Why Do We Like Sad Music? | Sandra Garrido | TEDxYouth@Sydney

As human beings, our primary aim in life is to maximise our happiness. With over two and a half million books on the subject of happiness, why are we happy to listen to music that makes us sad?
Dr. Sandra Garrido is a pianist, a violinist and a researcher. With a background in both music and psychology she completed her PhD at the University of New South Wales in 2012. Her post-doctoral research at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions concerned the use of music in depression in both the modern day and historically.
She is currently an NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Fellow at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development at Western Sydney University. Sandra has published over 30 academic publications including a book currently in press with Palgrave-Macmillan entitled Why We Are Attracted to Sad Music.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@paulbarajas91601]

There's a sort of beauty in sad music

[@Gattomorto12]

Sometimes sad is better than nothing.

[@nx7770]

Maskim you are right

[@lbhyper2250]

impossible

[@naninani-yx1lo]

The wim hoff methode

[@Manas-co8wl]

@@lbhyper2250 Yeah for some people

[@lbhyper2250]

@@Manas-co8wl how ?!

[@jhsemoxitha3821]

Ain't nobody gonna talk about how smoothing her voice is

[@wowgreatwow]

You mean soothing

[@meowbluekitty]

Suffering from depression I listen to sad music until I'm emotionally exhausted. Then gently switch over to a happy /uplifting song. I've recognized how helpful this technique is for days that feel off balanced. I do this and it's like recalibrating all those crazy chemicals, I emerge feeling much better and able to finish the day, melt down avoided.

[@end8316]

I like your technique

[@lbhyper2250]

no reason for sadness

[@julianrichy5830]

Ummmm🤔🙄 in the future. You should figure out what makes you sad, get a solution Asap&, and try never to listen to sad songs again! Sad song leads to stress stress leads to illnesses and certain illnesses can cause death!!!

[@lbhyper2250]

@@julianrichy5830 bro my point is that being sad cannot solve any problem except if u are acting as being sad to solve the problem.... even if one of ur family died theres no benefits or reason for crying or being sad except gor acting.. but if u think of being happy all the time u will be more healthy and more safe think of it ....❤

[@julianrichy5830]

@@lbhyper2250 I hear you, but at certain times tears actually release stress but don't hamper on what is stressing you 7 days a week find a solutions and get a divorce from sad songs4ever.

[@wahabali9186]

only in sadness can we know the value of happiness..😔💔

[@harshvardhangupta7293]

I don't want to be happy though

[@lelouch3460]

That doesn't make sense

[@harshvardhangupta7293]

@@lelouch3460 eh?

[@21penguins37]

@@harshvardhangupta7293 that is a problem......

[@FEGTTTSDH]

@@lelouch3460 Make a ton of sense, but you need read and read again this.

[@Punkpsychobilly]

I listen to sad music because it’s the only thing I connect with emotionally anymore. It’s like a love/hate relationship... I don’t want to be sad or depressed, but feeling anything but is alien to me, and as much as I hate it, it still feels like home. Anyone can write happy music, but to make music that can convey sadness on a deeper level takes true talent. Anyone can be happy... people can pretend to be sad, but true depression can’t be faked. Which is why artists like Keaton Henson are so incredible

[@haraldhwick]

because pain and sadness are the catalyst for wisdom. Vicarious learners embodied this on their first mistakes

[@stuffstuff137]

Wait so I’ve noticed that sad music helps me not to cut. If I try to listen to happy music when I’m sad is I just feel alienated from my feelings and numb. How ever if I’m doing okay then inspirational music helps me.

[@anthonyhuerta3432]

Proud of you! ❤️

[@TheLoveMonkey]

I've heard that listening to sad music has some of the same qualities as psychotherapy for traumatized people. Psychotherapy works by allowing a traumatized person to relive the trauma in the safe space created by a therapist. This allows the client to "digest" the experience in a healthy way. Sad music also allows us to relive traumatic experiences in a safe way.

