10 Things: the 2012 Grammy Performances

My relationship with the music industry is about an inch deep and a mile wide, so I don't usually get excited about the Grammy awards.  But, after the untimely passing of Whitney Houston, I sat down for the show just to see Jennifer Hudson's tribute - and got sucked into the entire show.

Really, the Grammys aren't truly an awards show.  Yes, they hand out awards, but at essence: they are the coolest concert you could possibly go to in the current year.  They stage performance after performance, that compile old acts and new, honoring music history as well as indulging in the jams that fancy today's populace.  For that reason, they are actually entertaining to watch, and I found myself glad I tuned in.  So, let's talk ten of the acts from last night:

I. Jennifer Hudson honoring Whitney Houston

This was the reason I was there, and it did not disappoint.  It was a touching tribute by one of the only women today who can rival Whitney's vocals - but the best part about it was that she didn't try and imitate Ms. Houston in the slightest.  Instead, every note resonated simply, and hung heavy in the air with gravitas.  Even Whitney's big vocal moments translated to a gravelly crying out of pain, and watching Jennifer Hudson summon all her resolve to not break down on stage was heartbreaking.  This was basically a perfect tribute, and kudos to J. Hud for not only the vocal but for also making it through without crying.  A+ 

II. Coldplay and Rihanna

When you hear that Coldplay and Rihanna are teaming up, it's an immediate hook, line, and sinker.  These are two different genres, two different kinds of musicians - what sort of amazing synthesis are they going to create?  Well, they only overlapped a little with a stripped-down performance of "Princess of China," and it all kind of blew away anyways with Rihanna tearing up "We Found Love."  It still boggles my mind how anthemic that song is, and I'm pretty sure you could've powered the Staples Center on the amount of electricity the performance generated.  As for Coldplay, they delivered a predictable piece of sublime melancholy, and I confess that my attention wandered.  B+

III. Nicki Minaj and the exorcism of Roman

Oh, Nicki.  This, of course, is the one everyone's talking about - and not in a good way.  Bogged down with overt Catholic symbolism and an unnecessary narrative, "Roman Holiday" left a sour taste in most people's mouths, and I can't say I'm not one of them.  Obvious comparisons between this inflated showmanship with Adele's stripped-down tour de force don't help the matter.  I love Nicki, but I love her for her talent first - especially when she's such a rarity in the music industry.  She's a successful lady rapper!  I wish she had just gone up there and torn a song apart the way she's clearly capable of, without any of the controversial distractions.  Curse you, Roman!  D 

IV. Glen Campbell and "Rhinestone Cowboy" 

This performance came on the heels of the Band Perry and Blake Shelton paying homage to the legendary Glen Campbell, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and dedicated himself to living out the rest of his days performing for as long as he can.  It wasn't hard to forgo tissues, though, seeing how joyful a performance "Rhinestone Cowboy" was.  Perhaps the best tribute was seeing everyone onstage singing along, because they loved the song and knew all the words.  A 

V. Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean

First things first: I love this duet!  It's a nice break from the anthemic girl power tracks that load Kelly Clarkson's album (although I love those too) and even better to hear Kelly's voice showcased in a different genre.  Confining her to pop/rock is a disservice to her abilities!  That being said, the sound guys had it in for this one, as Kelly's mic messed up at the beginning, and Jason Aldean's cut out completely during the climax of the song.   Even despite that, the harmonies alone were worth the listen.  Also, Jason Aldean's hat was intense.  B+

VI. Adele's return

This, alongside the Whitney tribute, was what everyone was waiting for.  We all knew the story: Adele had to be silenced earlier this year and have surgery to remove a benign but hemorrhaging polyp on her vocal chords.  And the 2012 Grammys would be her first live performance since the successful surgery.  Oh, the anticipation!  In the end, she delivered a fantastic rendition of "Rolling in the Deep," and even though she seemed hesitant to strain herself at the start, she loosened up towards the end, and everyone in the audience gave a collective sigh of relief that the most compelling voice to emerge in recent history wouldn't be deprived a future.  (They threw in six Grammys for good measure.)  A+

