THE TOP 13... GLEE SONG COVERS
In honor of
Glee: The 3D
Concert Movie’s release this month, we take a look
back at some of our favorite moments from the show’s two
seasons of song covers. Sure, originals like “Get
it Right” and “Loser Like Me” were well enough -- and
let us not forget the spiritual, visceral intensity of
“My Headband”, “Trouty Mouth” and “My Cup” -- but this
show is all about taking existing songs and making them
it’s own. It’s televised, stylized karaoke, but with
slightly more plot, and that is what we are
here to celebrate.After toppling the Billboard Chart’s long-held record of most appearances by an artist -- Elvis Presley, with 108 -- in February this year, having previously surpassed both The Beatles and Michael Jackson, the group’s sell-out tour of this summer reportedly reaped over $40 million across 40 dates, selling over four hundred and eighty thousand tickets. Despite a so far lackluster showing at the box office, the Glee movie is nevertheless on track to make money, as is yet another album: Glee: The 3D Concert Movie: The Soundtrack.
You think we’re kidding? We’re not.
In short, the Glee phenomenon is still gaining momentum, and with Season 3 heading our way next month -- Tuesday, September 20; mark your calendars, folks! -- there remains a lot for Gleeks everywhere to cheer about.
And now, without further ado: ladies and gentleman… New Directions! (And friends.)
| Will Schuester… | Matthew Morrison |
| Rachel Berry… | Lea Michele |
| Finn Hudson… | Cory Monteith |
| Quinn Fabray… | Dianna Agron |
| Kurt Hummel… | Chris Colfer |
| Santana Lopez… | Naya Rivera |
| Mercedes Jones… | Amber Riley |
| Noah “Puck” Puckerman… | Mark Salling |
| Artie Abrams… | Kevin McHale |
| Brittany Pierce… | Heather Morris |
| Tina Cohen-Chang… | Jenna Ushkowitz |
| Mike Chang… | Harry Shum Jr. |
| Sam Evans… | Chord Overstreet |
1.
“TOXIC”Original: Britney Spears (2004)
Sung by: Will and New Directions
Episode: “Britney/Brittany” (02.04)
There is just something so very wrong about seeing a teacher up on stage with a bunch of students singing a suggestive song, accompanied by equally suggestive dance moves. So wrong… and yet, in this instance, so wonderfully right. The nicely jazzy reinterpretation of the song, the intricate choreography, the 40’s inspired outfits, and the over-the-top crowd composed of slavering students -- one of whom, Lauren Zizes (Ashley Fink), goes on to join the Glee Club in later episodes -- all make this (sadly truncated) Britney homage a true joy to watch, and while it may not have won Will back the adoration of his beloved fellow-teacher Emma (Jayma Mays), and therefore precipitated the train wreck that was “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” (02.05), it remains the single best example of Mr. Schue’s inappropriate participation in the activities of the high school club of which he is nominally the faculty advisor. (Not that “Ice, Ice Baby” and “Bust a Move” aren’t also worthy aspirants to that title. Or, hey, “Gold Digger”! Anyone miss the days when Will used to rap?)
HONORABLE “BRITNEY/BRITTANY” MENTION: Brittany’s hallucinated performance of “Slave 4 U”, pretty much just for Heather Morris’s superlative dancing. Also, Rachel’s lovely, heartfelt version of “The Only Exception”, by Paramore.
2.
“IT’S MY LIFE” / “CONFESSIONS, PART II”Original: Bon Jovi (2000)/Usher (2003)
Sung by: Finn, Puck, Kurt, Artie, Mike and Matt (yeah, remember Matt?)
Episode: “Vitamin D” (01.06)
Okay, so maybe they put so much effort and enthusiasm into this performance because they were hopped up on over-the-counter cold medicine. Maybe Finn’s wide, manic grin and high-impact flailing does somewhat detract from the sheer musical cleverness of mashing these two songs together -- a cleverness made even more so when you consider the lyrics of both songs, and how they relate quite pointedly to the fact that Finn believes he is the father of Quinn’s incipient baby. Nevertheless, this is without doubt one of the most addictive songs of Glee’s freshman season, and it is delivered with such verve by the boys -- most of whom are generally far less fervent than this in their performances -- that it can’t help but win you over, just on sheer energy alone.
HONORABLE “VITAMIN D” MENTION: The girls’ “Halo/Walking on Sunshine” mashup of Beyoncé and Katrina and the Waves was also drug-fuelled and also very high-energy, but didn’t quite meet the same level of “wow”.
3.
