Song Beneath the Song
"Song Beneath the Song" | |
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Cosy in the Rocket" ""Chasing Cars" "Breathe (2 AM)" "How We Operate" "Wait" "Running on Sunshine" "Universe & U" "Grace" "How to Save a Life" "The Story | |
Original air date | March 31, 2011 |
Running time | 43 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"Song Beneath the Song", also known as Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event, is the eighteenth episode of the seventh season of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, and the 144th episode overall. It was named after a song initially performed by American singer Maria Taylor. Written by series creator Shonda Rhimes and directed by Tony Phelan, it premiered on ABC in the United States on March 31, 2011. It is the series's first musical episode, and features the cast performing songs previously featured within the program. It is accompanied by a soundtrack album, titled Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event, also released on March 31, 2011.
The episode revolves around Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), just after they are involved in a vehicular collision. Various songs are performed by the cast members, as they attempt to save the life of Torres. Rhimes originally idealized the episode at the conception of the drama, while the show remained untitled. The episode opened to polarized reviews from television critics, and it was the second most-watched program of the night. "Song Beneath the Song" was ranked in several "best and worst" lists, and the soundtrack also charted on the Billboard 200.
Plot
En route to a weekend getaway, surgeons Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) are involved in a vehicular collision, moments after Robbins proposes marriage. Torres suffers severe injuries, which endanger both her life and the life of her unborn child. She and Robbins are taken to Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, the institute at which they both work. Their colleagues attempt to save Torres, while Robbins and Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), the father of Torres's baby, stand by. Torres's many injuries include neurological trauma. While barely conscious, she hallucinates an uninjured version of herself standing beside her. The hallucinatory Torres begins to sing, and is gradually joined by the doctors treating her. This singing continues throughout the episode, as Torres's projection of herself attempts to reach out to Robbins.
Torres goes into
When Torres again goes into cardiac arrest, Montgomery delivers her daughter at twenty-three week's gestation. The baby is initially unable to breathe, so with Sloan's support, Robbins steps in and is able to revive her. Across the operating room, Torres's condition begins to improve. Once the surgery is complete, the doctors deal with their own affairs; Sloan's former partner Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) commits to her new relationship with resident Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams); Lexie's sister, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) confesses that she was jealous of Torres's pregnancy, which prompts her husband Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) to promise that they will have a child together; Altman tells Yang that she can no longer teach her; Sloan and Robbins bond over their shared parenthood. Later, as Robbins keeps a vigil by Torres's bedside, the hallucinatory Torres is able to rouse her recovering self. As she regains consciousness, Torres accepts Robbins's proposal.
Production
Conception
Since Grey's Anatomy began, series creator
Rhimes said she had difficulty getting the network's permission. She added: "I begged the studio people. I begged the network people. I took these people to dinner and begged. I jumped out at these people in bathrooms and begged. And they all smiled politely but what they were clearly really thinking was, 'This woman is an idiot.'"[1]
Rhimes also told about delays in producing this episode:
Explaining what the heck took us so long is too complicated to go into here. There are a lot of reasons – I was busy telling other awesome stories at Seattle Grace, [...] I was raising my tiny human, my musical talent involves oboe-playing and nothing else, the network thought it was the dumbest idea they’d ever heard of and refused to do it.[1]
The script was written by Rhimes in November 2010. She centered the episode around Ramirez's character, Callie, and stated that the storyline would have developed regardless of whether it involved musical performances.
Musical performances
Rhimes, executive producer
When it first came up I was nervous, but at the same time I was just thinking, 'Hey, this is a really great opportunity for me to actually explore this side of me and be able to just let that go and have fun and know that I'm in a very safe and encouraging environment.' I was and I did and I had such a wonderful time.
Chyler Leigh's impressions on singing for the episode[10]
Leigh said that some actors were not "excited" about singing but still could participate in the episode.[11] "There were certain ways in which the scenes were written, even if there was a song in there, that perhaps a line was spoken instead of sung," she said.[11]
A vocal coach was enlisted to help the cast.
Reception
Pre-broadcast commentary
Critical response prior to broadcast was mixed.
