Glee is turning out to be the little show that could. In a mere eight episodes, this comedy about a misfit high school glee club has somehow managed to take a doomed television genre and resurrect it to new heights.
However, going up against golden shows like Criminal Minds and Law & Order: SVU has donned this series to somewhat disappointing ratings in both the States and Canada, relegating PVRs to tune in for next-day viewings.
Still, the legions of fans who invade iTunes each week to download the latest episode’s music tells a different story. According to Reuters, Glee’s rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” has just been certified gold status for digital sales in excess of 500,000 downloads to date.
More than two million Glee songs have been purchased online – seven songs from the show now occupy spots in the Top 200 of iTunes Top Songs chart, and the show’s first volume of the soundtrack was released this week to surprising sales between 100,000 and 125,000, despite the fact that most of its contents had already been released on iTunes as singles.
Clearly, the music is the star of the show. Even if people can’t tune in each week because of its difficult timeslot (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET, Global/Fox), they’re still eager to find out what the campy gleeks have covered each week.
I’ve been onboard this gem of a show since day one, as are many TVGuide.ca staffers. I am definitely NOT a fan of musicals, but somehow this show has charmed the pants off me.
Glee creator Ryan Murphy has done such a bang-up job on the song selection that just when the Broadway show tunes get too much for me ... WHAMMO! ... a hilarious rendition of the “Thong Song” will provide comic relief.
The cast is spectacular (even if it’s full of stereotypes), scene-stealer Jane Lynch as the tyrannical cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester is hysterical, and the musical performances will give you goosebumps and make you wet your pants all at the same time. There’s not enough I could say about this show. Just watch it, people.
For all you slackers out there still sitting on the fence about this TV wonder, here’s a little nudge to switch that channel Wednesday nights. Since the first volume of the soundtrack has been released, I too thought a celebration was in order as kudos to the show for making it through the wilderness (y’know I made it through-oo-oo … sorry, Madonna break out. Did you hear Madge gave the show the rights to her ENTIRE catalogue? Yup, kinda a big deal!).
So here are some awards I’d like to dole out to my favourite Glee geeks in an honour I’d like to call “The Gleeks.”
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Best group performance
Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey
Performed by: New Directions
This was the breakout performance that really introduced viewers to the heart of Glee. This song glued together the six original members and formed New Directions glee club. I dare you not to hit repeat! Dare you! |
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Best dance performance
Song: “Single Ladies,” Beyoncé
Performed by: Kurt
For me, this was the BEST episode of the season so far. I was a blubbering wreck when Kurt came out to his dad. My only wish was that he actually sang Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” but I’ll settle for his fab dance moves. I’m dying for a Kurt solo this season. |
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Best rap performance
Song: “Gold Digger,” Kanye West
Performed by: Mercedes, Will and cast
While Will’s somewhat-cringing take on Kanye’s “Gold Digger” was bearable, it was really Mercedes who took OVER this song on Jamie Foxx’s parts. Her voice is amazing. Chills. Down. My. Back. |
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Best white boy rap
Song: “Thong Song,” Sisqo
Performed by: Will
I’m still unclear as to why all the rap songs this season are led by Will. His rendition of Young MC’s “Bust a Move” made my skin crawl, but this version of Sisqo’s ridiculous “Thong Song” made me laugh so much. Plus, it was a little sexy to see him practically give Emma a lap dance. |
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Best goosebump-inducing performance
Song: “Keep Holding On,” Avril Lavigne
Performed by: New Directions
You really had to watch this episode to get the emotional drive from this performance. You see, head cheerleader Quinn is pregnant and going through a very rough time. This performance was sparked by the evil Sue Sylvester outing her pregnancy and you can just feel Quinn’s heartbreak during this performance. |
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Best breakout male performance
Song: “Sweet Caroline,” Neil Diamond
Performed by: Puck
I will admit, besides Will, I have a major crush on Puck. Bad-boy thing. Ugh! In this endearing performance, though, Puck shows us a different side (mostly so he can get in the pants of Rachel) by singing a charming version of “Sweet Caroline.” |
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Best breakout female performance
Song: “You Keep Me Hanging On,” The Supremes
Performed By: Quinn
I love that they give sugary Quinn all the girl-group/soul songs in the series. She auditioned with an amazing version of Dionne Warwick’s “I Say A Little Prayer” and here she takes on The Supremes. Well done! |
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Best musical duet
Song: “Alone,” Heart
Performed by: Will and guest star Kristen Chenoweth
I love me some Heart! Oh, Barracuda! Will and the extraordinarily talented Broadway star Kristen Chenoweth do a fantastic version of Heart’s sentimental number “Alone.” |
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Best male solo
Song: “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” REO Speedwagon
Performed by: Finn
This was Finn’s audition number that transformed the all-star quarterback to an honorary gleek! From this point on Finn became New Directions’ leading man. |
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Best female solo
Song: “Take a Bow,” Rihanna
Performed by: Rachel
From the very start, Rachel is what I used to call a browner. She’s the over-achieving, rather obnoxious, nerdy, theatre geek, but dammit, she has a killer voice. This heartbreaking rendition of Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” again, will make your knees buckle. |
What have your favourite musical moments of Glee been? Any favourite performances you feel deserve an award? Thoughts? Questions? Email me at jessica.russell@tvguide.ca.
