I have always been a massive fan of “sad music”; however, I noticed that when I refrained from listening to music of a melancholy nature, my attitude towards life was more positive. Of course, this concept probably seems like common sense to most people, but some sad music is truly so captivating that it is hard to resist.

For example, Phoebe Bridgers is one of my favorite artists of all time, but I found that when I listened to her too much, especially in the mornings, I ended up feeling that same sense of sadness that she sings about, throughout the whole day even if I had nothing, in particular, to be sad about.

So, for about the last two weeks, I stopped listening to “sad music” entirely, even including Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poet’s Department. My recent go-to playlist has been filled with Jack Johnson…, in fact, nearly only Jack Johnson songs. While some may argue I am going a bit far by only listening to one artist, his songs bring me such joy that I just can’t help myself. Potentially, the reason for my happiness from Jack Johnson songs is rooted in nostalgia because I used to have all of his CDs and played them nonstop as a kid. Nonetheless, I firmly believe that happier songs equate to a happier outlook.

While I think that listening to uplifting music during unhappy times can help lift a person’s spirits, there is something to be said about finding comfort in sad music. Being able to feel as though you have someone to relate to during dark times is soothing to the soul. In counterargument to my original point, Aubrey Esparza (12) states, “There is still a sense of relatability that comes with somber music though,” It is almost as if, no matter the circumstances, you feel less alone because someone else has likely gone through the same situation or emotions.

With that being said, I would argue that there is a fine line between being comforted by sad music and having unfortunate experiences get dragged out due to the sad music. It’s good to feel your emotions and allow yourself to process them, but it is not good to wallow in them.

I must admit, you should probably take everything I say with a grain of salt, as I typically have a more emotional tie to the sound and production of songs, rather than lyrics, so I’m still going to listen to Phoebe Bridger’s songs like “The Gold”, just perhaps may stay away from “Funeral” and “Moon Song”, as they sound too sad for me.