Who listens to Rag’n’Bone Man? I don’t mean that facetiously. Who puts this on in the morning, while walking their dog? Who likes the feel of his falling minor chords upon their temporal lobe? Who identifies with his vulnerable roar? I have known people who seek out certain kinds of songs to help actualise their feelings – sad music of the anthemic kind, like the National and Frightened Rabbit; the sound of sad fists held aloft in a sad crowd. Rag’n’Bone Man goes for anthems on his new second album, which is rather overlong, with 15 tracks and two versions of the same song (one recorded with Pink and one without).
Pop has been getting sadder for several years. In 2018, a study by Popbitch revealed 87 per cent of number ones that year, including those by Ed Sheeran, were found to be in a minor key, compared to 29 per cent of number ones in 2015. Tempos were also found to be dropping rapidly, to below the rate of a human heart. The American Psychological Association proved modern pop lyrics were more self-focused and negative than the lyrics of old (no shit!). Commentators then tried to make a connection between the music and times of austerity and unrest, which didn’t really hold up. Sad music is about personal struggle.
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