Why do people like sad music? 6 Minute English

Improve your English listening and vocabulary with BBC Learning English! A recent study has shown that sad music has become increasingly popular, but why do people choose to listen to it, and what goes on in the brain and the body when they do so? Sam and Neil talk about music and biology and teach you some vocabulary.
You'll find audio and text for download on our website: www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/...
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬:
Is tourism harmful?
• Is tourism harmful? 6 ...
Does your name start with the wrong letter?
• Does your name start w...
Are you good at complaining?
• Are you good at compla...
Can you spot a lie?
• Can you spot a lie? 6 ...
𝐕𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲:
𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝
have a strong dislike of
𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞
a natural chemical produced in the body
𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
the process in mammals of producing milk
𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
calming and soothing, making you feel better emotionally
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧
what’s happening
𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟
too much or a more than normal amount of something
[Cover: Getty Images]
#BBCLearningEnglish #6MinuteEnglish #LearnEnglish

[@bbclearningenglish]

Don't be sad... Dan’s going to help you clean up your English with cleaning verbs (and make you laugh)! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJmlgIVoo9GHqpo

[@chinguyen4108]

Thank you so much 😍😍😍my dear

[@areejidea]

🥰🥰🥰😘😘😘😍😍😍

[@datnlt]

Sometimes listening to a sad song is a greatest therapy

[@bbclearningenglish]

It really can be! Do you have a preferred genre for music for when you are sad?

[@user-tl1qu8sb6c]

Sad music reduces stress,makes you feel better My father died 11years ago,I miss him so much I listen to K.Agilera,,Hurt,, Andrea Bochelly, soundtreck ,,Shindler's List ,Ed Sheeran .It helps!!!!

[@FascinatingGlobalDiscoveries]

@@bbclearningenglish 'call out my name' by the weeknd

[@adelinaarens332]

shuaib abdulrasheed muhammad ohhhh you’re right ❤️

[@buiduyanh6643]

Great treatment

[@thuybui-qf9bt]

