Codebreaker

Solving Problems, One Song at a Time

Adriene Hill Sep 22, 2011

Need to unload? Or want to help out the emo boy on the bus? Emotional Bag Check is a website that lets strangers suggest songs to cheer other people up. Wired featured them on their site today.

It’s pretty easy. Say you’re in a tough spot, a romantic rut, a personal jam. You go to the site, and post your problem.

Some kind soul will read it (without seeing any of your contact info) and send back a song to (ideally) make you feel better.

No big problems weighing you down? Lucky you. Maybe suggest a song for someone else’s troubles.

Site creator Robyn Overstreet says the most common causes of complaints (at least so far) are boyfriends. And she’s got a list of the top 25 recommended songs here. Among them: Keep Your Head Up by Andy Grammer, The Middle by Jimmy Eats World, and a bunch of Bob Marley tunes.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.