As 2023 comes to a close, one of the internet’s favorite end of the year traditions is imminent: Spotify Wrapped. I believe there is no better way to reflect on 2023 than to celebrate the music that became its soundtrack. I look forward to this event just as much as any other avid Spotify user, but each year I reach the same conclusion when faced with my yearly listening activity; all of my top songs can be classified as sad songs. Last year, Spotify described my typical choice of music as “heartache, quiet, hopeless romantic,” and I doubt my results this year will be all that different.
Naturally, I have had to confront what this music taste means for me as a person. Fortunately, I don’t think I am someone doomed to sadness. I think my attraction to sad songs lies in the emotional connection they create between the artist and the listener. There is a certain beauty in seeing a personal and complex emotional experience reflected in someone else’s art, especially if it is a piece of art that thousands of other people also adore.
When I listen to a song, the first thing I notice are its lyrics. When an artist prioritizes their lyricism, their songs are often rich with imagery. They paint vivid pictures of particular scenes and conversations that lead to the emotions that drive the music as a whole. Often, the most lyrically complex songs focus on melancholy feelings. Whether it is about heartbreak, angst or nostalgia, I search for lyrics that resonate with my own personal experiences. Sometimes, this even helps me explore my own emotions about complex situations on a deeper level. As a lyric-focused listener, I am drawn to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift but not because I enjoy crying to music. Instead, I am attracted to the idea that a song about their lives may help me further understand my own, and I find that to be anything but sad.
I recently attended a concert for one of my favorite bands, boygenius, and one of the best moments of the show was during an intimate performance of their song “Letter To An Old Poet.” Phoebe Bridgers takes the only lead vocals on the track, so she made her way to the edge of the stage to engage with the crowd as much as possible. Bridgers asked the audience to put their phones away and look at her face to face. Before the song began, she stated “if you can relate to this song, I am sorry.” Throughout the entire performance, Bridgers held hands and looked into the eyes of those singing back to her.
“Letter To An Old Poet” is a prime example of a sad song you will likely see in my 2023 Spotify Wrapped, but this performance solidified the true reason why I keep returning to emotional music. There are very few experiences as profound as being in an enormous crowd all singing along to lyrics that deeply resonate with your life. This song has helped me through my own personal heartbreak and troubles, and it is rewarding to see tangible evidence that it has helped so many others in the same way. In that moment, I felt a unique sense of cathartic healing that I can only attribute to the music that has supported me.
Bridgers was right in implying that resonating with certain songs isn’t always desirable, but I believe art that helps you through personal hardships is particularly beautiful. Sometimes, challenging emotional experiences can feel deeply isolating. When a song reflects what you are going through, it is a reminder that at least one person out there has been in your shoes. In fact, it is more likely than not that thousands of other listeners feel the same way. Of course, I enjoy happy music too from time to time, but this is an experience I have to thank my sad music taste for.