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.
Control
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is a story about control. My control. Control of what I say, control of what I do. And this time I'm gonna do it my way. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Are we ready? I am. 'Cause it's all about control. And I've got lots of it.
Blaine:
When I was 17, I did what people told me
I did what my father said and let my mother mold me
But that was a long ago, I'm in...
(Control) Blaine: To get what I want
(Control) Artie: I got to have a lot
(Control) Blaine: And now I'm all grown up
Artie:
First time I fell in love, I didn't know what hit me
So young and so naive, I thought it would be easy
But now I know I've got to take...
(Control) Blaine: And now I've got a lot
(Control) Artie: To get what I want
(Control) Blaine: Ain't never gonna stop
(Control) Artie: And now I'm all grown up
Blaine & Artie:
Jam, ooh ooh
Artie:
Rebel, that's right
I'm on my own, I'll call my own shots
Thank you
Blaine:
Got my own mind
I wanna make my own (with Artie: decisions)
When it has to do with my life, my life
Artie:
I wanna be the one in control
So let me take you by the hand and lead you on this dance
Blaine:
'Cause what I got is because I took a chance
Artie:
I don't wanna rule the world, just wanna run my life (Ooh)
Blaine:
So make your life a little easier
When you get the chance, just take...
(All: Control, ooh ooh)
Artie: Now I've got a lot
(Control) Blaine: To get what I want
(Control) Artie: I'm never gonna stop
(Control) Blaine & Artie: Now I'm all grown up
Free at last
Blaine:
Out here on my own
Artie:
Ooh ooh ooh, yeah (Eee)
Blaine & Artie:
Now control this
Artie:
'Cause I've got my own mind
Gonna make my own decisions
When it has to do with my life
Blaine & Artie:
I wanna be the one in control
I'm in control
I'm in control
I'm in control
I'm in control
The Glee Cast's Control is an empowering song about taking control of one's life. It is sung by Quinn, Blaine, and Artie. Quinn starts the song by declaring that the story is about control, her control of what she says and does, and that she is going to do things her own way. Blaine then sings about how when he was 17, he did what people told him to do, but now that he's all grown up, he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants. Artie talks about how naive he was when he fell in love for the first time but now he's all grown up and has a lot to do to get what he wants. The chorus is sung by all three vocalists together repeatedly singing "control."
The song's bridge has the two men singing "rebel" and how they want to make their own decisions, while Quinn joins them and states that she "wants to be the one in control." The song ends with all three vocalists singing together, declaring that they are in control and that they are free at last.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a story about control. My control. Control of what I say, control of what I do. And this time I'm gonna do it my way. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Are we ready? I am. 'Cause it's all about control. And I've got lots of it.
Quinn asserts her power and control over her own life, in both what she says and does, and is ready to take control in her own way
When I was 17, I did what people told me
I did what my father said and let my mother mold me
But that was a long ago, I'm in...
Blaine reflects on his past submission to the opinions of others, but now he's older and has the control
(Control) Never gonna stop
(Control) To get what I want
(Control) I got to have a lot
(Control) And now I'm all grown up
Artie and Blaine sing about their desire for control, acknowledging that they need a lot of it to get what they want, and have matured to take control of their lives
First time I fell in love, I didn't know what hit me
So young and so naive, I thought it would be easy
But now I know I've got to take...
Artie reflects on his past experience of falling in love and realizing how challenging it could be, thus admitting he needs to take control
(Control) And now I've got a lot
(Control) To get what I want
(Control) Ain't never gonna stop
(Control) And now I'm all grown up
Artie and Blaine assert that they have a lot of control and will not stop trying to get what they want, as they have matured enough to handle the responsibility of control
Rebel, that's right
I'm on my own, I'll call my own shots
Thank you
Artie declares himself to be a rebel and that he will make his own decisions, independent of others, as he thanks those who have helped him get to where he is
Got my own mind
I wanna make my own (decisions)
When it has to do with my life, my life
Blaine affirms that he wants to have control over his own life, make his own decisions and be in charge of his own destiny
I wanna be the one in control
So let me take you by the hand and lead you on this dance
Artie expresses his desire to be in control of his life and lead others towards a happy and fulfilling existence
'Cause what I got is because I took a chance
Blaine credits his current success to taking a chance, that is, taking calculated risks and forging his own path
I don't wanna rule the world, just wanna run my life (Ooh)
Artie asserts that he doesn't want to control others' lives, but would rather have control over his own life
(Control) Now I've got a lot
(Control) To get what I want
(Control) I'm never gonna stop
(Control) Now I'm all grown up
Artie and Blaine repeat their assertions from earlier about the amount of control they need, their determination to get what they want, and how they have matured to handle the responsibility of control
Free at last
Artie declares his freedom from external control and a new sense of independence
Out here on my own
Blaine declares his independence and self-sufficient nature
Now control this
'Cause I've got my own mind
Gonna make my own decisions
When it has to do with my life
Blaine and Artie express their commitment to taking control when it comes to their own lives, making their own decisions, and being in charge of themselves
I wanna be the one in control
I'm in control
I'm in control
I'm in control
I'm in control
Blaine and Artie take turns repeating their desire to be in control of their lives, and their satisfaction with the amount of control they have over their life's trajectory
Contributed by Arianna H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.