Sam: Hello. This is 6 Minute English, I'm Sam. Neil: And I'm Neil. Sam: Do you like sad music, Neil? Neil: Well, when I was younger and if I had a break-up with a girlfriend I would listen to sad songs, songs which reflected my mood. Sam: And do you still listen to those songs now? Neil: Not so much, but I do still like them. Sam: Well, it seems as if there might be a biological reason why some of us do like sad songs. We'll look at this topic a little more after this week's quiz question, which is about music videos. The music video has been around for a while, but in what year was MTV, the first dedicated music video channel, launched in the US? Was it... A: 1981, B: 1982, or C: 1983? Neil: Well... Sam: What do you think, Neil? Neil: I'm going to guess. Is it the early 1980s? Sam: Well, yes. Care to be more specific? Neil: Well... Well, it was a long time ago - I was just a small boy. I'm going to go for 1982. Sam: OK, I'll have answer later in the programme. But first, more about sad songs. Professor David Huron from Ohio State University has conducted research in this area and he discussed it recently on a BBC World Service radio programme - The Why Factor. He was looking at why some people like sad music and other people really don't like it all, as he says they just can't stand it. He believes it's to do with a hormone. A hormone is a natural chemical in our bodies which can have an effect on various systems and also emotions. Listen out for the name of the hormone he mentions. Professor Huron: One of the things that we were interested in was -what's the difference between people who listen to sad music and who love it, and people who listen to sad music and who just can't stand it. In our research, it started pointing towards a hormone called prolactin. Now, prolactin, as you might have guessed from the name, is associated with 'lactation' from breast-feeding. When people cry, they also release prolactin. And, there are circumstances in which prolactin seems to have this comforting effect. Sam: So which hormone did he mention? Neil: He talked about the hormone called prolactin which he said was connected to lactation. This is the production of milk by mammals to feed their young. Sam: What he noted was this hormone can be released when people cry and in some cases this hormone has a comforting effect. When something is comforting, it makes you feel better, it calms your emotions. Let's listen again. Professor Huron: One of the things that we were interested in was -what's the difference between people who listen to sad music and who love it, and people who listen to sad music and who just can't stand it. In our research, it started pointing towards a hormone called prolactin. Now, prolactin, as you might have guessed from the name, is associated with 'lactation' from breast-feeding. When people cry, they also release prolactin. And, there are circumstances in which prolactin seems to have this comforting effect. Sam: So, what conclusions did he make about this hormone and how it might be working? Professor Huron explains. Professor Huron: So the thought was that, perhaps what's going on is that the people who are enjoying listening to sad music are receiving some sort of excess of prolactin, and people who are listening to sad music and they just find it incredibly sad and unhelpful and they just don't want to listen to it, maybe they're not getting enough prolactin when they listen to the music. Sam: So what is happening? Or as Professor Huron said, what's going on? Neil: Well, it seems quite simple, though I'm sure it's very complicated. People who like sad music are maybe getting too much prolactin or more than is normal - he describes this as an excess of prolactin. And maybe people who don't like sad music aren't getting enough. Sam: So, the idea is that prolactin is a hormone which we find comforting. If our bodies release it when we hear sad music, it gives us a good feeling - but if prolactin isn't released or there isn't enough of it, we just find the sad music sad and it doesn't help to cheer us up. Neil: I guess so, but you know emotions are funny things - it's weird to think that our feelings are caused by different natural chemicals that run around the body. Sam: Absolutely! OK, we're going to take another look at today's vocabulary but first, the answer to this week's quiz. The music video has been around for a while, but in what year was MTV, the first dedicated music video channel, launched in the US? Was it... A: 1981, B: 1982 or C: 1983? And Neil, you said... Neil: I said it was definitely the early 80s. Sam: Well, you're not wrong there, but which year exactly? Neil: '82? Sam: Ah well, you'll need to dig out a sad song to make you feel better now because the answer was 1981. Neil: Oh dear, I can feel my prolactin levels dropping already! Sam: I'm sure you can't! But let's move on to vocabulary. If you can't stand something, it means you really don't like it. Neil: A hormone is one of the body's natural chemicals. Sam: And the hormone prolactin is connected with lactation, which is the production of milk by mammals. Neil: Something that is comforting makes you feel better emotionally. Sam: The phrase 'what's going on' has a very similar meaning to 'what's happening'. Neil: And an excess of something is 'too much or a more than normal amount of that thing'. Sam: Well, before you have an excess of our company, we should wrap up. Thanks for listening and we hope you'll join us again soon. As ever, don't forget that you can find more from the BBC Learning English team online, across social media and on our very own app! Bye for now! Neil: Goodbye!

[@dreamsnirob4752]

How it possible 🤔

[@user-sr4zr1nn9s]

thank you a lot!:-)

[@user-sr4zr1nn9s]

@@dreamsnirob4752 ye, how it possible 🤔?

[@thuybui-qf9bt]

@@user-sr4zr1nn9s if you want, you find the way. if you don't want, you find the reason :)))) , just kidding. If I comment on the subscription of the video, it's easier for me to learn on mobile phone :)

[@lnln5786]

gosh you wrote it

[@ngocthachtruong9889]

I used to suffer from chronic depression. Whenever I had a strong tide of negative emotions or something unexpected came up and triggered my pain in the past, I would hide myself in sad music and cry a lot. After crying, I felt released and got better and my pain even no longer had strong effects on me. Later, I have turned sad music into healing music and some sort of calm or peaceful music which helps activate my deep tranquility and get back to normal immediately.

[@bbclearningenglish]

Great that you have found some methods to improve your happiness and that you have been able to use music as a tool to help you overcome your depression. We hope your comment is able to help others who are suffering a tough time to also overcome their difficult period. Thanks for your comment. 🥰🥰

[@nicholaserwin988]

It’s more comforting to listen to something relatable than to listen to something happy…that’s like telling someone who is depressed to be happy….it doesn’t work that way and that’s what I’m looking for in music

[@arshadbahadur1409]

Sad music usually helps me to feel better, I do listen to sad music almost every day. Sadnessless songs are unable to touch my soul. Thanks, BBC Learning English for choosing such a nice topic.

[@bbclearningenglish]

Great music. Sad songs can give us great cartharsis. There's definitely a power to them. 👍

[@truongvunguyen355]

It touchs my emotion!

