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The Hidden Power of Sad Songs and Rainy Days | Susan Cain and Min Kym | TED

Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days? In this profound, poetic talk, author Susan Cain invites you to embrace the feeling of longing — or the place where joy and sorrow meet – as a gateway to creativity, connection and love. Accompanied by the…

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Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days? In this profound, poetic talk, author Susan Cain invites you to embrace the feeling of longing — or the place where joy and sorrow meet – as a gateway to creativity, connection and love. Accompanied by the splendid sounds of violinist Min Kym, Cain meditates on how heartache unexpectedly brings us closer to the sublime beauty of life.

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62 Comments

  1. Deontae Kurtz

    April 5, 2022 at 1:39 pm

    DAMN

  2. Ian Blyth

    April 5, 2022 at 1:51 pm

    “The place you suffer is the same exact place where you care desperately.” That distills things really poignantly 🥺

  3. zero wezero

    April 5, 2022 at 2:30 pm

    Cain

  4. Mukhtar Axmed Cali axmed

    April 5, 2022 at 2:37 pm

    nice

  5. Yolosolo Northwest

    April 5, 2022 at 2:42 pm

    Ok I’ll divorce my wife today then.

  6. Naomi Jones

    April 5, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    I’m sorry, did she say her husband has a pile of bones on his desk? Of Rwandan people? He stole the bones of human beings?

    • Jessica Sage

      April 5, 2022 at 3:46 pm

      A photo…. 🙄

  7. Thadeo Arlo

    April 5, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    My theory (and you’re welcome to debate) : is that we welcome tragedy in the form of music and movies to prepare ourselves for the real one. Same thing with horror and danger. We simulate events in a manageable environment so that when it happens in reality, we are better prepared to face it

  8. TheGuyontheCouch

    April 5, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    When I’m driving and stop at a light, people play their music loud, but sometimes a sad song is played and I connect

  9. Loowana

    April 5, 2022 at 3:15 pm

    As an artist who makes a lot of music for sad days, I feel so relieved listening to this talk

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    April 5, 2022 at 3:33 pm

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  11. Tee kay

    April 5, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    Paradox of pleasurable sadness

  12. Jessica Sage

    April 5, 2022 at 3:52 pm

    For all of you here for the same reason, I ask, no implore you, to make your follow up to this video be a very specific one. Make the following search, it embodies everything she’s shared with us here. “stupid deep acoustic Jon bellion” make sure it is the acoustic. I promise you that you won’t regret it.

  13. Jessica Sage

    April 5, 2022 at 3:54 pm

    Can we share with one another that song we played hundreds more than any other? What is your sad song?

  14. Anthony Marsh

    April 5, 2022 at 4:00 pm

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    • Anthony Marsh

      April 5, 2022 at 4:06 pm

      Lewisbryson 👈👈Te le gr am

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  15. Kranti Dhanmeher

    April 5, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    I am currently listening to some melancholic music. It hits deep within. It makes me happy 🙂

  16. baboo

    April 5, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    You’ve discovered “Weltschmerz”, what drives most of the gothic movement.

  17. Ever More

    April 5, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    So very well presented. From beginning to end, this video resonated with me. I am literally quivering a bit.
    Well and beautifully spoken. ❣

  18. Robin Lim

    April 5, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    What song is the violinist playing? It’s so familiar but I can’t seem to remember, please help.

    • Robin Lim

      April 5, 2022 at 7:03 pm

      caro mio ben?

  19. Tim Fishoh

    April 5, 2022 at 7:46 pm

    Angie, Angie
    When will those clouds all disappear?
    Angie, Angie
    Where will it lead us from here?

  20. Getachew Mandefro

    April 5, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    I think the Ethiopian nun Tsige Marian Gebru’s piano solo series entitled ‘the homeless wanderer’ can be a good example of what have been said above.

  21. Getachew Mandefro

    April 5, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    I think the Ethiopian nun Tsige Mariam Gebru’s piano solo series entitled ‘the homeless wanderer’ can be a good example of what have been said above.
    ……
    ‘ረቂቋ ድምፅ ሆይ ውቢቷ ሙዚቃ 
    ንጹሕ እንደ ጸሐይ ውብ እንደ ጨረቃ
    የጨዋታሽ ለዛ የድምጽሽ ፍሥሃ
    የመንፈስ አረቄ የነፍስ እህል ውኃ’
    ….
    An Amharic poem on music by Kebede Michael.

  22. FutureGhost Onfire

    April 5, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    This presentation had me weeping uncontrollably . This is the amazing truth in all its rawness. Thank you.

