[Every Monday, I'm going to be counting down my 52 favorite musical numbers from musical movies and TV shows. I might not like the full movie/show, but the number makes the list for various reasons: 1) I have to like the song, 2) the visual of how the number is performed is most likely unique or fun, 3) both song and visual mixes well to create an exciting or powerful number. So let's get to the next on the list.]
About halfway through the first season of Glee, I started highly anticipating this song. It's one of my favorite songs, and it's perfect for the theatrics of the show. Though I did always wonder how they were going to tie it in with the story. Well, they did it perfectly, juxtaposing Vocal Adrenaline's number with the birth of Quinn's baby (even adding some symbolism to the choreography of the performance). Because of this, it remains one of my favorite numbers (at least aesthetically) on the show. This is Glee's rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" (and I apologize for the low quality of the video--it was hard to find a video that wasn't just audio):
Showing posts with label glee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label glee. Show all posts
7.05.2010
TV Meme: Day 27 - Best Pilot Episode.
Hmm... it's Day 27... and I have to figure out what I believe is the best pilot episode. This really was tough one. One that could have made it, but didn't, was the (I guess) pilot episode to Battlestar Galactica. I don't mean the 3-hour miniseries that spun-off into the series, but the first episode of the actual series entitled "33." Talk about a hardcore (and amazing) opening to the show. Though I'm not sure if that actually counts considering the miniseries. Anyway, I think I'm gonna go with a cop-out answer... mostly because I don't want to think about it.
Glee's pilot episode was shown months before the show even aired. Its pilot episode was advertised as being online for an entire summer before the show even aired. They were really pimping out this pilot episode... long before the show even aired. So was it worth all the hype? Hell yeah.
This pilot amped up the buzz for the show even more than it already had, and the anticipation level skyrocketed by the time the show actually began airing. And it was a great opening, giving you pretty much everything you should expect from the series (though it did become more realistic and human as the show went on).
Glee's pilot episode was shown months before the show even aired. Its pilot episode was advertised as being online for an entire summer before the show even aired. They were really pimping out this pilot episode... long before the show even aired. So was it worth all the hype? Hell yeah.This pilot amped up the buzz for the show even more than it already had, and the anticipation level skyrocketed by the time the show actually began airing. And it was a great opening, giving you pretty much everything you should expect from the series (though it did become more realistic and human as the show went on).
6.23.2010
TV Meme: Day 15 - Favorite Female Character.
Unlike "Favorite Male Character," Day 15's choice of "Favorite Female Character" was incredibly easy. Why? Because in a male-driven industry, there aren't all that many females that stick out. Most of them are simply the love interest or the ditz or the one struggling to "make it." Only every now and then do you have those who stand out in people's minds, like Buffy or Chloe (from 24) or Judge Judy. But my choice today, ladies and gentlemen, transcends them all. She is one of the most cleverly written female characters in quite some time.
I'm speaking, of course, of Sue Sylvester from Glee. Her snappy one liners and all around sick and twisted personality all played by the wonderful Jane Lynch make her a joy to watch. And when there is an episode lacking Sue? It sure is noticeable (not that the episode is bad, but you just miss her so much...). Not to mention her fascination with Will's hair. But don't take my word for it. Check out the following video (which doesn't even come close to representing her awesomeness, and I swear isn't all hair jokes. They just last a little while):
I'm speaking, of course, of Sue Sylvester from Glee. Her snappy one liners and all around sick and twisted personality all played by the wonderful Jane Lynch make her a joy to watch. And when there is an episode lacking Sue? It sure is noticeable (not that the episode is bad, but you just miss her so much...). Not to mention her fascination with Will's hair. But don't take my word for it. Check out the following video (which doesn't even come close to representing her awesomeness, and I swear isn't all hair jokes. They just last a little while):
6.17.2010
TV Meme: Day 9 - Best Scene Ever.
It was only for a short while that I had no idea what I was going to post for today--what I believe to be the best scene ever. I mean, there are tons of scenes out there. This is nearly an impossible choice, right? First kisses, action scenes, redemptions, twists and surprises... there are thousands and thousands of possible choices.
But then came the Glee season finale (Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead). And, well, the choice suddenly became very, very easy. For the longest time, I wondered if they were ever going to perform Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the show. But I also always wondered how they would pull it off. First of all, it's a long song. Second, how the hell do they mix it with whatever current story is going on? The song is mildly schizophrenic, split into 3 different parts--and those three parts are essentially disconnected from each other in just about every way (mood, lyrics, etc.). And because Glee prides itself on mixing popular music with the story, this would make it a nearly impossible song to do.
