Aimee Mann: People ask me why my songs are so depressing

[@emiliojoseguimaraes7617]

Aimee’s songs sound depressing but they are not. Her songs go deep and heal the damage inside us. For me, her music gives a lot of me strength to carry on ! And I thank her for it!

[@trry699]

Deep, like Jackson Browne.

[@jonb7934]

Word

[@gennadicole7102]

Her song todays the day! Literally gave me the confidence snd power to leave an extremely mental and physically abusive relationship of 5 years. Essentially, she saved my life because he had the mentality of if he can’t have me no one else will. I woke up in the middle of the night and left with the clothes on my back 🥺! Aimee will always have a special place in my heart.

[@neighborsteffen3760]

her songs are not depressing at all 😊

[@kristine5688]

Listening to Aimee has been a lifesaver for me. Each song I feel is like a therapy session. Best lyricist of all time I feel.

[@waytootoodeep5042]

Unpretentious, down-to-earth, humble, nice, smart, just cool. G-ddamn, she's awesome.

[@DigitalCamera0]

my fav song is wise up from Magnolia. I love how pt anderson used her song in one scene but I remember Aimee from the 80s group til tuesday.

[@Jim1971a]

Her songs aren't depressing to me. I think she likes to get inside people's heads and figure them out, and then write songs from their point of view. It's interesting so see what Aimee sees inside other people's heads; what she notices, or what she thinks they are feeling or thinking. Plus the music is always fantastic.

[@junsantos4620]

Yeah i agree.. for me its relaxing...

[@moonbeanification]

"To be interested and engaged is to be happy" ... well said Aimee, well said...

[@modelleg]

Agreed. I wish I knew her or had a clone of my own.

[@nhdawgrooma]

Bravo Aimee

[@redwings90]

Aimee is 55, but looks 40! She looks great and is still going strong! Good for her!

[@mattyjones3516]

I have listened to her music on and off since 1986, and I have found it to be original and entertaining, never depressing.

[@onenotused9327]

A lot of us Love Aimee : )

[@paulelliott3220]

Depressing or happy, are these really the only options ? How about interesting, observational, personal, witty, clever, honest - stupid questions to answer Aimee writes and sings and her stuff is amazing on lots of levels She's a treasure and new album going to be another great one

[@AJ-yw7hf]

Excellent comment you made regarding Aimee Mann's music! Yes, amazing on different levels. She's a treasure, yes.

[@kevinhawkey11]

Love Aimee! So interesting and thoughtful. Music is good but even better knowing where it comes from

[@avjake]

Great little interview. I love her attitude.

[@ericfoster2298]

Pretty sad state of affairs when somebody writing thoughtful & meaningful music is called "depressing."

[@1dborsey478]

I think the interviewer meant her music seemed depressing, I think she “Amy” is just so deep for other people for them to understand, maybe?

[@andyappleton3353]

@@1dborsey478 Nice thought but I doubt it. I think our culture has become so phony and superficial that if it's not pop-fluff, it offends a large segment of the population.

[@reubenfinklestein4496]

@@1dborsey478 Fair point, but as much as I adore Aimee, I don't go to her for joy in the way I go to, say, Rickie Lee Jones. No other woman, not even Joni or Laura Nyro, has told quite so many damning tales of damnable men.

[@jan-keesverschuure2436]

It says more about the people uttering it, than about Aimee's songs.

[@trichardsullivan3431]

Aimee Mann is the most talented songwriter since John Lennon. I think he would be very supportive of her philosophical take on life and her musical style. She is a fine artistic mirror.

[@jamesrockford2626]

lol... let's not get carried away... but then again, Lennon was pretentious azzhole

[@markw.9402]

great song writer but Elliott Smith was just a bit better

[@halleykunen1088]

Disagree!

[@ashakydd1]

I have always thought that her music, for the most part, has a very tongue-in-cheek feel to the lyrics.

[@youkyouk7471]

Her songs make me happy, simply Happy !

[@davidfaas58777]

Aimee Mann is a gifted talented Artist even back in the 80s with til tuesday Dave - Minnesota

[@reedcriswell6654]

I love Aimee Mann. She doesn't take any sh1t. She just makes beautiful music. I love her.

[@danlynch8520]

People don't know how to take responsibility for their own feelings. When one person sees or hears something they feel a certain way. That doesn't mean everyone will feel that way.

