What music helps you cope with bad news, tough life events?
I tend towards classical, when bad news is fresh and I haven't yet adjusted. Other times I tend toward what is familiar because it is comforting. I guess when the news is bad, I tend to listen to more minor key, sad/blues, not upbeat. If I'm driving by myself processing bad news I favor familiar songs played loudly, to block out my thinking.
Turning to music during hard times is helpful in my opinion. I like to listen to christian music or a song that speaks to me in whatever situation I am facing at the time. It is funny how when we hear bad news or are going through a tough time, that we truly listen to the words in a song and understand the true meaning behind the song. I do agree with Dr. Cate that listening to classical music is calming and I do listen to it to calm myself at times or to concentrate.
ReplyDeleteMarisa,
DeleteI also find it kind of funny how we tend to pay more attention to the lyrics of songs when we are sad. I know that I will purposefully seek out certain songs to help me through a tough time. I lean more towards country music but that's because I feel like my life relates more to what they are saying. It's nice to know someone is going through a tough time with you, even if it is a music artist.
I also always focus on the lyrics of a song more than the actual music when I am sad. I try to find songs with lyrics that really speak to me and my current situation and once I find songs like that I always play them when I am sad, over and over again.
DeleteI completely agree with you Marisa. I always find myself paying attention to the lyrics when I am down. I focus in on the meaning of the song instead of simply listening to the beats and rhythm of the music. I agree that classical music is a calming and more peaceful type of music that I use when I am trying to concentrate or study.
DeleteWhen I get sad, I tend to find one song to listen to. This song is usually really slow and sad, because all you want to do is cry when you're sad, right? lol. Once I find the right song, I put this song on repeat, everyday, until I am happy again - or if I happen to find a new song!
ReplyDeleteIts weird to think that we turn toward "depressing" music while we are sad, instead of upbeat music.
I think it's weird too that turn towards depressing music while we are sad instead of upbeat music. You would think we would no longer want to be sad and would want music to cheer us up, but sometimes you just have to feel the sadness and depressing songs can really make you analyze and think about your current struggle.
DeleteIf I am sad sometimes I refuse to listen to an upbeat song because I need this time to just think and let the sadness take over my thoughts.
DeleteI wonder that too, why is it that we choose to listen to sad songs when we are already sad. You would think we would want to get our mind off of it and simply listen to fun upbeat music. That is not how I would approach my sadness, though it may be helpful to others.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I am sad or down in the dumps, I tend to make myself even more sad by listening to sad songs that are relevant to what is going on in my life. When I am sad I don't really want to listen to upbeat music because I genuinely just want to feel the emotions I am having and to fully embrace the struggles I am having. I like to feel things to their full extent so when I am sad I put on the same sad songs and let myself feel the sadness and then eventually I build up the courage to turn the music off, get up and move on and let go of whatever it is that is bugging me.
ReplyDeleteHello Maggie. I have to agree with you about listening to songs in which your emotions can relate to. I feel that listening to upbeat music while sad is like ignoring how you feel. Music truly is like therapy and helps me move on from feeling upset.
DeleteSometimes I really just want to feel the emotions to their full extent too. It's just being human, sometimes it's just nice to run the feelings out until you're ready because it's like Ceanna Lea said, if you're not listening to the right music it can be like ignoring your feelings.
DeleteA lot of our response are similar! I agree that music is a healthy way of overcoming any difficult situation in our life.
DeleteI listen to country music no matter what kind of mood I am in or how I am feeling. Country music really speaks to me because I know the stories told in the lyrics are real. Even if I can’t relate to a sad song being played, I can still feel pain from the people who do experience such tragic events in their lives. One of my favorite songs is “Saving Amy” by Brantley Gilbert. This song is a true story about one of Brantley’s friends who passed away. Brantley sings “She’s had a year to let go. She’s still wearing my ring. It hasn’t left her finger since the night that I proposed. When I promised her forever before I took her home. But I never made it home that night.” Every time I listen to this song, tears are brought to my eyes as if I am Amy mourning my fiancé. Music helps me brush off my shoulders whatever is upsetting or bothering me. Music is definitely my therapy and I could not live without it.
ReplyDeleteI like that you also like to listen to country, I think the reasoning is like what you said about how most of the songs that are created are made because they are personal stories that are written by the songwriter.