Well, they found a way. During Regionals, New Directions' rivals, Vocal Adrenaline, performs the song (straight from one commercial break to the next). Now, having Vocal Adrenaline's performance juxtaposed against the birth of Quinn and Puck's baby was brilliant. Everything syncs up perfectly, not to mention Vocal Adrenaline's choreography at one point symbolizes the actual birth just as Quinn delivers. And also, in the song's third act, we also see the song symbolizing what Jesse (the lead singer of Vocal Adrenaline) did to Rachel in playing her and leaving New Directions to go back to Vocal Adrenaline. We also get to see brief character development (Quinn choosing Mercedes to come into the room with her or Puck crying as his daughter is born).
And all of this while simultaneously showing us that Vocal Adrenaline's biggest problem as a performance group is that they're all show and no soul, as was the focus a few episodes prior. But let's not keep me rambling. Just check out the scene yourselves:
But then came the Glee season finale (Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead). And, well, the choice suddenly became very, very easy. For the longest time, I wondered if they were ever going to perform Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the show. But I also always wondered how they would pull it off. First of all, it's a long song. Second, how the hell do they mix it with whatever current story is going on? The song is mildly schizophrenic, split into 3 different parts--and those three parts are essentially disconnected from each other in just about every way (mood, lyrics, etc.). And because Glee prides itself on mixing popular music with the story, this would make it a nearly impossible song to do.
Well, they found a way. During Regionals, New Directions' rivals, Vocal Adrenaline, performs the song (straight from one commercial break to the next). Now, having Vocal Adrenaline's performance juxtaposed against the birth of Quinn and Puck's baby was brilliant. Everything syncs up perfectly, not to mention Vocal Adrenaline's choreography at one point symbolizes the actual birth just as Quinn delivers. And also, in the song's third act, we also see the song symbolizing what Jesse (the lead singer of Vocal Adrenaline) did to Rachel in playing her and leaving New Directions to go back to Vocal Adrenaline. We also get to see brief character development (Quinn choosing Mercedes to come into the room with her or Puck crying as his daughter is born).
And all of this while simultaneously showing us that Vocal Adrenaline's biggest problem as a performance group is that they're all show and no soul, as was the focus a few episodes prior. But let's not keep me rambling. Just check out the scene yourselves:
6.16.2010
TV Meme: Day 8 - A Show Everyone Should Watch.
For Day 8, a show everyone should watch, I was a bit conflicted. I had 2 choices down, and I wasn't sure which one to go with.
First, there was the cartoon with an adult story, choreographed fighting, a planned ending/arch, and Eastern-Religious themes (all quite rare in America). Second, there was a new show that I've already talked about in depth in a previous day's post.
I swear I'm not just being lazy, but I decided to go with the latter. Why? Because I can see how people might be against watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. But Glee, on the other hand, appeals to all. Everybody has felt like how these kids (or adults) have felt at some point in their lives. Not to mention there's great music and great singing. And if it's good enough for Neil Patrick Harris to guest star on, it's good enough for you! And they're currently running Season 1 re-runs throughout the summer, as well, giving you ample time to catch up!
For a more extensive look at my thoughts on the show, click here. (However, if you'd like to know more about Avatar: The Last Airbender, I did quite an extensive look at Season 1 here.)
First, there was the cartoon with an adult story, choreographed fighting, a planned ending/arch, and Eastern-Religious themes (all quite rare in America). Second, there was a new show that I've already talked about in depth in a previous day's post.
I swear I'm not just being lazy, but I decided to go with the latter. Why? Because I can see how people might be against watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. But Glee, on the other hand, appeals to all. Everybody has felt like how these kids (or adults) have felt at some point in their lives. Not to mention there's great music and great singing. And if it's good enough for Neil Patrick Harris to guest star on, it's good enough for you! And they're currently running Season 1 re-runs throughout the summer, as well, giving you ample time to catch up!For a more extensive look at my thoughts on the show, click here. (However, if you'd like to know more about Avatar: The Last Airbender, I did quite an extensive look at Season 1 here.)
6.11.2010
TV Meme: Day 3 - Favorite New Show From This Past Season.