[@veerchasm1]

Aimee is such an observant writer, smart and witty

[@Teralek]

wisdom is strong with this one...

[@breezyvibe]

great songwriter+clever = aimee mann

[@Qrayon]

She makes sense. Now I know how to explain this to people.

[@joakimlundgren7043]

A guy told me he went to an outdoor concert many years ago, the rain was pouring but the audience stayed. They remained, he said.

[@ericpmoss]

IMO all of her best songs had sad lyrics and happy or at least energetic tunes. The contrast is what made them fun without being sappy, and deep without being dreary.

[@genevabecker8441]

Aimee is the goddess of music...her songs are educational...not depressing...

[@diegoerazo5453]

love aimee.

[@dormandavis2767]

Your music is great Amy keep it up

[@michaelmmoore991]

Please continue to depress me, Aimee...please.

[@Palace-of-Madness]

I prefer her more nu wave stuff... But I still dig a lot of her newer stuff. She's awesome

[@ekanjohn1]

to be interested and engaged is to be happy

[@katwashere194]

Her songs are emotional, not depressing. It’s not the same thing

[@djsoxy1249]

Love all your songs

[@Bikewithlove]

Aimee’s songs are about conflict, and there’s definitely anger there, which is inseparable from sadness & disappointment/resentment. What’s positive and humorous about it is that she’s coming from a healthier, observational point of view, on the cusp of awareness of the pathology all around us that anyone in their right mind has to constantly reckon with. Aimee has a way of making those of us whose happiness has been compromised feel less alone, so in that way yeah, it’s joyful/restorative. Aimee’s that smart, insightful, jaded friend I never had.

[@meg-k-waldren]

2:48. MAJOR FACTS!!!!! Now that's perspective on life.

[@mariannehutchison1698]

You are an inspiration to me. ...really!

[@lurgee29]

enjoying all the dialogue in comments about depressing/happy songs. all true CHECK: K'S CHOICE "ALMOST HAPPY". please do

[@1dborsey478]

I listen to so many many artists and I noticed especially over the past two years of my life I look at what my repertoire of my lists of music, songs artists are almost entirely women artists. However whatever reaches my soul, my spirit that keeps me holding on comes from either gender. I remember quite a long time ago I don’t know for certain, maybe 15 years ago even longer I would dream in musical notes and melodies wake up and run to the dining room grab a piece of paper and draw a G clef and proceed to make notes half notes full notes up and down the scale of the bars so I wouldn’t forget and damned if I’d go back to it and hum it sure enough at least I remembered what music or melodies I had dreamt! I don’t have those dreams anymore but in the past two years I have terrible nightmares of running away or wanting to from a terrible fear of past traumas having things that people want to take away or even losing something . Yesterday I fell asleep for an hour when I woke up I was so terrified that I’d lost my purse and just couldn’t find it no matter how hard I tried! I was stuck with this looming feeling for quite awhile after I woke up! It really disturbed me. Now I realize it really wasn’t about any old purse it was about losing something of far greater importance my purse symbolized something, I just don’t know what!

[@3putt548]

Great comments from Aimee. I liked when she said, “I really don’t think I know anything but I’m willing to learn”. She says that there’s something to learn from everybody, even an idiot. Not saying it hurtfully but very introspective. Wish there were more people in the world like Aimee! Sadly in many respects, it’s a world filled with violence and corruption!

[@oldskoolmusicnostalgia]

There's enough (way too many actually) fellows making party songs and happy songs out there, or terribly depressing ones. People like Aimee who can go beyond those stereotypes and tap into a greater range of emotions are badly needed. I don't find her music depressing: Voices Carry was very humorous and uplifting, she even managed to craft a breakup song like J For Jules which was heartfelt and filled with hope, not bitter. And importantly she writes her own material, does not simply perform "happy", cheerful stuff brought to her by hordes of producers and writers.

[@darnellmajor8895]

She's only had one good solo album which was her debut ''Whatever'' so obviously something isn't right with her LMAO

[@TheAncientColossus]

​@@darnellmajor8895Lost in Space.

[@TheAncientColossus]

​@@darnellmajor8895That's your opinion.

[@1dborsey478]

That’s the one ☝️ statement that hit me the most deeply “engaged, interesting an inspiring!”

