Since hearing Don't Stop Believing for the first time, I have been intrigued by Glee. But it wasn't until I was in Australia studying abroad and some friends were watching the first season (someone brought it over on DVD), that I started to watch it. I decided to watch a few random episodes with them and became instantly hooked. Hearing "The Warbler's rendition of Teenage Dream that my closest friend kept playing over and over definitely helped me become obsessed. I quickly watched the rest of season 1 and caught up as much as I could on season 2.
From season 2 on, I was a self-professed Gleek (term for a Glee geek, duh!). I couldn't get enough of listening to glee songs and the show itself was pretty funny, heartwarming, and entertaining as well. But really it was, and always has been, all about the music. Here's an example of how much I love glee songs--when I was backpacking Europe for 5 weeks, the only playlist I played the entire time was Glee. I don't understand how I didn't get tired of it, but with over 100 songs, there was a lot to pick from. I have since made a separate playlist titled "favorite Glee songs" because my regular Glee playlist was too big (yes, I'm a Gleek). My "favorite Glee songs" playlist has way too many songs for this post, so I worked really hard to try and give you my top favorites. At the end, I may decide to just list all of the rest of my favorites as well, though ;)
These are in no particular order whatsoever, just how they popped into my head and as they appeared on my playlist which is random anyway.
-Valerie sung by Santana: One of my favorite things about Glee is how it takes songs that I personally don't know very well and it makes me love them. This is a common theme on my favorites (FYI). This is one of those songs. I did not know the Amy Winehouse version (apparently there's two), and even now that I have heard it-I love this version sung by Santana-the first time she really gets to showcase her great voice-much better.
-Don't Stop Believin': sung by the original New Directions: Yes, this song is SO overplayed, and I love the original version, but the Glee version is so great too! It's the first time in the show that you really get to hear the club come together and sing and the first time Finchel (Finn and Rachel) duet together. It's even brought back later on in the series to show just how important it is.
-Teenage Dream sung by the Warblers, heavy on the Blaine (which is excellent): Oh Blaine Anderson, how I heart your voice. First view of Blaine and the Warblers and I love this men's chorus version! Also, it has nostalgic feelings attached to it because it reminds me of Australia!
-The Longest Time by the "new" Glee club: Some people aren't a big fan of the "new" glee club, or the glee clubbers that were still there once some of the star seniors left. But, there's quite a lot of songs that I love that were performed by the "new" glee club. I didn't like as many of their individual or small group songs, but I loved the group songs. Here is an excellent example of it. This Billy Joel song is just so happy, and the fact that it showcases the voices of all of the remaining members makes it diverse and it just works for me.
-Marry You sung by New Directions: A happy, joyous time at Finn's mom and Kurt's dad's wedding. This was sung down the aisle for the wedding and again, it was my first time hearing it. I loved it immediately.
-Home/Homeward Bound by returning graduated Glee members: Mash-ups are the best. The End. No, but really, this one struck a chord with me and is incredibly beautiful!
-Man in the Mirror by the men of New Directions: This was one of those MJ songs that I hadn't heard very many times before and so maybe it was much easier for me to fall in love with it? Plus, I love when the boys sing *sigh*
-Smooth Criminal by Santana and Sebastian: This MJ song was done SO WELL by these two. They are fighting in the scene and the intensity with the orchestra playing as well is amazing. This may be one of the BEST performances on Glee, ok I said it.
-O Holy Night by Rachel Berry: I love love love Lea Michele's voice and think she is incredibly talented, so I especially love when she just gets to belt out. This is my favorite Christmas song, and I loved hearing her perform it. It legit brought tears to my eyes and something I always play during the Holiday season.
-I Dreamed a Dream by Rachel and Shelby (aka Idina Menzel): So, fun fact. When I first watched Glee I was CONVINCED that Lea Michele was Idina Menzel's daughter or relative of some sort. They look a lot alike and their voices are very similar-amazing powerhouses. Well, I found out they are not related, but clearly other people (or at least the producers) thought they looked/sounded enough alike, because they decided to make her Rachel's birth mother in the show. I think this was one of the first songs they sang together. It is an iconic Broadway song from Les Miserables, and hearing them sing it together just makes me want to cry (good tears)
-We've Got Tonight by Rachel and Finn: Yet another song that I hadn't heard before Glee, and I wasn't instantly in love with it. But the more I listened and realized it's the last song that Finn and Rachel sing together, I realized how special it is.
-Some Nights by "New" Glee Club: I think the best part of Glee is the group song they all do at the end of every episode, it became a tradition and expected. This is one of the best because it really showcases the new group a lot and it's just a happy song.
-We Are Young by New Directions: Another "Fun" song turned into a Glee version. This was turned into a Glee song before it became overplayed on the radio. The reason it's still special (the Glee version at least), is because this is the song that the New Directions and Trebletones come back together with and that was exciting. As much as I loved the Trebletones, I like them all together better!
-Fly/I Believe I Can Fly by New Directions: "I Believe I Can Fly" is a classic, and mashups are always wonderful-this combo worked great!
-I Can't Go For That/You Make My Dreams Come True sung by New Directions: Another excellent mash-up of good oldies by Hall & Oates. This song (like most of my favorite glee songs) just makes me happy!
-We Found Love by New Directions: I love this song by Rihanna and I love the Glee version of it too, plus it was an adorable proposal :)
-My Love is Your Love by New Directions: This is one of my fav Whitney songs, and this was executed perfectly.
-Shake it Out by Mercedes, Santana, Tina: This was an emotional song on the show because it was when the girls find out the Beiste is being abused by her husband. It's beautiful, and sad, and I love it.
- Somebody to Love (not the Bieber version) by New Directions
- Dog Days Are Over by Mercedes and Tina and New Directions
- Proud Mary by New Directions
- Rolling in the Deep by Rachel and Jessie St. James
- Cry by Rachel Berry
- Like a Prayer by New Directions
- This is the New Year by the "new" Glee club
- Give Your Heart a Break by Rachel and Brody
- Stereo Hearts by Joe, Mercedes, and Sam
- Closer by the "new" Glee club