60 Songs That Explain the '90s “How to Save a Life”—The Fray
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Jun 18, 2025 
Yasi Salek, host of Vansplain and an insightful presence on The Ringer, joins to discuss the emotional power of music in storytelling, focusing on The Fray's iconic "How to Save a Life". They dive into the art of emotional manipulation in TV dramas, especially in shows like Grey's Anatomy. Salek shares her personal experiences, highlighting how this song resonated with her during key moments in the series. The conversation also touches on the broader cultural impact of 90s music and its ability to evoke nostalgia and deep emotions.
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Rob Harvilla Rejects Manipulative Music
- Rob Harvilla respects hospital soap operas as an art form and believes stories should stand on their own without manipulative music.
- Background pop songs that push emotions in these shows feel like cheating to him.
General Hospital's Wild Soap Plot
- Rob recounts the melodramatic saga of Luke and Holly on General Hospital, including kidnapping and presumed deaths.
- These plots rarely involve actual hospital care, focusing on soap opera drama instead.
Soap Operas Elevate Songs' Power
- The song "Think of Laura" became Luke and Laura's theme on General Hospital but was originally about a real person.
- The combination of manipulative pop songs and soap operas established a powerful emotional standard.