Down In The Dumps
My Mixtape’s A Masterpiece is a weekly feature in which a guest compiles a playlist around some theme. This week, Alexis Collazo assembles 12 songs for when you’re feeling particularly sad. Read Alexis’ thoughts on each song and listen along to the Spotify playlist on top and/or the YouTube playlist at the bottom of the post.
Music has always been a lifeline for me. It's the thing that keeps me going when life feels like too much. The right songs have the power to cheer me up or just provide the motivation and energy to face another day when I'd much rather stay in bed. But it works the other way, too: some music is just perfect for days when I'd rather marinate in misery. It's okay to not be okay sometimes. I let myself feel what I feel, sing along to a sad song, and have a good cry.
1. “It’s Been Awhile” by Staind
This song inspired this list. Heard it on the radio recently and had an instant flashback to the melodrama of my teens when miserable was my default mood. It still triggers lingering guilt and regrets about what may have been some bad choices.
2. “Giving In” by Adema
I don't think I ever quite reached the addict point, but drugs and alcohol were a major coping tool for quite a few years. In my darkest moods, I can see the appeal and have been very tempted to give in, which is pretty damn sad.
3. “Down In A Hole” by Alice in Chains
Sometimes it feels like I just want to crawl into a hole and…well sleep for a long time. Plus there's the added bonus of grief over the loss of Layne Staley.
4. “Hurt” by Johnny Cash
On the regular, I prefer the Nine Inch Nails version. But Cash's version will make you want to cry your eyes out. His slower delivery and rough voice make it so much more depressing. I've witness it bring a bar full of drunk metalheads nearly to tears (possible exaggeration).
5. “Lips Of An Angel” by Hinder
Yeah, I know it's cheesy and such a tired, old cliché. But the whole “late night calls, trying to move on while still hung on the ex, and not being able to truly move on” storyline pulls at my heartstrings every time.
6. “Bother” by Stone Sour
I feel like these lyrics were just pulled directly from my most depressed brain. “Wish I were too dead to cry...too dead to care.”
7. “Serenity” by Godsmack
Every time I hear this song it surprises me, inspiring seemingly random and dark trains of thought. The hypnotic quality puts me in reflective mood which leads to ruminating. Once that starts, the downward spiral is inevitable.
8. “Wake Up” by Mad Season
It's hard to articulate how haunting this song is because it hits on so many different levels. Nothing's sadder than talent wasted because of addiction. This sounds likes a real moment of self-awareness and a glimmer of hope that self-preservation will beat the self-destructive drive—except that we know it didn't.
9. “Die A Little” by Yungblud
While most of these picks rely on a certain level of nostalgia and a wealth of associated memories, this song makes the list based solely on its moody, melancholic vibes.
10. “Tearjerker” by Korn
While usually on the heavier and angrier side, Korn's always good for a bit of catharsis. This aptly titled song slows things down invoking the perfect doom and gloom attitude.
11. “How The Gods Kill” by Danzig
The combination of it dredging up memories from my worst years and its super moody bitch ambiance makes this song perfect for simmering in sadness.
12. “Only Happy When It Rains” by Garbage
Nothing is worse than a beautiful and bright sunny day when I'm in a crap mood. But the perfection of a dark and gloomy, rainy day is almost enough to make me happy.
