sing all of songs and have found them on YouTube as well.
I find myself attracted to and comforted by melancholy music more so than any other. Perhaps it stems from these early experiences.
I once read a book about the melancholy songs of the civil war and how it helped the population of that time deal with the collective grief of such a brutal war.
They make me feel better in general, always, don’t really know why. There’s something cathartic in dark songs and tragic stories. Maybe it makes me more familiar with negative stuff, so it doesn’t pile up over time and then collapse suddenly. Then again, I don’t think I can name 10 songs I listen to often that are happy or positive in any way, so it might be just something I’m attracted to.
Special shout out to Dark Funeral with their songs When I’m Gone, Unchain My Soul, and the very direct My Funeral. These may seem distasteful on their own, but I find them quite calming and relaxing with the music.
Of course, validation is helpful for people that feel depressed or sad. Dark lyrics speak to a listener and remind them that they’re not alone in their struggle.
Having those connections confirms that their experience, thoughts and feelings are a fundamental (albeit challenging) part of the human condition. The song brings those ideas to the forefront where they can be processed.
When done correctly, moody music is an effective instrument of catharsis for the writer and listener.
Not really, most times. It just makes me look at things with an even viler perspective towards the things I already have a low-mood or tolerance to as is.
Yes, absolutely. It affirms that I’m not alone in my frustration and sadness. I like songs that have an upbeat or energetic feel alongside the dark lyrics though, it helps get me boppin’.
i like to bump the tunes i bumped in my angstiest yrs to reinforce the fact that im the same person and ive made it in the crazy busy parts of my curremt life. hardcore punk/ folk punk, anarcho, black metal, sludge, grind etc. i still love this shit and i can live up to my ideals while still being a proto-scumfuck 🖤
For short periods of time, it can be really cathartic to listen to songs that express my darker feelings, but if I listen to them for too long then it just perpetuates the low emotions. When I’m depressed, I need to listen to a variety. Fortunately, I’m usually too tired to search for songs when I’m depressed, so radio does the trick.
Yes, music is in the ear of the beholder, it has a way of connecting to your deeper self if you let it. The lyrics of a song can be very meaningful when you’re feeling depressed, maybe because your brain can put a spin on the lyrics meaning thats relatable to your personal situation. Music itself can connect to you in a way that reflects your emotions and so the song becomes personal to you. A favourite song can be a friend and partner when dealing with life’s complications
Like others have said, it helps me to get out the pent up tension. I can’t usually afford to go to a dark place while interacting with others, but in my car I can put on Mudvayne or something moody like Deftones and indulge the emotion.
It’s relatable, just kind of shallow humor, like Big Bang Theory. Jokes like that are just “I know something the ignorami don’t, I’m smarter than everyone” laugh track intensifies.
I loved this show for years and now finally have a job in IT and I’m not ashamed to admit that I have my message tone the “message for me” that Moss uses, As well as the emergency service jingle for my ring tone on my work phone.
It doesn’t make me feel better, per se, but they can coax out crying which can be cathartic.
It’s so weird because music has the capacity to change your mood, but when I’m sad I listen to sad music. Listening to happy music might be better, but I don’t feel happy enough to want to hear happy music. 🤷🏻♂️😭
Sometimes it does because hearing the music might make me emotional and help to get the emotion and thoughts swirling out of my head. The emotional release can be very relieving.
And can exhaust an emotion. Like, rather than deny or repressing like we do for most of the day, let’s get into it…put the sad album on repeat. But you can only listen to even a great album so many times (cough cough cure disintegration) before you need a change of feeling. And I suppose this coincides with our own feelings (but for the transient, fun life’s-ups-and-downs kinda sadness not the clinical life-affecting one with doctors and medication and occasional week on a locked floor).
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