“TEENAGE DREAM”Original: Katy Perry (2010)
Sung by: Blaine (Darren Criss) and The Dalton Warblers
Episode: “Never Been Kissed” (02.06)
Sent on an errand to scope out the Glee Club’s opposition, Kurt finds himself in the hallowed halls of the privileged Dalton Academy. The first person he meets is a handsome young man with an immaculate coif and a winning smile. There is a buzz around the halls… the school’s choir, the Warblers, are about to perform… the cutie takes Kurt by the hand… they slo-mo run to watch these “rock stars” in action… and it is then that the boy, Blaine by name, is revealed as the Warblers’ front man. The (mainly) a capella group then goes on to turn a quite bland pop song into a thoroughly enchanting mélange of old and new, giving the classic barbershop quartet sensibility a contemporary twist, and creating a whole new subgenre -- and a star, in Darren Criss -- while they’re at it. Perfection!
HONORABLE WARBLERS MENTIONS: Pretty much everything these guys reinterpreted, harmonized over and doo-wopped behind in Season 2 became an instant classic -- there’s a reason they got their own Glee Presents album -- but favorites include Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills” (“The Sue Sylvester Shuffle”, 02.11), Maroon 5’s “Misery” (“Original Song”, 02.16) and Wings’ “Silly Love Songs” (“Silly Love Songs”, 02.12).
4.
“IMAGINE”Original: John Lennon (1971)
Sung by: Mercedes, Artie, Rachel and Finn, with New Directions
Episode: “Hairography” (01.11)
In this episode, Mr. Schue is a little worried when he witnesses the synchronized gyrations of the club’s Regionals competition, the Jane Addams Girls Choir. Looking to Brittany for guidance, the group learn the basics of “hairography” – Rachel calls it “smoke and mirrors” and “a distraction”; Brittany calls it “cool epilepsy” -- and they put together a simply ridiculous, hair-flinging disaster of a number. But when the hearing impaired kids of the Haverbrook Deaf Choir launch into their sign language/spoken word version of “Imagine”, the kids sing along and our Glee Clubbers learn a very important lesson about being themselves, true to their talents, etc. Teacher Will, also a recipient of this lesson, gets a little moist-eyed while watching this joyful moment unfold, and the viewing audience would have had to have been very hard-hearted indeed not to have been similarly affected.
5.
“ROLLING IN THE DEEP”Original: Adele (2010)
Sung by: Rachel and Jesse (Jonathan Groff)
Episode: “Prom Queen” (02.20)
“Members of the Audio Visual Club,” says Rachel, coming onto a busy stage and addressing the assembled workers, presumably painting decorations for the upcoming festivities, “I might possibly sing this song at Prom and when I’m done rehearsing, I’d like your feedback. Tell me if I was brilliant or simply outstanding.”
She manages to get out only two lines when her song is co-opted by the golden pipes of her former boyfriend, one Jesse St. James. Jesse, you will remember, had previously abandoned his professed love of Rachel in Season 1, childishly smashing an egg in her face and then going on to win the show choir title on which she had so set her heart. Here, we don’t yet know why he’s come back to town (HINT: it’s for Rachel), but lyrics like “You had my heart inside your hand, and you played it to the beat” could not have been more apropos to this talented couple’s tortured history; nor could they have been delivered more stirringly than by Michele, Groff and the curiously melodic kids from the AV Club, who kindly offer up pitch-perfect, Warbler-worthy backing vocals with nary a rehearsal.
HONORABLE “PROM QUEEN” MENTIONS: Rachel’s faithful, impassioned performance of Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts” was heartbreaking and beautiful; meanwhile, who could forget the ebullient rendition of Rebecca Black’s otherwise appalling “Friday” delivered by Sam, Puck and Artie? (Best moment: Sam sings the oh-so-informative line “Tomorrow is Saturday, and Sunday comes afterwards…” to which Puck mouths, in mock astonishment: “What?!”)
6.
“THE SAFETY DANCE”Original: Men Without Hats (1982)
Sung by: Artie
Episode: “Dream On” (01.19)
In an episode where the Glee Club is urged to give a thought to their dreams for the future, wheelchair-bound Artie wants only one thing: to dance. Okay, so it’s more of a daydream than a real-life aspiration. And, okay, so part of the reasoning behind the whole thing was probably to prove to viewers that, no, Kevin McHale isn’t actually a paraplegic, it’s called acting, people! But when Artie steps from the chair, puts on his chosen music, and then proceeds to entertain a mall full of shoppers -- having apparently inveigled upwards of a hundred people into being part of his flash mob -- it is a joyful celebration of what might have been. Cleverly directed (by Joss Whedon, don’t you know) to include actual cell phone camera footage -- yes, as though it were a real flash mob! -- McHale proves himself to be quite the mover and the shaker, and when the number ends, and Artie is glumly brought back to reality, we cannot help but be aware of a palpable feeling of loss just as keen as his own.
HONORABLE “DREAM ON” MENTION: Will and his former nemesis, Bryan Ryan (Neil Patrick Harris), with Aerosmith’s “Dream On”.
