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.
Disco Inferno
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burn, burn, burn, burn
Burn baby burn, burn baby burn
Burn baby burn, burn baby burn
Mercedes:
To my surprise
One hundred stories high
Getting down on the roof
Folks screaming out of control
It was so entertaining
When the boogie started to explode
I heard somebody say
All:
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
Mercedes:
Satisfaction came in a chain reaction
I couldn't get enough
So I had to self-destruct
I tell you, the heat was on
Rising to the top
Everybody is going strong
And that is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say
All:
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
Mercedes:
Up above my head
I hear music in the air
That makes me know
There's a party somewhere
Satisfaction came in a chain reaction
I couldn't get enough
So I had to self-destruct
The heat was on
Rising to the top
And everybody's going strong
And that is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say
All:
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn) Owww
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
The Glee Cast's rendition of Disco Inferno speaks about the excitement and energy of the disco era. Mercedes, Santana, and Brittany reflect on the overwhelming experience of a high-rise disco party where people were getting down on the roof and screaming out of control. The satisfaction they feel is compared to a self-destructive chain reaction, ending in a spark of excitement that ignites the inferno of disco. The lyrics celebrate the joy and euphoria of the disco era, referencing the heat, rising to the top, and everyone going strong. The chorus expresses this energy and excitement, urging listeners to "burn that mother down" and "burn baby burn" in the Disco Inferno.
Overall, the Glee Cast's Disco Inferno is a tribute to the power of music and dance to bring people together and ignite passion and joy in a moment of pure abandon. The lyrics are a celebration of the disco era, which was characterized by its high-energy dance music, glamorous fashion, and an emphasis on living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Burn, burn, burn, burn
Repeating the need to set something on fire
Burn baby burn, burn baby burn
Continuing the need to set something on fire
To my surprise
Expressing astonishment
One hundred stories high
Describing the height of the building
People getting loose now
People letting go and dancing freely
Getting down on the roof
Dancing on the roof of the building
Folks screaming out of control
People losing control and expressing themselves loudly
It was so entertaining
The scene was enjoyable
When the boogie started to explode
When the dancing really took off
(Burn baby burn) Disco inferno
The phrase being chanted as the atmosphere heats up
(Burn baby burn) Burn that mother down
Repeating the need to set something on fire
Satisfaction came in a chain reaction
Feeling satisfied and excited by the scene
I couldn't get enough
Expressing a desire for more
So I had to self-destruct
Pushing oneself to the limit
The heat was on
The atmosphere was intense
Rising to the top
Everyone was getting more and more excited
And everybody is going strong
Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves
And that is when my spark got hot
Feeling even more energized and excited
Up above my head
Noticing the music in the air
That makes me know
Realizing that there is a party happening nearby
(Burn baby burn) Owww
Expressing excitement and passion
Burn that mother down
Repeating the need to set something on fire
Disco inferno
Describing the intense dance scene
Contributed by Anthony P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.