Glee featured multiple major and secondary roles who have contributed vocals to the show: Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Dianna Agron, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, Jayma Mays, Jane Lynch, Chord Overstreet, Darren Criss, Harry Shum, Jr., Damian McGinty, Vanessa Lengies, Samuel Larsen, Blake Jenner, Alex Newell, Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, and Dean Geyer. Numerous special guests have also featured on tracks, including Jonathan Groff, Kristin Chenoweth, Grant Gustin, Olivia Newton-John, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Idina Menzel, Charice, Gwyneth Paltrow, k.d. lang, Ricky Martin, Matt Bomer, Kate Hudson, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
The pilot episode of the show was broadcast on May 19, 2009 and the first season began airing on September 9, 2009. The show was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. Murphy selects all music featured within the series himself, with the intent of maintaining a balance between show tunes and chart hits. Songs featured on the show are available for digital download through iTunes up to two weeks before new episodes air, and through other digital outlets and mobile carriers a week later.
Their debut single, "Don't Stop Believin'", a cover of the 1981 Journey song, was a top ten hit, and was certified platinum in Australia and gold in the US. The group's cover of The All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell" reached number one in Ireland, giving them their first number one single.
There has been Nineteen soundtracks released through Columbia Records: Glee: The Music, Volume 1, Glee: The Music, Volume 2, Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers, Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Glee: The Music, Volume 4, Glee: The Music, Volume 5, Glee: The Music, Volume 6, Glee: The Music, Volume 7 and Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2,Glee: The Music, Volume 7,Glee: The Music, The Graduation Album,Glee: The Music, Season 4, Volume 1,Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 3,Glee Sings the Beatles and Glee: The Music - Celebrating 100 Episodes.
Nineteen EPs have also been released: Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna, Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals,Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show.Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show,Glee: The Music, Love Songs,Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show,Glee: The Music, Love Songs,Glee: The Music, Dance Party,Britney 2.0,Glee: The Music Presents Glease,The Quarterback (Music from the TV Series),A Katy or a Gaga (Music from the Episode),Movin' Out,Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 4,City of Angels,New New York,Glee: The Music, Bash,Glee: The Music, Tested,Glee: The Music, Opening Night,Glee: The Music, the Back Up Plan,Glee: The Music, Old Dog, New Tricks,Glee: The Music – The Untitled Rachel Berry Project,Glee: The Music – Loser Like Me and Glee: The Music – Homecoming.
The cast is second behind The Beatles for most chart appearances by a group act in the Billboard Hot 100's history, and holds the record of sixth overall among all artists, with sixty-nine appearances. The cast has sold over thirty six million and over eleven million albums worldwide. The series' cover versions have also had a positive effect on the original recording artists, with sales of Rihanna's "Take a Bow" increasing by 189 percent after the song was covered in the Glee episode "Showmance".
The series features covers of numerous songs sung on-screen by the characters. Musical segments typically take the form of performances, as opposed to the characters singing spontaneously, as the intention is for the series to remain reality-based. Murphy is responsible for selecting all of the songs used, and strives to maintain a balance between show tunes and chart hits, as: "I want there to be something for everybody in every episode. That's a tricky mix, but that's very important — the balancing of that." Song choices are integral to script development, with Murphy explaining: "Each episode has a theme at its core. After I write the script, I will choose songs that help to move the story along."
Glee is choreographed by Zach Woodlee, and features five to eight production numbers per episode. Once music rights are cleared, songs are arranged and pre-recorded by the cast. Woodlee constructs the accompanying dance moves, which are then taught to the cast and filmed. Numbers can take several weeks to prepare, depending on complexity. Each episode costs at least $3 million to produce, and can take up to 10 days to film as a result of the elaborate choreography.
Ben
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own, I'll never be alone
And you, my friend will see
You've got a friend in me
Finn & Rachel:
Rachel (Kurt & Finn):
Ben, you're always running here and there (Here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere (Anywhere)
If you ever look behind and don't like what you find
There's something you should know
You've got a place to go (You've got a place to go)
Kurt:
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Finn & Rachel:
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Finn (Rachel & Kurt):
Ben, most people would turn you away (Turn you away)
I don't listen to a word they say (A word they say)
They don't see you as I do, I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
Finn & Rachel (Kurt):
A friend (Like Ben)
A friend (Like Ben)
The Glee Cast's song "Ben" is a beautiful tribute to a close friendship. The song begins with Kurt stating that both he and his friend (named Ben) have found what they were looking for. He asserts that with a friend to call his own, he'll never be alone. Kurt reassures Ben that he has a friend in him. Finn and Rachel then join in to reaffirm that Ben has a true friend in them too.
Rachel continues by painting a picture of Ben's uncertainty and how he feels like he's not wanted anywhere. She tells him that if he ever feels lost, he should remember that he has a place to go. The chorus follows with Kurt reminding us of how he used to refer to himself as "I" and "me," but now it's changed to "us" and "we." Finn then highlights how most people would turn someone like Ben away, but he doesn't listen to them. He sees Ben for who he is and wishes others would do the same. Finn concludes by saying he's sure people would think differently if they had a friend like Ben.
Line by Line Meaning
Ben, the two of us need look no more
We have found what we were searching for
We both found what we were looking for
We found companionship
With a friend to call my own, I'll never be alone
Having a friend is comforting
And you, my friend will see
You will find comfort in me
You've got a friend in me
I am your friend
Ben, you're always running here and there (Here and there)
You are constantly busy
You feel you're not wanted anywhere (Anywhere)
You feel unwanted
If you ever look behind and don't like what you find
If you are unhappy with your past
There's something you should know
You have options
You've got a place to go (You've got a place to go)
You can come to me
I used to say "I" and "me"
I used to be selfish
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Now, our friendship is a team
Ben, most people would turn you away (Turn you away)
Others might reject you
I don't listen to a word they say (A word they say)
I value your friendship
They don't see you as I do, I wish they would try to
Others do not understand you like I do
I'm sure they'd think again
They would reconsider
If they had a friend like Ben
If they had a friend like you
A friend (Like Ben)
A friend like you
A friend (Like Ben)
A friend like you
Contributed by Parker Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.