You might not think listening to sad songs would make for a fun night out, but you’d be wrong, says Brian Quirt.
Quirt is the artistic director of Nightswimming, the Toronto-based dramaturgical company coming to the Yukon this September with its one-woman show, These Are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad.
“We wanted to make a show that we enjoyed doing city after city that is, yes, inspired by the title and topic, but it’s really about our joyous relationship to music,” says Quirt.
The show features musician Jane Miller, who plays piano and sings a set of sad songs that’s changed over the years as different tunes have meant something to her own life. As part of her performance, Miller shares the stories behind those songs, and leads a discussion around what makes sad songs resonate with us—from the emotional components to the musical elements.
The show was initially conceived of, pre-pandemic, as one that could be presented specifically to smaller groups. Partly, Quirt was inspired by a Vancouver microtheatre experience that catered to audiences of one to 30 people; and partly, he just thought a more intimate setting felt right for a show about sad songs.
Often, we share musical experiences with groups of hundreds or even thousands of people, he says. You’re listening through microphones and amplifiers, usually at a distance from the musicians. Quirt wanted to build an experience where audiences would be closer to the singer, so they could listen and connect differently.
Being melancholy is universal. The show doesn’t come to you and ask you to be sad. It asks what it is we love about sad music.”
One way the show does this is by inviting audience members to participate. There’s no pressure, says Quirt, but people always offer to share their own favourite sad songs and the stories behind them. Miller, who has a huge repertoire, will then sometimes perform them. Occasionally, audience members will sing a few lines themselves.
Quirt says there are some songs and artists who have come up frequently over the years, such as Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. A few classical pieces are also often referenced, including Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” form Platoon.
If you look through the playlists from past performances (which are always posted to Nightswimming’s website the day after a show) though, you’ll find a diverse selection that features Simon & Garfunkel, Beethoven and U2 alongside ABBA, Queens of the Stone Age, Lizzo, Elton John and Bob Marley.
Quirt says the range of songs leads to great discussions and can sometimes allow people to re-frame their experience of a sad song by understanding why they like it and what role it has played in their lives.
“Being melancholy is universal,” he says. The show doesn’t come to you and ask you to be sad. It asks what it is we love about sad music.
What the show aims to tap into is that common human experience of sad music, and why we’re drawn to certain types in different emotional states.
Everyone knows they share this, he says. We’re all aware of it. There are millions of sad songs playlists on Spotify and Apple Music. What we’re less aware of is why and how we interact with that music—because we don’t spend much time thinking about it.
“North America doesn’t like sadness very much,” says Quirt, laughing. “It resists it.”
You may not walk away from Nightswimming’s show with the exact answer, but you’ll develop a greater understanding.
The show takes place on the Yukon Arts Centre mainstage (cabaret seating) at 7 p.m. on September 27 and 28. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
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