Glee and I had a bit of a falling out last season. After season one, I felt like the devoted girlfriend willing to stick with it through anything but then about halfway through season two, I realized the sad truth – Glee had changed. Tackling issues like teenage drinking, death, bullying and teen homosexuality was important and I feel the show always handled such matters is a very honest way. My problem wasn’t with the messages they tried to send. My problem was with the music. Remember this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OunQgrqE6zk
My first love has always been music and that’s a big part of the reason Glee appealed to me so much. They weren’t afraid to do less popular songs. They weren’t afraid to do songs that hadn’t been considered cool in years. I loved seeing New Directions taking on Ice, Ice Baby, Bust a Move and Good Vibrations almost as much as watching them do Somebody to Love, You Can’t Always Get What You Want and Bohemian Rhapsody. The above mash-up of two classic Madonna songs (Open Your Heart and Borderline) is a shining example of Glee’s first season at its best. Glee was epic for the music fan but in season two, that really tapered off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OAibBgYdeQ
There were moments that shined, of course. The Rocky Horror Glee Show offered some of my favorite Glee moments but it was the mash-ups from season two that really stood out for me. I stuck with the show out of a sense of loyalty and with a hope that season three would be better. It is. Glee has gotten its groove back. I knew for sure from the very first episode when the first mash-up of the season aired, a lovely combo of one of my all time favorite Broadway songs, Anything Goes, from the musical of the same name with Anything You Can Do from Annie Get Your Gun. The vocals were big. The choreography was over the top. It was absolutely perfect.
Glee knows how to do a mash-up, two seemingly different songs, well, mashed together to create one song, right. Over the last two seasons and change, Glee has produced some great mash-ups and for me, that’s when the show is at its absolute best. Forget the original songs. Glee really shows its creativity when we get a perfect blend of two songs most of us know but never would’ve imagined together. Check out the ten best mash-ups Glee has produced so far.
10: One Less Bell to Answer/A House Is Not a Home
Season 1, Episode 16 “Home”
Performed by: April Rhodes (Kristin Chenoweth) and Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison)
Original Artists: Barbra Streisand/Luther Vandross
This isn’t just one of my favorite Glee mash ups but is one of my favorite Glee performances period. When you put Matthew Morrison and Kristin Chenoweth together, magic happens. There is one reason and only one reason this number isn’t higher on the list – it’s not really a mash up. It’s a cover of a medley released back in 1971 by Barbra Streisand. While it technically counts, it doesn’t count enough to earn it a higher spot. Beautiful song though and beautifully performed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbE5uStNCCQ
09: Get Happy/ Happy Days Are Here Again
Season 2, Episode 4 “Duets”
Performed by: Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer)
Original Artists: Judy Garland/Barbra Streisand
The sometimes strained relationship between Chris Colfer’s Kurt Hummel and Lea Michele’s Rachel Berry is one of my favorite relationships on Glee so any excuse to see them sing together is just fine with me. It’s not just a great duet but a great mash up of two classic songs. The only reason this one is so low on the list is that it’s a little too sleepy and subdued to compete with some of the other mash ups Glee has done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNl2hNNTVb0
08: Stop! In the Name of Love/Free Your Mind
Season 2, Episode 6 “Never Been Kissed”
Performed by: The Boys of New Directions
Original Artists: The Supremes/En Vogue
When the boys of New Directions were challenged to come up with a mash up of two classic girl songs, I wasn’t really sure what to expect but this was a welcome surprise. The boys did a great job with two of my absolute favorite songs. The message of Free Your Mind is an incredibly important one and I think it fits perfectly with the whole theme of Glee. I’m not entirely sure Stop! In the Name of Love was the best choice to mash it up with but it worked all the same.
