Overwhelmed feelings are a common occurrence that can be brought on by a variety of situations, including job overload, personal issues, or just the stress of everyday life. It’s only normal that we turn to music for comfort when we find ourselves in these circumstances. There are numerous songs about being overwhelmed with lyrics that convey the emotions of confusion, exhaustion, and even desperation that perfectly catch the essence of feeling stressed.
We’ll look at some of the best songs about feeling overwhelmed in this piece. These songs offer comfort and confirmation that we are not alone in our challenges, in addition to being relatable to those who are feeling overwhelmed.
Songs that deal with societal pressures and the need for escape, songs that deal with struggles in one’s own life and the weight of responsibility, and songs that deal with the intense feelings of love and sorrow are just a few of the themes that will be covered in this article.
We’ll look at how different musical motifs, such as sluggish and depressing melodies, intense and explosive instrumentals, and introspective and reflective lyrics, are used by the musicians to express the sensation of being overwhelmed. Furthermore, we’ll look at how these tracks have connected with listeners and evolved into anthems for people who are feeling overloaded.
The songs we’ll talk about in this piece may be depressing or heavy, but they also provide a feeling of hope and catharsis. These melodies help us feel heard, comprehended, and comforted. Additionally, we can learn to manage our own overwhelming experiences with a renewed sense of strength and resilience by gaining a fresh perspective on them.
Overall, the tracks about feeling overwhelmed that we will discuss in this article are not only potent musical works but also crucial aids for people who are having a hard time coping with life’s difficulties.
20 Best Songs About Being Overwhelmed – Here are our recommendations!
20: Anxiety – Jason Isbel
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The Jason Isbell song “Anxiety” examines the inner turmoil of having anxiety. It is a hauntingly honest song. Isbell’s unfiltered vocals and spare instrumentals emphasise the gullibility and despair of someone who is attempting to control their anxiety. The overwhelming feelings of dread, doubt, and panic that come with anxiety are powerfully expressed in the lyrics. Isbell presents a familiar and moving depiction of a mental health issue that millions of people experience worldwide in “Anxiety”.
19: Breathin – Ariana Grande
The tension and anxiety that cause a panic attack are described in the song “Breathin”. The music was written by Grande during a time of stress and panic attacks, according to Grande. The song’s lyrics can serve as a helpful reminder to breathe when under pressure.
2018 saw the release of “Breathin,” the third song from Ariana Grande’s album Sweetener. Sweetener was Grande’s fourth studio album and her first as a solo performer. This tune has a fast beat and is classified as dance-pop. Therefore, “Breathin” is excellent for reflection as well as rising up and moving your feet to dance.
18: Fix You – Coldplay
The second release from Coldplay’s third studio album, the alternative rock song “Fix You,” is on the list of the top songs about being stressed. This composition was written by the band’s entire four-piece. However, Chris Martin actually began the song to console his wife Gwyneth Paltrow after her father’s passing.
This song’s bass and drums, along with the organ, piano, and guitar, examine grief, anxiety, and other issues related to mental health. It also looks at the process of getting over a loss and the capacity for recovery and healing.
17: Disturbia – Rihanna
Pop icon Rihanna’s song “Disturbia” embodies unease, tension, confusion, and other similar feelings. The words are ominous, and the music is also ominous. Rihanna wrote this song with the intention of making listeners connect to it and feel less isolated in their worries.
On a 2008 reissue of her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad, Disturbia is the third track. Dance-pop tune that enjoyed enormous commercial success in the US and Europe. The song is accompanied by a complex and ominous music video that depicts the tangled emotions of tension and anxiety.
16: Help I’m Alive – Metric
Metric’s upbeat synth-pop anthem “Help I’m Alive” addresses the sensation of being overcome by anxiety and dread. Dark and intense words are starkly contrasted by the song’s upbeat rhythm and catchy melody. When Emily Haines, the band’s lead vocalist, sings about feeling like she is “drowning” in her fears, her vocals convey a sense of desperation and vulnerability. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and “Help I’m Alive” is a potent reminder that we can find fortitude in our frailties.
15: Help! – The Beatles
Iconic and illustrious quartet The Beatles released “Help!” in 1965 as the lead track from their eponymous fifth studio album. The song’s lyrics, which were written by John Lennon with some help from Paul McCartney, reflect Lennon’s anxiety regarding The Beatles’ quick ascent to fame.