VII. Chris Brown did something presumably less offensive than physical abuse

Yeah, I'm including him just to make the point that I didn't watch it.  Putting Chris Brown onstage for people to cheer for him is just not something I want to witness, or support.  So, I turned it to Rush Hour 3 and chuckled at Chris Tucker for a few minutes.  F    

VIII. Katy Perry

Katy Perry doubled up with two songs last night: "E.T." and "Part of Me."  Vocally, she sounded great, and I loved that she put two of her songs into the same piece, but I didn't really understand what the intention was with the set performance.  It attempted to be pyrotechnic, but stripped down, but with backup dancers, but with elaborate staging - and somehow didn't really achieve a cohesive version of any of those things.  Mostly, it left me confused.  Maybe singing two songs was therefore both the strength and weakness of this attempt.  C

IX. Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt honoring Etta James

This is what I love to see at the Grammys: two artists from different backgrounds coming together in one single performance.  Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt did a solid tribute to Etta James, equipped only with one piano, one guitar, and two great voices.  "Sunday Kind of Love" only sounds better when Etta's singing it, and that's how it should have been.  A

X. Bruno Mars

I confess, I'm not the biggest fan of Bruno Mars.  It's not that I don't like, I just don't really listen.  So I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with him last night.  But damn, did that man put on a show!  With a James Brown pompadour and moves like Elvis, his performance jump-started the Grammys and provided a great contemporary performance that tipped a hat to the past, showed off the present, and most of all - didn't overwork itself trying to show up Lady Gaga.  Of course, I couldn't tell you for the life of me what song Bruno sang, but I am happy to report that I was completely entertained for the duration of it.  A

Happy Birthday, Elvis!

For reasons I'm not entirely sure of, I became an Elvis fan at the age of 6.  I heard "Burning Love" on cassette tape once and was just like, "Yep.  I like this guy."  It still baffles me a bit how I chose such an outdated teen idol to obsess over in my elementary school days, but I have to say I wouldn't have my childhood any other way.  Regardless of what Elvis' legacy is - either in jumpsuits, screaming fans, conspiracy theories, or jelly-filled donuts - he, himself, was a legendary performer and fantastic singer. 

Today would have been his 76th birthday.  By all standards, he should still be with us, an old man who shows up to the Grammys who we all clap for because he is a living legend and we can't believe he's standing among us mere mortals.  He should be singing at events with Beyonce in one of those charming-but-awkward duets that show just how much music has changed in just fifty years.  He should be getting Lifetime Achievement Awards and joking about how time flies and it seems just like yesterday he was singing on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Unfortunately, he is not doing any of those things.  I never believed the "ELVIS LIVES!" stories anyways.  Luckily, though, we can still listen to his music, and even better, watch his performances.  His performances are great.  A lot of people give Elvis guff for not ever writing his own music, but frankly, he didn't have to.  Elvis performed the hell out of every song he ever sang.  It didn't matter who wrote it; he put his signature all over it.

The one thing that I truly love about Elvis' performances is his dancing.  That man loved to dance and saw absolutely no harm in it.  And yet, the entire nation freaked out over his gyrating hips and bouncing legs.  Funny that that was such a scandal.  Today, I think it's joyous to see him twist around on stage, lip curled in a grin, hair flopping in his face, and the entire audience screaming their lungs out - especially knowing the tragedy of his later career.  This image is what I choose to remember him by, not the drugs, and the weight gain, and the jewel-encrusted jumpsuits.  Long live the King.

Happy Birthday, Elvis.  You have made my life complete, and I love you so.

Pop Culture Christmas Haul

Predictably, at least 50% of my Christmas presents are pop culture-related, so I thought I'd share this year's load - a veritable treasure trove! Among the lovely gifts I received:

- DVDs of Mulan, Date Night, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, and Season 4 of 30 Rock
- magazines devoted entirely to Glee and Joss Whedon (nerd alert!)
- the book "30 Rock and Philosophy," Star Wars playing cards and a WMHS t-shirt (courtesy of my BFF)
- the kickoff of my record collection, including the likes of Nat King Cole and Barbra Streisand (I have old people taste in music; don't hate)

As you can see, Christmastime just increases my pop culture nerdiness. My loved ones are only encouraging me! And I love them for it.

