Happy Friday, friends! I hope you enjoy and dance into the weekend with the four songs that are on my playlist this week. Happy listening!
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The four songs featured in this week’s episode of Glee pack quite the musical punch.
Diving into the tracks this week, the weakest is definitely the duet between Mark Salling (Puck) and Kevin McHale (Artie) on Bob Marley’s “One Love (People Get Ready).” This song really doesn’t fit Salling’s voice, although when harmonizing with McHale, he sounded pretty good. It definitely wasn’t as good as the other three songs from this week’s episode.
Hands down my favorite track this week was Dalton Academy’s version of Katy Perry’s huge hit, “Teenage Dream.” The song features lead vocals from Glee newcomer, Darren Criss (Blaine). This is a song that I wouldn’t expect to hear covered by a guy, but I thought Glee’s interpretation was wonderful.
The arrangement for this song is great. Replacing instruments with harmonizing does not go unnoticed. The harmonizing is a huge part about what makes Glee’s take on “Teenage Dream” so successful.
I really enjoy Criss’ voice. His voice is a great addition to the cast this season, and I hope that the audience gets to hear more from him.
Onto the mash ups! The Glee girls performed a mash up of the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer.”
Amber Riley (Mercedes) took the lead on “Start Me Up.” Her vocal provided a saucy and provocative interpretation of the song.
Lea Michele (Rachel) was the featured singer on “Livin’ On A Prayer.” Michele is able to adapt her voice nicely to the song. To really pull off that song’s chorus, you need a booming, powerful vocal. Michele pulled it off without a hitch.
Both of these songs made for quite the rockin’ mash up.
It also occurred to me while listening to this week’s music that last season on Glee, the guys incorporated a Bon Jovi song into their mash up. I wonder if it’s just pure coincidence, or luck in Bon Jovi’s case, that their new greatest hits album just happened to come out the same week one of their biggest hits was covered on Glee. I thought that was interesting.
The Glee guys did a mash up of The Supremes “Stop! In The Name of Love” and EnVogue’s “Free Your Mind.”
Now, I really like both of the mash ups, but what gives the guys the edge for me is that almost every single one of them is featured as a lead vocal throughout their mash up. Also, these songs brought the best out of the guys (vocally speaking) and collectively they sounded great.
This mash up is definitely a fun listen. Who knew that two songs that are so different musically and lyrically could fit so well together?
I have to say that whoever is responsible for putting together the arrangements for this week’s crop of songs did an incredible job. Glee definitely had a good music week.
Glee airs Tuesday nights on FOX at 8 p.m.
Originally posted on BlogCritics.
David Cook, Ruben Studdard and Melinda Doolittle were all present last night at the Ronald McDonald House Benefit in New York City.
Mike Woods from Fox 40 took video of the three former Idol contestant’s performances, including these three videos of David Cook performing Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer,” a Radiohead cover of “High And Dry,” and a mash up of “Heroes” with Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova.”
Check it out!
How awesome is that mash up? It’s done so well, I just love it.
David Cook, I am pleading with you to hurry up and get your sophomore album finished. You’re killin’ me, smalls. I need new music from you. Like yesterday.
I know I am not the only one that feels that way. But, I’ll keep waiting…
Wait...WHAT? 