[@scottmac2338]

Which is bad

[@verfassungspatriot]

@@scottmac2338 why

[@scottmac2338]

@@verfassungspatriot it keeps you in the past. You can’t grow etc when I don’t I succeed

[@lambsbaaa]

I believe you are right , at least for me. i listen to piano, anime, fantasy, almost takes you away to another place, like your in a movie. It enables you to cope from the past and prepares you for the future. GOD IS MY REFUGE ULTIMATELY.

[@victoriawhite649]

I’m not a scientist, or even intelligent at that, however, our body builds up certain chemicals/hormones for various reasons. I’ve heard that when we cry those chemicals are released through our tears. That is why (most of the time) we feel better after a good cry. I believe our subconscious seek a ways eg; sad songs, to make us release this bad energy. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s what I believe and it works for me!

[@alextheconfuddled8983]

Exactly, sometimes you just have to refresh your mind. Even as someone who has a completely normal life, things like stress build up even from the slightest things.

[@alexanderdelacruz217]

I don't know why.. but I prefer sad music. I believe it to be more powerful than regular music. It helps if the music itself is good. I just have a really great appreciation for good music. I play music, so that helps. I feel I know what it takes to play some music. I prefer guitar.. I just love how some guitarist can tell a story with a guitar. Sometimes, no singing is required. The way they bend and manipulate the instrument to their will. It's exhilarating. Yes, I find it more profound in sad music

[@mohamedfalah134]

today i looked through my playlists and songs that i have on my phone and i realized that all my songs are sad songs like littrally all of them, i was really shocked i did not know that before, so i went to youtube to check if its a normal thing... but i didn't really get an answer

[@criMZySan]

dont worry bout it so do i

[@buthainanajjar8886]

mohamed falah you can see a video on six minute learning English about why do people like sad music

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

Same, I've made My own Playlist on KZbin called "Musics 2"

[@lbhyper2250]

no reason or benefit for sadness be happy all the time...

[@julianrichy5830]

Unfortunately my dear friend it's not normal. The very very very best thing to do, is to figure out what's making you sad get a solution that can make you happy and start listening to happy music!!

[@jangofet555]

the adaptive nature of sadness and the absorption side to reflection concept is a first for me, i like it. inspiring and insightful talk.

[@Iliescuvalentin]

I often listen Michael Nyman's The departure, from the movie Gattaca

[@samuelleahy4780]

I find sad music helps in the same way that super aggressive metal does, it let's out all of the built up emotions, like anger, anxiety, sadness, even loneliness.

[@timbmd]

My dog died. Part of me has died along with him. I listen to looped "Listen Before I Go " and found myself quickly got stuck in extreme negative thought cycles. Could not get out. This speech helps a whole lot. Correct thinking and correct directing of the mind, afterall, is a powerful tool to lead one's mind to real happiness.

[@anonymousnation5235]

Sad music helps me in bringing the feelings on the surface that I otherwise supress or deny. When I deny these feelings, they usually get out as frustration, anger or isolation.

[@TravelingSeeker]

Succinct, insightful & helpful. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@Lilacil]

I think if you have trauma that you haven't processed then music can trigger very bad feelings, but it feels cathartic because these are emotions that are desperate to come to the surface & be acknowledged. After acknowledging them then listening to happy music can feel like, this (sad music) is the past & this (happy music) is me moving into the future. I think it's a really healthy way to process things, processing things can just be really dangerous when you're depressed in general, but ultimately still necessary for many to coming out the other side of it.

[@DiamaraldGaming]

I just finished watching *darling in the franxx* and it made me really sad, so i thought of this question and you answered it really nicely :)

[@Scapegoat32]

I listen to sad music (a lot of Radiohead) when I'm depressed and it almost always deepens the depression. It's strange though because the music, although making it worse, is comforting. It's like I'm sinking deeper and drowning and the music is a warm hug. And I never want to let go of that warm hug because it means so much in such a time of loneliness and isolation. Though I know it's the hug that is holding me under the water.