(And yes, I took a nap in the pile of my opened presents. If you've never done it before, I highly recommend it. It increases Christmas contentment by at least 50%.)

Anybody get any good additions to their pop culture collections?

In case you needed a new lady hero...

... I suggest this lady. Christina Bianco sings "Tomorrow" in the style of seven different Broadway legends, freakishly well.

(Just don't inject her and listen to jazz.)

Really Awesome Covers: An Addendum

Yesterday I posted a 10 Things: Really Awesome Covers, and frankly, 10 wasn't enough. Turns out Billboard.com has its own series of artists covers, and some of them are also Really Awesome. So, here's the two extra dabs of icing on the cake. Happy listening!

XI
Florence + The Machine covers Mario Winan's "I Don't Wanna Know"


XII
Sara Bareilles covers Beyonce's "Single Ladies"

10 Things: Awesome Covers

Music Appreciation Week continues, with a 10 Things: Awesome Covers. I picked most of them for being unexpected or unusual reinterpretations of contemporary songs. They're certainly not a 10 Best, but they're still Pretty Damn Great. Let's count!

X
Gaslight Anthem covers Kelly Clarkson's "I Do Not Hook Up"


IX
The Script covers Eminem's "Lose Yourself"


VIII
Katy Perry covers Sam Sparro's "Black and Gold"


VII
Lily Allen covers Britney Spears' "Womanizer"


VI
The Fray covers Kanye West's "Heartless"


V
Eliza Lumley covers Radiohead's "Black Star"


IV
Glen Hansard covers Britney Spears' "Everytime"


III
Lady Gaga covers Coldplay's "Viva La Vida"


II
Florence + the Machine cover Beyonce's "Halo"


I
Mandy Moore covers Rihanna's "Umbrella"

"Voices," and the Music Industry

Music Week continues with some pondering...

I am not a music snob - which is a valid explanation for the fact that I own three Kelly Clarkson CDs. And I fully support the opinion that Kelly Clarkson is awesome - because she is. Girl is crazy talented, humble, and has a voice for days. Every so often I just frolic around YouTube revisiting her performances from American Idol.

And that's when it struck me. As much as I appreciate Kelly Clarkson's genre niche in her career, I really love her voice more than I love her music. It's not that I don't love her girl-power anthemic pop-rock; it's great. But when she was on AI, she tackled the likes of Motown and Big Band, and she absolutely killed it. What I wouldn't give for her to release a CD of those genres!

But the sad truth is that it'll probably never happen. It's not that I don't think Kelly won't return to her "Idol" roots. It's just that it probably wouldn't sell, and the people who greenlight such projects completely know this.

You can't just be a "Voice" anymore in today's music industry. It used to be that you didn't have to write your own songs. Sondheim and Bacharach and Berlin took care of it for you, and all you had to do was sing "The Standards." A song started with one artist, and then circled through several others' reinterpretations. It was no big deal. Barbra Streisand recorded countless albums that were just, "Barbra Streisand sings the hits of Broadway!" and nobody batted an eye.

But somewhere along the way - perhaps with the invention of karaoke or the Internet or the reality show - it just wasn't good enough to be a "Voice." Popular music, when penned by someone other than than its singer, began to be seen as inauthentic. Your songs had to be your music. Look at Taylor Swift - does she have the strongest voice in the music industry? No, but she has the strongest point of view. Homegirl can write and deliver a song like no other, and it's perfect for what audiences want these days. Even on American Idol, a singing competition, it's ill-advised that contestants should simply sing - they have to show up and play the piano or the guitar, and restructure the classics so that they can prove their "artistry," and don't just look like they're doing karaoke. (Not to mention, they need to be marketable. Sorry, Melinda Doolittle!)

It's a strange phenomenon, and it's certainly not necessarily a bad thing. Musical artistry is important, and if you do indeed have the talent to craft lyrics and melody and make them appeal to people, then by all means, take it to the bank. But we've somehow lost the ability to appreciate the vocal artistry. Perhaps with half of YouTube weighed down with people singing into their webcams, we've become disenchanted with it all.