7.
“RIVER DEEP – MOUNTAIN HIGH”Original: Ike and Tina Turner (1966)
Sung by: Mercedes and Santana
Episode: “Duets” (02.04)
“Why would I want to do a duet with you?” Mercedes asks Santana reasonably, when approached to be the latter’s singing partner. “We can’t stand each other.” This is manifestly true (Santana can’t really stand anyone). But they are both excellent singers, with compatible voices, and Santana further points out: “If we do a duet together, we will be the undisputed top bitches at this school.”
While she may have overestimated this a tad, there can be no doubt that the duo rocks the hell out of the song, delivering up powerhouse vocals, inventive choreography and a killer adversarial vibe from which it is impossible to turn away. If the Glee kids had been less self-serving (and Rachel and Finn hadn’t been trying so hard to give victory in the duets competition to Sam and Quinn), then that free trip to Breadstix would rightfully have belonged to Mercedes and Santana.
HONORABLE “DUETS” MENTIONS: Tina and Mike with “Sing!”, from A Chorus Line, and Quinn and Sam with the Jason Mraz/Colbie Caillat sweetness, “Lucky”.
8.
“VALERIE”Original: The Zutons (2006)
Cover: Mark Ronson, feat. Amy Winehouse (2007)
Sung by: Santana, with New Directions
Episode: “Special Education” (02.09)
Another trip to an important competition, another occasion on which the set list has yet to be decided pretty much until the day of... how these kids manage to win any of these things remains a mystery. On this occasion, the group’s “star”, Rachel, is forced to take a backseat to the musical stylings of Quinn and Sam simpering their way though “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” before Santana comes out and rocks the Amy Winehouse version of “Valerie”, alongside some remarkably gymnastic dancing from Brittany and Mike Chang. From Naya Rivera’s sexy raspiness to Heather Morris and Harry Shum Jr.’s So You Think You Can Dance intensity, the number is electrifying from beginning to end, and happily for the New Directions, the Dalton Warblers didn’t have choreography like that in their uniform-clad arsenal, leaving the two teams in a tie.
9.
“I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND”Original: The Beatles (1963)
Sung by: Kurt
Episode: “Grilled Cheesus” (02.03)
In an otherwise stultifyingly boring and horrendously predictable meditation on organized religion and potential botulism poisoning (Finn, you simply cannot carry a cheese sandwich around with you for a week, leaving it unrefrigerated in your gym locker for long periods of time, and then eat it. ’Cause… ick), this haunting, soulful take on the Beatles classic, dedicated to Kurt’s ailing father (Mike O’Malley), was the one bright moment. Chris Colfer’s barely-contained grief, rage and hopelessness really give this rendition its tear-jerking power, all of which combine to make it so very memorable.
HONORABLE "GRILLED CHEESUS" MENTION: Puck's "Only the Good Die Young", because who doesn't love them some Billy Joel?
10.
“POKER FACE”Original: Lady Gaga (2008)
Sung by: Rachel and Shelby (Idina Menzel)
Episode: “Theatricality” (01.20)
Having engineered a meeting with the daughter she’d been paid to have years earlier, failed actress and Vocal Adrenaline coach Shelby Corcoran spent a total of five minutes with Rachel before deciding that teenagers were too hard and it was her baby she missed, not the emotionally fragile girl standing before her. (How Quinn and Puck could later have chosen to give their bastard child into the care of this candidate for Mother of the Year, we will never know).
However, before turning on her stiletto heel and marching out of her newfound offspring’s life forever, Shelby does deign to join her for a duet; a slowed-down, quite remarkable version of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”. Delivered by two powerful, lyrical and not dissimilar voices, it is a painstakingly constructed, thoughtful and delightfully cheeky interpretation that remains one of Glee’s more impressive arrangements.
11.
“NEED YOU NOW”Original: Lady Antebellum (2010)
Sung by: Rachel and Puck
Episode: “The Sue Sylvester Shuffle” (02.11)
It’s sung almost identically to the original, and there are no interesting harmonies behind it; neither is there a quirky arrangement or any eye-catching choreography. Also, as a choice of song to sway the minds of determinedly anti-Glee footballers, it was probably a little… off target. But something about Rachel and Puck’s casual chemistry as they sing this Country Pop duet together -- much to the displeasure of the watching Finn -- is simply captivating, whether you’re a Puckleberry fan or not.
12.
“GIVE UP THE FUNK”Original: Parliament (1975)
Sung by: New Directions
Episode: “Funk” (01.21)
In this episode, New Directions’ secret weapon Jesse had returned to their main competitor, Vocal Adrenaline, which group then proceeded to demonstrate their show choir abilities with a kickass cover of Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”, merely to unsettle, or “funkify”, the kids of McKinley High.