[@dapygor9339]

Well, I think, the sadness itself is pretty useful, unless it is too sad or depression, but if it is just sadness, then, it is even good sometimes. For example. People entertain, go to parties and laugh, and, then.. ironically, the most people feel tired after being happy, and the sadness help us in time of emotional and physical exhaustion, it help us relax. It also can motivate us! Let's just think. What are we learning from the most? From mistakes and fails. Mistakes are seldom happy and funny, they are generally sad.

[@bahadursinghuikey9954]

Only in happiness can we know the value of happiness❤️

[@Ad-yh1es]

I think we see ourselves from a third person camera, and we see our selves in a movie, we feel like we wish that the movie will have a happy ending but it never happens, and the song end with the most sadness and we keep going and going until the song ends with a happy ending.

[@hornstein1314]

if I saw my life on tv I'd switch channel lmao

[@itsovermyhead940]

I believe that it's our subconscious focused on the tone of music and not the reason and our conscious understanding the lyrics being said.

[@snipz0844]

I just listen to sad songs cause ive been depressed now about 2 or 3 months

[@williamdunscombe8260]

I like the song "Brick" by ben folds five....wasn't until later I learned what the song was about. It makes sense, I do like sad music.

[@Snazjazz17]

There's an artist that i really like, but sadly he committed suicide a while ago. A lot of his lyrics are very depressing and i relate a lot to it, his music is very good and i want to appreciate the art he left us with but whenever i listen to him i get so sad because he's not here anymore. i'm so angry that such amazing beauty and talent was taken from us.

[@FizzyBanger]

May i ask who that artist is? I'm curious

[@Snazjazz17]

Kim Jonghyun

[@davidkariu2330]

Nick Drake?

[@RICK-APEX]

X

[@hammerjam]

To me, I listen to sad music in order to counteract the emotional repression from traumatic events in a safe and controlled environment. That way, the trauma is able to be integrated and understood, thereby accepting it and move on which would have otherwise been a nearly impossible obstacle

[@cmblocker95]

I have CPTSD and sometimes bouts of depression. And, yes, I really go down that dark rabbit hole of melancholy music: Grieg's Funeral March for Rikard Nordråk Samuel Barber's Adagio for strings Jethro Tull's "First Snow On Brooklyn" (from the Christmas Album) Verdi’s Requiem: “Dies Irae” These are some of my go to songs for depression. Having seen this video, maybe I'll remember to lighten up some: Eric Whitacre "Alleluia" Värttinä - Lasetus Jethro Tull "The Last Man at the Party" (also from the Christmas Album) Or if I feel the need to darkness, at least select something that ends happy: Mussorgsky: a night on bald mountain Eric Whitacre, Deep field: Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe. Good talk. I'll use it to help myself. When in doubt, take 1 "Yakety Sax" and call your counselor in the morning.

[@salvadoran_uwu]

Because: Sad Music + Sad Moments = Happier Life.

[@elliefuller3667]

I agree in a way. If we can let out the sadness we feel via listening to das music, then we can start working to be happier afterwards. If I have a ton of stress or something bad happened and I’m more sad than normal, I’ll often find myself listening to sad songs and letting out tears, whether stress or sadness, as my sort of release mechanism. Sometimes I might cry on several occasions from one event, but each time I do I feel better afterwards. That’s what crying is, just a way to manage and release negative emotion. That’s why I can’t understand people stigmatizing men who cry, it is just them letting go of harmful emotions.

[@jakestockton4808]

Sad music is similar to scary movies: they both turn a negative emotion into something enjoyable.

[@rockingtundra2830]

I often don’t like sad music, it just makes me feel even sadder and puts me in an even worse mood.

[@TwyGuy]

Same

[@bathshebanyoni151]

I don't know why I like this music I like it to the extent that I can't explain it 🥺🥺

[@catticus6637]

I just like the tune. Lol

[@lyra9988]

Because we understand the other person’s pain. It’s therapeutic.

[@ulibarriL]

It's an intriguing and difficult subject. There really isn't a right and wrong here. Not much to refute or debate, but plenty of discussion to be had. Music can be considered a language intrinsic of the heart and soul, and the music a person chooses to listen to can allow another person to perceive these aspects to them. In terms of sad music specifically, I've read that more emotion goes into its creation than happy music, and I am not so sure that is entirely true. Just different emotions. However, some emotions can be felt much more strongly than others, and I think that is where sad music comes into play.