But I'd like to see it swing back the other way, at least a little bit. And perhaps with Glee covering songs from Bacharach to Jay-Z, we're already a step in the right direction. But then again, I hear time and time again that Glee is "ruining" the songs they choose to cover, so maybe not. Frankly, the idea of an artist "ruining" a song is just preposterous. Covers are simply reinterpretations. Some don't measure up, but many do. And again, may I remind all of humankind that what is simply different is not necessarily bad.

So, I guess I'll continue to support the Josh Grobans and Michael Bubles for singing the old standards, and hope for the Kelly Clarksons and Lea Micheles to one day follow suit, even if the CD sales are less than stellar. Because I'm fairly certain they can sing almost anything - and they should show off their voices. There are people out there who will appreciate it.

What Makes "What Makes It Great" Great

I've inadvertently turned this week into Music Appreciation Week here at SHE BLOGGO. But I can't help it, and also I don't care. I love music. Unfortunately, I am kind of stuck in the "appreciation" camp because I don't have a great voice and also I'm pretty terrible at instruments. But, I got good rhythm and I can rock a mean harmony, so there's at least that.

Anywho. I'm getting off point.

After posting the three renditions of "Over the Rainbow" earlier today, I remembered a piece NPR aired a few years ago about why, musically, the song is so amazing. After some fairly basic Googling, I managed to find my way back to the link. Turns out NPR has a series called "What Makes It Great," in which a man by the name of Rob Kapilow analyzes and explains how a particular song uses its melodies to tell an emotional story.

In short, every segment blows my mind. Just listen:

I couldn't help but share. I harp, time and time again, that creativity is decision. Composing music is just a string of choices - the artist's craft. But do I have any idea how composers go about making their creative decisions? Heck no. As much as I can analyze the visual arts with author intention, I can only get starry-eyed at how beautiful some music is. Music theory was never my thing. But Kapilow breaks it down with such enthusiasm and clarity that understanding the beauty is doubly as rewarding as simply appreciating it. Each segment is a revelation.

"Words make you think thoughts. Music makes you feel a feeling. But a song makes you feel a thought." - E.Y. Harburg

Songs are stories, and the best songs use its notes to incite an emotion. It absolutely blows my mind that just by combining together what are essentially frequency vibrations, a melody can obliterate our heartstrings and make us feel the most sublime and complex of emotions. I'm convinced now that all composers are genius and all music belongs on a pedestal. Seriously.

Also, if anyone would like to follow me around on a piano and play the accompaniment to my life, I am currently accepting applications. Just sayin'.

"Over the Rainbow," Through the Years

I'm a sucker for older artists performing the songs from their younger days. I don't know if it's a more mature voice, or the wisdom of the years shining through, but it always seems to add a poignancy missing from the original work.

Take, for example, these three performances of "Over The Rainbow," Judy Garland's most famous song.

"Over the Rainbow," 1939

"Over the Rainbow," 1955


"Over the Rainbow," 1969

Of course, knowing of Judy Garland's personal struggles with depression and addiction certainly add a layer of tragedy to the song. "If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why, can't I?" Truly heartbreaking.

Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween! Let's celebrate by listening to our favorite novelty Halloween song... and no, it's not The Monster Mash.

I still can't get over how much I love this. Boys becoming men... men becoming wolves...!

Happy Halloween from Tracy Jordan, everybody!

A Quick 10 Things

I know I've exhausted the "10 Glee Songs" topic, but I can't resist doing another. I've been listening to Glee almost exclusively today and it occurred to me that I play favorites. I hardly ever skip these songs, and almost always sing along, yet they don't really ever get a lot of attention elsewhere.

So, FYI, here are my Top 10 Glee Songs that don't get mentioned often but that are damn good and will always have a little corner of my heart.

10. Push It - original Glee kids
LOL-worthy, yet SO catchy. Kevin's "only the sexy people" bit is enough to make me put this on endless loop.

