the MIRROR
For when you need a
good cry...
Tear jerking tracks to keep you company during your next sad session.
FALL 2023 | 29
| ENTERTAINMENT |
The hidden power of heartbreak GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | DYLAN TORRES
By Abigail Kim
D
THE MIRROR STAFF
SO SICK | The Cardigans Rap/R&B
Filled with emotional lyrics about the ongoing cycle of wanting your relationship back after a breakup, this early 2000s hip-hop sound is nostalgic and just comforting enough to get you through your loneliest moments.
GLIMPSE OF US | Joji Alternative/Pop
This is an emotionally packed track that deals with the struggle of currently being in a relationship but still thinking about the one that got away. Joji’s lyrics truly portray the regretful excruciating situation and are undoubtedly relatable to those who find themselves in a similar situation.
ALL TOO WELL | Taylor Swift Country/Pop
Through vivid lyrics and smooth guitar riffs, the Red singer poignantly reflects on fond memories with a past lover, knowing all too well that the spark of love has died. If you’re hopelessly yearning for the euphoria of a love that once was, this catchy, agonizing track is worth the listen.
MILLION YEARS AGO | Adele Pop
The queen of penetrating lyrics and impressive belts, Adele longingly revisits the carefree times of a million years ago in this delicate acoustic track. She morphs the pain of losing innocence as one matures into an all-consuming anxiety, and the resonant lyrics are sure to send a few tears down your cheeks.
read
In this bestseller by Keirsten White, former child stars reunite to uncover what ended their hit shows. This novel might seem daunting in size, but the intricate details and suspensive scenes will have you hooked from the start.
eath, breakups in the pouring rain, regrettable ex-lovers, barbed words that can’t be taken back, longing for better times, self-loathing and anxiety. These reflective topics define today’s sad music, a genre teenagers are absolutely enthralled by. Spotify revealed that “sad” is the most-searched term among Gen-Z listeners across the globe. As younger generations gravitate towards depressing lyrics and heartwrenching melodies, it’s clear that heartbreak has an enchanting allure. Psychology is largely responsible for our melancholic music obsession. Psychology Today has labeled this “The Tragedy Paradox,” or the strange pleasure found in the aesthetic of sad emotions. On a biological level, the Tragedy Paradox can be attributed to prolactin, a hormone associated with coping mechanisms. A 2019 Psychology Today article describes how prolactin churns out feelings of calmness to remedy mental pain. When sad music tricks the brain into discharging prolactin through compensatory responses, a pleasurable group of opiates remains that relieves tension and distress. Beyond hormonal processes, sad music can kindle nostalgia in listeners. Nostalgia accompanies a heart-aching longing for the past, a major theme in songs by Adele and Taylor Swift. We’ve all felt that bittersweet pang when recalling foregone family gatherings, carefree days in elementary school and our old favorite songs. On nights when you crave the bliss of the past, blast Lana Del Rey and let a tidal wave of overwhelming nostalgia wash over you. When I connect with a tear-jerking song, an unexplainable ache blossoms in my chest, and I dive into a rabbit hole of over-analyzing the words. Bittersweetly, I relive nostalgic days in the park with my friends and singing with my dad during long car rides. I’m reminded that the seasons won’t stop changing, despite our strong desire for the good times to stay. Just as a riveting novel or movie transports us to different worlds, depressing songs provide doors for listeners to escape through vicarious emotion. Heartbreak anthems are the ultimate coping mechanism, relieving
listen
Though this rock band started in the late ‘70s, they are currently making a huge comeback. With songs about heartfelt love and mind-numbing sadness, The Cure is in many ways an iconic boy band. Easy to become infatuated with, The Cure is a safe yet spectacular choice when picking music for your next listen.
SAD GIRL SONGS For teens in particular, sad
music from artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers and Clairo provides a comforting relief from life’s daily woes.
stress and frustration by separating us from our troubles. The powerful messages of sad music can plunge us into deep thought, offering a temporary distraction from life’s woes. Empathy and mood regulation are also huge to the emotional magnetism of heartbreaking songs. Musical expressions of sorrow and woe can elicit feelings of compassion and sympathy in tender-hearted listeners. Similarly, sad music enhances mood regulation by driving listeners to soak in the alluring harmonies and slow tempos. It encourages disentangling from harrowing situations, like the loss of a friend or a tormenting breakup. Nothing beats a strong Adele ballad to cure post-breakup anxiety. Oftentimes, musicians indirectly communicate your suffering in their somber lyrics, and this relatability is crucial to easing distress. That shock of hearing a popular artist describe your grief in their latest single can’t be found outside of the sad music genre. Through your mutual pain, sad music can be
watch
“Choose Love” is Netflix’s most recent experiment in making interactive films. Cami (Laura Marano) has three possible suitors: Jack (Jordi Webber), Rex (Avan Jogia) and Paul (Scott Michael Foster). Viewers get to decide who Cami ends up with, which makes this movie a fantastic spectacle for those obsessed with romance.
play
Although not as popular as its sister-game “Wordle”, The New York Times’ newest game “Connections” features 16 words that the player must arrange into four different categories. The 16 words seemingly have nothing to do with each other, but upon closer inspection, the patterns and connections start to reveal themselves. This game is challenging enough to stump the player momentarily, but is definitely solvable.
an imaginary friend to draw comfort from. So, there’s the psychology behind the endless “sad girl” playlists on Spotify. It’s widely accepted that teenagers experience a perpetual cycle of mood swings. These fluctuations in mood are triggered by hormones that impact teens’ wildly unpredictable tempers. Because of this, the psychological and emotional responses of teenagers to sad music tend to be more passionate. Be assured that ugly crying to Mitski is totally normal. Hormonal processes are not the only explanation behind the younger generation’s gravitational pull towards sad music. A person’s teen years can be one of the rockiest stages of life. We drown in homework, fight for perfect scores on exams and get lost in the drama of school and home. This blizzard of being a teenager can make sad songs incredibly cathartic, like ice cream during a good cry. Music is the universal language, but sad music is unparalleled in the way it touches the innermost parts of our emotions. The heartbreaking themes are passages for healing, as they appeal to our brokenness and nostalgia. Through the grip of sad music, the younger generation can celebrate the human capacity for empathy while reaping the psychological benefits of mellow tunes and vulnerable lyrics.
eat
This TikTok-trending food is delicious, nutritious and simple. It includes cherry tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, a block of feta cheese and any pasta of your choice. Simply place all the ingredients into a pan and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. After that, stir in your pasta of choice with fresh garlic and basil. Plate the delicacy and enjoy.
MISTER MAGIC: COURTESY | PENGUIN; CHOOSE LOVE: COURTESY | NETFLIX; PASTA: PEXELS | NC4
