Do You Ever Listen to Sad Songs to get Motivated?
By Morgan
@OneOfMany (12150)
United States
March 21, 2018 9:25pm CST
Sometimes I need to pacify my mood to finish a topic or a project I'm working on. In college, I would typically watch something sad before a test so my mind could focus. It seems tragedy makes me focus.
It's probably because it resonates with me more than happy things do. My life has been filled with a lot of suffering, though people looking in from the outside would think otherwise. However, it's not like the hearts and minds of those the others see can reflect in their eyes to display the truth.
Without getting into the depressing details of my daily turmoil, I'll just stick to the topic. Do you ever feel motivated when listening to sad songs/watching sad movies, or is it the opposite?
Of course, my reverse empathy could be a factor as well.
12 people like this
12 responses
@LadyDuck (458226)
• Switzerland
22 Mar 18
@OneOfMany 
When I am grumpy I want that all around me know that they need to leave me alone.
When I am grumpy I want that all around me know that they need to leave me alone.1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
@LadyDuck That's a good plan. I was always the 'suffer in silence' type, so I generally accepted that they didn't know what mood I was in. :P
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Lol, I know a lot of people like that. I had some friends in college that were hard to break out of their emotional trips when they got into them. :P
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Sad music can carry other emotions if just listened to out of context. I have a few songs that are borderline in that case. One song that is in between for me that I can think of would be 'Memories' by Within Temptation. It can be whimsical with hope, or sad from loss.
Official video for Memories by Within Temptation, off of The Silent Force. Stay up to date on any Within Temptation news: Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/...
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
24 Mar 18
@YrNemo You're welcome! I like the song a lot. Some lyrics can be considered as part of the music in cases. It's okay to not listen to them in detail. XD
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
24 Mar 18
@OneOfMany That one is very nice. Thanks for the link. 
(I told you, I am hopeless in listening to lyrics 
.)
(I told you, I am hopeless in listening to lyrics .)1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12941)
• Italy
23 Mar 18
Motivated... to cry.
However, not all sad songs make me sad, most make me angry.
And the angry songs are those that make me relax.
If I successfully cry, I feel tired. Sad movies are likely to put me to sleep.
Or they can inspire me to write or tell someone something.
It must depend on your mood prior to activity.
If you're very cheerful and excited, sad melodies should help you reach balance.
If you're very sad or depressed, I doubt sad songs will be beneficial. 
However, not all sad songs make me sad, most make me angry.
And the angry songs are those that make me relax.
If I successfully cry, I feel tired. Sad movies are likely to put me to sleep.
Or they can inspire me to write or tell someone something.
It must depend on your mood prior to activity.
If you're very cheerful and excited, sad melodies should help you reach balance.
If you're very sad or depressed, I doubt sad songs will be beneficial. 1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12941)
• Italy
23 Mar 18
@OneOfMany Well, if you're sad yet sane, you can still be helped.
If a sad song makes you so sad you turn insane, then that's a delicate situation. 
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Mar 18
If you have a lot of sad memories, you are more prone to being affected, I would think.
That, and if you just put yourself into the role of the story, you get swept up in the emotion.
If you are very sad or depressed, nothing helps, so sad songs don't do much worse. 
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
23 Mar 18
@sabtraversa I was always beyond insanity, so it doesn't matter anyway!
It's the person who thinks and says they are sane, that is the true lunatic!
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
If I listen to lively music, I really can't focus! I'm too tempted to be up dancing around. 
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
@db20747 Well, college and its studies is thankfully far passed, but yep, that was the basis behind that mentality!
1 person likes this
@db20747 (43427)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
22 Mar 18
@OneOfMany yes, especially if U R trying to study!!!!
1 person likes this
@anikoonline (3250)
• Hungary
22 Mar 18
Sad songs/movies make me sad and they not motivate me. I listen happy music to feel happy and strong.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Happy songs make me motivated in other ways. They aren't the best for focusing for me. :)
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
@anikoonline Yep. Although I do like listening to happy songs too!
@anikoonline (3250)
• Hungary
22 Mar 18
@OneOfMany Yes, happy songs can distract when you want to sing and dance instead of focus.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
22 Mar 18
I like to listen to sad songs but not to get motivated. I do not put music when I am focused or motivated to do something as I usually get more distracted if there is music or any noise, for that matter. 
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Sometimes I write best when listening to music. Other times I write better in silence. If it is an action scene, the music helps pump me up!
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
22 Mar 18
@OneOfMany thats great! I think different strokes for different folks. Hihi.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
@mlgen1037 Certainly! It all depends on how the day presents itself in the end.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
22 Mar 18
I need more upbeat and happy tunes if I'm to be motivated. I like listening to sad songs when I'm feeling sad!
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Haha, don't you go for happy songs when you're sad, to feel better? I guess that's what I try to do.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
22 Mar 18
When I hear sad songs I think of the experiences connected to the song
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Yes, me too. Or if there's none, I'll attach some, and they are pretty bad at times.
1 person likes this
@mohit459 (12568)
• Haldwani, India
22 Mar 18
@OneOfMany sometime...I don't listen to them Always
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
22 Mar 18
I will listen to a sad song if it helps me to cry. I have so much buried emotion that I am numb to it. I need to cry and it is the hardest thing for me to do.
:-(
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
@Starmaiden Have a smelly wet dog beside you (like I have right now). I think it will regain at least one emotion! XD
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
22 Mar 18
@OneOfMany I need a good cry. One that lasts a few days or more. I want to be able to feel my emotions again. I'll keep trying. :-)
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Sometimes the melody of a sad song is emotionally soothing.
