*Character death and other sad things through Season 11 are potentially spoiled here
If you partake in TGIT every week (and who doesn’t?), then you’re no stranger to the fact that Shonda Rhimes knows exactly how to rip our hearts out of our chests, crush them in her wicked little fists, and toss them out like last week’s molding casserole. She and her team give us perfect angst, perfect tragedy, and few happy endings (though, admittedly, plenty of girl-power moments!) and the perfect songs to accompany every moment.
You’d probably never even heard half of them before they found their way into the Grey’s score, and while a handful of artists the show has featured have skyrocketed on the charts (looking at you, The Fray), a lot of them fell back into obscurity. Some you’ll sing along with next time they’re on the radio, others you may never hear again. But if you do, I guarantee a shiver will run down your spine and you’ll feel suddenly, inexplicably sad. You may not remember why, but your subconscious sure will.
Here are 10 songs that Grey’s Anatomy ruined, forever and for always.
How to Save a Life, The Fray
As the title of the episode in which Derek dies and the song played at the end of the episode, as well as a song covered by basically the entirety of Seattle Grace while they operate on Callie and Sophia and we think Calzona is over forever (little did we know then) I certainly can’t listen to it without crying.
Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol
This classic played in the season two finale, while Izzy sobbed over Denny’s body before Alex lifted her away and held her. It came back to finish us off when Derek died nine seasons later.
Keep Breathing, Ingrid Michealson
When Meredith had to tell the entire congregation that Cristina and Burke’s wedding (and as we later realize, she and Derek) was over, and we had to watch Cristina heartbreakingly convince Meredith that Burke was gone by listing off all the things that were gone from the apartment prior to having a complete breakdown, Ingrid was there to try (and fail) to help us keep it together.
In My Veins, Andrew Belle
In the finale of the sixth season, when Gary Clark is busy committing his mass murder of secondary characters, Bailey, Percy and patient Mary are all stuck in the hallway after the power to the hospital is cut. When the elevator doesn’t come, Bailey breaks down and tells Percy that he is not alone before he dies.
Unarmed, Mariah McManus
While Bailey is struggling at one end of the hospital, Meredith operates to save Owen’s life, right through her own miscarriage. Can you say ugly tears?
Gone, Aaron Espe (originally by N’SYNC, which is embedded)
After Penny starts at Grey Sloan, Alex finds Meredith in the chapel and asks her why she’s talking to God (cause Twisted Sisters just don’t do that). “I’m not talking to God,” she responded. “I’m talking to Derek.” And the sounds of a thousand sobs were heard around the world.
These last few songs probably used to bring you feelings of unfathomable happiness, but in light of Derek Shepherd’s untimely, unimaginable and unmanageable death, you’ll never be able to associate these songs with the appropriate feelings they once evoked.
All I Need, Matt Kearney
After gettin’ it on in the exam room during prom in the season two finale, Derek comes over the morning after and gives Meredith the most epic speech (You have a choice to make. And when I had a choice to make, I chose wrong), telling Meredith that he loved her for the first time and murdering MerDer shippers everywhere.
We Do What We Want To, O+S
You know it’s real when he displays your entire history on the walls of the elevator you first macked in and gets your boss to block you from the other one before spouting off some crap like “I don’t want a weekend, I want a lifetime,” because he wants to marry you and make crappy babies with Alzheimer’s but great hair (separate occasions, same elevator. Whatever.).
What a Feeling, Hollywood, Mon Amour
“Promise that you’ll love me, even when you hate me,” she said as they signed their lives away to each other on a freakin’ post-it note and gave me unrealistic expectations for my future.
New York, Snow Patrol
Meredith and Derek always had their ups and downs, but it finally seemed like everything was going to be all right the night the social worker brought Zola back. Meredith’s watery eyed shock, her little gasp and giggle laugh, the complete and utter joy on both of their faces as the McDreamy family was finally whole again? Just rip my heart out and get it over with.
Of course, there are far too many songs ruined to make a comprehensive list – it was difficult enough to cap this off at 10. Like this small selection of songs, Grey’s Anatomy ruins most things. So thanks, Satan. Thanks for everything.
Do you have anything to add to the playlist of Shonda’s Broken Hearts?