“Help!” expresses how it feels to be overburdened and stressed out as well as how challenging it is to call for assistance. Many people who experience anxiety can identify with this feeling. Even though it deals with serious material, the music is lighthearted and a classic illustration of folk rock.
14: In The Garage – Weezer
Weezer, an American rock band, released the single “In The Garage” in 1994 as part of their self-titled debut album (also known as “The Blue Album”). The song is a tribute to lead vocalist Rivers Cuomo’s enthusiasm for geek culture, particularly his love of Dungeons and Dragons and his garage, where he can unwind and indulge his passions. The song has become a fan favourite and a mainstay of Weezer’s live shows thanks to its catchy guitar riffs and relatable lyrics.
13: In My Blood – Shawn Mendes
The lead track from Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes’ third studio album of the same name, “In My Blood”, was made available in 2018. The chorus declares “It isn’t in my blood” as a mantra of resiliency, and the song’s lyrics discuss Mendes’ battles with anxiety and self-doubt.
The song showcases Mendes’ development as an artist with its soaring singing and intense guitar riffs. Commercially successful, “In My Blood” reached the top 10 on numerous charts all over the globe and earned Shawn Mendes a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance.
12: Lovely – Billie Eilish Ft. Khalid
The opening tune from Billie Eilish and Khalid’s 2018 soundtrack album for Season 2 of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why is titled “Lovely”. This tune is a chamber pop ballad that recounts the two musicians’ tales and experiences with depression.
The melancholy music, with its slow tempo and languid instrumentation, lends support to the words that describe feeling trapped in sadness. Even though the music spends a lot of time talking about stress, depression, and other mental health problems, some of the lyrics express hope.
11: Rose-Colored Boy – Paramore
The fourth song from American band Paramore’s fifth studio album, ‘After Laughter’, which was released in 2018, is titled “Rose-Colored Boy”. The genres of pop rock, synth-pop, and new wave all apply to the tune.
When feeling anxious or depressed, the song “Rose-Colored Boy” talks about pretending to be happy. These feelings are accompanied by music that is danceable and seems cheerful. So if you’re in a funk, this music is perfect for you. The tension, loneliness, and sadness themes are further explored in the music video that goes along with “Rose-Colored Boy.”
10: Paranoid – Black Sabbath
The lead song from Black Sabbath’s second studio album, Paranoid, which was released in 1970, is “Paranoid.” The song, which was initially written as an afterthought for the album, is about feeling overwhelmed by life and pondering whether unfavourable emotions will last.
The song’s lyrics explain how it feels to be stressed out and paranoid. The song’s speaker struggles to feel joy because they are unable to be happy. The next time you’re stressed, try listening to this song and remember that you’re not alone.
9: Shake It Out – Florence + The Machine
The first track from Florence + The Machine’s second studio album, Ceremonials, which was released in 2011, is the gothic pop song “Shake It Out”. The words are loaded with cliches and manage to be upbeat and melancholy at the same time, accompanied by organ chords that sound both hopeful and depressing.
The composition, according to the band’s vocalist and main songwriter Florence Welch, is a celebration of letting go of regrets. The song touches on memories that can haunt a person, as well as worry and anxious feelings. The song’s main theme is running away from such unpleasantries.
8: Save Myself – Ed Sheeran
The song “Save Myself” is part of the deluxe version of English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s third studio album, which was released in 2017. The song reached the UK Singles Chart even though it was never released as a single.
Sheeran, who is well-known for his R&B, pop, and soul music, sings about needing to save himself in the song “Save Myself” because he has no energy left for himself after offering so much to others. This song’s message about the value of self-care can be related to by anyone who has ever experienced depression.
7: Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots
Twenty One Pilots, an American musical duo, issued “Stressed Out” in 2015 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, “Blurryface”. The refrain includes the memorable line “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days,” which captures the song’s themes of growing up and the stresses of becoming an adult.
The song was a huge economic hit thanks to its catchy melody, relatable lyrics, and upbeat tempo; it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought the band its first Grammy Award.
6: Stressed Out – A Tribe Called Quest Ft. Faith Evans
A Tribe Called Quest, an American hip-hop group, released the single “Stressed Out” in 1996 on their album “Beats, Rhymes, and Life”. Faith Evans, an R&B singer, sings the song’s chorus. The lyrics discuss the pressures and difficulties of contemporary living, especially for people of colour. The song stands out in the group’s discography thanks to its socially aware lyrics and smooth jazz-inspired beat, showing their ability to combine musical genres and political commentary. A Tribe Called Quest’s legacy is demonstrated by the fact that “Stressed Out” is still a popular favourite.
