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.
Some Nights
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore...
This is it, boys, this is war - what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype - save that for the black and white
I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked, but here they come again to jack my style
And that's alright; I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am
Oh, who am I? Oh, who am I?
Some nights, I wish that this all would end
Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights, I always win
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I still don't know what I stand for
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know...
So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
No. When I see stars, when I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on
Oh, come on. Oh, come on.
That is it, guys, that is all - five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This is not one for the folks back home; I'm sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called "love"
But when I look into my nephew's eyes...
Man, you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from...
Some terrible nights.
The other night, you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we'd both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance...
The lyrics to the song "Some Nights" by Glee Cast delve into themes of uncertainty, identity, and the struggles of growing up. The singer reflects on their experiences and past decisions, questioning what they stand for while discussing the challenges that come with a lack of direction. The song begins with the singer lamenting about their bad luck and wanting to give up, but is interrupted by memories of someone they once knew. They express confusion about their own identity, not quite sure what they stand for, and feeling lost in the world.
The song continues with the singer feeling conflicted about breaking the rules and being liked, juxtaposed with the need to fit in and find friends. They speak of a martyr in their bed, who stops them from wondering who they are, indicating that they have gotten into harmful situations to find their identity. When the singer speaks of wishing the night would end, it provides a glimpse of their anxiety and depression. This is followed by a reflection on a dream they had about someone they care about, indicating a desire for connection.
The song ends on a conflicted note, with the singer questioning their choices and whether it was worth it, missing their family, and feeling alone. The lyrics are introspective, painting a picture of someone grappling with their identity, feeling lost, and unsure of what their future holds.
Line by Line Meaning
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck; some nights, I call it a Draw
Sometimes I feel like everything is going wrong and nothing is going right, and other times it's just not that bad.
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Sometimes I wish I had the power to create things, even if it's just with my words or thoughts.
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
Sometimes I get so frustrated with my own words that I wish I didn't have to speak at all.
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Even though I'm haunted by memories of you, I still wake up and face each day.
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for
I'm still trying to figure out what my values and beliefs are, and what I want to do with my life.
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
I keep asking myself these questions, trying to find the answers.
Most nights, I don't know anymore...
Most of the time, I'm still unsure and confused.
This is it, boys, this is war - what are we waiting for?
Let's stop holding back and start fighting for what we believe in.
Why don't we break the rules already?
We shouldn't be afraid to take risks and do things differently.
I was never one to believe the hype - save that for the black and white
I don't like to follow trends or popular opinions, I want to form my own.
I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked, but here they come again to jack my style
I put in a lot of effort and hard work, but it seems like people still don't appreciate or respect me.
And that's alright; I found a martyr in my bed tonight
It's okay, because at least I have someone who understands and supports me.
She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am
Being with this person helps me feel secure and confident about myself and my identity.
Oh, who am I? Oh, who am I?
I'm still questioning and exploring who I am and what I want to be.
Some nights, I wish that this all would end
Sometimes I feel like giving up and just wishing everything would be over.
Cause I could use some friends for a change
I feel lonely and could really use some companionship and understanding.
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
I'm worried that I'm not important enough to you and that you'll move on without me.
Some nights, I always win
But sometimes, I have moments of success and triumph.
So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Is this really all there is to life? Did I sacrifice my values and beliefs for something unsatisfying?
Washed my hands of that for this?
Did I choose to leave behind something better for something worse?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
Do I regret leaving my family behind for this?
When I see stars, when I see stars, that's all they are
Sometimes things are just what they seem and don't hold greater meaning.
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on
When I listen to music, it can transport me and make me feel like I'm escaping reality.
That is it, guys, that is all - five minutes in and I'm bored again
I'm easily bored and restless, searching for something to hold my attention and interest.
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
I've been dealing with these issues and feelings for a long time, and it seems like no one really understands.
This is not one for the folks back home; I'm sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
This isn't something I want to discuss with my family or friends from my old life. I'm sorry, mom, but I had to leave.
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
Nobody wants to die alone and unhappy, with nothing left to live for.
My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called 'love'
I feel sorry and sad for my sister who was fooled by someone pretending to love her.
But when I look into my nephew's eyes...
However, when I spend time with my nephew and see the wonder and joy in his eyes, it makes everything worth it.
Man, you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from... Some terrible nights.
Even though I've had some really bad times, there have been some unexpected and amazing outcomes from them.
The other night, you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me
I had a dream about you and me that was so unbelievable and unrealistic.
I called you up, but we'd both agree
I wanted to talk to you about the dream, but I know it's not something we can actually have.
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's better that you didn't hear from me about this dream and get your hopes up.
It's for the best we get our distance...
We need to keep our distance from each other to avoid getting hurt or creating problems.
Contributed by Kaylee T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
GRANDE, SAGE MARIE
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for?
What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore
[Verse 1]
This is it, boys, this is war
What are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white
Try twice as hard and I'm half as liked
But here they come again to jack my style
And that's alright, I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering
Just who I, who, I, who I am
Oh, who am I?
[Hook]
Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights, I always win (I always win)
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for?
What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know
[Bridge]
(Oh, come on) So this is it?
I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
(Oh, come on) No
When I see stars, when I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan
So, come on
Oh, come on
Oh, come on
Oh, come on
[Verse 2]
Well, that is it, guys, that is all
Five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks back home
Sorry to leave, Mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone
All dried up in the desert sun?
[Verse 3]
My heart is breaking for my sister
And the con that she called "love"
And then I look into my nephew's eyes
Man, you wouldn't believe the most amazing things
That can come from some terrible nights
[Outro]
The other night, you wouldn't believe
The dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we'd both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
For the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
Lilian Melchert
I love how they work with frenemies in this performance 🥺
Harper Craven
This might be one of the best group songs the new directions sang because it showed off all each members vocals and personalities and didn't just center Blaine, Rachel, or Finn while the rest backed them up
Dead Man walking
Harper Craven don’t forget the scientists 😇😇🙂🙂🙃😉😌
Sierra Howell
And we are young
Jivyy
Nope 3rd season group
astronomical_eclipse
That’s the reason I love this song.
Abi
Harper Craven that’s most of the season 4 groups. That’s why I prefer season 4 group songs but prefer storylines season 1-3.
Fabio Yuji Shibuya
Finn was doing such a good job replacing Will, he was young and rookie, but had passion and such potential to become a great teacher.
BTW it is kind of nice to see him where Will is always watching them sing!
Marrit Hiemstra
Fabio Yuji Shibuya I never really liked me schuester😂
Alvina Anwar
RIP Cory Monteith