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.
One Less Bell to Answer / A House Is Not a Home
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One less egg to fry
One less man to pick up after
I should be happy
But all I do is cry
(Cry, cry, no more laughter)
Oh, I should be happy
I only know that since he left, my life's so empty
Though I try to forget it, just can't be done
Each time the doorbell rings, I still run
I don't know how in the world
To stop thinking of him
(I should be happy)
'Cause I still love him so
I end each day the way I start out
Crying my heart out
One less bell to answer
One less egg to fry
One less man to pick up after (one less man)
No more laughter
No more love
Since he went away (since he went away)
Since he went away
Ooh, a chair is still a chair
Even when there's no one sitting there
Well, I'm not meant to live alone
Turn this house into a home
When I climb the stair and turn the key
Oh, please be there
Still in love with me
(One less bell to answer)
Each time the doorbell rings, I still run
(One less egg to fry)
One less man (one less man) to pick up after
No more laughter, no more love
Since he went away (since he went away)
Since he went away
All I do is cry
The lyrics to Glee Cast's song "One Less Bell to Answer / A House Is Not a Home" are a clear expression of heartbreak and loss. The song talks about the pain of losing someone and the constant sadness that it brings. The chorus emphasizes the sense of emptiness and loneliness that follows a breakup or departure of a loved one. The idea of having one less bell, one less egg and one less man to take care of signifies that the persona is now alone and has nothing but empty spaces to fill.
The lyrics of the song are built around the metaphor of a house, which is more of a place where the persona used to feel loved, comfortable and safe. The house is no longer a home, and the persona is now emotionally empty. The line "A chair is still a chair even when there's no one sitting there" refers to the fact that objects and spaces do not change, yet the sense of comfort, love, and safety that used to come with them is gone, now that the loved one has gone away.
Overall, this song is a poignant and emotional tune, that captures the pain of loss and the struggle to move on to something new. It is a showcase of the great vocals of the Glee Cast and is sure to touch anyone who has experienced the pain of separation or heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
One less bell to answer
One less person I have to answer to, who used to be in my life
One less egg to fry
One less task to do, now that he's gone
One less man to pick up after
One less man for me to take care of and clean up after
I should be happy
I should feel relieved that he's gone and I have one less responsibility
But all I do is cry
But I can't help but cry because I'm still in love with him
Oh, I should be happy
Oh, I know I should feel happy and grateful, but I can't help the way I feel
I only know that since he left, my life's so empty
Since he left, my life feels lonely and meaningless
Though I try to forget it, just can't be done
Even though I try to forget about him, I can't
Each time the doorbell rings, I still run
Whenever the doorbell rings, I hope it's him and I still get excited
I don't know how in the world to stop thinking of him
I don't know how to stop thinking about him or loving him
'Cause I still love him so
Because I still have strong feelings of love for him
I end each day the way I start out, crying my heart out
I cry every day, from the moment I wake up until I go to bed
No more laughter, no more love
There's no more happiness or love in my life since he left
Since he went away
Since he left me
Ooh, a chair is still a chair
Even though he's not here, the physical objects are still the same
Even when there's no one sitting there
Even though he's not here, things remain unchanged
Well, I'm not meant to live alone
I'm not meant to be alone, I need companionship
Turn this house into a home
I want to make this house comfortable and welcoming, yet it's not the same without him
When I climb the stair and turn the key
When I come back home
Oh, please be there
Oh, I hope he's waiting for me
Still in love with me
And still loves me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt F. Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind