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.
Tik Tok
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wake up in the mornin' feelin' like P. Diddy (Hey, what up girl?)
Put my glasses on, I'm out the door, I'm gonna hit this city (Let's go!)
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
'Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't comin' back
I'm talkin' pedicure on our toes, toes
Tryin' on all our clothes, clothes
Boys blowin' up our phones, phones
Pullin' up to the parties
Tryin' to get a little bit tipsy
New Directions
Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight 'til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
Woah-oh oh oh, Woah-oh oh oh
Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight 'til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
Woah-oh oh oh, Woah-oh oh oh
Brittany
Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer
Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here
Now, the dudes are lining up, 'cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick 'em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger
I'm talking about e'rybody getting crunk, crunk
Boys tryin' to touch my junk, junk
Gonna smack him if he gettin' too drunk, drunk
Now, now, we goin' 'til they kick us out, out
Or the police shut us down, down
Police shut us down, down, po-po shut us down
New Directions
Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight 'til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
Woah-oh oh oh, Woah-oh oh oh
Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight 'til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
Woah-oh oh oh, Woah-oh oh oh
Brittany (Mercedes)
You build me up, you break me down
My heart, it pounds, yeah, you've got me
With my hands up, you've got me now
You got that sound, yeah, you've got me (Ohhh)
You build me up, you break me down (You break me down)
My heart, it pounds, yeah, you've got me (Oh, ohhh)
With my hands up, put your hands up, put your hands up (Put your hands up!)
Now, the party don't start until I walk in
New Directions
Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight 'til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
Woah-oh oh oh, Woah-oh oh oh
Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight 'til we see the sunlight
Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
Woah-oh oh oh, Woah-oh oh oh
The song “Tik Tok” by Glee Cast is a cover of the hit song by Kesha. The lyrics depict a wild night out filled with partying, drinking, and hooking up. Brittany kicks off the song by comparing her morning routine to that of P. Diddy - putting on her glasses and heading out to take on the city. Before she leaves, she brushes her teeth with a bottle of Jack, indicating that she is ready to get drunk and have some fun. Once out, she and her friends get pedicures and try on clothes. They receive attention from boys who are blowing up their phones, and they drive around in a convertible blasting their favorite CDs on the way to parties.
The chorus is a call to keep the party going and never stop dancing, even as the clock ticks away the hours. It’s a time to fight until the sun comes up, dancing to the beat of the DJ’s music. Brittany and Mercedes sing about the power of the music and how it builds them up and brings them down. With their hands up in the air, they are enveloped in the sound of the party, and they don’t want it to end until they walk out.
Overall, the song is an anthem for the mischievous and wild nights of youth, enjoying every moment before the party is shut down, and the night comes to an end.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up in the mornin' feelin' like P. Diddy (Hey, what up girl?)
I wake up with a confident and glamorous attitude like a successful musician, P. Diddy.
Put my glasses on, I'm out the door, I'm gonna hit this city (Let's go!)
I'm ready to take on the world and go out by putting on my glasses and leaving the house.
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
I use an alcoholic beverage like Jack Daniels to clean my teeth before I leave the house.
'Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't comin' back
I plan on having a wild and unforgettable night out without any plans of returning home early.
I'm talkin' pedicure on our toes, toes
I'm planning on getting pedicures done on our toes to look and feel great.
Tryin' on all our clothes, clothes
We'll spend a good amount of time trying out different outfits to make sure we look our best.
Boys blowin' up our phones, phones
We receive a lot of calls and messages from boys trying to get our attention.
Drop-toppin', playin' our favorite CDs
We'll drive around in a convertible with our favorite music blasting on the artists.
Pullin' up to the parties
We arrive at parties in style.
Tryin' to get a little bit tipsy
We're aiming to have a few drinks to loosen up and have fun.
Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up
Don't stop playing music that makes the crowd dance and enjoy.
Tonight, I'mma fight 'til we see the sunlight
I'm determined to party hard until the morning sun comes up.
Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no
Time seems to be ticking fast, but the party is still going strong.
Woah-oh oh oh, Woah-oh oh oh
This is a catchy rhythm meant to hype up the partygoers.
Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer
We're carefree and just want to have a good time with lots of beer around.
Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here
I have no savings, but I'm already present at the party.
Now, the dudes are lining up, 'cause they hear we got swagger
Guys are lining up to see us because they heard we're confident and stylish.
But we kick 'em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger
Unless they're as cool and suave as Mick Jagger, we're not interested in them.
Gonna smack him if he gettin' too drunk, drunk
If someone is getting too drunk and causing a disturbance, they'll be confronted physically.
Now, now, we goin' 'til they kick us out, out
We're not leaving until the party is officially over and hosts forcefully kick us out.
Or the police shut us down, down
We'll continue the party until the police intervene and forcibly shut it down.
Police shut us down, down, po-po shut us down
This is a call-out to the police who might take action to end the party.
You build me up, you break me down
This line refers to a love interest that brings both joy and sorrow.
My heart, it pounds, yeah, you've got me
This person makes my heart race with excitement and anticipation.
With my hands up, you've got me now
I surrender myself to this person and their charm.
You got that sound, yeah, you've got me (Ohhh)
This person's voice or overall presence has captured my attention.
Now, the party don't start until I walk in
This is a bold statement indicating that the party officially starts when I show up.
Contributed by Taylor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.