Today's was the easiest to figure out thus far. There were no runners-up... mostly because I've really only watched one new show of this past season. But even if I hadn't this one would still have made the list. Now, I'm not sure how much rule bending I'm doing here. The last season was technically the Spring season and the show started in the Fall season. However, the entirety of Season 1 lasted from the Fall season throughout the Spring season, so I think it counts. And if it didn't, well... I'd have to skip this day as there aren't any others for me to choose from. So deal with it.
W
hat show am I speaking of? Glee, of course! And no, it is NOT High School Musical: The TV Show. For those of you living under a rock, Glee is about a high school Glee Club, where they sing and dance to popular music. And the greatest thing? These aren't Disney wannabe-pop stars on this show. The majority of the cast is riddled with Broadway performers and the like, so these guys can actually sing and perform. So let me run you through our main cast of characters.
First there are the adults. Of course we have Will Schuester, the guy who runs the club. He was in the Glee Club when he was in high school and thought they were some of the best moments of his life, so he decided to start one up himself now that he's a teacher. Though he ends up with a band of misfits--the outsiders of the school--but we'll get to them later. Then there is Sue Sylvester (played brilliantly by Jane Lynch), the Cheerleader/Dance Squad coach who loathes Will and will do anything in her power to see the Glee Club go down in flames. She even sends some of her Cheerios (as she calls them) to infiltrate the club and try to bring it down from the inside. There's also Emma Pillsbury, the germophobic school counselor that Will has a crush on (despite being married... at least at the beginning of the show). And finally the school principal, Principal Figgins, who tries to be fair but usually ends up manipulated by others, specifically Sue, to go against Will.
But the show is nothing without the students. First is Rachel, a pushy diva-type who wants to be a star. Then comes her main love interest, Finn, who has trouble with the manliness factor of the Glee Club seeing he starts off the show as a football player. But he also talks his best friend and fellow jock Noah "Puck" Puckerman into joining along with him. There's the token black girl with weight issues, Mercedes, and her friend--the (at first) closeted gay kid, Kurt. There's the kid in the wheelchair, Artie. The Asian loner girl, Tina. There's the Asian dance-master who really is just kind of in the background for the entirety of the show, Mike. Oh, and there's another guy who almost never even gets a speaking role (even less than Mike) named Matt. And that's the original bunch. But after Sue sends in her infiltration, we also get Quinn Fabray, who is essentially the most popular girl in school and the head of the Cheerios... until she gets pregnant by who at first we believe to be Finn, but later realize the truth. And, finally, there's the fiery Santana and her best friend, the incredibly dim Brittany.
The entire first season takes place over the whole school year, which makes me wonder (like Greek) how the show can last with the same kids/characters. After a couple years, they'll have to get a new bunch, which might be difficult since we're all so involved with this group. And we really are involved. The whole thing is almost like a light soap opera. Between marital issues with Will, love triangles, teen pregnancies, rivalries, personal dilemmas to overcome (being outcasts, being gay, etc.)... you really connect with these characters. And, yes, the show is greater-than-life in how some things are handled, especially early on in the season. But as the show progresses, they take things much more seriously and the tone can easily go from lighthearted to dead-serious in a snap. Don't believe me? Just check out the Joss Whedon-directed episode, "Dream On," specifically the scene where Finn gets aggravated with Kurt and starts insulting him (specifically in dealing with his homosexuality), only to have Kurt's dad--who has struggled with his son's sexuality--come down and yell at Finn and protect his son, all the while Kurt is in tears. It's a powerful scene.
But how can I talk about this show and not get into the music? The music is, of course, the heart of the show. Essentially what they do is find a basic theme for an episode and then usually find songs that go with that theme. For instance, there's an episode where every song has the word "Hell" or "Hello" in it, or another episode that's purely Madonna, or one where they have songs about following your dreams (the aforementioned "Dream On"). But what is so amazing about the show is how well the songs work into the story. Because, like most musicals, the songs encapsulate the emotions of the characters and move the story forward. So finding a group of songs that are related to each other by a certain theme but also not only telling how a specific character is feeling, but moving the stories of both that episode and the overarching story forward... that's an amazing feat in and of itself.
So, yes, this is definitely my favorite new show of the past season (or so), and I definitely recommend you watch it if you have not. If not for anything else, for Jane Lynch's brilliant performance as Sue Sylvester. She's downright hilarious, and the show would not be the same without the rivalry between her and Will (and on top of that, she's not a static villain. There are layers to her, which you see a few times throughout the season, but which really come to fruition in the last few episodes of the season). So yeah. Glee. Watch it.