Deciding to hit back, our Glee Club -- having spent the week exploring the concept of Funk music, and somehow ending up with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’s “Good Vibrations” -- finally sent a message of their own to Jesse and his cohorts, with a fun-filled, energetic, committed and above all funky recital of this classic 70’s number... a feat Vocal Adrenaline simply could not have matched.
And while it ultimately made no difference -- even without the shrill self-interest of judges Olivia Newton-John and Josh Groban, Vocal Adrenaline’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” was far and away a better effort than the kids’ Journey medley, and deserved to win Sectionals that year -- the fact that this offering managed to rattle that group of thirty year-old “soulless automatons” even for an instant was something in and of itself.
13.
“OPEN YOUR HEART” / “BORDERLINE”Original: Madonna (1986)/(1984)
Sung by: Rachel and Finn
Episode: “The Power of Madonna” (01.15)
There is often an element of the musically fantastical to Glee performances. For example, the elaborateness of some of the costuming and production numbers is improbable (see: Kurt’s “Le Jazz Hot” from Victor/Victoria and the group’s “Singin’ in the Rain”/“Umbrella” with Holly Holliday [Gwyneth Paltrow], among many others), and more than once have we seen one of our choir kids wandering down the halls of their school singing away at the top of their lungs, going unnoticed and unremarked by their fellow students. (Rachel does this, like, a lot.)
But this particular number added another element of the wacky, as in the background, while Rachel and Finn are supposedly gamboling down McKinley High serenading each other -- despite Rachel’s then-attachment to that interloper, Jesse -- we see image after image of the Material Girl, throughout her many and varied style phases: 80’s, Marilyn, burlesque, S&M, cowgirl, what have you. So not only is it a really fun mashup of early Madonna, sung with exuberance and acted out with no little emotion, but it also serves as a fitting tribute to the songs’ originator. Nice.
OTHER
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The kids’ “Don’t
Stop Believing” by Journey (“Pilot”, 01.01);
Rachel’s “Taking Chances” by Celine
Dion (“Preggers”, 01.04); Rachel and Finn’s “No
Air”, originally by Jordin Sparks and Chris
Brown (“Throwdown”, 01.07); Kurt and Rachel’s
“Defying Gravity”, from Wicked
(“Wheels” 01.09); Rachel’s take on The All-American
Rejects' “Gives You Hell” (Hell-O,
01.14); Finn’s “Jessie’s Girl”,
originally by Rick Springfield (“Laryngitis”, 01.18);
the kids’ “Empire State of Mind”,
originally by Alicia Keys, plus Rachel and Sunshine's
"Telephone" by Lady Gaga (“Audition”,
02.01); John Stamos as dentist Carl singing
“Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?” from
Rocky Horror (“The Rocky Horror Glee Show”, 02.05);
Will’s version of Michael Bublé’s “Sway”
(“Furt”, 02.08); the kids -- and Sue -- with
“Sing” by My Chemical Romance (“Comeback”,
02.13); the kids singing Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It”
and Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok”, as well
as Rachel and Blaine’s “Don’t You Want Me Baby?”
(“Blame it on the Alcohol”, 02.14); Finn and Mike with
Sammy Davis Jr.’s “I Gotta Be Me”
(“Born This Way”, 02.18); Rachel’s “Go Your Own
Way”, originally by Fleetwood Mac (“Rumors”,
02.19); Kurt’s “Some People” from
Gypsy (“Funeral”, 02.21); and Rachel and Kurt’s
“For Good” from Wicked (“New
York”, 02.22).NB. You may notice an absence of any song from “A Very Glee Christmas” here? That’s because every song in that episode sucked.
--
Further Reading:
Previous Top 13's
♦ Sams, Issue 17, July 2011
♦ Shapeshifters, Issue 16, June 2011
♦ Doctor Who Companions, Issue 15, May 2011
♦ Fantasy Villains, Issue 14, April 2011
♦ Geek Speak Recommendations, Issue 13, March 2011
♦ Paranormal Romance Clichés, Issue 12, February 2011
♦ Robots, Male Division, Issue 11, January 2011
♦ Geek Gifts, Issue 10, December 2010
♦ Nameless Extras Made Good, Issue 9, November 2010
♦ Pop-Culture Witches, Issue 8, October 2010
♦ Confusing Movies of All Time, Issue 7, September, 2010
♦ Superheroes Without Superpowers, Issue 6, August 2010
♦ Genre Heroines Who Kick Ass, Literary Division, Issue 5, July, 2010
♦ Vampires! Issue 4, June 2010
♦ Geek Goddesses, Issue 3, May, 2010
♦ Genre-Themed Songs, Issue 2, April 2010
♦ Genre Parodies, Issue 1, March 2010
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