Most Rewarding Art Of All: 7 Melancholic Songs
Kashmir, Mando Diao, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Strokes, Frédéric Chopin, Emīls Dārziņš and Elliott Smith
Jared Levinson (1996) argues that ‘‘art which expresses negative emotions is often held to be the most rewarding art of all‘‘(Garrido, 2016, p.36). Research in Physics of Life Reviews ‘‘An Integrative Review of The Enjoyment of Sadness Associated With Music’’ (2018) explains that sad music induces ‘‘homeostasis and the production of prolactin, a hormone that offers emotional relief’’ (Eerola,Vuoskoski, Peltola, Putkinen and Schäfer, 2018). Listening to sad music can be therapeutic and it does not mean that such music will increase negative emotions. The study details that:
‘‘the consoling reaction refers to the anxiolytic effects of prolactin and oxytocin, which are known to be associated with crying, feelings of social support, and negative moods. Both oxytocin and prolactin inhibit the sympathetic and HPA activity during stress, influence cardiovascular dynamics, reduce stress responsiveness on neuronal and behavioural levels, and are known to produce feelings of calmness, well-being, and consolation. The consoling effects of prolactin have been well documented in crying and nursing. Oxytocin has similarly been reported to facilitate positive emotions, trust, and feelings of social support’’ (Eerola,Vuoskoski, Peltola, Putkinen and Schäfer, 2018).
Not only does melancholic music provide feelings of social support and anxiolytic effects, but such music allows the listener to “disengage from the distressing situation and focus instead on the beauty of the music” (Eerola,Vuoskoski, Peltola, Putkinen and Schäfer, 2018). This is something that one of the previous blog posts discussed in the context of grunge music and Seattle : ‘‘Loser’’- The Hero Of The 1990s. However, this time I want to share some of my favourite melancholic and emotive songs outside of Seattle and grunge.
HERE`S MY LIST:
‘‘Rocket Brothers’’ (2003) - Kashmir
This song is from Danish rock band Kashmir, who originally formed under the name Nirvana. The band consists of Kasper Eistrup, Mads Tunebjerg, Asger Techau and Henrik Lindstrand. Kashmir were among the finalist of the Danish Rock Championship - DM i Rock in 1993. The band notes on their Spotify account that the first album Travelogue (1994) is a mix of Prong, Primus, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana and Sonic Youth. No Balance Palace (2005) is a really great album that showcases the band`s inspiration from Radiohead. Even David Bowie claimed to be a fan of the band and the song ‘‘The Cynic’’ (2005) features Bowie.
No Balance Palace (2005) also features Lou Reed on ‘‘Black Building’’, it`s a spoken word song. However, the song ‘‘Rocket Brothers’’ from Zitilites (2003) is one of my favourites and I’m sure you`ll love it too. It`s a moving, melancholic and melodic song, and the music video is amazing too. Kasper Eistrup`s brother Jacob explains that:
‘‘the world's coolest number is 'Rocket Brothers'. It is my brother who wrote that number for me many years ago’’ (Hansen, 2017)
In 2002 both brother`s were going in their own direction in life and Jacob explains that ‘‘I wouldn't say that I was mad at him [Kasper], but I was just so frustrated that when I wrote or called him, it was never possible to get in touch with him’’(Hansen, 2017). Kashmir`s successful album The Good Life (1999) sold over 100,000 copies in Denmark and Jacob thought that Kasper didn`t have ‘‘much energy to think so much about his brother, who was in Spain at the time’’(Hansen, 2017). However, Kasper had thought about his brother and one evening he said "Well, I have something with you that you just need to hear"(Hansen, 2017). And it was the almost finished demo of Zitilites and ‘‘‘Rocket Brothers’’ which was written for Jacob.
‘‘I Don`t Care What The People Say’’ (2007)- Mando Diao
‘‘I don't care what the people say
I wear my pain everyday
People say it's a waste of time
I say it suits me just fineYou- what's on your mind
Last time I saw you, you hide
I don't feel very right
My mom says I'm December child’’
This 1:51 minute song is from Swedish rock band Mando Diao from the album Never Seen the Light of Day (2007). Frontman Bjorn Dixgård explains that the album tittle came from the band not being sure if the album would be released and see the light of day due to management issues.
Mando Diao are known for their rock’n’roll sound which is reminiscent of 1960s rock with albums such as Bring ‘Em In (2002), Hurricane Bar (2004) and Ode To Ochrasy (2007). This particular album is more intimate and ruled by heavy acoustic guitars, yet the intensity of vocals remains. It would be a crime not to mention songs ‘‘If I Don`t Live Today, Then I Might Be Here Tomorrow’’, ‘‘Never Seen the Light of Day’’ and ‘‘Not a Perfect Day’’ from this album. The last two mentioned are poetic, melancholic love songs. Whilst, ‘‘If I Don`t Live Today, Then I Might Be Here Tomorrow’’ sounds uplifting and hopeful.
The artwork is beautiful. Truly an underrated album if you ask me.
‘‘Windows’’ (2007) - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
BRMC is a rock band from San Francisco, California. The band consists of Leah Shapiro, Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been. Their most famous song is ‘‘Beat The Devil`s Tattoo’’ (2010) and the band`s first album Take Them On, On Your Own was released in 2003. Their latest album Wrong Creatures was released in 2018 and it`s freaking amazing. I discovered the band a few months ago and they have become one of my favourites. I was trying to get my friend who loves classic hard-rock, punk and metal to get into them and ‘‘Windows’’ did the trick.
It`s a beautiful melodic track and the dark atmospheric sound is characteristic of the band. BTW when it came out back in 2007 it got a pretty wild and funny review from the Guardian. If it doesn`t make you want to listen to it NOW then I don`t know what will.
Baby 81 also includes the political track ‘‘Weapon Of Choice’’ in which the band expresses that ‘‘There is no weapon to free us all; I won't waste my love on a nation’’. Robert Levon Been stated in an interview for Los Angeles Times (2003) that:
“Somewhere where romanticism and reality meet in the middle is this, It’s who we are, and then also the escape of it. A lot of bands, it’s more about the escape: fun while it lasts, get your girls, get your money and get out. We are not that band” (Kuipers, 2003)
Pretty cool.
Ode To The Mets - The Strokes (2022)
‘‘Gone now are the old times
Forgotten, time to hold on the railing
The Rubix cube isn't solving for us
Old friends, long forgotten
The old ways at the bottom
Of the ocean now has swallowed
The only thing that's left
Is us, so pardon the silence
That you're hearing is turning
Into a deafening, painful, shameful roar’’
You have to hear it and then you will understand. It`s their best song.
By the way, you can check out our interview with The Strokes Record Producer Gordon Raphael:
Nocturne, Op. 37 no.1 in G minor (1839) - Frédéric Chopin
Polish composer Frédéric Chopin wrote two nocturnes in 1839 : Nocturne, Op. 37 no.1 in G minor and Nocturne, Op. 37 no.2 in G major. Polish composer Maurycy Karasowski remarked that Nocturne in G minor ‘‘keeps up a ceaseless sad thought, until interrupted by a church- like atmosphere in chords’’(Dubal, 1989,p.317), he was referring to the chorales in the middle section. Art and music critic James Huneker felt that ‘‘it has a complaining tone, and the choral is not noteworthy…But the Nocturne, Op. 37 no.2 in G major, is charming’’ (Huneker, 1966,p.146). Whilst, critics agree that it`s of lesser importance than his other works, I personally prefer no.1 in G minor. Biographers ‘‘have felt that this music represented Chopin's faith in the consoling power of religion’’ (Woodstra, Brennan and Schrott, 2005, p.287). You have to check it out!
Melanholiskais Valsis [Melancholic Waltz] (1904) - Emīls Dārziņš
Latvian composer Emīls Dārziņš composed Melanholiskais Valsis for the symphonic orchestra in 1904. Mother of Emīls Dārziņš recalls what the wife of poet Jānis Poruks told about the composer's visit to her parents house in Lāči, near my hometown Cēsis:
"There is a gazebo there, all overgrown with greenery. She and Poruks are said to have got engaged in that gazebo and Poruks used to sit and write there in the summers . That time too, Dārziņš and Poruks sat in the gazebo almost the whole night. They spoke very little, as if they understood without words what everyone was thinking and feeling. [..] When Emīls was left alone, he allegedly saw a phenomenon - the Mother of God appeared in the corner of the gazebo and in the air sounds could be heard. In the morning, he told Poruks about it, sat down at the piano and tried to play what he heard at night. That was the beginning of the "Melancholic Waltz"(Vaivode, 2011)
Despite it being written in A major and sounding bright, the song and composer has a tragic story. In 1908 the composer faced harsh criticism and was accused of plagiarism. Specifically, composer Pāvuls Jurjāns had obtained a letter from influential Finnish composer Jean Sibelius which supported his claims. Dārziņš destroyed all his work, however it was restored after his death.
Waltz #2 (XO) (1998) - Elliott Smith
Unlike the previous waltz, Waltz #2 is written in A minor. Smith was in the rock band Heatmiser, which was known for melancholic, juxtaposing lyrics and sound. One of their most popular songs is ‘‘Plainclothes Man’’ (1996) and it has the same atmosphere and sound as of Elliott Smith`s solo records. Smith is the definition of melodic melancholy especially Waltz #2.
The song ‘‘with its staccato ¾ beat, takes Smith back to Cedar Hill, the suburbs of Texas with his mother, Bunny, and stepfather, Charlie. There’s love in “Waltz #2 (XO),” but a deeper impulse is anger, aimed squarely at Charlie. Brilliantly laid out in metaphorical cloaking’s, the song’s a secret life history, summarizing Elliott’s feelings about the Cedar Hill atmosphere and the intricacies of his relationship with mother and stepfather’’ (Schultz, 2013)
Other songs worth checking out are ‘‘Between The Bars’’(1997), ‘‘Needle In The Hay’’(1995) and ‘‘Say Yes’’(1997). Of course, checking out Heatmiser is absolutely a must!
Starting my day with this was the best decision I will make all week! Nothing I love more than a sad song. My son, who is 17 now, used to cry when I played Chopin and Debussy for him as a child, and he liked it. Sad songs say so much. Here’s one I just can’t live without: https://open.spotify.com/track/3a5Y2iU3VXrh6XuEn2Xwsv?si=2LY4TpTTRFWo_esMW7onKw