examining the importance and appeal of melancholic music
Melancholy (n.) is defined by Merriam-Webster as depression of spirits: dejection. As an adjective, it’s defined as suggestive or expressive of sadness or depression of mind and spirit. Feelings of melancholy fuel a depth of relatability and resonance in art, and in this case, music.
Musicalyst.com specifically defines a genre of music called melancholia:
Melancholia is a genre that's all about reflecting on the deeper, more emotional aspects of life. It's characterized by its slow, melancholic melodies and introspective lyrics that explore themes of sadness, loss, and heartbreak. Melancholia is a deeply personal genre that encourages listeners to connect with their emotions and find solace in the music.
I have always been someone who has felt their emotions very deeply. I can identify my emotions and, most times, have a clear understanding of their source. Melancholy, I’ve come to learn, is a big part of my identity. I believe it’s this part of my personality that often influences the music I love the most.
When elements of nostalgia, bittersweetness, loneliness, and feelings of being misunderstood are reflected in music, I find it resonating with me. For a long time, I’ve wondered to myself…why do I connect so deeply with “sad music?” I find myself feeling a mixture of empathy and solidarity with the artist. The depth of these emotions make for some of the most poignant and profound music.
As I look over my relationship with music and the examples of the songs that have meant the most to me, it becomes progressively clear that this is the case.
One of the key examples of this is my love for Michael Jackson’s “Stranger In Moscow.” The song was the seventh single released from HIStory: Past, Present and Future: Book I (1995), his most personal and emotionally expressive album. “Stranger In Moscow” is my absolute favorite song by Michael. The longing tone in his voice, the background vocals, and the songs progression from a more gentle to an eventual powerful and heartfelt vocal are some of the elements that make it so special for me.
There's something about the vulnerability that coincides with the expression of deep-rooted emotions like hopelessness, heartache, and longing that I really appreciate and admire. It's a very sacrificial act to openly express the “negative” emotions that society encourages you to pretend that you don't feel.
Any artist who commits this courageous act is someone I find myself really appreciating. I’m going to highlight a few key artists among my favorites who have mastered the art of expressing melancholic feelings through their music.
Lenny Kravitz
My immediate thoughts regarding Lenny Kravitz’s artistry and discography don’t have much to do with melancholy. The overarching themes of his music are love, unity, hope and faith in God. However, having gone through his entire discography, I’ve become aware of his profound execution of expressing melancholic, and even depressive emotions. There are many dualities to Lenny as an artist; one of them being his ability to uplift and encourage the masses, while also having the ability to be vulnerable and write lyrics that express emotions associated with painful experiences.
“More Than Anything In This World” (1991)
This song is directly inspired by the separation and eventual dissolution of Lenny’s marriage with Lisa Bonet. You can hear the pain and desperation in his voice. The vocal delivery is very dry and weary-sounding. The instrumentation is very stripped down on this song, which really forces the listener to zero in on the pain in Lenny’s voice.
“Stillness of Heart” (2001)
This is one of the many undercover gospel songs in Lenny’s discography. I interpret this song as the expression of feeling an emptiness inside that you can quite trace the origin of. You’ve got all you “need” and then some, and yet, you’re still left feeling unfulfilled. I love this song because it expresses the uncomfortable and confusing feeling of emptiness so beautifully. He sings:
All that I want / Is stillness of heart / So I can start / To find my way / Out of the dark / And into your heart
“Calling All Angels” (2004)
I would describe the tone of Lenny’s voice on this song as fragile. He’s an artist that tends to leave his music up for interpretation. From my perspective, this song is an expression of longing and desperation for companionship. He asks very clearly for support from the angels to bring him someone, or something to love. There is so much beauty in the simplicity and rawness of this lyric.
Richard Marx
Richard Marx is a master at expressing feelings of nostalgia and deep longing through his music. There's something about Richard's voice that carries such a tenderness and showcases such emotion-filled expression. It wasn't until I heard him asked about the importance of melancholy in his music during his interview on Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters that I realized this element is one of the key reasons why his music resonates with me so deeply (full interview linked at the end of this post)
[Melancholy] plays an integral part, and maybe the most important part. I've found that, even in [the] happiest periods of my life, I need to tap into an element of, if not melancholy, or sad at least bittersweet. I have written a couple of songs that maybe didn’t have as much of that, that I still like.
Generally, I find happy songs, or songs that lack those elements, frankly, boring as fuck. I think it's 'cause I relate more to heartache, melancholy, aloneness and sadness as a person than I do elation and happiness […] I can close my eyes and remember exactly what it felt like when I was in the worst parts of my life, and I think that’s really where the poetry comes from.
