Adele’s new album, “ 30 ”, is finally available. Last month, hundreds of millions of us streamed its first single, Easy On Me . This song e...
Adele’s new album, “30”, is finally available. Last month, hundreds of millions of us streamed its first single, Easy On Me. This song evokes feelings not easily put into words. But we can probably agree it is a sad song.
It is not obvious that we should like sad music. Sadness is usually a feeling we try to avoid. An alien might expect us to find such music depressing and dislikable.
Yet, sad music pulls us in and lifts us up. So, why does hearing sad music feel so good?
Biological theories
Let us start with biological theories. When we experience real-life loss, or empathise with another’s pain, hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin are released within us. These help us cope with loss and pain. They do so by making us feel calmed, consoled and supported.
Feeling Adele’s pain, or recalling our own, may cause such chemical changes within us. Clicking on Adele’s song may be like clicking on our own metaphorical morphine drip.
The jury is still out on this theory. One study found no evidence that sad music increases prolactin levels. Yet, other studies have hinted at a role for prolactin and oxytocin in making sad music feel good.
Psychology behind it
A key reason we enjoy sad songs is that they profoundly “move” us. This experience is sometimes...
