Grey’s Anatomy is known for its iconic music moments — “Chasing Cars,” anyone? — and its impeccable taste when it comes to soundtracking the series. After 15 seasons, the show can still manipulate your emotions through song or introduce you to a new favorite track.
The latest season focused, in part, on Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) romantic life. After the great love of her life Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) died in season 11, Meredith avoided any serious relationships, save for a short-lived but never fully realized romance with Nathan Riggs (Martin Henderson). Now in season 15, she’s found one that may stick in Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti). Hence their couple name “Merluca” — Meredith plus DeLuca.
Throughout their pairing this season, Meredith and DeLuca enjoyed many memorable moments, with equally amazing songs in the background. In honor of the May 16 season finale, here are our favorites. (Although, we had to leave off a few, including their sexually charged exchange in Italian, since it was devoid of any music.)
Song: “Nah!” by Striking Matches
Episode 1: “With a Wonder and a Wild Desire”
Merluca Moment: After DeLuca planted a drunken and surprise kiss on Meredith during the season 14 finale, Meredith can’t get him out of her head — or her dreams.
Song: “Change Your Mind (Stripped)” by Jack Vallier
Episode 8: “Blowin’ in the Wind”
Merluca Moment: Matchmaker patient CeCe (Caroline Clay) opens Meredith up to the idea of dating again, encouraging her to accept a night out with Atticus “Link” Lincoln (Chris Carmack). But it happens right in front of DeLuca, who recently realized his own feelings for Dr. Grey. So he tells her exactly what he’s thinking.
Song: “Bones” by Garrison Starr
Episode 8: “Blowin’ in the Wind”
Merluca Moment: Elevators mean a lot in the Grey’s world, especially to Meredith, whose late husband proposed in one. Naturally, she’s reluctant to be in an elevator with the man who professed his feelings for her. And then it gets stuck.
Song: “Forgotten Love” by Aurora
Episode 9: “Shelter From the Storm”
Merluca Moment: Following a heartfelt encounter in the aforementioned elevator, DeLuca wants to take Meredith out on a real date — but CeCe’s death and a complication with Link gets in the way.
Song: “Say It Now,” by AG featuring nilou
Episode 12: “Girlfriend in a Coma”
Merluca Moment: After all the back and forth — and another broken date with Link — Meredith lets herself be charmed by the handsome resident and they kiss, for real.
Song: “Superposition” by Young the Giant
Episode 13: “I Walk the Line”
Merluca Moment: Since DeLuca dated Meredith’s sister Maggie (Kelly McCreary) years prior, Mer wants to be responsible and get her sister’s permission to go on a date with him. Meredith does… but she also reminds DeLuca who is in the driver’s seat.
Song: “For You” by Greg Laswell
Episode 14: “I Want a New Drug”
Merluca Moment: Mer breaks the hospital record of longest single surgery and has earned a little bit of rest.
Song: “Just Dance” by Kid Something
Episode 16: “Blood and Water”
Merluca Moment: DeLuca’s father brings some drama to Grey Sloan Memorial hospital, but at least his son brings Meredith some coffee.
Song: “Walk Away” by Buzzy Lee
Episode 17: “And Dream of Sheep”
Merluca Moment: Mer returns the favor for a sleepless DeLuca with some caffeine and a kiss.
Song: “When We Were Young” by Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Episode 18: “Add It Up”
Merluca Moment: There’s a whole “DeLuca’s possibly bipolar father is trying to make an artificial womb and it goes very wrong” scenario that’s too difficult to explain. But here, DeLuca just needs to apologize to his girlfriend for being distant.
Song: “I Like You” by Club Yoko
Episode 22: “Head Over High Heels”
Merluca Moment: The pair are getting hot and heavy, but Meredith isn’t ready to introduce her boyfriend to her kids yet. Too bad her oldest Zola (Aniela Gumbs) catches DeLuca stealing away in the middle of the night.
You know what time it is! #GreysAnatomy starts right now. pic.twitter.com/mOmdtJZtPO
— Greys Anatomy (@GreysABC) April 19, 2019
Song: “Borderline” by Florrie
Episode 23: “What I Did for Love”
Merluca Moment: Meredith puts her youngest daughter’s name down on an insurance form, enabling her to perform surgery on an undocumented immigrant, which is a felony. Mer worries DeLuca won’t understand her actions. Quite the contrary: instead of yelling at her, he tells her he loves her.
Bonus!
Song: “Break Up With Your Girlfriend (I’m Bored)” by Ariana Grande
Episode: Behind the scenes of “Add It Up”
Merluca Moment: When actors Pompeo and Gianniotti had downtime during filming, the pair shot a quick Instagram video set to Grande’s song that even received the singer’s stamp of approval.