A study has shown, sad songs can evoke positive emotions. According to researchers at the Tokyo University of the Arts and the RIKEN Brain Institute music that was deemed sad made participants feel somewhat upset, but mainly produced romantic and inspired emotions. Common descriptive words were: allured, wistful, nostalgic, and tender. And it’s these emotions that help us get over the more unpleasant ones.
If we suffer from unpleasant emotion evoked through daily life, sad music might be helpful to alleviate negative emotions.
Participants in the study were moved by classical music, but there are plenty of songs in other genres that are good to wallow in—er, I mean, utilise in your more miserable moments.
Below is the Rolling Stones top 10 list of sad songs of all time. Do you think they got it right? Do you have any other songs you would add? Let us know in the comment section below.
1. Eric Clapton – ‘Tears in Heaven’
2. Nine Inch Nails – ‘Hurt’
3. R.E.M. – ‘Everybody Hurts’
4. Harry Chapin – ‘Cat’s in the Cradle’
5. Nirvana – ‘Something in the Way’
6. George Jones – ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’
7. Pearl Jam – ‘Black’
8. John Prine – ‘Sam Stone’
9. Alice in Chains – ‘Nutshell’
10. Hank Williams – ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’
RIRI - 6 years ago
Ray Price — For the Good Times
Sad but beautiful–I just love this song!