5: Trouble – Hamish Anderson
In “Trouble”, Australian soloist Hamish Anderson sings and plays the guitar. This song, a traditional blues tune with a pop element woven into the melody, is ideal for moping.
“Trouble” depicts the experience of having difficult emotions overwhelm you as well as the isolation that results from such events. The song provides a wonderful tune for a song about feeling overburdened with life, but it does not necessarily offer solutions to the “trouble.”
4: The World At Large – Modest Mouse
The third song from American rock band Modest Mouse’s album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, is titled “The World at Large”. The song opens with mood-setting guitar chords before the words explain what it means to move on.
The lyrics to “The World at Large” also address tension, depression, intrusive thoughts, and what it’s like to become mired in anxiety. Although this song may not be as upbeat as some of the others on this list, it still fosters a sense of camaraderie among viewers.
3: Waving Through A Window – Dear Evan Hansen
The third placed song on our list of the greatest songs about stress is one from a Broadway production. “Waving Through a Window”, written by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, can be found in both the play’s 2021 film version as well as the play’s opening act.
Evan Hansen, the lead character in the musical, speaks about his mental health issues and how he feels isolated at his high school in this tune. The words speak of depression and anxiety. The singer isn’t positive if anyone notices that he feels these things, and he questions whether he will ever progress past his current state.
2: Unwell – Matchbox Twenty
2003 saw the release of the song “Unwell” from Matchbox Twenty’s third studio album, ‘More Than You Think You Are’. To reassure listeners that they are not alone when they feel upset and alone, lead singer and lyricist Rob Thomas composed the lyrics.
This song explains how it feels to be stressed out or to have other mental health issues. “Unwell” illustrates how anxiety affects sleep and how unfavourable thoughts can appear out of nowhere.
1: American Screams – Arkells
“American Screams” is a song that was motivated by the stress and anxiety surrounding the United States and its political landscape in the early 21st century, despite the fact that many of the songs on this list pertain to personal experiences of stress and anxiety.
This song’s fast tempo makes it the perfect stress reliever even though it examines intricate themes of stress. Listen to this music to explore your stress or go for a run or have a stress-relief dance party. This song was published by the group Arkells in 2018 on the record Rally Cry.
20 Best Songs About Being Overwhelmed – Closing remarks and thoughts
The best songs about feeling overwhelmed provide a potent tool for processing and navigating the complicated feelings that go along with being overburdened and worn out. For listeners who may be dealing with a variety of difficulties, from societal pressures to personal struggles, these songs offer a feeling of consolation, validation, and promise.
These tracks perfectly express what it feels like to be overwhelmed with their moving lyrics, eerie melodies, and tense instrumentals. They enable us to express our deepest emotions of bewilderment, exhaustion, and despair while also serving as a constant reminder that we are not alone in our struggles.
The themes of these songs cover a wide spectrum, as we’ve seen in this piece, from the pressures of society and the need for escape from the weight of responsibility and personal struggles. All of them share a sense of unadulterated emotion and vulnerability, which helps audiences relate to their own experiences of feeling overwhelmed on a deeper level.
By listening to these songs, we are able to see our own difficulties from a different angle and find solace in the fact that we are not alone in our challenges. We are also told that even in the most hopeless circumstances, there is always hope.
Closing Remarks:
In the end, the greatest songs about feeling overwhelmed are potent tools for healing and personal development in addition to being great pieces of music. They provide us with fortitude and resilience in the face of hardship and serve as a reminder that we are capable of overcoming even the most difficult obstacles thanks to their cathartic power.
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A music enthusiast who has taken his passion for music to the next level by starting his own blog. He spends most of his free time listening to new albums, attending concerts, and researching emerging artists.
What sets John apart from other music bloggers is his ability to connect with his readers on a personal level. His writing style is warm and engaging, making it easy for readers to relate to him as both a fellow music lover and someone who truly cares about the art form.
John’s love for music started at a young age when he discovered classic rock through his father’s vinyl collection. Since then, he has expanded his musical horizons to include everything from indie rock to hip hop and beyond.
As a blogger, John has found a way to share his love of music with others while also providing valuable insights into the industry.