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.
Dreams
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now, here you go again: you say you want your freedom
Well, who am I to keep you down?
It's only right that you should play it the way you feel it
Listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness
(Heartbeat...) Like a heartbeat, drives you mad
(Stillness...) In the stillness of remembering
(Lonely...) What you had and what you lost
Oh, and what you lost (Oooh...)
Both
Thunder only happens when it's raining
Players only love you when they're playin'
I say, women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know
You'll know
Will
Now, here I go again: I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
Both
It's only me who wants to wrap around your dreams, and
Will
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell, dreams of loneliness?
April (Will)
(Like a heartbeat...) Like a heartbeat, drives you mad
(Stillness...) In the stillness of remembering
(Lonely...) What you had and what you lost
(Oooh...) And what you had (And what you had)
Oh, and what you lost (And what you lost...)
Both
Thunder only happens when it's raining
Players only love you when they're playin'
I say, women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know
Oh, thunder only happens when it's rainin
Players only love you when they're playin'
I say, women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know
You will know
You will know
Hey...you'll know
The lyrics to Glee Cast's song "Dreams" narrate the idea of freedom and loneliness. The first verse, sung by Will, addresses an unnamed person who wants their freedom, implying that they want to end a relationship. Will tells them that they should play it the way they feel it and listen to the sound of their loneliness. The second verse, sung by both Will and April, states that thunder only happens when it's raining, which can be interpreted to mean that bad things tend to happen during a difficult time. The chorus reiterates that players only love you when they're playing, and how women will come in and out of a person's life, but one will know when the rain washes them clean.
The emotions conveyed through the lyrics show how people have to face various challenges when it comes to life, love, and relationships. The song showcases the message that despite the hardships, people have the ability to overcome them and move on, as long as they have faith in themselves. The song talks about the importance of self-love and self-confidence as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, here you go again: you say you want your freedom
You are expressing your desire for freedom once again
Well, who am I to keep you down?
I do not have the authority to restrict you
It's only right that you should play it the way you feel it
It's appropriate that you act based on your feelings
Listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness
Pay attention to the loneliness you're experiencing
(Heartbeat...) Like a heartbeat, drives you mad
The feeling of loneliness is like a constant beating in your mind
(Stillness...) In the stillness of remembering
When you remember the past in quietness, the loneliness can be overwhelming
(Lonely...) What you had and what you lost
The memory of what you used to have before you lost it is lonely and sad
(Oooh...) And what you had (Oooh...) Oh, and what you lost (Oooh...)
The contrast between what you had in the past and what you lost is painful to remember
Thunder only happens when it's raining
Difficulties and challenges tend to come when things are already tough
Players only love you when they're playin'
People may only show affection when it's beneficial to them
I say, women, they will come and they will go
Romantic partners may enter and exit your life frequently
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know
When struggles are overcome, you will realize your true strength
Now, here I go again: I see the crystal visions
I am once again having visions of clarity
I keep my visions to myself
I choose not to share my visions with others
It's only me who wants to wrap around your dreams, and
I am the only one who wants to support your dreams and aspirations
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell, dreams of loneliness?
Do you have any unfulfilled desires that you're willing to give up, even if they are born from loneliness?
(And what you had) Oh, and what you lost (And what you lost...)
The pain of what you had and lost is not easily forgotten
Hey...you'll know
You will eventually come to understand the lessons of life
Contributed by Nicholas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrew Le
This version is just about as good as the original.
Oscar Santos
@SJ S a lot of people agree this is a good rendition smh
Saúl
No
Mike Cardoso
Personally, one of the best glee covers of all time.
Elizabeth
I love April and will's duets but I think this one is my favorite lol❤
Nimesh Singh
This cover is so damn good- they are so good. I don’t hear about it more often. Hearing Mr Schue’s solos always gives me the chills Cus I wasn’t expecting him. They never let him sing after hiring just a talented Broadway singer.
Karis McIntyre
It's so weird how alike this is to original, love it <3
D. L.
Words cannot describe how much I love Will in this song. This might be one of his most underrated songs ever.
Nimesh Singh
I lost it when I heard him- cus we never get him
Olivia Almy
honestly love this duet😍