[@fryderyk_chopin_sir_newton]

Chopin's music is always so sad and I love it very much.

[@kaiwenw.1705]

That's exactly me!!! I really fall for sad loving songs 🎶 is it because of the hormone?? Maybe I just enjoy the feeling of being sorrow in some particular situations. Yep, it's a kind of emotional therapy

[@ManjitKaur-sr3uj]

I listen sad song whenever I m totally broke down and words are so encouraging me to give up again in my life.... 😞😞... I want to clear my ielts test.. Down the road the success will be mine... A sad song with motivational quotes always give me a great Satification in my mind 😊

[@navjotsingh7297]

Conclusion is when a person is enjoying sad music that means his body is releasing prolactin in excess whereas if he is feeling unhappy that means his body is not relasing enough prolactin hormone that is responsible for soothing our mood.

[@user-qd1kz9sp1k]

Your content is always interesting. Thanks for your work.

[@VyLe-td7mu]

I love your voices and really enjoy listening to

[@martinkawaii7992]

i think people like sad music because it helps them think about a lot of things. i like sad music too, but i listen it when i feel bad. when i’m happy i listen happy music. it depends on my mood. this video was very interesting for me.

[@mhcsbn]

I can't definitely have excess of you guys. Thank you very much ❤

[@tgchan]

Thank you, BBC. 💚

[@buthainanajjar8886]

You are amazing . Your six minutes equals hours .Thank you for your great effort

[@carlosarturoguerrerosegura9246]

The official song for me is: there”ll be sad songs from Billy Ocean and fits perfectly in this episode.

[@an0498]

Thanks to BBC learning English!

[@lordking3241]

Thanks Sam and Neil

[@thuhanguyen2942]

Before I would have a listening exam, I turned on BBC eng channel to relieve my anxiety. Hope I will get high score

[@sergiobright6893]

Thank you!

[@buthainanajjar8886]

you are amazing ! Your six minutes equals hours . Thank you for your great effort

[@vvdkl5234]

Thanks BBC you're helping me improve my English skills ❤

[@hosseinkeyvanlu2288]

That was so good. I love Sam too much. He is absolutely funny.

[@ximuoidethuong]

Thanks a lot

[@dreamitpossible3908]

Thanks so much BBC team Well done

[@benjaminestrada1670]

THANKYOU GREETINGS from México

[@TheFlowerbeast]

This was uploaded 6 minutes ago. So fitting!

[@andynguyen1133]

Thank you

[@hemantbaghel7401]

You are amazing. Your six minuts equal to hour. Thank,s for your great effort.

[@moulmour]

Thanks BBC!!!!

[@lazizamahmudboyeva2088]

Thanks for this information. ❤️

[@phuocversedk35dtm77]

thank you so much

[@sumily6910]

In as much as I need to use vocabulary from this video, I am writing this comment. I plague by depressive periods and whenever one of them happens to me, I listen sad music. All the time, I thought that I do it because I prone to romanticize my bad times and it helps me to bear my awful minds. Now I will take into account this fact that my organism just needs to prolactin. I also noticed that when i feel happy I can' t stand sad music.

[@marienoelle9724]

Truly, sad music 🎶🎶 can sometimes have a healing power🌱 to comfort people's pain. It's amazing how science👩‍🔬 nowadays is able to explain our emotions and relate them to the body's hormones🧠.

[@ngockhanhthunguyen2222]

I hear this chanel everyday. It’s a fascinating way to learn English. You’re well done!

[@RAVIYADAV-md5xn]

Wow while learning english I also learn about intersting fact . Well this video is amazing .So if I come on conclusion , the people who love to listen sad music ,they have prolactin harmone which help them to make comfortable themselves .And the people who don't like it all and just can't stand it ,due to the lackness of prolactin harmone . Yeah 😊 this fact is quite interesting .It means human every action is depend upon the harmone of a body . Our emotions is controlled by harmone .

[@ethanlee8086]

thank you

[@thedream6661]

What a good video to improve your listening

[@ilchacha]

It turns out there's a reason why we like listening to sad music. thankss BBC!

[@bbclearningenglish]

What's your favourite sad song?

