Focus on Arts and Ecology

By Jessica Hicks, May 14, 2022 

In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Happify Daily is releasing 31 new pieces of content to inspire, delight, and educate you so you can take better care of your mental well‑being.

Have you ever wondered why listening to sad songs about breakups and personal hardships always seems so satisfying when you're going through a down period yourself? Maybe it's because the composer has managed to perfectly capture the swirl of emotions you're feeling in ways you could never manage to articulate—as Elton John put it, "Sad songs say so much." Or perhaps it's because crying it out to a sad song is just what you need to feel better.

In a small study conducted by researchers from the University of South Florida's Mood and Emotion Lab, people who had been diagnosed with clinical or persistent depression demonstrated a strong preference for melancholy music and reported feeling better after listening to it. The researchers theorized that the appeal of sad songs may be related to its calming effect and not necessarily a desire to prolong a down mood.

Other research suggests you don’t even have to be feeling glum to reap the benefits of listening to some sad tunes. A recently published study in the journal Emotion suggests that emotional music may have the potential to evoke sensitivity and compassion from its listeners.

Check out this playlist if you’re looking to embrace your feelings when you’re down, mend a broken heart, or set the scene for a moody day:

1. “To Build a Home” by the Cinematic Orchestra

2. “Dancing on My Own” by Calum Scott

3. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac

4. “Hometown Glory” by Adele

5. “Hold Back the River” by James Bay

6. “Freakin’ Out on the Interstate” by Briston Maroney

7. “When I’m Down” by Chris Cornell

8. “Room at the Top” by Tom Petty

9. “Moon River” by Frank Ocean

10. “Fix You” by Coldplay

11. “Conversations in the Dark” by John Legend

12. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd

13. “Rivers and Roads” by the Head and the Heart

14. “Stubborn Love” by the Lumineers

15. “hope ur ok” by Olivia Rodrigo

16. “Too Good at Goodbyes” by Sam Smith

17. “In the Blood” by John Mayer

18. “After Rain” by Dermont Kennedy

19. “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol

20. “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars

Sign up for the Happify Daily newsletter, follow us on social media, and come back tomorrow for another edition of our 31 Days of Mental Health initiative in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month.

(Sources: Happify)