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.
Smooth Criminal
Glee Cast Lyrics
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It was the sound of a crescendo, uh!
He came into her apartment
He left the bloodstains on the carpet, uh!
She ran underneath the table
He could see she was unable
So she ran into the bedroom
She was struck down
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK, Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK, Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK, Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK, Annie?
Annie are you OK?
Will you tell us that you're OK ( uh!)
There's a sign in the window
That he struck you - A crescendo Annie
He came into your apartment
He left the bloodstains on the carpet ( uh!)
Then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down
It was your doom
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK Annie?
You've been hit by
You've been hit by
A Smooth Criminal
So they came into the outway
It was Sunday - What a black day, uh!
Mouth to mouth resuscitation
Sounding heartbeats - Intimidations
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Are you OK Annie?
Annie are you OK?
So, Annie are you OK?
Annie are you OK?
Will you tell us that you're OK
There's a sign in the window
That he struck you - A crescendo Annie
He came into your apartment
He left the bloodstains on the carpet, uh!
Then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down
It was your doom
Annie are you OK?
Are you OK Annie?
You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A Smooth Criminal
I don't know!
(Annie are you OK, Will you tell us, that you're OK)
I don't know!
(There's a sign in the window)
I don't know!
(That he struck you - A crescendo Annie)
I don't know!
(He came into your apartment)
I don't know!
(Left bloodstains on the carpet)
I don't know why baby!
(Then you ran into the bedroom)
I don't know!
(You were struck down)
(It was your doom - Annie!)
(Annie are you OK?)
Dang, gone it - Baby!
(Will you tell us, that you're OK)
Dang, gone it - Baby!
(There's a sign in the window)
Dang, gone it - baby!
(That he struck you - A crescendo Annie)
Hoo! Hoo!
(He came into your apartment)
Dang, gone it!
(Left bloodstains on the carpet, uh!)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
(Then you ran into the bedroom)
Dang gone it!
(You were struck down)
(It was your doom - Annie!)
You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A Smooth Criminal
The lyrics to Glee Cast's "Smooth Criminal" tell a story of a woman who has been attacked in her apartment. The song opens with the man breaking into the woman's apartment and leaving bloodstains on the carpet. The woman then tries to hide under a table, but the man finds her and strikes her, leading to her eventual demise. The song contains several sections where the chorus asks "Annie are you okay?" while the verses describe the events that took place.
The lyrics may be interpreted as a commentary on violence against women, as the woman in the song is defenseless against the attacker and ultimately meets a tragic end. The repeated questioning of her well-being also implies a lack of concern or care for her, as if those around her are more interested in the spectacle of the crime rather than her actual safety.
Overall, "Smooth Criminal" is a haunting song with a sinister storyline about violence and its consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, as he came into the window
The intruder entered the house through a window.
It was the sound of a crescendo, uh!
The intruder's entry was accompanied by a loud noise.
He came into her apartment
The intruder entered the female victim's apartment.
He left the bloodstains on the carpet, uh!
The intruder left behind bloodstains on the carpet.
She ran underneath the table
The female victim hid under a table to escape the intruder.
He could see she was unable
The intruder could see that the female victim was unable to escape.
So she ran into the bedroom
The female victim ran into the bedroom to avoid the intruder.
She was struck down, It was her doom
The intruder caught up to the victim and harmed her.
Annie are you OK?
The song's narrator is addressing the victim to check on her wellbeing.
So, Annie are you OK?
The artist repeats the question to Annie.
Are you OK, Annie?
The singer is once again checking on the victim's wellbeing.
You've been hit by, You've been struck by, A Smooth Criminal
The perpetrator of the crime is described as a smooth criminal who caused harm to the victim.
So they came into the outway, It was Sunday - What a black day, uh!
The perpetrators escaped from the crime scene, which happened to be a Sunday.
Mouth to mouth resuscitation, Sounding heartbeats - Intimidations
Medical help arrived to resuscitate the victim and measure her vital signs.
I don't know! (Annie are you OK, Will you tell us, that you're OK)
The singer conveys uncertainty about the victim's condition and asks her to confirm that she's okay.
There's a sign in the window, That he struck you - A crescendo Annie
The artist observes a sign in the window grossly describing the intruder's attack.
Hoo! Hoo!
The song's chorus is repeated one last time with ad-libs.
Dang gone it!
This phrase denotes frustration and annoyance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind