The many emotions that come with a breakup can be difficult to put into words, but it seems to have gotten easier for many of the artists nominated for this year's Grammy Awards.
In “Vampire,” Olivia Rodrigo expresses the disgust that arises from betrayal: “You made me look so innocent / The way you sold me for parts / As you sank your teeth into me.”
SZA explores revenge fantasy of killing ex-lover in 'Kill Bill' “I could kill my ex but I still love him/Better in jail than alone.”
In “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus sings about the fact that happiness doesn't come from external sources: “I started crying, but then I remembered I could buy flowers.”
In this harrowing, personal post-breakup song, which was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, three women grapple with the notion of giving up so much of themselves and becoming martyrs. Some even form relationships and experience reincarnation.
Indeed, 2023 was the year in which young women poured their courage. (SZA's sad girl anthology album 'SOS' has topped the Billboard charts for 10 weeks since its release in December 2022, and earned more nominations at Sunday's Grammy Awards than any other artist this year.) Diary-like music Through their narrative nature, these women projected their romantic dissatisfaction into graphic images. They looked inward and used art to communicate and process their emotions.
The lyrical messages in their songs reflect today's dating environment. Damona Hoffman, a dating coach in Los Angeles, said the dating landscape is changing rapidly and filled with heightened emotions thanks to the numerous ways people can meet online. result.
“I feel the highs and lows more keenly,” said Ms. Hoffman, who recently published the book “F the Fairy Tale” and has worked as a dating coach for 17 years. She added that these emotional extremes can cause many people to seek comfort. Listening to (or even writing) music is one way to cope.
Sylka Feliciano, 23, was going through relationship issues when 'SOS' came out. She is a student at the California Institute of the Arts, Ms. Feliciano said she was writing her thesis when the album came out and she heard it on Apple Music. Then she played it over and over again for days.
“I cried every day, multiple times a day, for months,” Feliciano said. Eventually, she decided that her own relationship wasn't meeting her own needs, and she broke up with her partner after a few weeks, she said.
Sad love songs can also express emotions that help people connect better with their own feelings. Jerusalem Truth, a 24-year-old writer living in Brooklyn, said SZA's song 'I Hate You' is 'affirming in a way that is really needed.' Because she always felt that breakups had to be handled gracefully. Hearing her sing that song was cathartic and helped her realize that it was okay to feel her anger.
“No, I don’t like you,” she said. “I’m angry and upset.”
Austin Spero, a 26-year-old social media manager living in Manhattan, said sad music helps him feel less lonely. His most streamed song of 2023 was “Flowers.” ‘Vampire’ was in the top 10.
He recalled the first time he heard ‘Vampire’. He was arguing over text messages with a guy he broke up with. “At that moment I felt really vindicated,” Mr. Spero said. “I was so angry and it gave me strength to be confident in my decisions.”
But sometimes, when I listen to sad love songs, I feel so… There are times when I feel sad.
Many studies, including one published in the Journal of Popular Music Studies, have found that love songs have become sadder both lyrically (in terms of the emotions conveyed) and musically (by incorporating slower tempos, minor keys, and other sonic elements) . (Indicates sadness.)
Ms. When Truth went on her date recently, she resisted the urge to vent her disappointment through music, she said. She asked, “Will wearing SZA heighten my own emotions?” She said. “Or will you pursue positive reinforcement?”
“I think most people are exhausted, and rightfully so,” Truth said of dating. But the fact that both her artists and her fans are turning to her music to understand how her love encounter affected them has given her hope.
After getting up from her seat, Ms. Truth ultimately decided to curate her playlist that exemplified the dating experience she wanted to have. It includes the “Rent” soundtrack and older songs by artists Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill.
“Right now, I don’t hear people singing about the type of dating experience I want,” Ms. Truth said. “So I went back and was looking for it.”