9. True Colors - Jenna Ushkowitz
I always take this song for granted, but whenever it crops up in shuffle, I turn it up and sing along. Simple and beautiful.

8. Good Vibrations - Mark Salling, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley
It makes me giggle. And rapping along is fun. Don't judge.

7. Home - Kristin Chenoweth
This song is a beautiful song to begin with, and Cheno does it much justice.

6. Take a Bow - Lea Michele
This song was the moment the show "had me." I'm sure I'll blog about it in full at some point.

5. It's a Man's Man's Man's World - Dianna Agron
Angry Quinn! Finally Dianna Agron gets a solo that suits her voice.

4. I Wanna Sex You Up - the Acafellas
Mm, drool. Boys singing.

3. Funny Girl - Idina Menzel
Idina pwns this song. That is all.

2. Fire - Matthew Morrison and Kristin Chenoweth
SO much fun to sing to. Love it immensely.

1. Dream a Little Dream of Me - Kevin McHale
It's my #1 most played Glee song, guys. It's doing something right.

EDIT: Aw crap, I forgot "A House is Not a Home" by Chris Colfer. I could listen to that on repeat, all day long.

Glee Countdown, #1: Top 10 Back 9 Songs

I did a Top 10 for the first 13, so it's only fair I do a Top 10 for the Back 9. Plus it's an easy way to kick of the She-Bloggo Glee Countdown! ...except it was totally hard to choose.

NUMBER 10. TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART, Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff.




Oh, the drama! This song is genuinely a great song, despite its inclusion in the "bad reputation" episode, and Lea Michele and Jon Groff sing the crap out of it. That's all I ever really want.

NUMBER 9. FAITHFULLY, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith.




This is perhaps my favorite of the Finn/Rachel duets. The way they sing this song tugs at my heartstrings, and the backup vocals from the rest of the Glee club is chills-inducing, every time. Plus Lea's high notes at the end? Good Lord. It's an excellent showing for their Regionals performance, and a song that I gets endless play on my iTunes. It also must be noted that I actually prefer the arrangement on the Glee cover to the arrangement in Journey's original. Gasp!

NUMBER 8. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST, Jonathan Groff.




This list would not be complete without an appearance by the lovely Jon Groff, who graced us with his both his character's evils and also his beautiful voice. He gets massive points for this version of "Another One Bites the Dust," where he spits out every lyric with venom and bitterness as he sets his sights on taking down the New Directions, and his ex-girlfriend. This song is actually well-suited for show choir, and it fits rather nicely in both the Vocal Adrenaline songbook and the plot arcs of the show itself.

NUMBER 7. TO SIR WITH LOVE, Ensemble.




This song is sung simply, but effectively. I appreciate how small the song seems, because even though the club is comprised of losers on the verge of being broken apart, their ode to Mr. Schuester is a large and rather heartfelt gesture. It also represents a shift in the distribution of vocals, featuring mini-solos of nearly all the Glee kids. A lovely rendition, and makes me teary-eyed every time.

NUMBER 6. EXPRESS YOURSELF, the Glee girls.



The energy from this song jolted the ode to Madonna into the stratosphere, where it stayed for the rest of the episode. Fun, dancing, girl-power sass and happiness every time. What more do you want?

NUMBER 5. ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER/A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME, Matthew Morrison and Kristin Chenoweth.



Cheno has stated that hers and Matt Morrison's voices go together "like butter on a biscuit" and I couldn't agree with her more. This duet is a beautiful marriage of two songs and two voices, blending both seamlessly. Some say it's too long and too schmaltzy, but I say it's damn near perfect.

NUMBER 4. DREAM ON, Matthew Morrison and Neil Patrick Harris.



Neil Patrick Harris hits the most insane high notes in this song, and it's amazing. Matt Morrison has never sounded better, either. Together, they do Aerosmith a whole lotta justice.

NUMBER 3. LIKE A PRAYER, Ensemble.



Full-body goosebumps, PARTY OF THE ENTIRE NATION. "Like a Prayer" is a huge song, and Glee tackles it easily. It divides the song between Lea Michele's divine notes, Amber Riley's God-given vocal runs, Chris Colfer's voice of an angel, and an entire gospel choir. I don't see where they could go wrong. This is THE ensemble number of the Back 9.

