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.
I Can't Go for That / You Make My Dreams
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It might be hard to handle
Like the flame that burns the candle
The candle feeds the flame (Eh, eh)
What I've got's a full stock
Of thoughts and dreams that scatter
You pull them all together
And how, I can't explain
You make my dreams come true
(I can't go for that, I can't go for that)
Well, well, well, you (I can't go for that)
Oh yeah, you make my dreams come true
(I can't go for that, I can't go for that)
Rory & Tina: On a night
When bad dreams become a screamer
When they're messin' with the dreamer
Finn & Quinn: I can laugh it in the face
Rory & Tina: Twist and shout
Our way out
And wrap yourself around me
'Cause I ain't the way you found me
Finn & Quinn: And I'll never be the same
Oh yeah, well 'cause you (I can't go for that)
Finn: You make my dreams come true
(I can't go for that, I can't go for that)
Well, well, well, you (I can't go for that)
Oh yeah, you make my dreams come true
(I can't go for that, I can't go for that)
Finn: Oh, listen to this...ow!
Quinn: Yeah!
Finn: Ooooh ooh ooh oh...
Quinn: Chke-ch-bwa!
Finn & Quinn: I'm down on my daydream
But that sleepwalk should be over by now
I know!
Yeah, you!
New Directions: I'll... I'll do anything
That you want me to
I'll... Do almost anything (Finn: You make my dreams come true)
True
I'll... I'll do anything (Finn: Oh Yeah!)
That you want me to
I'll... Do almost anything (Finn: You make my dreams come true)
I can't go for that (Finn: Oh, you make my dreams come true)
I can't go for that, I can't go for that
Rory: I've been waiting for, waiting for
Waiting for, waiting for, waiting for (I can't go for that)
Waiting for, waiting for (You make my dreams come true)
(I can't go for that, I can't go for that)
Finn: You make my dreams come true...
The Glee Cast's version of "I Can't Go for That / You Make My Dreams" is a mashup of two Hall & Oates hits. The first section shifts between Finn and Tina, who each have different experiences with the person they're singing to. Finn acknowledges that the person he's singing to ("you") has qualities that might be challenging to deal with, but that ultimately he's drawn to them. He describes himself as having a lot of scattered thoughts and dreams that the person he's singing to helps him to pull together. Tina's experience is more nigthmarish - she's being visited by bad dreams and needs the person she's singing to - presumably the same person Finn is singing to - to help her out.
Quinn and Rory come in for the second section of the song, which shifts into "You Make My Dreams". They describe a different kind of situation - one where they need the person they're singing to to help them escape from a difficult situation, presumably a club or party. The song's energy starts to ramp up here, with Finn and Quinn singing the repeating line "I can't go for that" as the other characters add in different rhythmic cues, building to the climax of the song.
Overall, the song is a story of people who need someone else to help them navigate tricky situations, whether it is simply being with someone who is complex and challenging, helping someone out of their nightmares, or getting out of a difficult social situation. "I Can't Go for That / You Make My Dreams" is a fun, high-energy song that captures the upbeat spirit of Glee.
Line by Line Meaning
What I want, you've got
I desire what you possess
It might be hard to handle
Obtaining it might be challenging
Like the flame that burns the candle
Similar to a candle, the desire burns within
The candle feeds the flame (Eh, eh)
The more the desire is fed, the stronger it becomes
What I've got's a full stock
I have an abundance of thoughts and ideas
Of thoughts and dreams that scatter
These ideas and aspirations are scattered and unorganized
You pull them all together
You bring my thoughts and ideas together
And how, I can't explain
I can't put into words how you do it
Oh yeah! Well, well, you... (I can't go for that)
I'm unable to resist you and what you do for me
You make my dreams come true (I can't go for that, I can't go for that)
You bring my aspirations to fruition
On a night when bad dreams become a screamer
On a night when nightmares become a reality
When they're messin' with the dreamer
When they're messing with the sleeping mind
I can laugh it in the face
I can laugh at my fears now
Twist and shout our way out
We need to dance and enjoy ourselves to escape
And wrap yourself around me
Hold on to me tightly
'Cause I ain't the way you found me
I have changed since you met me
And I'll never be the same
You've had a profound effect on me
Oh yeah, well 'cause you (I can't go for that)
You are too irresistible
You make my dreams come true (I can't go for that, I can't go for that)
You bring my aspirations to fruition
Oh, listen to this...ow!
Listen to this sound!
Yeah!
Yes!
Ooooh ooh ooh oh...
Singing non-lexical vocables
Chke-ch-bwa!
Making a percussive sound
I'm down on my daydream
I am lost in my own thoughts
But that sleepwalk should be over by now
I should have snapped out of it by now
I'll... I'll do anything
I am willing to do anything
That you want me to
Whatever you ask for, I am willing to do it
Do almost anything (True)
I am willing to go above and beyond for you
I can't go for that (Oh, you make my dreams come true)
I can't resist your charms and what you do for me
I've been waiting for, waiting for
I have been eagerly anticipating
Waiting for, waiting for, waiting for (I can't go for that)
But I cannot resist you
Waiting for, waiting for (You make my dreams come true)
Because you bring my aspirations to fruition
You make my dreams come true...
You bring my aspirations to fruition
Contributed by Madelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bjt0056
You can tell Diana had alot of fun with this one.
@brunosantos1185
She always enjoys it when she sings lol
@rileyxmcdowell7645
yuh
@bananacathammock
I just realized that so many people sing leads in this song, but I remember her part the most.
@herondale1527
I love how Diana Agron still manages to look so elegant even while dancing.
@gk891
She has some ballet training which helps in that regard.
@astroboy2284
I totally agree. And she’s the prettiest member of the Glee & Santana is the sexiest 💜
@SmileyRileyAsmr
Marrion Lardera she took ballet dancing
@Rayden19922
I just love her and her voice!
@hexes5122
Quinn is always the best one to focus on dancing, she is so cute and I love her. Her little twirl in Red Solo Cup is the best.