I'm always a little hesitant to talk about this this way because I don’t want to reinforce the idea that you need to be miserable to write great songs. I don’t think that that’s true—it fucking helps, I will say that! […] I think that if you’ve lived enough even into your 20s, if you’ve had relationships or if you’ve had real disappointments, you now have a well to go to […] That's really where I think poetry lives the most. — Richard Marx, 2021
“Endless Summer Nights” (1987)
There are so many reasons why I love this song. It carries an almost tropical, beachy sound that is created by the saxophone and percussion. The nostalgic and bittersweet elements of this song are so touching. The lyric paints such a beautiful picture supported by the swaying groove and tenderness of Richard’s vocal delivery.
“Someone Special” (2000)
I admire the display of vulnerability and honesty in this song. To be so openly expressive about loneliness and the desire for companionship is so beautiful. Knowing your own value while still longing to be recognized and valued by someone else is a feeling so many of us experience. Because of the individualistic nature of society, we may sometimes feel shame around it. Big props to Richard for this one!
“Ready to Fly” (2004)
This song contains some of my favorite lyrics from Richard. So many times, we search outside of ourselves for the green light to pursue our innermost desires, hopes and dreams. This song beautifully displays the mental conflict between recognizing your power and being too afraid to act on it. At the end of the song, he sings “I’ve always had wings, now I’m finally ready to fly” in previous verses, he ends the line by saying “…I wasn’t ready to fly” Richard’s beautiful vocal performance, the orchestral instrumentation and vulnerability of his lyricism make this song perfect. It’s full circle.
Steve Perry
Something that I picked up on very quickly about Steve Perry in his solo work is how in touch with nostalgia he is. I’ve still only scratched the surface of Journey’s discography; as for Steve Perry the soloist, I have taken the plunge. When first conceptualizing the idea for this topic, some hesitation came up. It’s the following quote from Steve that I took as a sign to continue my pursuit of this topic (full panel linked at the end of this post):
Personally, I think that for me, I’m a pretty melancholy kind of guy. I kind of live in a melancholy state all the time. For me I guess, is that too much sadness? I don’t know. It does keep me centered, it keeps me in the moment. Am I a depressive guy? I don’t know. I call it melancholy; I write music that I think speaks from that place — Steve Perry, Pop Conference, 2019
“Foolish Heart” (1984)
The deep yearning for love in conjunction with the fear of giving oneself away following the pain associated with that act is represented so beautifully through the lyrics of this song. This song is so vulnerable and beautiful. I love the profound concept of this song; he’s warning his own heart of the risk factors of falling in love again.
“Captured By the Moment” (1984)
I love this song because of its retrospective quality. Steve references an array of specific historical/musical figures and their demises. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Beatles (specifically John Lennon, the only deceased member at the time), John F. Kennedy, Sam Cooke (one of Steve’s primary influences), Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding.
What these individuals have in common is the fact that they all tragically lost their lives. As someone who was born in the late 40s, Steve was witness to the fall of these icons. He sings:
Captured by the moment / And the magic of yesterday / Captured by the moment / And I hope it never fades away
“I Am” (1994)
The resonance in Steve’s voice on this song is heavenly. The overall tone is very melancholic, pulling on the heartstrings of the listener. There is some real vulnerability displayed in the lyrics. He often leaves thing up for interpretation. The chorus showcases a depth of emotional pain and confusion possibly associated with loss. This is such a beautiful song. When first listening, I immediately felt it in my heart.
“Somewhere There’s Hope” (1994)
The title of this song says it all. Steve really allowed himself to stretch on this one. His voice sounds so strong…the power of the choir providing their beautiful vocals adds so much to this song. This is a gospel-flavored track that is full of heart-wrenching lyrics colored with hope and longing for a better future.
the importance of melancholy in music
Despite how far we’ve come as a society, there is still a great deal of stigma that exists regarding mental and emotional health issues. This fact deepens the importance of people, especially artists and other public figures, being openly expressive about their feelings; specifically, the more unfavorable ones. This contributes a lot to society; it makes others feel seen, heard and less alone. It’s the artists who prioritize their self-expression over everything else that have the most profound impact on society. Using art as a conduit for self-expression and catharsis, above all else, is admirable.
The universality of melancholy and the feelings associated with it are part of why “sad” music is so profoundly resonant. Sometimes I grapple with feelings of confusion as to why it’s the songs that express melancholy that tend to be my favorite. When deciding to explore this topic, I wondered how the words I’m writing would sound. Is it depressing to love music that expresses uncomfortable feelings? I don’t think so.
It says a lot about society’s need to feel understood in moments that feel low. When artists of all creative mediums display the deep and sometimes dark emotions that are apart of the human experience, it creates community. There is such profound fellowship that can be felt through emotional expression, which is why it needs to continue.
Thank you for reading!
love,
cheyenne
contextual materials:
Songcraft Ep. 169 - RICHARD MARX ("Right Here Waiting")
Steve Perry Talks Loss, Grief, and Music at Pop Conference 2019