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

What I like to listen is what I Feel

[@skramamme685]

I get affected by music very easily; not just sad but some music makes me extremely aggressive &/or reckless, to the point of road rage etc. Thank god for psych meds lol

[@allisonmansilla5480]

what is the name of the song?

[@LioFuzz]

I think: -Sad people like happy music in their search for happy emotions. -Happy people like sad music looking for sad emotions. People look for what they lack, and all kinds of emotions generate some kind of pleasure through relief. Sad music allows you to experience sadness without the price of experiencing a true sad event.

[@aaronburn1992]

Not for me. I listen to music that reflects my emotions at that time in my life. It helps me connect with others through this human experience.

[@cottoncloudasmr786]

actually no.. when im really sad i listen to sad music and when im happy I still listen to sad music. if u like sad music so much then its actually usually because u have a lot of empathy so you can almost relate so sad lyrics when you have never even experienced what they're singing about in your life. so empathetic people (like me) usually prefer sad music

[@LioFuzz]

@@cottoncloudasmr786 perfect reply :-D

[@cottoncloudasmr786]

@@LioFuzz aw ty 🥺❤

[@mightyowl6102]

what is that song she used for reference??

[@luiscarvalho8374]

Ama111 Private Someone like you, Adele

[@justplayndee5984]

i am writing something about this, an essay. out from my observations, people who most likely listen to these songs are not critical thinkers... i mean you can listen for sometimes and love the harmony... but people who listen to this kind of music are most likely the unconscious. it's like playing a game, you enjoy the game but to philosophical peoples, it makes no sense for them to play... kind of a waste of time. our cognitive state lurks somewhere on negative thoughts, worry somebody might doing these to you, worry it could happen again... and even so, you in yourself creates this reality that these things are normal, it happens to life... and then your mindset won't alter them, day comes and you might accept it as a reality... discipline is all, harmony is good but don't let the context get into your head.

[@negalgg5372]

Can someone give me some uplifting motivation , I feel really really sad most of the time for no reason

[@1007yes]

Interesting talk, Dr Garrido!

[@johndoe-qb1fq]

i listen to dark ambient

[@FromFame]

john doe I listen to dark death wolf alone edge I’m strong you’re not music

[@TheMarrification]

What was that first song she played?

[@reem4242]

Someone like you - Adele

[@aFewBitsShort]

What's the first track?

[@anacchka]

Someone like you by Adele

[@clownavenger0]

who decided what sadness sounds like?

[@zanderlongoria3789]

So what happens if your all 3

[@babarlabpigeon5082]

WHTAS THE SONG

[@Jay-pc2ev]

I have about 3,000 songs saved on spotify and a good 50% of it is all sad music

[@inderjeet8659]

I don't listen to sad music tho...it just makes me more sad..so no point ...be happy

[@lukeholmes7754]

If anyone wants to listen to sad songs, listen to Josh A and Jake Hill

[@commonhumanity2486]

Hello TEDx Talks, I have recently included your KZbin video in my Playlist "Spiritual Intelligence, Music, Language, Artificial Intelligence", hope you like it.

[@fazetta]

When I'm sad my life and all my emotions come to surface and find meanings one by one And then again all the meanings and definitions of my whole life become pointless So thanks for wasting 10 seconds reading my comment

[@lynnabee6471]

TLDR : i didnt even read you comment

[@sarahwoodyard6533]

I hate depressing music, i was born depressed, all i want is to feel happy, depressing music reminds me of my childhood endentured servitude (ie slavery) and many endured rapes, why does anyone want to be reminded why life sucks?

[@thetarekk]

I feel like this ted talk didn't really help me understand the feeling i get listening to sad music, but this one did a better job watch?v=XOc3rBYk_Nc

[@NuCrowe]

My dying Bride is a pretty cool band LOL

[@sneakykng768]

Damn but I want to listen to Gorillaz

[@lance8359]

Can s ad songs contribute to suicide?