Twenty Unhappy Songs for When You're in a Miserable Mood (1995-2005 Retro Pop/Rock)

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I think there are two types of bad moods, the ones that melt when they come into contact with  sunshine or a couple upbeat songs and the ones that get worse the harder you try to be happy.  The second type of bad mood, at least for me, requires some time alone, some patience, and a little bit of music that gets me, that reminds me that I'm not the only one who feels that this way.  The playlist below is curated just for those moments.  Each of these pop and rock songs from the years 1995-2005 can be soothing because they openly recognize the reality that sometimes life hurts and we just have to learn to deal with that.

If you want to listen to any of these songs, you can find them in a Spotify playlist embedded at the end of the page.  In case you want to either look up more information about them or buy them, each song title and album cover is linked to the respective song's Amazon page.  

Also, I chose the 1995-2005 time range because it is rich with depressing music, and it is my go-to during bad moods of the second type.        

Finally, I am committed to recommending only clean media on Retro Reviews; all of the songs I've listed here are free of explicit language and sexual content. However, some of the other music that their respective artists produce is not.  I would especially suggest approaching Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, Seether, Matchbox 20, and Green Day with caution.

By all means, do check out Skillet, Creed, Switchfoot, and 12 Stones, though.  They're awesome.    




Name (1995) by Goo Goo Dolls

This rock ballad deals with finding your identity and feeling invisible in a world of heartache.  It's perfect for those moments when you're not quite sure who you are.














My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from "Titanic") (1997) by Celine Dion

This pensive song from the movie, Titanic, is both about love and about the grief of losing the person you love.  It is truly heartbreaking and great for moments of grief or longing.










My Own Prison (1997) by Creed

This apologetically Christian song is an illustration of the gospel.  The main character goes through a process of realizing their guilt for the terrible things they've done, understanding Christ's sacrifice, and finally being that Jesus took their punishment.  I especially recommend it for those terrible times when we get a glimpse of just how horrible each one of us can be.

Jumper (1998 Edit Version) by Third Eye Blind

Surprisingly, one of Third Eye Blind's most famous songs is about suicide, or more specifically, about trying to talk a friend out of it  The song is high energy, but retains a sense of gravity and devotion to the friend. Listen to it when you're sad, but probably not if you're struggling with thoughts of suicide.











Acoustic 3 (1998) by Goo Goo Dolls
Acoustic #3, the perfect "life sucks and I don't want anyone to tell me otherwise" song, is a quickie about a hopeless girl with a home-life full of lies and broken dreams. I'd say it's one of the most relatable songs on this list.

 











Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely (1999) by Backstreet Boys

I bet you didn't expect to see a Backstreet Boys song on this list.  However, this song, all about loss of any type, is great for the moments when you feel like you're missing someone precious.












Crash and Burn (1999) by Savage Garden


Boy band music, especially from this era, tends to promise that romantic love will take away all of your pain.  This song, however, is a little bit different.  It's character, who loves a troubled and struggling woman, promises that it's okay to "Crash and Burn" because he'll be there for her when she does. I like it as a reminder that it's okay to be broken.

Everything You Want (1999) by Vertical Horizon

I'm recommending this song because it drips with frustration and discouragement.  In this unrequited love song, the guy is everything she's looking for, but she doesn't love him for some totally inexplicable reason. Surely many of us can relate to this sense not being loved and not knowing why.










Only Hope (1999) by Switchfoot

This tender song (which is actually more of a prayer) is probably the most hopeful song on this list, but it is also one of the most realistic.  It recognizes the need to sometimes let yourself feel pain and helplessness before you can feel hope.  It is, for that very reason, a great song to cry or pray to.  










One Last Breath (2001) by Creed

This gritty song is about being "at the end of your rope," so to speak, but not being ready to give up.  I like the balance between desperation and hope in this song.  It admits that sometimes life sucks, but that it doesn't have to stay that way.













Hear You Me (2001) by Jimmy Eat World

Of all the songs on this list, this is the one that feels the most intimate. It's about the grief of losing a beloved person and the regret of having left words unspoken. I love it because it captures a very realistic sense of love, loss, and regret, things that so often, and so uncomfortably, go together. 











Unwell (2002) by Matchbox 20

Feeling a little like you're losing your mind?  This song is for you. It's all about those passing moments when we're struggling and feel a bit alone or even crazy in those struggles.









Broken (2002) by Seether

Despite being just another break-up song, Broken is powerful; its loss and brokenness are so strong that they're almost palpable.  I recommend listening to this song  when you need something that expresses your pain for you and/or when you want to be reminded that you aren't the only one who has felt this way.    


Here Without You (2002) by 3 Doors Down

After 100 days away from his former lover, he still loves and  misses her.  To be honest, the lyrics to this song are a bit cliche, but the actual melody and instrumentals are really sad.  It's a great song to listen to when you're experiencing loneliness or regret.












The Way I Feel (2002) by 12 Stones

At its heart, this song is a prayer of confession.  It talks about the misery of realizing that you have betrayed God's love by sinning.  However, believer or not, I think most of us can occasionally relate to the sense of disappointment at having betrayed someone we love.











I'm Still Here (Jim's Theme) (2002) by John Rzeznik

I don't think I've ever heard a song that so brilliantly captures the cravings to feel alive, to belong, and to be understood.  I'm Still Here is simple but emotional, and I suggest it for the moments when you feel like you're floating through a world that you don't quite make sense in. (By the way, though this is from a Disney soundtrack, it is definitely a standard rock song.)








Imperfection (2003) by Skillet

This hard rock song has two major threads - being haunted by your imperfections and  being valuable, despite them.  I like this song because it is harsh and chaotic, just like the pain of feeling inadequate, but tempered by the truth of each person's value.

Fingernails (2003) by Skillet

This song is hard to pin down, but in essence, it's about disappointment, broken dreams, and emptiness.  It's deep and dissonant, though  not desperate, and captures some of the pain that we all sometimes experience.  I recommend it for those times when you need a song that is honest about struggle and difficulty.









Wake Me Up When September Ends (2004) by Green Day

Another song about grief, Wake Me Up When September Ends marks the 7th anniversary of a father's death.  I like it because it recognizes the pain that death can create, even almost a decade after the fact, and it's great to listen to in those moments when that familiar sense of loss sneaks up on you .

How to Save a Life (2005) by The Fray

This song's lyrics are vague; I can't quite decide if the main person in this song loses a friend through a loss of relationship or suicide.  Either way, they blame themselves for the loss, at least in part. this song carries a poignant  sense of failure and is great for the time when we feel like we've made a terrible mistake.

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