We all have days where we feel like nothing is going right and everything feels like too much – or too little. Music is such a good companion on days like that, either because the music “just gets you” and helps you dwell, or because it lifts you up and gives you the power to move on to brighter days. That’s why I have created a little “Beautiful Sad Songs” list, with some of my favorite music for difficult days. To be completely honest, I listen to these songs on happy days as well, because I love sad music – the tortured singer songwriter with a broken heart is my favorite kind. There is a comfort in a beautiful, melancholic voice that has seen it all.

1. Ane Brun – How To Disappear Completely

Just like I could fill up the entire “Existential Songs” list with Beyonce, I could probably make this list all about Ane Brun. Her voice is powerful and soft at the same time, just like her lyrics: they go right for the core. I have seen her live countless times and I walked down the aisle to “O Love”. I chose “How to Disappear Completely” because it’s from her latest album – which is all covers. The original is by Radiohead and it’s a beautiful song.

“I’m not here. This isn’t happening”

2. Daughter – Peter

I love Daughter. Her voice embodies sadness and her lyrics are so vulnerable. Peter is probably my favorite song from Daughter, because she uses the Peter Pan complex as a way to explain her lovers mishaps and shortcomings.

“Oh, Peter, I can dream no more. I’ve been chasing all of yours. I’ve forgotten what it was that I wanted.”

3. Ben Howard – Wouldn’t be a Lie

Another artist I’ve seen perform live on many occasions. The first time I saw Ben Howard live the tickets where eight euros and there were about fifty people in the bar. Times have changed, but his music hasn’t: he is amazing. He is one of my favorite male voices and he has written many beautiful sad songs. But “Wouldn’t be a lie” is probably the roughest one.

“Never thought that you, that you wouldn’t be here; Never thought that I would see these tears fall; And all these lonely times I’m feeling without you; Knowing I don’t have you through it all.”

4. Alela Diane – Ether & Wood

Alela is one of my all time favorite singers. Our youngest daughter is named after her. I’ve seen her live only once, but I always come back to her music. The lyrics from her song “Oh my Mama” were on Isaya’s birth announcement card and the lyrics to this song, Ether & Wood, are on Alela’s birth card. I chose this song for the list, because it’s from Alela’s latest album and there is hope at the end of the song.

“Next thing I knew her spirit called; She took shelter in my womb; And I felt her tiny feet; Kick me from the inside; And when I looked into her dark eyes; She couldn’t help but cry”

David Gray – Girl Like You

I could make this list ten times longer, because there are so many beautiful sad songs and beautiful sad voices. London Grammar, Bat for Lashes, Anais Mitchell and Laura Marling have all written some of my favorite sad songs. But I had to choose David Gray. My favorite male singer. I have never seen him live (!!), even though I have been listening to his music – non stop – for over fourteen years. He has written many heavy & heartbroken songs and his voice is pure, raw melancholy. “This Year’s Love“, “Sail Away” and “Lately” are classics of course, but I chose “Girl Like you”, because of one sentence, he keeps repeating over and over in the song:

“I’m working on it”