Can music mend a broken heart? Experts weigh in as new streaming data reveals Valentine’s heartache
– Deezer’s streaming data suggests Valentine’s Day isn’t as romantic as we think, with sad songs dominating
– Music is a great healer, as experts say music can fix broken hearts
– Deezer launch new “Love Channel” that celebrates love between duos of all kinds
Paris, February 14th, 2024: New streaming data released by global music experiences service platform Deezer has revealed the top 10 most streamed songs on Valentine’s Day on February 14th – and they’re not all cheery.
Listeners are most likely to play these tracks later in the evening – streaming on Valentine’s Day last year peaked at 8:15pm.
The top song streamed on Deezer last Valentine’s Day was Miley Cyrus’s sad but empowering chart-topping single, “Flowers”. The lyrics promote independence, with the chorus lyrics ending “Yeah, I can love me better than you can”.
Tom Odell’s “Another Love” comes in at second. In Interview Magazine in 2013, Tom said: “The song was written talking to this girl that I really wanted to be with, and I was trying to work out why I couldn’t be with her”.
Deezer spoke with leading music academics to understand the science behind why listeners love a sad song on Valentine’s Day.
Top 10 Most-Streamed Songs on February 14th
*Streams on February 14th, 2023
- Miley Cyrus – Flowers
- Tom Odell – Another Love
- Rihanna – Lift Me Up
- Sam Smith, Kim Petras – Unholy
- Harry Styles – As It Was
- Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage – Creepin’
- David Guetta, Bebe Rexha – I’m Good (Blue)
- Shakira – Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53
- Måneskin – THE LONELIEST
- Beyoncé – CUFF IT
Dr Douglas LaBier, who published the study “Why Listening to Sad Music Heals Your Broken Heart”, commented: “All of us will have experienced a broken heart, or probably will in the future. And during these times, you may find yourself listening to more sad music. This process is a major pathway to get through your heartache, it can help you begin to feel joy and hopefulness about your life again.
“Listening to sad tracks – like many of those revealed by Deezer’s streaming data – can relieve a broken heart by pulling away from preoccupation with your sadness. It can help you resonate with your feelings of despair that you’ll never heal from your broken heart. Embracing the reality of your experience can point the way towards healing actions.”
Professor Jane Edwards, Executive Dean, University of New England Australia, and Honorary Professor of Music, University of Queensland and Dr Annemieke van den Tol, Senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Lincoln UK, published research into why people listened to music they identified as sad when they were already feeling sad.
Dr Annemieke van den Tol commented “We may assume that most people are in a romantic mood on Valentine’s Day or have planned a date, yet these popular streaming choices suggest otherwise. People listen to sad songs for a variety of different reasons. As the lyrics of ‘Flowers’ are all about self-empowerment (I can love me better than you can), I suspect that listeners may use this song to reframe being without a date on Valentine Day into something more positive. Ultimately sad songs or songs about heartbreak can help people to channel their own emotions. Realisation that someone else (the singer) has also experienced the same thing, but dealt with it, can provide us with hope and help us reframe any negativity”
Deezer has taken notice of its listeners given its streaming data reveals that the global soundtrack of February 14th is a ballad of loss and solitude rather than the day of romance.
Instead of exclusively peppering people with official playlists of the most romantic tracks of all time, Deezer is launching a different type of “Love Channel” which will celebrate all connections, not just the romantic ones.
It includes carefully curated collections that recognize every kind of relationship – whether that be self-love following heartache – or wanting to celebrate grandparents, parents, best mates, furry friends and even colleagues.
Professor Jane Edwards commented on Deezer’s Valentine’s Day “Love Channel” saying: “Music choices are personal and it’s great to see a range of emotional connections being celebrated on Valentine’s Day. There are songs from eras that you may associate with Grandparents that they sang to you when you were young. Or a song you play on repeat when walking your dog which reminds you of them. Our associations are often with the music, not necessarily the musical characteristics, or even the lyrics.
“It’s also important to celebrate songs of self-love. Choosing to listen to self-identified sad music after experiencing negative psychological circumstances may seem contradictory but research shows that listening to sad songs can improve mood. It can help you to connect with your emotional state and even intensify feelings to achieve some kind of emotional release.”
Deezer not only introduces the new “Love Channel”, but also a fresh subscription offer and an exciting in-app experience designed to surprise your loved ones this year.
Discover the new Deezer Duo subscription
For anyone who wants to give their featured friend a gift to share this February 14th, our new Deezer Duo Offer is the perfect choice. Users can enjoy two accounts under one roof on Deezer for 15,99 Euro per month, available from February 7.
Surprise a loved one with a dedicated love playlist
Who needs another generic present when you can get a dedicated playlist from a special friend? As a special treat for February 14th, all Deezer users can share a love playlist directly in the app to the one they love, available from February 12th onwards.
If you’re stuck on choices, just take the interactive quiz directly in the Deezer app and you will be guided to the perfect playlist. Spread love and good vibes to your favorite person on Featuring Day!
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Deezer Press Contact:
Karina Klusen | kklusen@deezer.com
