Tales from a Bruised Mind

A therapist, clinician or even a psychologist might tell you that listening to sad music is not a very wise choice if you’re feeling down in the dumps, or just plain depressed. “Listen to happy, positive music, or music that makes you feel good,” they might say.

And while they might be correct, I personally find a lot of sadder music to be very therapeutic. Sounds strange, right?

Let me explain why.

I remember watching YouTube one day years and years ago and coming across an amazing rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s song, I can’t make you love me, which was sung in this particular video by a man called Justin Vernon.

It has to be one of the most chilling, thought-provoking and delicate performances I have witnessed on YouTube, or ever for that matter.

After spending quite a bit of time thinking about (and listening intently to) the song, I realised that Justin Vernon was in fact the founder of Bon Iver, which means ‘good winter’ in French.

Bon Iver’s first album, the wonderful For Emma, Forever Ago, is as raw and touching as ever, even if you listen to it for the very first time in 2024. Justin retreated to his father’s cabin in the woods after a breakup and wrote much of the album there.

It is, to me, one of the great indie folk albums of all time. It is simply gorgeous.

But Bon Iver/ Justin Vernon and band don’t write happy songs.

Their songs focus on a lot of things, but not happiness.

But they are altogether better for it. They make you relive the good and not-so-good moments, to go back in time and experience it all again.

As hard as it is to look back, music paints pictures of memories in our minds. There may be good times or very tough or simply bad times. But they are important.

We can go forward but we cannot forget the past, no matter how hard we may try at the time. It’s impossible. We can try to forget, but, to me, it’s best to just let it all happen naturally.

Music like Bon Iver’s is precious. For me, it takes me back to times in the past, happy moments and sad moments. It helps me to reflect and learn and that , in all things, is just so damn great.

If your doctor or therapist wants you to listen to positive music, go and do that. But don’t forget that the sad artists are just as good, if not better!

Love,

Zak