Kicking off the soundtrack with a little Journey is certainly a solid way to get my attention. Following it up with REO Speedwagon? Well, that’s just genius. I’m no fan of soundtracks, and I’m not particularly high on the ’80s. But the soundtrack or rather the first volume of music from Glee (there’s a difference!) is wonderfully entertaining, and a bit disturbing. Is it bad to think that these choral remakes are better than the originals?
I have to admit that the absence of Kanye West and Jamie Foxx makes “Gold Digger” a rather sharp left turn from the first two songs, but I thought it was noticeably better than the Rihanna-remake “Take A Bow.” “Bust Your Windows” closes out the trifecta of R&B with a stronger take than the other two, before sliding into the smooze of Celine Dion’s “Taking Chances.”
“Alone,” featuring Kristen Chenowith, is stellar (even Heart would be proud) and Queen’s “Somebody to Love” has a decidedly Queen vibe. Neither one of these is the original, but the variation/transposition of the tune is spot-on for these choir. Flipping to a different decade (and genre,) the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hanging On” is excellent. Just when you think the club has been pigeonholed or decade-holed, they bust out something that’s a complete change of direction. For the record, there’s not much funnier than hearing Matthew Morrison rapping “Bust A Move.” It’s spot-on as well, but completely different from what you’d expect. Is it bad karaoke? That’s unfair. I think it’s more like the acapella remixes that one of the group’s on my college campus (shout out to the Octaves) dominated in the 1990s.
Neil Diamond and the cast of Wicked probably never imagined that they’d be on television quite like this or mentioned in the same sentence, but the Glee Cast has rocked their “Sweet Caroline” and “Defying Gravity” as well. Overall, the compilation bounces from place to place, never staying too long, but that’s the beauty of this genre-defying group and one that works.  Â
