In some ways it’s not a surprising correlation. When times are tough, we become depressed, and that leads us to sad music.
It seems to be borne out by recommendation service TheFilter.com, which says there’s been a large spike in people listening to downbeat music like The Smiths’ “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – also in the top ten are R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” and “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd, according to Vnunet.
David Maher-Roberts, TheFilter.com’s chief executive, theorized:
"We are seeing more of our users than ever before rating depressing or slightly miserable tracks more highly than happier types of music. It is logical to assume that this is a reflection of what’s happening in the economy. The good news is that there are a large number of happier, more uplifting tracks out there than can do wonders for your mood."
