#1. "Hometown Glory"--Adele
Ah, Adele. Adele has done quite well for herself by
tapping into the power of melancholy. Her voice is
dripping with it. So for anyone who thinks that there
is no power in sadness, look (listen) no further than
Adele. Most of her music is powerful and sad, but
for me, "Hometown Glory" is her most melancholy.
I've been walking in the same way as I did
Missing out the cracks in the pavement
And tutting my heel and strutting my feet
"Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there
anyone I could call?"
"No and thank you, please Madam. I ain't lost, just
wandering."

#2. "Young and Beautiful"--Lana Del Rey
This song came into popularity with the 2013
remake of The Great Gatsby movie. It is hauntingly
beautiful and pulls at a question that is worth
asking, whether the person who loves you now will
still be there in old age. This song has melancholy
written all over it and hearing it will help you attain
a thoroughly satisfying sad mood.
Will you still love me
When I'm no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me
When I got nothing but my aching soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?
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#3. "The Call"--Regina Spektor
A song that taps into the heavy, questionable hope
behind a word like "goodbye."
It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry
I'll come back when you call me
No need to say goodbye

#4. "I Will Always Love You"--Whitney Houston
This song was written by Dolly Parton and recorded
in 1973 but it was Whitney Houston's cover in The
Bodyguard in 1992 that made it the powerful and
poignant song that moves in a way that is hard to
describe (and became the best-selling single of all
time by a female artist ). Hearing her sing this song
gives me chills and it is definitely moving and
melancholy.
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you'll have all you've dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I, I will always love you.
You, darling, I love you.

#5. "Sweet Disposition"--The Temper Trap
This song was used in the movie 500 Days of
Summer and for a car commercial. I think it's been
used for other things as well-- what's neat about it
is the way it evokes a nostalgia for the past, a
person, place, thing, etc. while at the same time
projecting a hopefulness for the future.
It is melancholy mixed with hope, which is a thrilling
combination.
Songs of desperation
I played them for you
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A kiss
A cry
Our rights
Our wrongs
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh
A moment of love
A dream
A laugh

#6. "Back to Black"--Amy Winehouse
Losing love, losing yourself, losing control. Losing
everything and having nothing but darkness left.
This is the perfect song to put you in a black mood,
too.
We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to
Black, black, black, black, black, black, black.

#7. "With or Without You"--Scala and Kolacny
Brothers
While this song (from U2's 1987 album, The Joshua
Tree ) is not necessarily new or original, Scala and
Kolacny Brothers, a Belgian women's choir, sing it
in a way that really hits a chord. There's nothing
like a choir to make an emotion resonate.
My hands are tied
My body bruised, she's got me with
Nothing to win and
Nothing left to lose
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away.

#8. "Fix You"--Coldplay
We all need fixing but until then, there is this song.
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you
need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

#9. "Somebody That I Used to Know"--Gotye
This song taps into the heartbroken parts of
ourselves that have dealt with the inevitable loss
and failure of a relationship.
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were
nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so
rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then
change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know.

#10. "Remember When it Rained"--Josh Groban
Perfect for a melancholy, gloomy, contemplative
mood. This song is full of heavy yearning.
Wash away the thoughts inside
That keep my mind away from you.
No more love and no more pride
And thoughts are all I have to do.

#11. "You Found Me"--The Fray
Here's a song for when you're in the mood for a
little "too little, too late."
Where were you
When everything was falling apart?
All my days
Were spent by the telephone
That never rang
And all I needed was a call
That never came
To the corner of First and Amistad.

#12. "My Immortal"--Evanescence
This one is super sad and very depressing. Listen
in moderation.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase.

#13. "Eet"--Regina Spektor
Apathy. Numbness. A song about what depression
feels like. (The second song by Regina Spektor on
this list.)
It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song.
You can't believe it; you were always singing along.
It was so easy and the words so sweet.
You can't remember; you try to move your feet.
It was so easy and the words so sweet.
You can't remember; you try to feel the beat...

#14. "Apologize"--OneRepublic
When forgiveness never comes. Listen to this in
moderation.
That it's too late to apologize.
It's too late...
I said it's too late to apologize.
It's too late, too late, oh, oh.

#15. "How to Save a Life"--The Fray
Yes, this is the second song by The Fray , but they
have so many excellent melancholy songs I had to
add another to the list.
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life.

#16."Let Go"--Frou Frou
A song about the beauty in the breakdown.
Drink up baby doll
Are you in or are you out?
Leave your things behind
'Cause it's all going off without you
Excuse me too busy you're writing your tragedy
These mishaps
You bubble-wrap
When you've no idea what you're like.

#17. "May It Be"--Enya
Enya's voice is the epitome of wistfulness. A lot of
Enya's work would make it on this list. In fact, Enya
could have her own list. But in lieu of that, I have
added this song to the list.
May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home.

#18. "Say Something"--A Great Big World
A song that taps into human struggles, when we
fight for ourselves, when others help us fight, and
when others give up on us in that fight. You will feel
it.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you

#19."Let Her Go"--Passenger
A song that recognizes the human tendency to take
things for granted, including but limited to periods of
life, seasons, and significant others.
But you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling
low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

#20. "Battle Scars"--Lupe Fiasco and Guy
Sebastian
Battle scars. Wounds that don't heal. Relationships
and complications.
These battle scars don't look like they're fading
Don't look like they're ever going away
They ain't never gonna change
These battle scars don't look like they're fading
Don't look like they're ever going away
They ain't never gonna change
These battle...


#21. "Stay With Me"--Sam Smith
It's hard to pick just one song from Sam Smith to
put on this list as most of his music would fit here.
This song channels ache, loneliness, and the
yearning for human connection. And then of course,
there's a hint of a choir in the background.
Oh, won't you stay with me?
'Cause you're all I need
This ain't love, it's clear to see
But darling, stay with me

#22. "Forever & Always"--Parachute
The bittersweet aspects of forever and always in
romantic love when it cannot be forever.
Stay there forever, forever and always
Through the good and the bad and the ugly
We'll grow old together, and always remember
Whether rich or for poor or for better
We'll still love each other, forever and always

#23. "I Can't See Nobody"--Nina Simone
The consuming and blinding nature of love and the
reflecting upon that love once time has passed.
I walk the lonely streets; I watch the people passing
by.
I used to smile and say hello. Guess I was just a
happy girl.
Then you happened,girl, this feeling that possesses
me.
I just can't move myself. I guess it all just had to
be.

#24. "Eleanor Rigby"--The Beatles
There's something both catchy and haunting about
this song.
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

#25. "I Will Remember You"--Sarah McLachlan
Remembering loved ones and those who have
passed is sad, and this song captures that.
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
#26 "Can’t Take That Away" – Mariah Carey
I get teared up whenever I hear this song. Every
verse of the song is fueled with so much emotion
and is a constant reminder that no matter where
we came from or what we look like, we all have
greatness within us that no one can take away. It
inspires us to stay strong and believe in ourselves,
no matter what others say or do to contradict it.
“Cause there’s, there’s a light in me that shines
brightly. They can try, but they can’t take that
away from me…”.....