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.
Start Me Up / Livin' on a Prayer
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Start me up!
Start me up!
Rachel:
Oh, Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck, it's tough
Tina & Rachel:
Oh, we've got to hold on, ready or not
You live for the fight when that's all that you've got!
New Directions girls:
Start me up! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Start me up! We'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Mercedes:
If you start me up
Kick on the starter give it all you've got
You've got, you've got
I can't compete
With the riders in the other heat
Yeah, yeah
Santana & Mercedes:
I'll make a grown man cry
I'll make a grown man give it a shot!
New Directions girls:
Start me up! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Start me up! We'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Rachel:
Livin' on a prayer!
Tina & Rachel:
Oh, we've got to hold on, ready or not
You live for the fight when that's all that you've got!
New Directions girls:
Ohhh! We're halfway there (We're halfway there)
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer (Livin' on a prayer)
Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear (Make it I swear, yeah)
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Start me up
(If you start me up I'll never stop)
I'll never stop
(Livin' on a prayer)
Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear
(Livin' on a prayer)
Livin' on a prayer
Ohhh! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear
(We're almost there)
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
(We're livin' on a prayer)
Livin' on a prayer!
You've got to START ME UP!
The Glee Cast's mashup of "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones and "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi is a high-energy, feel-good anthem that tells a story of perseverance and hope amidst struggle. Rachel and Tina start the song off with the story of Tommy, a man who is down on his luck due to the union strike, and the girls sing that it's tough, but they must hold on and live for the fight. The New Directions girls then come in strong with the chorus, singing that they're halfway there and living on a prayer, but they'll make it, they swear.
Mercedes follows with her powerhouse vocals and expresses that she can't compete with others, but she'll make a grown man cry and give it a shot. Santana joins in for a duet with Mercedes, and they sing that they'll start the engine and never stop. The chorus is repeated again, this time with Rachel leading the vocals and everyone joining in as they sing that they're almost there and living on a prayer. The song ends with a chant of "Start me up!" emphasizing that despite the challenges they've faced, they have the drive to keep going.
Overall, the lyrics portray the idea of not giving up despite difficulties, having faith that things will work out, and finding strength in oneself and others to keep fighting. The mashup of these two classic rock songs creates a powerful and uplifting message that can inspire listeners to persevere through any hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Start me up!
The singer wants to be encouraged to begin something, such as pursuing a goal or starting a journey.
Start me up!
Repetition of the first line to emphasize the singer's desire to start something.
Oh, Tommy used to work on the docks
Tommy, a former dockworker, is currently facing joblessness because there is a strike by the union.
Union's been on strike
The union is engaged in a labor strike that has led to reduced job opportunities for members like Tommy and caused financial difficulties.
He's down on his luck, it's tough
Tommy is facing misfortunes, and life is hard on him.
Oh, so tough
An extension to the preceding line to emphasize Tommy's unfortunate circumstance.
Oh, we've got to hold on, ready or not
Amidst difficult times, one must strive to stay strong and not give up.
You live for the fight when that's all that you've got!
When life gets tough, you have to persevere through obstacles and difficulties to get what you want and achieve your goals.
We're halfway there
The singers are nearly halfway to their destination or goal, and they believe they can make it the rest of the way.
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Despite facing uncertainties, the singers are sustained by their faith that they will make it through their difficult situation
We'll make it I swear
The singers are confident that they will succeed in their pursuits and reach their destination or objective.
If you start me up
The singer needs encouragement to begin or initiate something to get started with the process.
Kick on the starter give it all you've got
With full force and effort, the singer must start the process and work hard to achieve their objective.
I can't compete
The singer is unsure of their abilities and is not confident in their chances of success.
With the riders in the other heat
The singer feels inferior and believes they cannot compete with other people who are more skilled.
I'll make a grown man cry
The singer is confident in their abilities and knows they can cause powerful emotions in others.
I'll make a grown man give it a shot!
The singer is confident that their actions will inspire others to try harder or pursue their goals with renewed vigor and determination.
Livin' on a prayer!
A declaration that the singers are entirely dependent on faith to pull through their difficult circumstances.
Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear
The singer is offering assistance to someone else, promising that with cooperation, they will achieve their objective.
We're almost there
The singers are close to achieving their goal, and victory is within reach.
We're livin' on a prayer
A declaration that the singers are living through difficult times, and the odds are against them, but they are sustained by their belief and faith that they will make it through.
You've got to START ME UP!
Emphasizing the need for encouragement and support to get started on achieving one's goals to persevere in difficult times.
Contributed by Max E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Oboh Emma
This is beautiful everybody was amazing
Sienna Opara
This is one of my fav mashups
Maria Maz
🌺🌺🌺🔜🔜🔝
Jorge Villalobos
Great Bon Jovi!!!