POV: You’re scrolling TikTok after yet another emotional night of talking to your situationship (person who isn’t clarifying their feelings, but still has an emotional connection to you) On TikTok, you see a creator participating in the popular, TikTok slideshow feature with the trending audio of Prince & The Revolution’s hit single “Purple Rain.” However it’s not the slideshow that’s upsetting you, it’s the rather striking lyrics, “I never wanted to be your weekend lover…”
Sad music can provoke sensitive emotions within listeners through these lyrically compelling tracks. Popular artists of this genre are Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lizzy McAlpine, known for their renowned melancholy and somber albums. QUEST sophomore Lily Calzada says, “Sad music has impacted my life by allowing me to explore and be in touch with my feelings whenever I’m sad. It has also helped me in connecting with the artists through their lyrics, finding that they apply to my life as well.”
Certain somber tracks can have significance to listeners, and PEACE junior Vienna Stonis says, “I really enjoy ‘Will You Cry?’ by Gracie Abrams. I enjoy the song because the song replicates such raw [and] vulnerable emotions that the music industry lacks at times.”
All in all, the ongoing epidemic and rise of sad music artists and albums can take listeners away from their regular lives and transport them into a magical and emotional listening experience. These songs can be relatable for listeners and be a place they can revisit when listening to a specific song or artist.
