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.
Rainbow Connection
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbows are vision
But only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Who said that every wish would be heard
And answered when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
All of us under its spell.
I know that they're probably magic.
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I hear them calling my name (I hear them calling my name)
Is this sweet sound that called the young sailors
The voice might be one and the same (one and the same)
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
There's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
The Glee Cast's song Rainbow Connection explores the idea of rainbows and why so many songs have been written about them. The songs try to explain what's on the other side of the Rainbow, but they are only illusions that have nothing to hide. The first few lines of the song question why there are so many songs about rainbows and what could be on the other side, suggesting that rainbows are just illusions. The lyrics mention that many people believe that rainbows are visions, but they're not entirely true. However, the singer knows they're wrong and someday will find the truth.
The song further indicates that someone believed every wish would be heard when wished upon the morning star. The lyrics suggest someone's thought about it and it's done a lot so far. The song primarily focuses on the search for the rainbow connection, which brings together the lovers and dreamers. The song says that someday we will find the rainbow connection that unites all the people.
The song explores the idea of love, dreams, and magic. It creates a beautiful world where people get connected through one thing, the rainbow connection. The vision of this connection inspires people to chase their dreams and always be curious about the world around them. The song's message is to keep searching for connections that can bring people closer and make the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are there so many
The singer is questioning why there are so many songs about rainbows.
Songs about rainbows
The singer is discussing songs that mention rainbows.
And what's on the other side
The singer wonders what can be found on the other side of a rainbow.
Rainbows are vision
The artist acknowledges that rainbows are a kind of visual phenomenon.
But only illusions
The artist notes that rainbows are not actual objects, but rather an optical illusion.
And rainbows have nothing to hide
The singer submits that rainbows do not have hidden meanings or anything else concealed in them.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it.
The singer acknowledges that there are differing views about the nature of rainbows, and some people accept what they are told about them.
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
The artist feels that the common view of rainbows is mistaken, but suggests that a different perspective will ultimately prove this.
Someday we'll find it
The artist anticipates that someday we will uncover something significant.
The rainbow connection
The artist is referring to a metaphorical or symbolic idea that he calls 'the rainbow connection'.
The lovers, the dreamers and me
The singer speculates that this 'rainbow connection' is relevant to dreamers and those who love deeply.
Who said that every wish would be heard
The artist is questioning the idea that all wishes are capable of being granted.
And answered when wished on the morning star?
The singer is asking whether wishing upon a star actually results in wishes being answered.
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
The singer acknowledges that people have thought of and come to believe in the idea of wishes being granted by stars.
Look what it's done so far.
The singer notes the effects that believing in the wish-granting quality of stars has had on people.
What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
The artist wonders what it is that makes people stare up at the stars for so long.
And what do we think we might see?
The artist is asking what it is that we think we might be able to see by looking at the stars.
All of us under its spell.
The singer suggests that there is something captivating about the stars that draws us all in.
I know that they're probably magic.
The singer is not taking a literal approach, but instead sees something amazing and inexplicable about the stars that might be described as 'magical'.
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
The artist is asking the listener if they have ever been on the verge of sleep but were still able to hear voices.
I hear them calling my name (I hear them calling my name)
The artist hears voices calling out to them.
Is this sweet sound that called the young sailors
The artist is referencing a myth or story about a sound that calls out to sailors.
The voice might be one and the same (one and the same)
The singer is suggesting that the voices they are hearing might be similar to the sound that calls out to sailors.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
The artist acknowledges that they have heard these voices before and cannot ignore them any longer.
There's something that I'm supposed to be.
The singer feels like there is something they are meant to do or be, and that these voices may be tied to that purpose.
Someday we'll find it
The singer reiterates that someday they will find something significant.
The rainbow connection
The singer repeats their earlier reference to the 'rainbow connection'.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
The artist reiterates that the 'rainbow connection' is relevant to dreamers and those who love deeply.
Contributed by Molly P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sunshine Behnke
Thumbs up if you think this is the best song about rainbows except somewhere over the rainbow
Made Evan P
tell that to Ryan Murphy. The Waffletoots (Originally called The Whiffenpoofs) is the world's oldest a cappella group, founded in 1909 they've been touring all around the world, Darren Criss had a vocal coach that was one of them.
THEGURU
Damn this comment 8 years ago
Malea Whocantspell
Love this song
PinoyLabanFighter198
I love how they arranged this song. I'm so proud to be a cousin of one of the Whiffenpoofs :)
Carri Sullens
I love this song!
Pablo Ochoa
Two words: Karen Carpenter. Now THAT was talent. She could sing the phone book (if we still had those)
Trinity Lee
Kermit's was still better, but I love this cover
Willie O
actually kind of amazing that Kermit the Frog's version still stands as the best
Iwatobi
I just love this song