Is America Sad Right Now?
The Billboard Sadness Index (BSI) measures the emotional tone of the Hot 100. When the charts get gloomy, recessions often follow. Here's what the music says today.
Upbeat mood dominates the charts — people are vibing
Economic Pulse
BSI vs S&P 500
BSI axis is inverted: lower values (top) = happier charts. Data updated weekly.
This Week's Mood
Week of 2026-02-24
Luther
Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA
APT.
ROSE & Bruno Mars
Hot 100 Valence Snapshot
See All| # | Track | Valence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Die With A SmileLady Gaga & Bruno Mars | 54 |
| 2 | Squabble UpKendrick Lamar | 72 |
| 3 | LutherKendrick Lamar ft. SZA | 18 |
| 4 | TimelessThe Weeknd & Playboi Carti | 42 |
| 5 | OrdinaryBillie Eilish | 31 |
| 6 | That's So TrueGracie Abrams | 38 |
| 7 | APT.ROSE & Bruno Mars | 89 |
| 8 | Sweetest PieSabrina Carpenter | 82 |
| 9 | MantraJennie | 76 |
| 10 | Nights Like ThisFuture & Metro Boomin ft. Drake | 45 |
Historical Highlights
Dot-com Peak
9/11 Attacks
Post-9/11 Escapism
Dot-com Bottom
Hurricane Katrina
S&P 500 Pre-Crisis Peak
Bear Stearns Collapse
Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy
Peak Escapism (GFC)
S&P 500 Bottom (666)
Recession Pop Peak
Gangnam Style
"Happy" (Pharrell) Era
Adele "Hello" Peak
Post-Election Mood
COVID-19 Pandemic Declared
COVID Lockdown Peak Sadness
Pfizer Vaccine News
Vaccine Euphoria Peak
Bear Market + Vibecession
SVB Collapse
Eras Tour Mania
Brat Summer Begins
Peak Brat Summer
Kendrick GNX Dominance
Current Week
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