NUMBER 2. ROSE'S TURN, Chris Colfer.



This episode got little Chris Colfer an Emmy nomination, and I'm pretty sure that "Rose's Turn" was the clincher. I love how vulnerable he is during this performance, and he turns from a broken little boy into a fabulous entertainer in a single note, and keeps the audience hanging on every syllable. Fantastic.

NUMBER 1. I DREAMED A DREAM, Lea Michele and Idina Menzel.



Remember when I said that "Maybe This Time" was amazing simply because it was a duet by Cheno and Lea Michele? Well, "I Dreamed A Dream" is a similar breed. I mean, it's amazing enough because it's Idina Menzel and Lea Michele singing together. But on top of that, it's the two of them doing what they do best: giving so much emotion through their voices, as they pour their souls into their tragic mother-daughter relationship. The harmonies in this song are enough to tear my heart into little pieces, and it's breathtaking the way that each woman's voice gathers power as the notes are held longer. It's simply a master class, and unlike anything you could ever expect from a television musical.

Your Daily Dose of Holy Shit

Last night, I was discussing Inception with a dear friend who, like every other human being on this planet, saw it ages ago and was waiting for me to catch up with the rest of the world. We went through the requisite "What the hell is this ending?!" rant, and wound up still agreeing that despite its hairline faults, the movie is still ingeniously constructed.

Especially when he directed me to this video.



I swear, I had the most visceral reaction listening to that. That series of notes makes me seriously feel like someone is RIGHT behind me waiting to attack me, and knowing where it comes from now makes me feel like my attacker was someone I trusted all along. It freaked me the hell out.

Still genius though.

Also, no one is allowed to make fun of me for only seeing Inception last weekend.

It's Britney, Bitch: What Glee Should Cover

In case you hadn't heard (aka, you've been living under a rock), Glee is doing a Britney Spears episode. This is something that has been talked about for months and months, and I won't lie, when it first flew through the gossip mill I scoffed a bit. Britney Spears? Really? Like her contributions to the music industry are worth a whole tribute episode?

But, as time has worn on, so has my resistance to this concept, and I am unashamed to admit that I am getting stupidly excited to see the episode. I mean, regardless of Britney Spears' musical talent, her place in music history is pretty much inarguable, for better or worse. She's had good songs, bad songs, good times, bald times. I'm not gonna hate.

So, in accepting the existence of this homage to Ms. Spears, I started sorting out her discography in my head to see which songs I would like to see on Glee and which Ryan Murphy should stay far, far away from.

YES:
1. Toxic. Perhaps the most-preferred Britney song to non-Britney fans. Win!
2. Me Against the Music. Catchy, plus it's a duet!
3. Stronger. Bonus points if sung by Quinn.
4. ...Baby One More Time. It's not my favorite, but it's her breakout song. It can be there. *sigh*
5. Gimme More. This could be paired with some excellent dancing, and would be awesome if it was a group number.
6. Womanizer. Who better to sing about than Puck?
7. Everytime. The ONLY ballad that I would allow them to do. Because if Lea Michele or Amber Riley sang it, I think it'd actually be a strong song.
8. You Drive Me Crazy. Harmless late '90s fun. Allowed.

NO:
1. Lucky. I swear to God, if Glee goes near this song, I might have to stab something.
2. Oops! ... I Did it Again. This song is insipid. Didn't like it when it first came out, and now it's honestly just laughable. "But I thought that old lady threw it into the ocean at the end!"
3. I'm a Slave 4 U. I have a hard time embracing songs that replace actual words with numbers and letters. (Kelly Clarkson songs get a free pass.)
4. I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman. JUST NO.
5. Sometimes. I forgot this one existed, and I think it can stay that way.
6. Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know. Ballads really weren't her strong point, anyways.

10 Things: Glee Duets That Need to Happen

We've had some excellent duets on Glee - I'm always a sucker for a Finn/Rachel duet, Artie/Mercedes sound great together, and Mr. Schuester and April Rhodes' voices really do go together like butter on a biscuit. (Thank you, Kristin Chenoweth, for the analogy.)

