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.
Empire State of Mind
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right next to Deniro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yeah they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicano's
Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
Took it to my stash box, five sixty State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons with them pastriesCruisin' down eighth Street, off white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but B.K. Is from Texas
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Now I live on billboard and I brought my boys with me
Say whatup to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tai's
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Jigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on)
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from (come on, come on)
In New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah)
Now you're in New York (you're in New York)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
Catch me at the X with O.G. At a Yankee game
Dude I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of brothers walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Africa Bambata home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't for they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories, out there in it nakedCity is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed "I Got It Made"
If Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three card molly
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
Long live the Kingdom, I'm from the Empire State that's
In New York (hey)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick the sidelines is
Lined with casualties, who sip to life casually
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple Eve
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
End of the winter gets cold, En Vogue, with your skin out
City of sin, it's a pity on the wind
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Hail Mary to the city, you're a virgin
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
Dub MHS got you feelin' like a champion
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
In New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York
New York
One hand in the air for the big city
Streetlights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty
No place in the world that could compare
Put your lighters in the air
Everybody say "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"
In New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
The Glee Cast's rendition of Empire State of Mind is a song about living life in New York City. The lyrics describe how the singer (Jigga) started from Brooklyn and ended up in Tribeca. He compares himself to Sinatra and says that since he made it in New York, he can make it anywhere. He talks about his past in Harlem and how he used to buy drugs there. He then describes his current life living on Billboard and sitting courtside at Knicks and Nets games with his boys. The chorus talks about how New York City is a concrete jungle where dreams are made of and there's nothing you can't do there. The singer goes on to describe different experiences in the city such as going to a Yankee game, being part of a gang, and attending the Labor Day Parade. He ends the song by saying that there's no place in the world that can compare to New York City.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
I've moved from Brooklyn to a more upscale neighborhood in Manhattan called Tribeca
Right next to Deniro, but I'll be hood forever
I live close to the actor Robert Deniro, but I'll always stay true to my roots
I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I'm the modern-day version of Frank Sinatra, and since I've become successful in New York, I can succeed anywhere
I can make it anywhere, yeah they love me everywhere
Since I made it in New York, I can be successful anyplace and people will love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicano's
I used to buy drugs in Harlem, and I have a lot of Dominican friends
Right there up on Broadway, pull me back to that McDonald's
I used to hang out on Broadway and would often go to the McDonald's there
Took it to my stash box, five sixty State Street
I hid my drugs in a secret place I had on 560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons with them pastries
You can find me in the kitchen baking pastries like a member of the Simmons family
Cruisin' down eighth Street, off white Lexus
I'm driving down 8th Street in a fancy off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but B.K. Is from Texas
I'm driving slowly, but remind myself that even though I'm from Brooklyn, I can still have a big impact like a Texan does
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
I am from the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, which is known for being the hometown of the late rapper, Notorious B.I.G.
Now I live on billboard and I brought my boys with me
I'm now famous and have my face on a billboard and brought my friends with me to share my success
Say whatup to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tai's
Say hello to Ty-Ty, who is still drinking Mai Tai cocktails
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
I'm sitting in the front row seats at basketball games with the Knicks and Nets giving me high fives
Jigga I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on)
I'm wearing lots of jewelry like Spike Lee and could commit a foul in basketball
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from (come on, come on)
You can tell from my confident attitude that I am definitely from New York
In New York
This song is about New York City
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
New York City is a tough place, but where big dreams can come true
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah)
You can achieve anything you want in New York City
Now you're in New York (you're in New York)
If you're in New York, you're in a special place where anything is possible
These streets will make you feel brand new
The energy of New York City can inspire you to feel like a new person
Big lights will inspire you
The bright lights of the city can also inspire you in various ways
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
Let's give a shout-out to the amazing city of New York three times
Catch me at the X with O.G. At a Yankee game
You can find me at Yankee Stadium with O.G. (Original Gangster)
Dude I made the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can
I became more famous than the Yankees (a popular baseball team) by wearing a Yankees hat often
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
I'm a fan of the New York Yankees, whose color is blue, but I'm not a member of the gang, the Crips
But I got a gang of brothers walkin' with my clique though
I have a group of close friends who always walk with me
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
New York City is a melting pot of cultures, but some corners sell drugs
Africa Bambata home of the hip-hop
Bronx River Houses, where Afrika Bambaataa lived, is said to be where hip-hop started
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
Different types of taxis roam the city and people can call out to hail one
For foreigners it ain't for they act like they forgot how to act
Tourists sometimes act strangely when in the city and forget how they should normally act
Eight million stories, out there in it naked
There are eight million people in this city with their unique stories, and sometimes those stories involve being vulnerable
City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
Although New York City can be harsh, it can inspire you, but not everyone can handle it
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed 'I Got It Made'
I have connections to get things done, as the rapper Special Ed said in his song 'I Got It Made'
If Jesus payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
If LeBron James is being paid like Jesus, then I am paying Dwyane Wade accordingly too
Three dice Cee-lo, three card molly
There are various street gambling games like Cee-lo or three card molly that people play
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
The Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn is often associated with the legacy of the reggae icon, Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade
The Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center are both important symbols of freedom and justice in New York, and will continue to live on in our memories
Long live the Kingdom, I'm from the Empire State that's
