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.
Stayin' Alive
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the way I use my walk
I'm a woman's man
No time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I've been kicked around
Since I was born
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man
Whether you're a brother
Or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin'
And everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive
Oh, when you walk
Well now I get low and I get high
And if I can't get either, I really try
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
I'm a dancin' man and I just can't lose
You know it's all right, it's OK
I'll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man
Whether you're a brother
Or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin'
And everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive
Oh!
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
Well you can tell
By the way I use my walk
I'm a woman's man
No time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I've been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it's all right, it's OK
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times' effect on man
Whether you're a brother
Or whether you're a mother
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin'
And everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive
Oh!
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
Yeah, yeah!
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
Yeah, yeah!
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah!
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive
Yeah, yeah!
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Ow! Ay, ay!
Life goin' nowhere
Somebody help me, yeah
I'm stayin' alive!
The opening lines of the Glee Cast's cover version of "Stayin' Alive" set the mood, telling us about the confident attitude of a man who doesn't have time to waste. The singer is a woman's man and loves to dance to loud music. He has been kicked around, but has learned to cope with life's challenges with a tough exterior. This persona is always ready to face any difficulties with a positive attitude.
The next verse shows that the singer is also just like anybody else, with both highs and lows. He is still able to continue with his forward progress in life, thanks to his persistence and resilience. The final verse finds him begging for help, but still maintaining a sense of humor. Despite the song's serious themes, it has a distinctly upbeat feel that encourages the listener to stay positive.
Overall, "Stayin' Alive" is a tribute to those who have overcome personal struggles and continued to persevere through life's difficulties, with a lively and enjoyable musical style.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you can tell
You can tell a lot about me just by observing the way I walk
By the way I use my walk
The way I walk reflects my confident and self-assured nature
I'm a woman's man
I have a way with women and enjoy their company
No time to talk
I am busy living life to the fullest and don't have time for idle talk
Music loud and women warm
I love being surrounded by loud music and the company of attractive women
I've been kicked around since I was born
Life has thrown many challenges my way, but I have persevered and come out on top
And now it's all right, that's ok
I have accepted my past struggles and have moved on to better things
And you may look the other way
Others may turn a blind eye to my past struggles, but I am okay with that
We can try to understand
Let's attempt to understand the power of media on people
The New York Times' effect on man
We can analyze the impact that the media has on individuals, using The New York Times as an example
Whether you're a brother
Regardless of who you are, what gender you identify as, or your age,
Or whether you're a mother
You can still maintain resilience and survive tough times
You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
You are thriving, surviving, and holding on
Feel the city breakin'
Experience the excitement, intensity, and momentum of city life
And everybody shakin'
Everyone is caught up in the vibrancy and energy of the moment
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Expressing the joy and enthusiasm of living life to the fullest, without fear or regret
Oh, when you walk
Emphasizing the importance of self-expression and confidence through how we walk
Well now I get low and I get high
Life has its ups and downs, but we must continue to push forward
And if I can't get either, I really try
Even when things seem insurmountable, we can still try our best to overcome them
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
Feeling invincible and capable of achieving anything
I'm a dancin' man and I just can't lose
Celebrating the joy of movement and self-expression through dance, with no fear of failure
I'll live to see another day
Remaining optimistic, even in the face of adversity and uncertainty
Life goin' nowhere
Life can feel stagnant and aimless at times
Somebody help me
Asking for support and help when we need it
I'm stayin' alive
Continuing to persevere and survive, no matter what challenges come our way
Yeah, yeah!
Expressing enthusiasm and joy for life
Ow! Ay, ay!
Pumping up the energy and excitement of the moment
Contributed by Brody R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.