TELLY TUNAGE: PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK
Flight of the Concords, “Sugalumps”
Nirvana, “About A Girl”
Pants Yell!, “Cold Hands”
Avi Buffalo, “What’s In It For”
Max Tundra, “Which Song” (Passion Pit Remix)
JESSICA’S JUKEBOX: FRESH TUNES YOU GOTTA HEAR
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Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For the Young (RCA/Sony)
It’s always been clear to me that singer Julian Casablancas is the driving force behind the Strokes’ sound and now, she’s the last member of the New York garage-rock band to put out a solo album (the others? Little Joy, Nickel Eye and Albert Hammond Jr), and Phrazes For the Young only confirms my theory. Staying far from his other bandmates’ style, here the swagger and rawness of Casablancas’ leisurely Lou Reed delivery is matched with surprising upbeat energy. He sheds the gritty punk rock aesthetic for a catchier, lighter affair. The retro-danceability of the first single “11th Dimension” is electric with glammy synth beats and tribal drums. The whole album screams “too cool,” but really, it’s just the right amount. Now that each member has fulfilled solo projects, here’s hoping a new Strokes album is in our midst.
Recommended if you dig ... David Bowie or The Killers. |
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XX – XX (Young Turks)
When you grow up on a steady diet of bleak rock from the Cure and the Pixies and splice that sound with your current fixations of R&B artists of today, like Rihanna and Beyoncé, what comes out may sound something similar to this debut album from London quartet XX. This unique mix could have been an experiment gone awry, but somehow the band has mashed up myriad genres and moulded one of the most memorable debut albums of the year. XX has created an atmosphere of excessive layers building from post-punk gritty guitars, often still breathy vocals with a call-and-response aesthetic and sampled R&B beats. It sounds complex to read, but the outcome is a beautifully blended mix full of ambiance. Simply stunning.
Recommended if you dig ... Hot Chip or Peter, Bjorn & John. |
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Nirvana – Bleach 20th anniversary edition (Sub Pop)
I don’t think I’m alone when I say that Nirvana’s debut album Bleach didn’t come into my angsty teenage radar until I was exposed to their hugely influential recording Nevermind. Like the rest of suburbanite kids I didn’t see the grunge revolution coming until “Smells Like Teen Spirit” ruled my life two years later. But of course, I just haaaaad to save and scrimp to purchase the cassette, like any hopelessly devoted fan would. Only it sat on my shelf for years because my inexperienced ears couldn’t appreciate what this album stood for in shaping Nirvana’s sound. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary Sub Pop questionably “cleans” up and re-masters what was a perfectly raw, lo-fi mess. I don’t want to hear “Blew” in a glossy version. However, I’ll swallow my disgruntled views for the two-disc edition which includes a 35-page booklet of candid pics and unreleased live disc from the band’s Feb. 9, 1990 show in Portland featuring a cover of “Molly’s Lips” and most of Bleach’s tracks. Even if Bleach didn’t need this makeover, the re-release just makes me wanna dust off my old cassette.
Recommended if you dig...early Nirvana. |
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Nirvana – Live At Reading (Geffen Records)
This is yet another reminder of Nirvana’s legacy with the release of this absolutely incredible live recording. Captured at a pivotal and controversial time in both their tragically brief career and Kurt Cobain’s personal life (he performed this set less than two weeks after his only child was born), Nirvana took the stage at the annual Reading Festival in England in 1992 for what is widely known as their best set in their career. Captured here in this amazing DVD release, the band’s infamous 90 minute set slices through a whopping 24 track performance from every song you could ever want to hear (heavy on Nevermind, and tracks like “All Apologies” and “Dumb” that would eventually appear on In Utero played for the first time ever in public). The sound quality is surprisingly crisp and clean. Perfect even. For me, this is only a bittersweet reminder that this is the closest I will get to seeing Nirvana in concert and that it’s all my mother’s fault for not letting me see them in 1994 at Maple Leaf Gardens!
Recommended if you dig...Nirvana...clearly. |
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