[@audiobook1056]

Hello I am from India..Thank you BBB Learning English

[@braverprincess5396]

Thank you BBC 😊

[@asadullazadeh]

sad music gives us better time to consider

[@Pureforyouman]

good explain

[@petandyou]

Sad songs tug at my heartstrings

[@user-jj7je5vv4b]

Thank you for an interesting story. I can learn English and more.😊

[@sopharinkhem3482]

Thanks for your videos BBC Learning English. That’s helpful to improve my English and knowledge at the same times.

[@bbclearningenglish]

You're welcome. We're glad we could help!

[@Saretta9000]

I love it because it makes me reflect about many things

[@julianagarcia2335]

Hi, my name is karla García In my opinion, it is important to highlight the circumstances in which prolactin seems to have this comforting effect in some people, I was sad in me

[@Begaiym.__.7]

You are amazing!it’s great experience for me😍😍😍

[@xuanquangtran2831]

I like sad music because when listening to if , i feel happier.

[@ruslanayashchenko512]

Thanks, it's really useful 😘🥰🥰

[@shaxzodaxolboyeva8655]

Sometimes many people want to cry in this situations sad music's help me to cry🙈

[@youthclub7880]

it's good way to avoid stress and depression

[@khalidrustamiy9894]

if you no motivation to live , so you `ll cry all your life

[@blackzpo]

sad music sounds beautiful and make me quiet but not sadly !!

[@luungoclinh1343]

That' amazing

[@yasoalquaiti4765]

Thanks nail and rob for useful video

[@bbclearningenglish]

You are welcome.

[@davidwealthyguerrero3738]

You made my day! Thanks for the info guys. Hugs.

[@fairytailforever8747]

Now I know why I love sad songs....

[@DeepakSharma-ez1ti]

Tnx

[@jporolim]

Fantastic! I loved it!

[@bbclearningenglish]

Great!

[@noshulal]

Great

[@rawrow1968]

Yes very good

[@nataliaila468]

From this video I learned about connection between sad music and human’s hormones. According to research people who enjoy sad music have an excess of prolactin. And this hormone has comporting effect.

[@ddsssa]

Sad is part of human behaviour, all feelings are necesary

[@safadimo534]

Now I understand why listening to sad music made good mood for me

[@bbclearningenglish]

What type of music do you listen to when you're in a sad mood?

[@yjy9592]

@@bbclearningenglish victory

[@fcgalaxy2822]

You guys are awesome 👏. Keep spreading knowledge and education to the world 🌎💜

[@bbclearningenglish]

We will!

[@areejidea]

I LOVE YOU BBC

[@phatpham4399]

0:48 did anyone think the answers were 1991, 1992, 1993 and then realized we should have heard 198... instead? I am an English learner and I am always struggling with this kind of mistake when it comes to the listening test. Can anyone give me some advice for this? Many thanks!

[@SonPhan-tq4np]

Comforting: it make you feel better

[@sarahamidi1931]

great

[@sawzidunn7679]

When I feel sad or depressed,I listen to blues musics to make me feel even more depressed. And I kinda like that feeling.

[@user-dm1du2sq1i]

Great video! I didn't know, that our tastes depend on hormones. Certainly I have an excess of prolactin.

[@arminmp7781]

That's fascinating. I always love listening to sad music🎶😭 , it means i get more prolactin hormone 🥛🐄as i listen to sad songs . Actually it makes me feel comforting 😃 ✌️

[@brigittesaint-pe2604]

Hi There I am a big fan of " The Cure" ( English band) . This band and especially Robert Smith , has very sad songs. Poetic, realistic but so sad. They all express my feelings. Sometimes, I need to listen to them. Then, I can cry . And I feel very well...a breathing space.

[@bbclearningenglish]

We have a word for the feeling of relief after a cry - cathartic. That positive feeling after having a cry. An interesting band with some very moving lyrics. 😊

[@brigittesaint-pe2604]

@@bbclearningenglish Thanks a lot for your kind answer

[@brigittesaint-pe2604]

@@bbclearningenglish I think we have , once again, the same word as you, in French : Cathartique

[@nodirsayfiyev4466]

Awesome bro i am ganna also do like you bro appreciate you

[@Mathieu3327]

Well, listening to sad music might remind you of good times or maybe bad times but it's worth a try.

