Jazzlyn Beltran
29 September 2026
Some people argue that sad music makes you sadder in your everyday life or puts you in a bad mood. But research shows that more often than not, it brings feelings of comfort rather than sadness. But why, I mean sadness is a feeling people try to avoid so how could sad music feel comforting? Well sad music helps cope when dealing with real life loss, by releasing hormones called prolactin and oxytocin, which make us feel calm, consoled, and supported. It also might make you happy instead because your brain knows it’s a sad song but recognizes that you’re safe, instead it can release dopamine which is related to a feeling of pleasure.
Sad songs can be beautiful and “move” us, or make us feel chills, goosebumps, or warmth, even if they are sad. Sad music makes us feel comforted because it might validate people and make them feel less alone when they listen to something they relate to. Some people feel better when they know they’re not the only one going through something.
Sad music does not make people feel worse like some assume, it actually acts as an emotional relief. If someone has been bottling up their feelings for some time, and they listen to sad music, it works better than happy music would, it confronts their emotions. Whereas listening to happy, jolly music while having negative emotions, could remind people of how distant they are from those positive emotions. Listening to music that matches your mood and confronting your sadness is a healthy way to overcome your sadness.
Of course, you don’t have to be sad to listen to sad music, you can appreciate and find pleasure in sad music just as much as anyone can. Sad music helps us process our emotions, by validating us.
