Stop listening to sad music when you are already sad
Photo courtesy of Ralph_PH / Wikimedia Commons
Somber music can cause one’s mood to worsen, especially when the lyrics align with the listener’s personal situation.
A common cycle I find myself falling into is listening to the most gut-wrenchingly sad music when I already feel incredibly down. While, at times, it can be a healthy way to release negative emotions I have been holding in, more often than not, listening to sad music only makes matters worse.
With the current uprising of situationships— romantic situations in which the relationship or its boundaries are not defined —plaguing today’s generation, many young individuals turn to stereotypically sad music to help them recover or cope.
My question is: How can one be shocked that every time they listen to heartbreaking music like boygenius, they become even sadder? Take boygenius’s song, “Cool About It, ” which is about complicated situationships with romantic partners. Some lyrics within this song include “I can walk you home and practice method acting / I’ll pretend being with you doesn't feel like drowning.”
Listening to lyrics like this while you're already down in the dumps will inevitably make you feel even worse. Think of this from a logical standpoint— these lyrics can cause you to create scenarios in your head that have not even happened. Specifically, picking songs that relate to your current situation can be incredibly harmful to your mental health, spiraling into an endless cycle of not feeling enough or feeling like you will never find love ever again.
Another culprit of producing sad songs is legendary pop star Taylor Swift. While many of her popular songs are upbeat and typical of the genre, she also has many tracks with sentimental meanings and somber melodies.
A perfect example of this is her song “The Archer,” from Lover (2019). Although this song was released many years ago, it gained much traction in 2024 after being featured on her world tour’s setlist. Even without knowing the backstory of why this song was written, listeners can still draw meaning from the descriptive words and language used.
Heartbreaking lyrics from this song include “I wake in the night / I pace like a ghost / The room is on fire / Invisible smoke / And all of my heroes / Die all alone / Help me hold on to you.”
These lines specifically highlight an internal struggle that is causing someone to panic and break down. Those struggling with friendships— or simply feeling alone —may find that they relate to this. If one had these feelings of loneliness, listening to this song would only make matters worse. Instead, one should listen to another Taylor Swift song, which features a happy theme and an upbeat melody.
If you are unsure how to find playlists that will not leave you in the dumps, many people create playlists specifically intended to bring good vibes! Simply searching for a happy playlist— or even something ultra-specific, like “windows down on a sunny day” —will bring you pre-made lists of songs that should help bring a smile to your face.