[@user-zb3cl9ko2r]

Good

[@rezaeliasy5040]

Im Iranian and when I listen to terribly sad songs by coldplay cohen radiohead daughtry, I have a feeling of something near Rescue

[@abhijeetkhandare9437]

I like and enjoy ur 6 mints videos... And "the English we speak".

[@dishasha6393]

Thanks a lot BBC Learning English team , I'm from India and I everyday listen to your audio podcast , your channel is amazing , I Love it

[@bbclearningenglish]

Greetings from London! Thanks for your kind words! We're sure that if you're listening to us every day, then you must be making great progress! 💪

[@RakeshKumar-fs5bo]

Nice Music 🎶

[@ezaldeenalkhlif6353]

the music is the language that we learn without going to school. when I listen to sad music I have got good feeling

[@bbclearningenglish]

A great way of expressing the power of music!

[@carloslee8396]

Coz sadness is the essence of life

[@leoyoon4029]

Sad music might have comforting effect but if it is always listened, it might worse our mood

[@steffijessykiarani99]

This video talks about "why do people like to listen to sad songs" because it reflects their mood. I don't know and don't understand what they are talking about, but this is all I know. Steffi -7D/28

[@AbdullahAmir-vh8tf]

I love you BBC

[@bbclearningenglish]

We love you too ❤️

[@Penguin-Goat]

Yah I do like sad music... I like the feeling after having tears on my cheeks

[@bbclearningenglish]

We have a word for this feeling - cathartic. It means the psychological relief after expressing a strong emotion. And, yes, crying to sad music can be cathartic! 😊

[@elenbalyan3683]

We can develop our empathy, improve our ability to understand other people's viewpoints, and experiment with different ways to cope with melancholy. This could help us be more ready for when actual loss occurs. It's possible that these educational activities have evolved to be enjoyable to promote their use.

[@cesarchavez310]

Sometimes the people listening sad music for relaxing or to change state mood

[@jamilethmera7503]

I think people who listen to sad music do so because they like it and it makes them feel good.

[@sudipta2420]

Where can i get BBC learning english cassette songs like ' Delicious dark rich, hmm coffee' and ' free as a bird ' ?

[@veasnakon7014]

Please provide the lyrics too!

[@NeoY940]

are there anyone having the same problem with me when listening to the Years that Sam mentioned? I hear 1991,1992 and 1993 instead of 1981,1982 and 1983.

[@hangtruong6244]

oh, me too. I think I'm the only one hear that.

[@hungle432]

Yeah, probably due to the fact that she connected the letter “n” in “nineteen” and the first sound of “eighty-one” which is “ei”, which resulted in people listening “nain-ti:-nei-ti-w^n”(1981) and caused some misunderstanding with “nain-ti:-nain-ti-w^n” (1991)

[@nohaawad1301]

yes, I have the same problem

[@nguyentrongtan6932]

me too

[@nguyentrongtan6932]

@@hungle432 vậy phân biệt kiểu j bạn nhỉ

[@manhhoangtien540]

The music video has been around for a while, but in what year was MTV, the first dedicated music video channel, launched in the US who can explain for me the phrase " has been around for a while, but in what year was MTV, the first dedicated music video channel " in sentence above. thank you very much !

[@bbclearningenglish]

"The music video has been around for a while" - people have been making and sharing music videos for quite a long time "In what year was MTV....launched in the US" - the question. "The first dedicated music video channel" - a clause that describes MTV as the first TV channel which only showed music videos (and nothing else). 😃

[@syjo1743]

I want pdf of this nice content on mobile, but only on pc is it possible.

[@paulapiotrowska7802]

01:03 Sam said "Care to be more specific?" is that a unformal way of saying "Can you be more specyfic?" When can I use this short form?

[@gabymeofefet]

My prolactin level is very high and always has been, and yet I dont like sad music. I like Enigma like music, relaxing, but not sad

[@MegaStamkos]

I think sad music may be useful and calming down for those who suffers from unrequired love

[@tuananhphannguyen417]

I can't listen to numbers, specifically years. What can I do?