Why do people with depression like listening to sad music?

[percyval577]

Good to find another afficionado

Thank you.

Definitely Mahler's 1st. I think it's almost the entirety of the 3rd movement, and you're right, it's incredibly powerful.

Isn´t it, I never forget when I first heard it . ( )

I wore out at least one recording of it, and the second copy shows substantial wear, too.

I used to stick to Ravel´s Bolero to better prevent weary things.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

Here's another sad song that never disappoints. Bonnie Raitt's version sold better, but this one is my favorite :

But for the die-hards out there, here's Bonnie Raitt:

 

[percyval577]

@YippeeKi YOW !! you are joking with your song.
---
When I was twenty a guy handed this beautiful sadness to me. WARNING, IT´S VERY SAD
The first song tells, I think, about a wolf, a reknown fox and a rabbit.

This astonshing song is pretty pretty sad:

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

@YippeeKi YOW !! you are joking with your song.

@percyval577
Not sure I follow. In what way joking?

 

[percyval577]

@YippeeKi YOW !!
Well, first I have to admit that I don´t find the music sad.
So I thought you might refer to the title, well it might be a sad title, not sure I think it.
So I thirdly thought, the singers are lying when they sing "I am an old woman", Bonnie Raitt is not old, and John Prine is even not a woman.

I might have too much phantasy.

 

[jesse's mom]

Here's another sad song that never disappoints.

I really like the John Prine one better too!

 

[jesse's mom]

Such a SAD song!

 

[i-lava-u]

@jesse's mom I love that NIN cover! I have listened to it many, many times (by both artists)

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

@percyval577

Well, first I have to admit that I don´t find the music sad.

Well, the thing we've been discussing here is that for some reason, sad songs don't make us sad when we're depressed. In fact, they often have the opposite effect.

It isn't the music that's sad. Listen to the lyrics. Hit the CC button if you can't catch them all. Sometimes it's hard.

So I thought you might refer to the title, well it might be a sad title, not sure I think it.

Angel From Montgomery is pretty neutral. Angels are usually positive forces. Montgomery is a very cool city. Sooooo, generally not depressing, title-wise.

So I thirdly thought, the singers are lying when they sing "I am an old woman", Bonnie Raitt is not old, and John Prine is even not a woman.

There's no such thing as lying when you're telling a story. Stories are, by definition, a kind of creative lie that both the teller and the audience participate in willingly. So you can be a woman or an old woman or a talking tree. Or talk to trees, as in Paint Your Wagon.

John Prine wrote the song, and he wrote it in a female voice. Just as Flaubert sometimes spoke in his female character's voices. Not a lie. See above.

I might have too much phantasy.

Or maybe in this case not enough? Perhaps too linear and logically analytical here?

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

@jesse's mom

I really like the John Prine one better too!

Because you're a woman of infinite taste and subtle understanding.

Nothing against Bonnie Raitt who I think is the nuclear, but in this case, Prine wins. No contest.

Such a SAD song!

Oh God, that whole last album just kept ripping my heart apart. Unflinching truth. The only sad songs that actually make me even sadder. I still haven't listened to it in more than snatches. Like a broken confessional at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Unbearably, wrenchingly, heartbreaking.

I loved Johnny Cash, still do. June Carter Cash died shortly after he did so it was like a huge double loss. And Roseanne has gone Def Con 5., so not even that's left to us.

 

[i-lava-u]

Here is another sad song/video, made right before he passed away
David Bowie -Lazarus

 

[i-lava-u]

ha ha, I think this thread is turning into @IThinkImTurningJapanese "excellent music" 2.0

 

[jesse's mom]

I think so @i-lava-u ITITJ "Excellent SAD Music"2.0! and long live the music threads! Thanks @IThinkImTurningJapanese we love your threads!

 

[i-lava-u]

@Webdog is a frequent flyer on the other thread also. Maybe they will post some of their "excellent" music and/or thoughts over here too

 

[Gingergrrl]

I wrote this in our original music thread but for me "sad music" (or happy music) is usually sad/happy b/c of the personal meaning that is attached to it for me. It usually brings me back to a specific moment or time period in my life but the specific song (objectively), might not be sad/happy to anyone else but me. Hope that makes sense!

 

[Gingergrrl]

 

[jesse's mom]

@Webdog is a frequent flyer on the other thread also. Maybe they will post some of their "excellent" music and/or thoughts over here too

I hope so too! Red Rover, Red Rover @Webdog come on over!

 

[me/cfs 27931]

@Webdog is a frequent flyer on the other thread also. Maybe they will post some of their "excellent" music and/or thoughts over here too

Thanks for the kind invitation, but I feel more comfortable posting music in members only threads.

 

[percyval577]

Well, the thing we've been discussing here is that for some reason, sad songs don't make us sad when we're depressed. In fact, they often have the opposite effect.

Thanks god. Also, some are saying one should not think in lables or identities. But in the end it will come out that sad music is happy and happy music is sad, or that you want to make people sad by happy music.

It isn't the music that's sad. Listen to the lyrics. Hit the CC button if you can't catch them all. Sometimes it's hard.

I have to admit, I never ever payed attention to texts in music. And in cases I finally do understand all the words, I mostly would like not to be able to follow the text . I know that the music often illustrates the text, but I ever ever preferred to have the music for itself. Though I like the human voice, including sung words of course, I listen to the sound, including the sound of language. This approach may be difficult though, as soon as you want to sing along the music, you might need bub´s, dub´s and the likes.

Angel From Montgomery is pretty neutral. Angels are usually positive forces. Montgomery is a very cool city. Sooooo, generally not depressing, title-wise.

Angels are also far away, humans are longing for them. And almost very very cruel, they are thought to sing in a longing manner (as I understand it).

There's no such thing as lying when you're telling a story. Stories are, by definition, a kind of creative lie that both the teller and the audience participate in willingly. So you can be a woman or an old woman or a talking tree. Or talk to trees, as in Paint Your Wagon.

It´s the same with movies, I guess. My mother often told me - when I still lived with my parents and watched tv -
"It´s only a movie." Maybe this is why I finally have forgotten this wisdom ... ...

John Prine wrote the song, and he wrote it in a female voice. Just as Flaubert sometimes spoke in his female character's voices. Not a lie. See above.

... Flaubert is a very sad author. If you are not already depressed you will get so while reading him. Though his titles are nice! (dangerous combination!)

Or maybe in this case not enough? Perhaps too linear and logically analytical here?

Could be. Probably that I like to think schematically, and with mecfs I do even more so, because my mind is spilt. But I would think so anyway, I guess.

 

[IThinkImTurningJapanese]

I wrote this in our original music thread but for me "sad music" (or happy music) is usually sad/happy b/c of the personal meaning that is attached to it for me. It usually brings me back to a specific moment or time period in my life but the specific song (objectively), might not be sad/happy to anyone else but me. Hope that makes sense!

It makes a lot of sense.

The Tesla song I posted is a very sad song, but I find so much encouragement from it. It strengthens me every time I hear/sing it.