Sad Girl Summer - A Playlist

Songs To Add to Your Playlist that Describe Mental Health Perfectly 

 Because mental health is such a large issue and many people deal with one mental health issue or another such as anxiety and depression, it is a very unique moment when a song describes exactly how you're feeling. 

Some songs that I have directly noticed a sort of play of lyrics and speaking to direct audiences, communicating rhetorically. These songs speak to those who have battled anxiety and depression and for those who have not but want to listen to some of the songs that can identify some of the larger issues associated with mental health. 

Anxiety-- Julia Michaels

https://youtu.be/Q33DvcjXA7M

This song pretty much hits the bullseye about this topic. The lyrics remind me completely of how I am when I get bad anxiety. Not only is the song super catchy, but it is super relatable. It talks a lot about how its hard having a life with your friends when you are too consumed with your own issues. 

Be Okay--Ingrid Michaelson

https://youtu.be/vpMI8Qu5fsc

Be Okay is a very deep song that sounds very happy, but the lyrics are very sad and deep. Some of the lyrics are “I just want to be okay.”, “I just want to know today.” and other words that relate a lot to depression and other things that people deal with when going through mental illnesses. 

1-800-273-8255-- Logic

https://youtu.be/Kb24RrHIbFk

First off this song is very important, 18002738255 is the Suicide Hotline. You can dial this number whenever you need to talk to someone about your emotions and feelings, and more importantly save your own life. Logic does an amazing job at vocalizing the issues you deal with every day with a mental illness. 

Into the Ocean-- Blue October

https://youtu.be/ZES3nJQYJok

This song is another song that seems very happy, but the lyrics use a play of words, similes and metaphors. It seems that the lyrics use the ocean as a way to describe his depression, that he feels like he is drowning. He says that he wants to swim away but doesn’t know how. I think this is a very good example of how a lot of people do not want anxiety or depression or to be sad, but for some reason it won’t leave, and it is drowning them. 

If I Die Young-- The Band Perry

https://youtu.be/7NJqUN9TClM

This song is a story line of a girl who commits suicide at a young age. It’s a very sad song. I feel like a lot of people could relate to this song if anyone they know has committed suicide, or had gone through a dark time. The lyrics that catch me off guard are “a sharp knife of a short life” and “funny when you’re dead how people start listening.” 

Some other songs that I think tell an amazing story through there lyrics and communicate rhetorically are:

- Anxiety by Selena Gomez & Julia Michaels

- Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey

- Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

- Stan by Eminen

- Fix You by Coldplay

- Little Talks by Monsters of Men

- Breathin by Ariana Grande

Because so many songs tend to tell a story about mental health, have you ever noticed how many songs try to communicate a rhetorical message to you? What songs have directly spoken to you?