07: Halo/Walking On Sunshine
Season 1, Episode 6 “Vitamin D”
Performed by: The Girls of New Directions
Original Artists: Beyoncé/Katrina and the Waves
Upbeat and entertaining, this gem from Glee’s first season is probably one of the faster songs we’ve seen the girls of New Directions take on. I don’t know if I love this one so much because it’s a great mash up or because I remember the episode so well but regardless, it definitely deserves a space on this list. Combining a classic pop song like Walking on Sunshine with a contemporary ballad like Halo was a stroke of genius. Very well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqUVqpe_GG0
06: Hit Me With Your Best Shot/One Way Or Another
Season 3, Episode 6 “Mash-Off”
Performed by: New Directions and The Troubletones
Original Artists: Pat Benatar/Blondie
I love when Glee rocks it and they definitely did that when McKinley High’s rival glee club, Will’s New Directions and Shelby’s Troubletones teamed up for this Benatar/Blondie mash up. It was entertaining and exciting and brought together two great songs by two great artists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-85UbWLP0k
05: Singing In The Rain/Umbrella
Season 2, Episode 7 “The Substitute”
Performed by: Holly Holliday (Gwyneth Paltrow), Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) and New Directions
Original Artists: Gene Kelly/Rihanna feat. Jay Z
Never in a million years would I have imagined mashing a classic Gene Kelly song with a song performed by Rihanna and Jay Z but damned if it doesn’t work. I know the thinking behind this one had to go something like this, “let’s mash a song about rain with a song about umbrellas” but who cares. It turned out beautifully and can I just take a moment to mention how incredible Gwyneth Paltrow is? Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vY8FwHECOA
04: Start Me Up/Living On a Prayer
Season 2, Episode 6 “Never Been Kissed”
Performed by: The Girls of New Directions
Original Artists: The Rolling Stones/Bon Jovi
Lea Michele totally rocked it out on this one. I was incredibly impressed but more than that, I was impressed with the way these two songs actually sounded together. This is what mash ups are all about when you’re working with two different artists. The words of the song worked well together but so did the overall feel of the songs. This was an expertly done mash up and by far one of my favorites the show has ever done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DBEdshgTUY
03: I Feel Pretty/Unpretty
Season 2, Episode 18 “Born This Way”
Performed by: Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron) and Rachel Berry (Lea Michele)
Original Artists: West Side Story/TLC
Touching, emotional and beautiful, this mash up carries a message I think every young girl needs to hear. Everyone feels like they’re not good enough at one point or another and that’s what this song is about. Also, I love the rather unusual pairing of Dianna Agron and Lea Michele on this song. Their voices compliment each other well. I’d like to hear them sing together more often.
http://www.youtube.com/user/musicfromgleeVEVO?feature=watch
02: I Will Survive/Survivor
Season 3, Episode 8 “Hold On to Sixteen”
Performed by: Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) and The Troubletones
Original Artists: Gloria Gaynor/Destiny’s Child
I had a really hard time deciding whether this one should come in one spot above or one spot below the I Feel Pretty/Unpretty mash up. I ranked this one higher simply because I absolutely love Amber Riley and Naya Rivera singing together. I’ve also listened to the Dianna Agron/Lea Michele duet roughly ten million times so I’ve made myself a bit sick of it while I haven’t had the opportunity to do that with this one… yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcxWnBryoJQ
01: (Tie) Heads Will Roll/Thriller
Season 2, Episode 11 “The Sue Sylvester Show”
Performed by: New Directions
Original Artists: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs/Michael Jackson
Halfway through my least favorite season of Glee, this gem of a mash up popped up and is probably the only reason I watched through to the end of season two. It was fun, exciting and combined to songs (not to mention two artists) I never would’ve imagined together. I’m a little sad I couldn’t find an decent video copy of this one on YouTube to share here but look it up. The choreography that went along with this one was almost as good as the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb7zjKkLCoQ&feature=relmfu
01: (Tie) Rumor Has It/Someone Like You
Season 3, Episode 6 “Mash Off”
Performed by: Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) and The Troubletones
Original Artists: Adele
Flawlessly performed, this mash up of my two favorite Adele songs was everything I could have hoped for and more. In my always humble opinion, Amber Riley is the most talented vocalist on the show and I love seeing her get to shine, especially when Naya Rivera gets to show off her vocal skills on the same song. These two were made to sing together. If I had any questions about Glee, this mash up put them to rest.
What is your favorite Glee mash up? Have you been enjoying this season more than last or do you think Glee’s glory days are behind it? Sound off in the comments section below! Love the songs? Love the show? The first two seasons of Glee are available on DVD box set now and you can purchase the songs from the show on iTunes. Tune in to all new episodes of Glee Tuesday nights on Fox.