But there's an untapped reserve of duets we haven't heard. And it's a damn shame! So here is my list of 10 pairs I want to hear sing together in the coming episodes (oh, seasons, fine!) of Glee.


10. Shelby Corcoran / April Rhodes

YES I know that this is largely fanwank, and there is really no reason whatsoever that these two characters would ever meet, but I don't care. Ryan Murphy respects the musical, and also writes storylines on crack, so I think it's totally possible Glinda and Elphaba could be reunited on my screen for a little number.

Possible song suggestion: "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" from Evita


9. Terri / Will

Their marriage imploded, and no duet? Shame. We need to hear Terri sing, period.

Possible song suggestion: "Crazy" by Patsy Cline


8. Puck / Rachel

Okay, so they sang in "Run Joey Run" but I don't really count that - technically Rachel was duetting with Puck, Jesse, AND Finn. I don't even know what Rachel and Puck would sing about together, but I'm confident it would sound good.

Possible song suggestion: "Falls Apart" by Sugar Ray


7. Finn / Kurt

Again, you could count "A House is Not a Home" but since Finn's part is sung in a different scene by himself, I say it's not really a duet. It'd be nice to see Finn and Kurt resolve the issues that seemed to trip them up in the Back 9 and reconcile as friends and maybe even step-brothers.

Possible song suggestion: "Home" by Michael Buble, while a bit overly sentimental, ties in nicely with the boys' "A House is not a Home" theme.


6. Artie / Rachel

Lea Michele's and Kevin McHale's voices together would sound beautiful. That is all. I have a feeling this duet will only ever come about if they get stuck together on an assignment or if they have parallel storylines. But who knows?

Possible song suggestion: "I Am a Rock" by Simon & Garfunkel


5. Quinn / Puck

It's a bit absurd that these two have had a baby together, but not a song. The possibilities here are endless, since their relationship seems to be in a different place every episode.

Possible song suggestion: "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds


4. Quinn / Rachel

These two have a checkered past and no screentime. The last we left them, Rachel felt guilty for spilling Quinn's secret, and Quinn didn't want to punch her in the face. OH, and then Quinn gave up her daughter to Rachel's birth mother who had given HER away to Rachel's gay dads. You'd think they'd have some issues to work out.

Possible song suggestion: "Everybody Knows" by the Dixie Chicks (take out the twang, and I think it'd be pretty solid)


3. Sue / Mr. Schue

This would be amazing. That is all.

Possible song suggestion: "Big Shot" by Billy Joel


2. Tina / Artie

These two have such a sweet relationship with more onscreen kisses than any other couple, and yet no song together! Blasphemy! The only time we've ever heard their voices overlap was in "To Sir With Love" for one brief verse. Need a full duet, please!

Possible song suggestion: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston


1. Santana / Brittany

I don't even know what these two would sing about, but I know it would be amazing. They really are best when they're together; and even though sex isn't dating, I'm pretty sure they're soulmates.

Possible song suggestion: "Two Hearts" by Phil Collins (the lyrics are seriously perfect.)


Also, as long as I'm making song suggestions, I put forth Earth Wind and Fire's "Shining Star" and "Dancing in the Street" by Martha Reeves for group numbers and Destiny's Child's "Independent Women Part I" for the ladies. Plz?

10 Things: Favorite Glee Songs

GLEE RETURNS TONIGHT!

And in honor of that joyous occasion (even though I will be watching it later, since I owe my devotion to Lost in its final season... sigh), I bring you the first installment of "10 Things" with "10 Favorite Glee Songs."

Now, "10 Things" is subjective, unless otherwise noted. Nobody's favorites are the same, and it's hard to objectively decree something as "the best!" without being shaded by personal preferences, etc. But here's my stab at my 10 Favorite Glee songs from the first 13 episodes...

NUMBER 10. DON'T MAKE ME OVER, Amber Riley.

