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.
Girl on Fire
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hotter than a fantasy, lonely like a highway
She's living in a world, and it's on fire
Feeling the catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away
Oh, she got both feet on the ground
And she's burning it down
Oh, she got her head in the clouds
This girl is on fire
This girl is on fire
She's walking on fire
This girl is on fire
Looks like a girl, but she's a flame
So bright, she can burn your eyes
Better look the other way
You can try but you'll never forget her name
She's on top of the world
Hottest of the hottest girls say
Oh, we got our feet on the ground
And we're burning it down
Oh, got our head in the clouds
And we're not coming down
This girl is on fire (fire, fire)
This girl is on fire
She's walking on fire (fire, fire)
This girl is on fire
Everybody stands, as she goes by
Cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes
Watch her when she's lighting up the night
Nobody knows that she's a lonely girl
And it's a lonely world
But she gon' let it burn, baby, burn, baby
This girl is on fire (fire, fire)
This girl is on fire
She's walking on fire (fire, fire)
This girl is on fire
Oh, oh, oh x4
She's just a girl, and she's on fire
The lyrics of "Girl on Fire" by Glee Cast depict a young woman who is powerful, confident, and unstoppable. The song portrays her as someone who is living in a world that is chaotic and filled with challenges, but she refuses to let those obstacles define her. She is described as being on fire, symbolizing her passion, energy, and determination to succeed.
The first verse describes her as a girl who is hotter than a fantasy and lonely like a highway, highlighting her uniqueness and independence. Despite the chaos and catastrophe she faces, she knows she has the ability to rise above it and fly away.
The chorus emphasizes her strength and resilience. With both feet on the ground, she is burning down barriers and obstacles. She has her head in the clouds, representing her dreamy and ambitious nature, and she refuses to back down. The repetition of "This girl is on fire" reinforces her unstoppable nature and her ability to conquer anything in her path.
The second verse speaks to her radiant presence and the impact she has on others. She is compared to a bright flame that can burn your eyes, suggesting her power and captivating aura. Even if one tries, they will never forget her name because she is on top of the world and stands out among the hottest girls.
The bridge of the song acknowledges that while everyone sees her as confident and powerful, no one truly knows that she is a lonely girl living in a lonely world. Despite this, she is determined to embrace the fire within her and let it burn, refusing to be held back.
Overall, "Girl on Fire" celebrates the strength, resilience, and ambition of a young woman who refuses to let anything extinguish her inner flame.
Line by Line Meaning
She's just a girl, and she's on fire
Despite being perceived as just a regular girl, she is full of passion and intensity.
Hotter than a fantasy, lonely like a highway
She exudes a desire and allure that is more appealing than any imagined situation, yet she feels isolated and disconnected from others.
She's living in a world, and it's on fire
She exists in a turbulent and chaotic environment, constantly experiencing crises and challenges.
Feeling the catastrophe, but she knows she can fly away
Although she is surrounded by chaos and disaster, she remains hopeful and confident that she can rise above it all.
Oh, she got both feet on the ground
She is practical and down-to-earth, not allowing her passion and intensity to cloud her sense of reality.
And she's burning it down
She is determined and taking action to bring about change and transformation.
Oh, she got her head in the clouds
Despite her grounded nature, she also possesses lofty dreams and aspirations.
And she's not backing down
She refuses to back away or retreat from challenges, maintaining her strength and resilience.
This girl is on fire
This girl radiates passion, energy, and determination.
She's walking on fire
She confidently navigates through her fiery environment, undeterred by its intensity.
Looks like a girl, but she's a flame
Although she may appear to be an ordinary girl, she possesses an inner flame and a powerful presence.
So bright, she can burn your eyes
Her brilliance and intensity are so overwhelming that they have the potential to blind and captivate those who observe her.
Better look the other way
It is advisable to avert one's gaze or attention from her, as her intense energy can be overwhelming.
You can try but you'll never forget her name
Attempting to resist or ignore her presence is futile, as she leaves an indelible impression on those who encounter her.
She's on top of the world
She feels triumphant and accomplished, having achieved success and dominance in her endeavors.
Hottest of the hottest girls say
Even those who are considered the most attractive and desirable acknowledge and recognize her exceptional presence.
Everybody stands, as she goes by
When she passes by, everyone takes notice and acknowledges her significance and influence.
Cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes
Her passion and intensity are visible in her eyes, captivating and inspiring those around her.
Watch her when she's lighting up the night
Witness her shine and illuminate the darkness, bringing energy and excitement to any situation.
Nobody knows that she's a lonely girl
Despite her external image of strength and vibrancy, she experiences feelings of isolation and loneliness.
And it's a lonely world
The world she exists in is also filled with loneliness and disconnection, mirroring her own internal struggle.
But she gon' let it burn, baby, burn, baby
Nevertheless, she chooses to embrace her fiery nature and allow it to flourish, accepting the challenges that come with it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alicia Keys, Jeffrey Bhasker, Salaam Remi, William Squier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind