Electronic Dance Music, or better known as EDM, hit the scenes in the mid-80s. Its popularity soared in the 2000s and is now offered as a course at some of the most prestigious universities. However, EDM isn’t just all about the beat. The music has cultivated into one of the best emotion-driven genres about life and love and the loss of it all.
Here is a list of sad EDM songs that can take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
(Sun & Moon) Above & Beyond by John Bedford
Song Year: 2011
Although every breakup feels crushing and like the pain will never end, sometimes, when a relationship is over, you just know that person has made a permanent mark on your life. Some people are simply more challenging to forget than others.
RAMelia (Tribute to Amelia) by RAM & Susana
Song Year: 2020
This touching song is a tribute to Ram’s wife, Amelia, who unexpectedly passed away. The lyrics are heart-gushing as it speaks volumes about the love and devastation of losing your person. Listening to it will have you grabbing the box of tissues.
Collapse by Zeds Dead
Song Year: 2014
This sad tune is a deep one when listening to the lyrics. Sometimes one might have to leave because their partner has already checked out emotionally. But it’s a reminder that it’s still crushing, even if you are the one who physically left.
Cry (Just A Little) by Bingo Players
Song Year: 2011
The melody was taken from the 1988 hit, Piano In the Dark. Then, in 2012, Flo Rida used the track for his song, I Cry. Cry (Just A Little) encapsulates the feeling of when one might have reasons to leave, but the thought of doing so is heartbreaking.
Destinations by Alesso
Song Year: 2015
Off of Alesso’s debut album, Forever, this instrumental track pulls out emotion for over five minutes. Alesso honed his instrumental inspiration in Tokyo, bringing forth culture and passion in each beat.
Life Goes On by Dubloadz (feat. Anuka)
Song Year: 2017
The honest lyrics evoke an emotion that anyone who has lost in love has felt. Feeling that none of it’s fair and wanting to sleep to forget the pain is all relatable, but this song reminds us all that life goes on, eventually.
Strobe by Deadmau5
Song Year: 2009
Strobe is the instrumental hit off the Canadian artist’s fourth album and Deadmau5’s Greatest Hits, 5 Years of Mau5. The beat hits the soul and can pull out the raw emotions you are feeling.
Lights by Ellie Goulding (Bassnectar Remix)
Song Year: 2010
Exhaustion is a side effect of heartbreak. This song weaves in the rollercoaster emotion that can leave one tired and uninspired to push ahead. However, Ellie Goulding wrote the song about her childhood fear of the dark.
Forgettable by Project 46
Song Year: 2015
Forgettable is an empowerment song. However, this song makes the sad EDM list because it’s heart-wrenching to think that people out there feel this way and think less of themselves. So, if you need to hear this, know that you’re awesome!
Gold by Adventure Club
Song Year: 2013
Words can hurt. They even have the power to cause invisible scars, which is basically noted in this tune. Trying to hold on to someone that doesn’t want to be held onto can cause an internal ache that can last a long time.
Prayer in C by Robin Schulz
Song Year: 2014
This tune is a statement of how the planet is hurting from pollution and corruption. It makes the sad list because it points out that if we don’t change our ways or become more conscious of what we are doing, the human race might not survive.
Next To Me by Otto Knows
Song Year: 2015
Young love can be the most beautiful and heartbreaking time in a person’s life. You know, that first love that makes you believe in all the fairytales and what the grownups have been talking about all along. You finally get it, but it can feel really cold being alone when it comes to an end.
Stereo Love by Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina
Song Year: 2009
The highly acclaimed song went seven to eight times Platinum, depending on where you are in the world, probably, because it evokes a lot of emotion for anyone that has ever been in love with the wrong person or has tasted the crazy passion of a toxic relationship.
Hometown Girl by ZHU
Song Year: 2016
This sad song has the early 2000s feel with the lyrics of a struggling musician and his girl back home who isn’t feeling it anymore while he’s out there on the road with other girls. However, he can’t stop thinking about her. It’s a classic musician’s tale, up there with A Star is Born.
Gold Dust by Galantis
Song Year: 2013
It’s a cliffhanger of a song since we don’t know the outcome. But, unfortunately, love can leave us hanging on sometimes, waiting for the other person to show up and be what we believe they can be.
Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation (Zeds Dead Remix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUGzY-ihqWc
Song Year: 2015
So, there are five stages of grief. This tune makes the list because anger is after the initial denial. But, as the song comes to a close, it’s nice to know that acceptance is emerging.
Promises by Nero
Song Year: 2011
Some song meanings and who is right and who is wrong can be placed on the ears of the beholder, but there’s no denying that this song makes the sad list because the truth is there are some people in today’s society that are incapable of keeping their promises.
Daisy by Zedd
Song Year: 2015
Julia Michaels was uncredited on the vocals for this sad EDM tune. Daisy had a lousy track record regarding relationships, which turned her into a player who was unable to commit. Unfortunately, now Daisy is breaking the heart of the one who truly cares for her.
Painted White by Illenium & Said the Sky (feat. Cristina Soto)
Song Year: 2015
The trifecta of exceptional talent went into this song Illenium and Sky collaborated on the beats and brought Cristina Solo in on the vocals. The lyrics can invoke whatever emotion you are feeling, whether it’s mourning the end of the relationship or empowering to get love back on the right track again.
Destiny by Markus Schulz
Song Year: 2016
Sometimes timing isn’t always right when it comes to love, but for those that believe in past lives, there’s another opportunity for love to work out in a future lifetime. No matter what your beliefs are, the point is there is no stopping destiny.
Finally Moving by Pretty Lights
Song Year: 2006
Most listeners will probably get pumped hearing this song as if it sounds like (they) finally got some much-needed inspiration or motivation in this tune. However, it’s sad to think that nothing good has happened to them in a very long time. Therefore, keeping your eye on the good in this world is essential.
Don’t Leave by Seven Lions (ft. Ellie Goulding)
Song Year: 2014
Sometimes, a person gives all they can in a relationship, but it still seems to be falling apart. It’s heartbreaking to realize that you can’t love enough for two people. However, you’re probably still going to pray for the person to wake up and see what they’ve got standing in front of them and choose to stay. Another sad EDM song.
Remember by Deadmau5 and Kaskade’s (Caspa Remix)
Song Year: 2009
Just because love is gone doesn’t mean that you can’t hold onto the memories of the past when listening to this sad song. Sometimes memories will creep up on you, while others you can’t help but remember. Hence, the title of this hit.
Goodbye To a World by Porter Robinson
Song Year: 2014
This sad tune could be a statement about the pollution of the planet, but it could also hit the heart of someone that has recently lost their love. It’s about saying goodbyes and trying to eliminate blame, so it really could go either way on the message.
Don’t You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin
Song Year: 2012
Here’s another familiar story of young love and terrible heartbreak. It can truly change a person. However, in this heart-wrench moment, turning to faith can help a person make a better sense of the pain because when God closes a door, he at least opens up a window.
In The Dark by Tiësto
Song Year: 2007
It’s a heartbreaking thing to feel alone in this world. However, through all the sadness and loneliness of this sad song, there is hope in it. That’s because he knows there is a chance they will find each other in the dark. So, no matter how dark and lonely it gets, keep your head up so you can find each other.
Crave You by Flight Facilities (Adventure Club Remix)
Song Year: 2014
The Australian DJ duo created a song hit that would go down in history as one of the Greatest Australian Dance Tracks of All Time. It’s the sad, old timeless tale of boy likes girl, girl likes another boy, but the other boy doesn’t even notice that she’s alive. Why this happens, we may never know.
Shelter by Madon and Porter Robinson
Song Year: 2016
Japanese animation was used for the official music video that was initially released on YouTube. The lyrics were taken from a previous project, along with a new mix about life moving forward and how the circle of life works. This collaboration with Porter Robinson hits hard if you’ve lost someone special who you believe is still looking over you.
Room For Happiness by Kaskade
Song Year: 2011
Some people believe it’s better to have loved, but that’s not the case in this sad song. According to Room for Happiness, bliss would be never knowing. However, don’t dwell on the loss because there is plenty of happiness to be found in the world.
Saddest EDM Songs, Final Thoughts
There you have it! The saddest EDM songs that will hit your heart, whether you’ve lost love, are still clinging to the possibility that your love life will turn around, or other. However, like any great love lost story, most sad EDM songs will leave you with the hope of a better future.
Plus, even if the songs hit too close to home, the beat is so fantastic that these songs will have you dancing through the tears.