[@KERRYBARTRABER]

if I can make out- she overreacts? to her music? - have you played music? have you had a powerful emotion? it's hard to sing- I cry- I just play

[@coffeeninja8128]

I'm a little bored having 20year olds explain the world to me, so I'm delighted that there's a smart, 'still' pretty singer/songwriter in my age bracket who can write great songs. Of course, it might not be for those of the 20yr. old persuasion. Just saying.

[@moonbeanification]

coffeeninja81 I'm with ya!

[@coffeeninja8128]

Thanks! :-)

[@moonbeanification]

coffeeninja81 Yeah... listening again, I love her perspective. "I don't think happy songs are that happy because if there's no conflict, then it's not interesting... whatever happy means that's not it." And "...to be interested and engaged in things is to be happy." And DANG she can write a great song!

[@sophiajao2398]

Just Jeanne agreed

[@Cicilo1983]

Couldn't have said it better ! ;)

[@davidcarney1949]

Shes cool

[@SAIKOASAMIYA]

hi Opal

[@KERRYBARTRABER]

So I saw bumped into Aimee Mann in the 1980s - and she smiled at me!!- Tracy Chapman just had a handler- that turned people away- I really wasn't pursuing - like just- oh there she is, and she smiled at me

[@BobSicotteMusic]

I've never thought her music to be depressing but then again I am a song writer and artist and not mainstream typical listener who needs their caffeinated music to identify with waking up every day and facing the world.

[@benyoung4305]

I lije the Aimmee Mann face, exploring rh human condition is the way

[@Okulele-d4t]

depressing arts comfort people because they let'em know that there are someone who feels the same. that someone's as fucked up as you are. so keep on making songs that makes people want to kill themselves. so that they don't...

[@dotanon]

I really like how you worded this.

[@danlynch8520]

Yes we experience empathy with Aimee. "What people need most and get least is empathy." ~ Marshall Rosenberg founder of Nonviolent Communication

[@kirkwatson1442]

They are not depressed, try write one!❤

[@lpifitnessbrandproducts6774]

I dooooo, have a moment of wisdom!

[@kirkwatson1442]

Your...whip smart

[@kirkwatson1442]

Hay sayers...

[@gabrieltanguay9695]

Not a day goes by where I don’t appreciate Amy Mann.

[@noto37]

Clearly have no idea she's married to Michael Penn since 97' or are you being an idiot!

[@gmoney1413]

Aimee cussed, mommy. .

[@kirkwatson1442]

I need...a tie❤

[@BaronKimball]

Who thinks Aimee's songs are depressing?

[@evilpagan2342]

Baron Kimball Stupid people. 😁

[@kirkwatson1442]

Cigs and red vines❤

[@kirkwatson1442]

Are you...Tall?

[@sergiorodriguezleal8657]

opal!!!!

[@beloit22]

This chic is Spooky.

[@concerned3302]

I love Aimee's music. But when did she start teaching at Hogwarts?

[@billhughes869]

Where are my LP's Trump?

[@sueetennant4038]

Like Suzanne Vega.

[@747driver3]

Honestly. I like her but just a bit self absorbed. Writing songs to heal trauma……..real or exaggerated……might make you feel good but I’m not sure it’s good music. Her young self was much more energetic, fun and hopeful.

[@donanator1447]

Well I did like voices carry. Rest are kinda blaa.

[@KERRYBARTRABER]

let me guess you are Trump people- is that a Russian? posting in?

[@hellboy8328]

adams apple

[@trry699]

try and get a life

[@cloudbuster77]

Not depressing, why so BORING? Seriously. She used to make catchy songs and was pretty. Totally went in the wrong direction. Shame

[@amylynnhunt55]

Well, you are certainly allowed your opinion, but I can't imagine what you think she did wrong. And seriously, wth with "[she] was pretty"?? If i look half this good when i am 52, i will be one happy freaking camper. Aimee has been creating music since the early 1980s and all songs can't be Voices Carry :) The fact that she is still fully relevant 30+ years after her first radio hit is fantastic, IMHO!!!

[@cloudbuster77]

Her music post Til Tuesday is a droning, monotone borefest. Her pop music was good. She was hot back then. Now it is almost like she goes out of her way to appear mannish, boring looking and plain

[@bonmot7850]

cloudbuster77 dude she's like 50 years old in this, what do you want

[@kitrichardson5573]

Ranger9700 lol. I am opinionated but you are ridiculous

[@cloudbuster77]

@@kitrichardson5573 well, i think my opinion is the majority b/c since she went folky and changed her look her popularity sank