Already I'm kicking it off with an unorthodox favorite. But here's the thing: Amber Riley is a fantastic singer, and she's largely (and rightfully) used on the show as a powerhouse voice of belt-tacular proportions. But "Don't Make Me Over" highlights a lovely restraint in her voice, and it's just as mesmerizing as hearing her hit the crazy high notes. Sadly, only an instrumental version of this song was used in an episode. But it's on Vol. 2 of the soundtrack!

NUMBER 9. MAYBE THIS TIME, Kristin Chenoweth and Lea Michele.

I fail to see how I need to explain a duet between Kristin Chenoweth and Lea Michele. But I'll try. Um, it's amazing. Does that work for you?

NUMBER 8. HATE ON ME, Amber Riley.

This song is excellent. So many of the Glee songs have a theme of self-empowerment and this one is one of the most direct: Hate on me hater! Combine that with the fact that it's being performed by all the minorities in the club and you've got an excellent song full of sass and mojo. Also: werrrrk, Amber Riley!

NUMBER 7. ENDLESS LOVE, Matt Morrison and Lea Michele.

I'm one of those people who loves this song in a completely un-ironic kind of way. So it's shmaltzy! So it's kind of a joke that this is a duet between teacher and lovestruck student! I DON'T CARE. It's beautiful, largely because it's the two big Broadway voices of the cast together. I love Cory Monteith to pieces, but it's nice to see Lea Michele have a duet with a male voice that's just as strong as hers.

NUMBER 6. DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE, Lea Michele.

I love this song, full-stop. So I was a bit nervous that the Glee cover would not be able to stand up to Barbra Streisand's original. Goodness, was I wrong. Lea Michele is pretty much pitch-perfect in this cover, and it's hard not to get goosebumps listening to her blast this to the rafters.

NUMBER 5. JUMP, the Glee Cast.

True, the merits of this song might be due in part to the joyous mattress-jumping dance sequence, but I defy anyone to not get a big stupid grin on their face by the time Cory Monteith does his rebel yell. You'll want to jump around on mattresses too.

NUMBER 4. IT'S MY LIFE / CONFESSIONS PT II, the Glee Boys.

For me, it was little contest who won the Girls vs. Boys showdown in "Vitamin D." These two songs blend together surprisingly well both musically and thematically, and the boys KILLED this performance. It's electrifying to listen to. Bonus points for Kevin McHale sounding sexy and for invoking the visual of Cory Monteith dancing ridiculously.

NUMBER 3. KEEP HOLDING ON, the Glee Cast.

One of the more notable moments of Glee's first thirteen episodes was the Glee club's support of Quinn and her pregnancy. I was pleasantly surprised to see a group of people be so forgiving towards someone who was awful to them. "Keep Holding On" is the embodiment of that emotion, and combined with the cast's vocals and the song's message, it's a rather touching rendition. It's a good example of a Glee cover that's better than the original song. (Sorry, Avril.)

NUMBER 2. DON'T STOP BELIEVIN', the Glee Cast.

It's the song that started it all. It was the perfect song to kick off the Glee kids' run, and because of that it's always a goosebump-inducer for me. The only reason this is #2 and not #1 is because it only involves the original six Glee kids, with only two lead vocals, and while I love them, I'd much rather hear the full twelve.

NUMBER 1. SOMEBODY TO LOVE, the Glee Cast.

This is probably no surprise to anyone who's watched the show. Several of the castmembers even cite "Somebody to Love" as their favorite performance because it was the first time the twelve main Glee kids came together. From Cory Monteith's first high note to Amber Riley killing her section at the end, this song is perfection. Lea Michele is predictably amazing, and in the full version of the song, Kevin McHale has an excellent solo. This is theatrics at its best, especially with the chanting of "Find... me... somebody to love" leading up to the song exploding with Amber Riley's divine high notes. Epic song is epic. Watch the live performance on Oprah (sans Kevin's solo, boo) for full effect:

There you have it. 10 Favorite Glee songs. What'd I leave off that should be on there? I'll tell you, if I could expand it to 11, I would have included "Sweet Caroline." I'm fairly confident that as the show marches through more and more episodes, this list will be harder and harder to make. But that's not the worst thing.