Melancholy music, by how it feels

Melancholy music hits a specific emotional register. This collection spans 150 songs we've measured for energy, dynamics and texture — so you can find the exact feeling you want.

The character of Melancholy

Across the 150 Melancholy songs we've measured, intensity averages 42/100 — calmer than the typical song we measure (46/100).

They run from Like an Angel Passing Through My Room (the calmest here, 15) to We Die Young (the most charged, 80), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1958–2023.

The widest dynamic swing belongs to So Many Tears.

The calmest melancholy songs (29)

Moderate intensity (107)

Most intense (14)

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