Why is it that when people are sad, they listen to sad music?

Question

It's much more healing to listen to happy, calming music!

Umm... please don't punch Bobby McFerrin. I was talking about mellow rock like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

On second thought, punch him. Now I have Don't Worry, Be Happy stuck in my head.

Answer 1

I never really understood this concept either. My best guess is that it might make some feel better to hear a tortured artist who is even more despondent than they are. Makes you feel better by comparison.

Answer 2

I think it's more of the feeling that someone can commiserate with you when you're sad, cause you can't make your friends be as sad as you are when you are lonely, so you listen to songs that are sad, or bitter or whatever it was you're feeling at the moment. Cause it may seem that even for a while, that someone, who wrote that song understands what you are feeling.

Sadness or loneliness is quite addictive, really. It has certain kind of appeal, that draws people to be sad, I'm sure a lot people would disagree, but it is true. When you're sad, every little thing seems to be amplified a hundred times, so it only seems befitting to listen to sad songs, to amplify your sadness more.

Answer 3

Because your method just makes me want to go punch Bobby McFerrin in the face.

Answer 4

misery loves company. People who are miserable feel better when they are with others who feel miserable. It gives them a chance to work out their feelings and get it out of their systems. It's pretty difficult to go to a party or be happy when something bad has happened or you feel down and out. However, if it continued for too long then there would be a problem. They could start spiralling into a much deeper sadness leading to depression. Everyone needs to be left to their sadness for a little while before it's time to help pull them out of it if they can't do it themselves.

Answer 5

I guess the sad music shows them that they aren't alone in what they're going through. That may ultimately make them feel better than covering up the pain with something happy. Once the happy song ends, they'll just be sad again.

Answer 6

You get very moody. When you're so sad or angry, you forget about the happy. So listening to sad music is the only thing left.

Answer 7

I don't purposefully listen to it. Usually I try to find the wildest song on my iPod and distract myself that way, something like Evanescence (loud and cool, like My Last Breath) or 30 Seconds To Mars (The Kill or Attack or something) or whatever...
Mostly I just turn it on and it's on a sappy sad dong...
It kinda stinks when that happens.

Answer 8

I try my best to avoid getting more sad, having my little animal friends with me gives me a meaning to stay happy. I am human and shed tears once in a while though. good luck ^_^

Answer 9

sad music is soft & goes on a slower track , as when people are sad their mind also produces reactions at slower rate ,
if ew listen hard rock it will surely give headech to us

Answer 10

because they want to feel like theyre not the only ones going through issues or troubles. Sometimes those songs give hope so they listen to them to somehow feel better and forget their problems.

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