(P.S. Also... Glee has one of the greatest "previously on..." recap styles ever. Seriously.)
W
hat show am I speaking of? Glee, of course! And no, it is NOT High School Musical: The TV Show. For those of you living under a rock, Glee is about a high school Glee Club, where they sing and dance to popular music. And the greatest thing? These aren't Disney wannabe-pop stars on this show. The majority of the cast is riddled with Broadway performers and the like, so these guys can actually sing and perform. So let me run you through our main cast of characters.First there are the adults. Of course we have Will Schuester, the guy who runs the club. He was in the Glee Club when he was in high school and thought they were some of the best moments of his life, so he decided to start one up himself now that he's a teacher. Though he ends up with a band of misfits--the outsiders of the school--but we'll get to them later. Then there is Sue Sylvester (played brilliantly by Jane Lynch), the Cheerleader/Dance Squad coach who loathes Will and will do anything in her power to see the Glee Club go down in flames. She even sends some of her Cheerios (as she calls them) to infiltrate the club and try to bring it down from the inside. There's also Emma Pillsbury, the germophobic school counselor that Will has a crush on (despite being married... at least at the beginning of the show). And finally the school principal, Principal Figgins, who tries to be fair but usually ends up manipulated by others, specifically Sue, to go against Will.
But the show is nothing without the students. First is Rachel, a pushy diva-type who wants to be a star. Then comes her main love interest, Finn, who has trouble with the manliness factor of the Glee Club seeing he starts off the show as a football player. But he also talks his best friend and fellow jock Noah "Puck" Puckerman into joining along with him. There's the token black girl with weight issues, Mercedes, and her friend--the (at first) closeted gay kid, Kurt. There's the kid in the wheelchair, Artie. The Asian loner girl, Tina. There's the Asian dance-master who really is just kind of in the background for the entirety of the show, Mike. Oh, and there's another guy who almost never even gets a speaking role (even less than Mike) named Matt. And that's the original bunch. But after Sue sends in her infiltration, we also get Quinn Fabray, who is essentially the most popular girl in school and the head of the Cheerios... until she gets pregnant by who at first we believe to be Finn, but later realize the truth. And, finally, there's the fiery Santana and her best friend, the incredibly dim Brittany.
The entire first season takes place over the whole school year, which makes me wonder (like Greek) how the show can last with the same kids/characters. After a couple years, they'll have to get a new bunch, which might be difficult since we're all so involved with this group. And we really are involved. The whole thing is almost like a light soap opera. Between marital issues with Will, love triangles, teen pregnancies, rivalries, personal dilemmas to overcome (being outcasts, being gay, etc.)... you really connect with these characters. And, yes, the show is greater-than-life in how some things are handled, especially early on in the season. But as the show progresses, they take things much more seriously and the tone can easily go from lighthearted to dead-serious in a snap. Don't believe me? Just check out the Joss Whedon-directed episode, "Dream On," specifically the scene where Finn gets aggravated with Kurt and starts insulting him (specifically in dealing with his homosexuality), only to have Kurt's dad--who has struggled with his son's sexuality--come down and yell at Finn and protect his son, all the while Kurt is in tears. It's a powerful scene.
But how can I talk about this show and not get into the music? The music is, of course, the heart of the show. Essentially what they do is find a basic theme for an episode and then usually find songs that go with that theme. For instance, there's an episode where every song has the word "Hell" or "Hello" in it, or another episode that's purely Madonna, or one where they have songs about following your dreams (the aforementioned "Dream On"). But what is so amazing about the show is how well the songs work into the story. Because, like most musicals, the songs encapsulate the emotions of the characters and move the story forward. So finding a group of songs that are related to each other by a certain theme but also not only telling how a specific character is feeling, but moving the stories of both that episode and the overarching story forward... that's an amazing feat in and of itself.
So, yes, this is definitely my favorite new show of the past season (or so), and I definitely recommend you watch it if you have not. If not for anything else, for Jane Lynch's brilliant performance as Sue Sylvester. She's downright hilarious, and the show would not be the same without the rivalry between her and Will (and on top of that, she's not a static villain. There are layers to her, which you see a few times throughout the season, but which really come to fruition in the last few episodes of the season). So yeah. Glee. Watch it.
(P.S. Also... Glee has one of the greatest "previously on..." recap styles ever. Seriously.)
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