My Surprisingly Good AI-Generated Heartbreak Playlist: A Nigerian’s Guide to Healing Through Afrobeat
Heartbreak is a universal experience or as Nigerians call it “breakfast”, and the emotions that come with it can be overwhelming. From the initial shock and sadness to the lingering guilt and delayed healing, each phase of heartbreak commands a unique kind of solace. In my quest to find some comfort, I turned to ChatGPT to generate a playlist for me, I specified it should be Nigerian. Here’s how this playlist captured the essence of heartbreak and how AI can play an important role in how humans heal from emotional pain. As a person who prefers the company of music to the company of humans, this was surprisingly pleasant.
Heartbreak is not just a fleeting moment of sadness; it’s a complex emotional journey. At the heart of it is often a profound sense of guilt. We question ourselves: Could I have done something differently? Was it my fault? These feelings of guilt can linger long after the relationship has ended, making it difficult to move on and heal.
In the midst of this, healing feels like a distant goal. The journey is rarely linear. There are days when you feel like you’re making progress, only to be pulled back into a state of despair by a memory or a trigger. This delayed healing is frustrating, often compounded by the feeling that you should be “over it” by now.
The AI-generated playlist I discovered turned out to be a surprisingly effective companion through this emotional wahala . Each track seemed to resonate with a different side of my experience. Whether it was the lingering sadness of a love lost, the guilt of mistakes made, or the slow journey towards self-recovery, the songs provided a soundtrack that mirrored my feelings. Filled with classics from Davido and Ckay, it of course celebrates the love I have had first. I do have to admit that those songs were a little triggering because they brought images of what I had but I guess what is a good playlist without a little rollercoaster.
Songs that put into words the exact sentiment I had been feeling made it much easier to confront and process my feelings. It slowly began to make sense that, though healing is a deeply personal journey, music can be a strong ally in a way that I have never really considered it to be. It was comforting and mirrored my inner experiences. This playlist did this with Tems Try Me. It felt almost reassuring to me, like, yeah, I do have a right to be angry. And what is a heartbreak playlist without the one and only king of heartbreak songs, Omah Lay? The songs Damn and Understand hit the spot, really making me feel things.
The role of AI in this process is much more than merely creating playlists. This is a more personalized approach to healing, which would adapt itself to the emotional needs of every individual. Through its analytics from listening habits, mood patterns, and even lyrical content, AI should be able to provide music recommendations that align deeply with the current emotional state a person is in. This personalization is so much more than playlist creation. AI will be able to find patterns in emotional responses, suggest content that enables healing, and provide so much more targeted support. Visualize how an AI might track mood and suggest not just certain types of music but self-help content based on one’s place in their journey of healing. It can also focus on AI-driven tools providing data on the kind of music or activity that could be most effective for certain states of mind, building additional levels of support and advice. This might be particularly helpful for those with low emotional awareness or people who would struggle to ask for help.
While we ponder on heartbreak, we must remember that healing takes time. While there is no generic solution for all to enjoy, new and innovative tools like AI playlists offer support for your emotional well-being. Reflective on the depth of our feelings, with a soundtrack to match our experiences, AI can be a helpful buddy as we journey to heal.
This AI-generated playlist of heartbreak, in the end, was much more than just a playlist of songs; it became my companion in fathoming those feelings of mine, guiding me through my guilt, and into a place where I’d eventually heal. I did have to add Asa in the end because what is a heartbreak playlist without Asa, but generally this was good. I wonder what aspects of our emotions AI will cater to in the future. Is there a future where AI replaces the need for a therapist or as a tool to diagnose mental health issues? One cannot help but feel both excitement and a tad bit of fear thinking about it.
Overall, I give this playlist a solid 7/10!!
Click here for the playlist.
