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.
Jessie's Girl
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, I know he's been a good friend of mine
But lately something's changed that ain't hard to define
Jessie's got himself a girl and I want to make her mine
And she's watching him with those eyes
And she's loving him with that body I just know it
And he's holding her in his arms late late at night
You know, I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman like that
I play along with the charade
There doesn't seem to be a reason to change
You know, I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I wanna tell her that I love her,
But the point is probably moot
'Cause she's watching him with those eyes
And she's loving him with that body, I just know it
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night
You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman like that
Like Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman
Where can I find a woman like that
And I'm looking in the mirror all the time
Wondering what she don't see in me
I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines
Ain't that the way love supposed to be
Tell me, where can I find a woman like that
You know, I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I want Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman like that
Like Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I want, I want Jessie's girl
The Glee Cast's rendition of "Jessie's Girl" captures the essence of the original song, which was performed and written by Rick Springfield. The lyrics detail the singer's feelings of envy towards his friend Jessie, who has a beautiful girl that he's been pining for. The song opens with the singer acknowledging that Jessie has been a good friend of his, but that something has changed since he's acquired his new lady. He realizes that he's attracted to her and wants to make her his own, but it's evident that she's devoted to Jessie.
The singer spends his time engaging in a "charade," pretending that he's not interested in Jessie's girl even though he's desperate to be with her. He admits that he feels "dirty" when Jessie and his girl are "talking cute." At one point, he contemplates expressing his love for her, but realizes that it's probably a futile effort since she's so enthralled with Jessie. He wonders aloud how he can find a woman like Jessie's girl and reflects on the fact that he's been funny and cool but still can't seem to win her over.
Overall, "Jessie's Girl" is a song about unrequited love and the agony of wanting someone you can't have. The singer's emotions are relatable, and the song's catchy melody and lyrics have helped to make it a beloved classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Jessie is a friend
I know Jessie
Yeah, I know he's been a good friend of mine
Jessie and I have a good friendship
But lately something's changed that ain't hard to define
Recently, there's been a shift in our relationship that is easy to notice
Jessie's got himself a girl and I want to make her mine
Jessie is dating a girl I am interested in
And she's watching him with those eyes
She's looking at him in a way that shows her attraction
And she's loving him with that body I just know it
I can see that she's physically attracted to him
And he's holding her in his arms late late at night
They are physically intimate at night
You know, I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I want to be with the girl that Jessie is with
Where can I find a woman like that
I'm looking for a woman who is similar to Jessie's girlfriend
I play along with the charade
I pretend to be happy for Jessie
There doesn't seem to be a reason to change
It doesn't seem like anything can be done to change the situation
You know, I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I feel uncomfortable when they act affectionate around me
I wanna tell her that I love her, But the point is probably moot
I want to confess my feelings for her, but it's probably pointless
And I'm looking in the mirror all the time, Wondering what she don't see in me
I'm constantly examining myself and wondering why she's not interested in me
I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines, Ain't that the way love supposed to be
I've tried to be charming and cool, isn't that what love is about?
Tell me, where can I find a woman like that
I'm still searching for a woman like Jessie's girlfriend
I want Jessie's girl
I really want to be with Jessie's girlfriend
Where can I find a woman like that
I'm still on the lookout for a woman who is similar to Jessie's girlfriend
Like Jessie's girl
I want a girlfriend like Jessie's
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I really want to be with Jessie's girlfriend
I want, I want Jessie's girl
I want to be with Jessie's girlfriend more than anything
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard Springthorpe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind