I adore sad songs. I cannot really explain why, if you don't understand. My girlfriend doesn't get sad songs, and I just cannot explain it to her.

When I am happy, sad songs can make me sad, and I don't want to hear them. But when I am slightly or more sad, or just want to feel myself, I enjoy a sad song. It makes me feel connected to myself.

Giving in to sadness is a nice way for catharsis and healing the soul. Sometimes in life there is sadness. Denying it will only make the hurt be bigger. Giving into it can give room for new things. I read once that flowing tears causes for hormones to flow where you get happy again and see new opportunities. In the Netherlands whe have a saying about children; "Johnny cries, Johnny smiles".

There are too many lies on Facebook and Twitter anyway. Sometimes shedding a tear can give way for honesty, truth and realness.

The article, written in the early 20th century, has nothing to do with sad songs in the, "sad songs hurt so good sense", but rather in the African American's shared pain (from slavery) and catharsis through music.

I suspect the same holds true for the American Indian, Jews, and any other enslaved/victims-of-genocide peoples.

Not that all humans don't suffer, far from it, but the article in question is decidedly not about that sad song on the radio.

I’m with you on this. I actually keep a list on my phone of songs that have given me that feeling over the years. I suspect it will be a “fun”, if emotional, thing to look back on when I’m older.

Try listening to The Mountain Goats

The aching and the beautiful often come together, strangely. Pain makes poetry.