"Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife." Once said Kahlil Gibran. The importance and effect of music in human life are immense. When words fail to convey emotion, music speaks thousands of them. Around the globe, each and every person loves and appreciates music, and music brings loads of happiness. But what if you are sad? Which songs will you play to let go of your sorrow? Lift your spirits with these emotional piano songs when you're feeling blue.
13 Best Emotional Piano Songs When You Feel Sad Music comes to rescue when one wants to escape long-pressed pain and sorrow. With the emotional piano songs by Chopin, Eric Clapton, Yiruma, and Lorde, the self-journey of difficult times will become easier.
1. Prelude E Minor [Fredrick Chopin] The all-time classic Prelude E Minor by Fredrick Chopin is a melodious song that is hauntingly sad and beautiful together. The piece consists of some really deep chord progression that follows the simple melody of the sad song. Chopin's renowned Prelude E Minor should be the stopper of the list of sad songs because the number ends with a faded tune of chords that can invoke a sense of nothingness in your heart. Chopin requested to play the piece at his own funeral, along with Mozart's Requiem.
2. Sonata No.17 [Ludwig Van Beethoven] Ludwig Van Beethoven's Sonata No.17 is known as Tempest Sonata. The classical piece that can express your feelings of uneasiness truly is Beethoven's Sonata 17. The music was composed during the darkest period of his life. Beethoven faced the worst mockery of life when he started to lose his hearing ability and gradually sank into anxiety. At that moment, he wrote the score, which has a sense of uncanny. The number is made up of three movements and is one of the saddest sounds to date.
3. Clare de Lune [Claude Debussy]
Did you know Clare de Lune by Claude Debussy found inspiration from a French poem of the same name written by the French poet Paul Verlaine? The classic piece Clare de Lune, meaning moonlight, formed the third piece of Debussy's "Suite bergamasque ." It evokes a true sense of peace and calms a restless heart. Therefore, if you feel uneasy on a cold moonlit night, listen to the tune to let go of your burdened emotions. The effect of the song is majestic, for it is fast-paced yet gives way to a gentle ending at the end of the song.
4. Gymnopedie No.1 [Erik Satie] Gymnopedie or Trois Gymnopedie is a composition of 19th-century composer and pianist Erik Satie, one of the most influential pianists of his time. The song has a subtle hint of pain, yet a tone of optimism is maintained throughout the piece. And that makes this music our next pick because while relieving a suffering heart, it can evoke an atmosphere of hope also. There is much debate regarding the inspiration for the title. Satie himself stated Gustav Flaubert's novel, SalammbĂ´, to be the source.
5. Tears in Heaven [Eric Clapton] The one song that can roll tears out of the most complicated heart is Tears in Heaven. Eric Clapton wrote the song in memory of his dead son Conor who was four. The song appeared on the soundtrack of the film Rush. The song is acclaimed worldwide. It won Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year. The number, with its expression of grief, can sway the core of the heart with lines like "I must be strong and carry on, 'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven."
Did you know in 2004, Rolling Stone ranked "Tears in Heaven" on its list of best songs?
6. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) [Green Day] As the title suggests, the song provides a nostalgic look back on memories. The song is one of the most remarkable pieces composed by the American band Green Day. This dreamy, sad song was an instant hit after its first release in 1997. With lyrics like "Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go/So make the best of this test, and don't ask why/It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time." The number became a staple song of its time.
Did you know in November 2022, the song sold over 5 million copies proving recent interest in the hit once more?
7. Valse [Evgeny Grinko] Released on 22nd April 2014, the piano piece is one of the best emotional piano songs due to its melancholy tune. It can take you on a melancholic journey in no time. The song is composed by Evgeny Grinko, a well-known Russian musician. The piece is included in the album named Ice for Aureliano Buendia (Deluxe Edition). This indistinct piano piece is written in a valse form with an ending of an octave. If you want to play the score on your instrument any day, you can easily play it out with beginner's skills.
8. River Flows in You [Yiruma] If you start surfing the internet for the best composers and pianists, you will undoubtedly find the name Yiruma. One of the remarkable contributions of the South Korean composer and pianist is River Flows in You. The song is no less than its classical counterparts to incur feelings of grievance in one's heart. The musical piece will make you cry with its simple melody, structure, and emotional pattern.
Did you know Twilight: Breaking Dawn featured River Flows in You as its soundtrack?
9. Kiss the Rain [Yiruma] Kiss the Rain is one more mind-blowing piece catered by Yiruma. This song is more emotional than any other piece. Though it has a calmer tone and simple composition, the effect ranges widely. You can learn the song quickly because of its simple one-note structure. Kiss the Rain is widely known as it was a part of the soundtrack for the Korean film A Millionaire's First Love
10.I'll Never Love Again [Lady Gaga] I'll Never Love Again is one of the most broken songs in music history. The singer of the number is none other than Lady Gaga. The song conveys the message of despair of the singer after her dear friend passes away. It has justifiably received accolades and awards, like a Grammy award for lyrics like "I don't wanna know this feelin'/Unless it's you and me." The song is one of the two best-known tracks from the soundtrack of the 2018 movie A Star is Born, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
11. Let Her Go [Passenger] Let Her Go is a song with the unparalleled beauty of all time. The song was released in 2012 in the album, All the Little Lights. This song is Passenger's best creation. The song was featured in many series and movies because of its nostalgic and sad soundtrack. The piece is perfect for playing while going through a critical time in life.
Did you know that the song helped Passenger win the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work?
12. Liability [Lorde] Liability is a sad number by Lorde. It was featured in the album Melodrama which was released in 2017. It is a piano ballad with an easy chord progression. The excruciating detailing of the song takes its listener on an emotional journey easily.
13. Every Breath You Take [The Police] This song is a successful piece by The Police. The song's sweet tonal texture helps one express their real emotion. The song is a combination of broken chords and a simple melody. You must add the music to your list if you feel blue. Moreover, if you want to play this simply on your piano but need to learn how to play, join our online piano classes to learn.
FAQS What is the most emotional piano piece? The most emotional piano piece is undoubtedly Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." This song has biblical metaphors and a haunting melody. The Beatles' "Yesterday" is another classic ballad about lost love, with its nostalgic and longingly sad melody. What are the saddest piano songs? The saddest piano songs are "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, "Yesterday" by The Beatles, and "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton. What is the saddest Yiruma song? The saddest Yiruma song is "River Flows in You ."This song is especially well-known for its sad piano melody and its ability to express one's feelings. Additionally, other popular songs by Yiruma include "Kiss the Rain," "Maybe," and "Love Me." What are the benefits of listening to sad emotional pieces? There are a lot of benefits of playing piano as well as listening to emotional piano songs. Here are just a few of the many benefits that inspirational piano songs may provide:
Reduces stress and anxiety levels.
Helps with focus and productivity.
Inspires and motivates one by creating a sense of peace and calm.
Many believe music connects to emotions.