DeleteWhen I have to cope with certain things I have a different variety of music that I tend to listen to. I have found that I like to listen to Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, and Jack Johnson when I am very upset. When I feel alone I like to listen to more up upbeat music from my favorite artists such as Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Colbie Calliat, Justin Timberlake, and Sara Barellies. I am glad that I am the type of person who listens to all types of genres such as country, hip hop, rap, indie, and smooth jazz. When I lost my best friend the song that kept playing in my mind the most was "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood. The lyrics that stuck out to me the most are "I will see you again, oh This is not where it ends I will carry you with me, oh Till I see you again." It showed me that I was able to go on with my life and carry the memory I had of my best friend with me and not forget about her. Also I would get to be reunited again with her one day which made me hopeful and not so sad. I like how music can change my mood and also define me as a person. If there wasn't music in the world then people wouldn't be able to express how they feel and become one with other people who like to listen as well
ReplyDeleteThat song "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood has gotten me through a couple of deaths of people I loved, I'm glad that it gave you some peace after Jess Galley died because you will see her again and her memory lives on because of people like you, the ones who loved and knew her.
DeleteIt makes a huge difference when you know someone who can help you with a friends death. Jess touched both of our lives in different ways and it is because of her that you and I are friends today. I would like to say thank you for all you have done to help since freshman year with her death and I'm glad to have found some peace in certain songs or music that reminds me of the amazing woman she was.
DeleteI use music for every mood or state i am in. When I am coping with something sad or upsetting, I listen to music that is calmer but does not make me more sad. I like to listen to mostly music that are sounds of nature and relaxing, like something you would hear while getting a massage. It helps keep me calm and relaxed after upsetting news. I also go to art when I hear upsetting news. If I am upset or angry about something, I jump on a pottery wheel and start creating something. It helps me keep my mind focused on something positive (like creating art) rather than staying sad and continuing to feed my sadness. I want to live a happy life and try to see the good in every situation, so I find ways of letting myself be sad, but being calm about it and not staying sad for long periods of time.
ReplyDeleteI like how you find an outlet, such as art, to keep your mind clear from continuing to be upset or sad.
DeleteWhen I get sad, I tend to listen to more upbeat music. When listening to music I don't want to be sad or upset. I like to keep things upbeat when things that can be upsetting happen. I am not one to listen to slow songs, but I do enjoy listening to country, hip hop, and some alternative rock. When I don't listen to music I try to find other activities to keep me distracted and in a happier mood.
ReplyDeleteI think listening to upbeat music is a really good way to help get your mind off of something that is sad or upsetting. I'm glad that you can find a way to bring yourself to positive vibes by listening to more upbeat music.
DeleteThe first thing I turn to when I am sad is music. I listen to slower non-upbeat music to match my mood. I struggle with getting over things quickly so instead of listening to upbeat music to get my mind off of things, I delve into the sadness even more by listening to this type of music. I like many different kinds of music, country being one of my top choices and rap being one of my last choices.I also like pop, some rock and hip hop.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm sad, I try to clean and scrub things to within an inch of its life. I always have music on while doing this. Usually its more upbeat music that's more energetic so I can dance out my frustrations while I'm cleaning. Other times the music is slow and sad so I can just cry and get everything out of my system.
ReplyDeleteI am the exact same way when I'm mad. When I'm sad I typically just listen to really soft music, not necessarily sad music but anything that's pretty chill.
DeleteI also find myself wanting to clean in certain situations when I feel mad, overwhelmed, or stressed out. It is just a way for myself to organize some things which helps calm me down. I feel if my surrounding area is organized then i start to become organized and less stressed as well. I am glad you have found a coping strategy that helps you!
DeleteI tend to listen to industrial, techno, EBM, synthpop, hard rock, techno whenever. It doesn't matter if I am sad, if I am angry, happy, it doesn't matter. That kind of music gets me going no matter what. Now I don't usually listen to that, I have a wide array of musical tastes, such as musical scores from movies. My favorite composers include Graham Revell, John Williams, Clint Mansell Hans Zimmer, and Danny Elfman. Among my favorite musical scores are "Death is the Road to Awe" by Clint Mansell, "The Heart Asks the Pleasure First" by Michael Nyman, "Adagia Strings" from the movie Platoon, and many more. - Christian Shodahl
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