  23. Earn_on_my_whatsApp+①⑤①⓪④④⑦⑥②③③

    April 5, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    ⤴⃝ ⤴⃝⤴⃝ ⤴⃝ ⤴⃝⤴

  24. Firefly

    April 5, 2022 at 11:29 pm

    “Follow your longing where it’s telling you to go”

    Serious question here. Does that mean I should leave my wife and marry my girlfriend? I don’t think this is the peptalk I should’ve listened to.

    • SkoczMiNaPukiel

      April 6, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      Maybe you should. Your wife deserves better than a cheater.

    • Firefly

      April 6, 2022 at 11:33 pm

      @SkoczMiNaPukiel How do you know?

  25. Fish

    April 5, 2022 at 11:50 pm

    “The place you suffer is the same place where you care desperately” – That’s why love is so scary. The more you love something, the more power it has to hurt you.

  26. Sal3600

    April 6, 2022 at 2:33 am

    listening to sad songs when you’re sad is the worst thing you can do to yourself.

    • SkoczMiNaPukiel

      April 6, 2022 at 3:11 pm

      no.

  27. Steve Steele

    April 6, 2022 at 2:37 am

    I actually have sad songs Playlist that I love of sad songs I want played at my last moments.

  28. droogsurgeon1440

    April 6, 2022 at 4:05 am

    Folk punk

  29. two two

    April 6, 2022 at 5:00 am

    大自然

  30. Lillian Graham

    April 6, 2022 at 6:35 am

    I like her dress

  31. Giancarlo Tubal

    April 6, 2022 at 6:49 am

    Honestly Everytime it’s raining I don’t know why it makes me very happy than a sunny day.

    • Addie Morgiewicz

      April 8, 2022 at 3:55 am

      Same here!! Rainy days are the best 🙂

    • Addie Morgiewicz

      April 8, 2022 at 3:56 am

      Also I love your name! It sounds beautiful.

  32. Iris Ann Melvin

    April 6, 2022 at 10:23 am

    Susan Cain always makes me listen closely

  33. اعجاز

    April 6, 2022 at 12:03 pm

    bullshit

  34. Sarah Abraham

    April 6, 2022 at 1:20 pm

    “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
    – C.S Lewis

    • Inderjit Wassi

      April 10, 2022 at 12:22 pm

      That’s brilliant!

  35. avinash kushwaha

    April 6, 2022 at 2:25 pm

    What are you longing for !?

  36. ancientbeard

    April 6, 2022 at 6:58 pm

    The Cure

  37. Jack Tate

    April 6, 2022 at 9:06 pm

    It’s why I love First Aid Kit Band and many other folk artists.

  38. 2660016A

    April 6, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    Does anyone know if the poem her husband quoted a like from has been published? I’d like to read it.

  39. Nazia Ahmed

    April 6, 2022 at 11:33 pm

    Was a beautiful talk. I’m someone who absolutely long for rainy days and that sublime feeling. But I wish the violinist tuned the strings better.

  40. Gessy Gladys Débrosse-Longchamp

    April 7, 2022 at 1:48 am

    Adagio moves me all the time. I agree with your statements about the effects of romantic music on us, Susan

  41. Charles Stewart

    April 7, 2022 at 3:10 am

    Very impressive

  42. 이광희

    April 7, 2022 at 4:05 am

    When we listening sad music then it will can help deal good mind with emotions. So, it let’s you know what is beautiful sorrow music or song like that in your mind.

  43. Paul Jack Vasilyev

    April 7, 2022 at 10:10 am

    I’m really happy for today . I finally got my profit of $330,000 on my crypto investment after feeling so ecstatic and heavy minded that nothing good can come out of it…a big thanks to Dmitry Goldin . I learned a lot about buying when there is fear in the market . I use to get shaken out and panic sell but now I buy more when I see the low prices.

  44. Alejandro Vasquez

    April 7, 2022 at 7:41 pm

    after playing that part so many times loses the sad effect and turns to sound like a kind of joke 🤔😅🤣

  45. Lillith

    April 8, 2022 at 3:00 pm

    Thankful for your beautiful eloquent words. I hope to hear more in the future. Even the comments here are fresh inspiration. I am forced down yet I use my illusion and enjoy romanticism and comfort in longing. Your Ted talk was Perfection!!! 😍🥰💘💝🧡☕🍊🌞🌳🌹

  46. Lieve Leysen

    April 9, 2022 at 8:37 am

    💖🙂💐

  47. Jaspal Singh

    April 9, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    Another beautiful Talk by Susan…and a great book. She always does deep research and her elegant writing style has engaged the readers to the under spoken side of human psychology one more time.

  48. Jennie

    April 10, 2022 at 8:02 pm

    8:38 IS THAT GORDON RAMSAY ?

  49. Tim Chau

    April 11, 2022 at 11:53 pm

    🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐

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