I want the Empire State to continue to flourish, and I'm proud to say I'm from there
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
The bright lights of the city can be overwhelming, and some people need to limit what they see
So they can step out of bounds quick the sidelines is
Girls need blinders to stay on track, so they don't get sidelined quickly
Lined with casualties, who sip to life casually
The city can be full of people who drink casually but end up getting harmed
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple Eve
People can gradually become worse and make bad choices, like the story of Eve and the apple in the Bible
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
People can get caught up in being part of the popular crowd and then blend in with the style
End of the winter gets cold, En Vogue, with your skin out
When winter turns into spring, it can still be cold, but there are people who dress trendy with their skin showing
City of sin, it's a pity on the wind
New York may have a reputation for being sinful, but it's just something people talk about
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
There are good girls who turn bad in the city, and lots of them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
A mother went on a bus trip and now she's showing her cleavage
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
Everyone seems to be interested in the mother and talks about her like they do the bus routes
Hail Mary to the city, you're a virgin
Comparing the city to a virgin, people often pray to try to understand the city
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
People need to rely on themselves and not expect salvation from Jesus, because life can be tough even after church
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
People start in New York for school but then end up living a wealthy, high-class lifestyle
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
Athletes and rappers in New York are famous and love to be in the spotlight
Dub MHS got you feelin' like a champion
DUB Magazine High Society makes people feel like champions
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
New York City is always active and can keep you up, so you may need help sleeping from a medication such as Ambien
One hand in the air for the big city
Raising one hand in the air to appreciate the grandeur of the city
Streetlights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty
The city at night is a beautiful, dreamy spectacle
No place in the world that could compare
New York City is unlike any other place in the world
Put your lighters in the air
Hold up your lighters in the air, as if you're waving them in solidarity with the city
Everybody say 'Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah'
A call for everyone to shout in excitement for New York City
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
A final call to celebrate the beautiful city of New York
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Sylvian Robinson, Alexander Shuckburgh, Janet "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic, Shawn Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@julinrm
Yeah
Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to De Niro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Nigga, I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot, nigga)
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories, out there in the naked
City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed, "I Got It Made"
If Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
In New York (ayy) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
(Welcome to the bright lights, baby)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
In New York (ayy, oh) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
One hand in the air for the big city (uh)
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (uh)
No place in the world that could compare (nah)
Put your lighters in the air everybody say
"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
"Yeah, yeah" (I'm from New York)
In New York (uh, yeah) (ohh)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
@unwavering_sightseer7818
I had this song on my iPod when you could use a YouTube converter app. I couldn't find the original, but this was all I had. It was what made me happy.
@lethumthiyane5245
I’ve been to New York City and this song hits different having been there (and I did listen to this song when I went there)
@israeldelacruzchanel
yeah, with all those drugs additcs, big rats and trash everywhere
@AlanaRosatv
Glee is basically adult version of kid bop
@obohemma1983
Everybody were amazing
@joshuaayala3660
They were super awesome singers
@aaronconnolly6067
I am Loving it ❤️❤️
@calebejosue762
❤️❤️❤️
@calebejosue762
❤️❤️
@julinrm
Yeah
Yeah, I'm out that Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca
Right next to De Niro, but I'll be hood forever
I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here
I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me everywhere
I used to cop in Harlem, hola, my Dominicanos (dímelo)
Right there up on Broadway, brought me back to that McDonald's
Took it to my stashbox, 560 State Street
Catch me in the kitchen like a Simmons whippin' pastry
Cruisin' down 8th St, off-white Lexus
Drivin' so slow, but BK is from Texas
Me, I'm out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie
Now I live on Billboard and I brought my boys with me
Say what up to Ty-Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais
Sittin' courtside, Knicks and Nets give me high five
Nigga, I be Spike'd out, I could trip a referee (come on, come on, come on)
Tell by my attitude that I'm most definitely from
In New York (ayy, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (yeah) (okay)
Now you're in New York (ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha) (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new (new)
Big lights will inspire you (come on) (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (you're welcome, OG) (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh) (I made you hot, nigga)
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game
Shit, I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can
You should know I bleed blue, but I ain't a Crip though
But I got a gang of niggas walkin' with my clique though
Welcome to the melting pot, corners where we sellin' rock
Afrika Bambataa shit, home of the hip-hop
Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back
For foreigners it ain't fair, they act like they forgot how to act
Eight million stories, out there in the naked
City is a pity, half of y'all won't make it
Me, I got a plug, Special Ed, "I Got It Made"
If Jeezy's payin' Lebron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade
Three dice Cee-lo, three-card Monte
Labor Day Parade, rest in peace Bob Marley
Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade (come on, come on, come on)
Long live the king, yo, I'm from the Empire State that's
In New York (ayy) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle (yeah) where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (that boy good) (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
(Welcome to the bright lights, baby)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
Lights is blinding, girls need blinders
So they can step out of bounds quick, the sidelines is
Lined with casualties, who sip the life casually
Then gradually become worse, don't bite the apple, Eve
Caught up in the in-crowd, now you're in style
Into the winter gets cold, en vogue, with your skin out
City of sin, it's a pity on a whim
Good girls gone bad, the city's filled with them
Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route
"Hail Mary" to the city, you're a virgin
And Jesus can't save you, life starts when the church end
Came here for school, graduated to the high life
Ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight
MDMA got you feelin' like a champion (come on, come on, come on)
The city never sleeps, better slip you an Ambien
In New York (ayy, oh) (uh, yeah)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)
One hand in the air for the big city (uh)
Street lights, big dreams, all lookin' pretty (uh)
No place in the world that could compare (nah)
Put your lighters in the air everybody say
"Yeah, yeah" (come on, come on, come on)
"Yeah, yeah" (I'm from New York)
In New York (uh, yeah) (ohh)
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do (okay)
Now you're in New York (uh, yeah)
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you (okay)
Let's hear it for New York (uh)
New York (yeah), New York (uh)