Ratings
During its original broadcast, "Song Beneath the Song" was watched by an average of 13.09 million American viewers. It attained a 4.9/13
In Canada, where the episode also aired on March 31, 2011, it was watched by 3.18 million viewers. Viewership again increased on "This is How We Do It," which attained 2.63 million viewers. However, while the preceding episode was the most-viewed scripted show for the week of its original broadcast, "Song Beneath the Song" ranked second, behind The Big Bang Theory.[18][19]
Post-broadcast commentary
Following the first minutes of the drama, reactions on Twitter were polarized.[20] Nicole Golden from TV Fanatic gave the episode 4.5 stars out of 5.0. She found that "overall, the concept worked since music really has always played a big part in the show. Some songs were more appropriate and/or better performed than others, though." She also wrote the concept worked in part because it was new but noted "the format would probably not have the same effect if used in future episodes."[21] Even though Boston Herald's critic Mark Perigard was not a fan of the concept, saying "the Grey's Anatomy event proved how tricky it is for an established show, especially a drama, to pull off a musical episode," he did like several actors' performances. He wrote: "Chandra Wilson and Chyler Leigh (whom I never have anything good to say about) delivered some impressive vocal work. Eric Dane did some of his best acting of his career last night as an anxious father-to-be terrified he would lose his best friend."[22] Lyneka Little of The Wall Street Journal wrote, "If Glee and ER had a baby it would be tonight’s episode of the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy titled 'Song Beneath the Song'."[20] In his review of the episode Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote "Like Grey's Anatomy as a whole, some parts were unintentionally silly, others were surprisingly powerful, and it was rarely dull, at least."[23]
Patrick Dempsey admitted that the musical episode might not have been showrunner Shonda Rhimes's best idea. He explained: "It's very difficult to keep it fresh when you're doing 24 episodes a year. Shonda Rhimes has a lot of ideas, and she is in a position where she can take more chances. Sometimes that works, sometimes it does not. Last year we had the singing episode, which I think was a big mistake. But you have to try."[24]
Accolades
In 2011, the episode was ranked #19 on the
Soundtrack
Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event | |
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Soundtrack album by | |
Released | March 31, 2011 |
Recorded | February 2011 |
Length | 35:48 |
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | " Norman Cook, Roland Clark | Sara Ramirez, Daniel Sunjata, Kevin McKidd, Scott Foley, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, Jessica Capshaw, Kim Raver, Chyler Leigh, Ellen Pompeo, and Patrick Dempsey | 4:05 | |
6. | "Universe & U" (Original by KT Tunstall) | Tunstall, Pleasure | Sara Ramirez, Jessica Capshaw | 4:05 |
7. | "Grace" (Original by Kate Havnevik) | Kate Havnevik | Sara Ramirez, Sarah Drew, Chyler Leigh | 3:45 |
8. | "How to Save a Life" (Original by The Fray) | Isaac Slade, Joe King | Kevin McKidd, Kim Raver, Ellen Pompeo, Eric Dane, Chyler Leigh, Jessica Capshaw, Sara Ramirez, Chandra Wilson, Sarah Drew, Justin Chambers, Kate Walsh | 3:46 |
9. | "The Story" (Original by Brandi Carlile) | Phil Hanseroth | Sara Ramirez | 3:28 |
Chart history
Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event debuted at #24 on the Billboard 200, with 19,000 copies sold.[31] It reached #2 on the U.S. Soundtracks chart, and was #5 on the Independent Album chart.[32] "The Story" entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at #69,[33] and the Canadian Hot 100 at #72.[34]
References
- ^ a b c d Rhimes, Shonda (March 31, 2011). "Shonda Rhimes on "Song Beneath The Song"..." Grey Matter. ABC. Archived from the original on April 7, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Abrams, Natalie (November 22, 2010). "Exclusive: Shonda Rhimes Reveals Grey's Anatomy Musical Details". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ Spiegelman, Ian (March 30, 2011). "Exclusive: James Pickens Jr. on the "Tedious" Filming of the Grey's Anatomy Musical Episode". Wetpaint. The Cambio Network. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Keck, William (February 28, 2011). "Keck's Exclusives: Grey's Musical Goes Back to Its Roots". TV Guide. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
- ^ Lewis, Randy (March 24, 2011). "'Grey's Anatomy's' Sara Ramirez to sing on March 31 episode, release debut EP". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- Mail.com Media. Archivedfrom the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Gallo, Phil (March 11, 2011). "'Grey's Anatomy' Musical Episode to Feature Cast Singing Fray, Snow Patrol". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- Mail.com Media. Archived from the originalon February 27, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ Mail.com Media. Archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- ^ a b Huver, Scott (March 25, 2011). "Exclusive: Chyler Leigh on the Grey's Anatomy Musical Episode and Stalking Sara Ramirez". Wetpaint. The Cambio Network. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ^ a b Monez, Mindy (March 30, 2011). "Chyler Leigh on Grey's Anatomy's Musical Episode: 'This Is So Not About Glee'". The Telefile Blog. Television Without Pity. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ^ Mail.com Media. Archivedfrom the original on February 5, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- Mail.com Media. Archivedfrom the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- Mail.com Media. Archivedfrom the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
- Time, Inc. Archivedfrom the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- Time, Inc. Archivedfrom the original on April 15, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (April 1, 2011). "TV Ratings Thursday: Rising 'American Idol' Leads Fox Win; Musical 'Grey's Anatomy' Sings; 'Mobbed' Stomps 'CSI'; 'Big Bang,' 'Rules' Hit Lows". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- BBM Canada. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 10, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- BBM Canada. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 5, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- ^ a b Little, Lyneka (March 31, 2011). "'Grey's Anatomy,' Season 7, Episode 18, 'Song Beneath the Song': TV Recap". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Golden, Nicole (March 31, 2011). "Grey's Anatomy Review: The Musical Episode". TV Fanatic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Powers, Lindsay (April 1, 2011). ""Grey's Anatomy" musical episode: critics weigh in". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 11, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (April 1, 2011). "Review: 'Grey's Anatomy' - 'The Song Beneath the Song': How to save a life". HitFix. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Thompson, Arienne (December 28, 2011). "Dempsey on 'Grey's' exit: 'Nice to have a job'Am I the only one who laughed anyone started singing? It was kinda funny in a horribly dramatic way". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ "25 Biggest TV Blunders 2". July 31, 2011. TV Guide Network.
Grey's Anatomy: The Musical?
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(help) - ^ "The Worst of 2011 - Grey's Anatomy Musical Episode". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ "The 50 Best TV Episodes of 2011". BuddyTV. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ Morgan Jeffery, Catriona Wightman (February 24, 2010). "TV's Best Musical Episodes: Friday Fiver". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- ^ "Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards" (PDF). Motion Picture Sound Editors. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 22, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ "Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event". Apple. iTunes. March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (April 6, 2011). "Britney Spears' Femme Fatale Debuts At #1 On Billboard". MTV. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
- ^ "Soundtracks: Week of April 16, 2011" (Note: to access peak, click the white area around the song). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- ^ Trust, Gary (April 6, 2011). "Katy Perry's 'E.T.' Widens Lead Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
- ^ "Hot 100: Week of April 16, 2011" (Note: to access peak, click the white area around the song). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
External links
- "Song Beneath the Song" at ABC.com
- "Song Beneath the Song" at IMDb