Glee is the show of the season

Glee is the title of the hottest TV show in town. It airs 8 p.m., Mondays on Jack TV and at 10 p.m., Tuesdays on etc. The word is glee as in happiness, which might describe some episodes. But it is actually glee, as used in glee club, the choir where kids learn how to sing in school.

Creator Ryan Murphy, who also came up with Nip/Tuck, hit the jackpot with a concept with lots of possibilities. For one, when the glee club is the center of the plot, you can have lots of kids running around. With that the field is open to domestic problems, intrigues, rivalries and romantic entanglements as in Gossip Girl or 90210. Then because Glee is not a Disney show, it can go into edgy territory and that includes unwed pregnancies and gay issues.

For another, because Glee is about a glee club, there are plenty opportunities to use popular songs in the score or in performances as in High School Musical or American Dreams. Glee, though, is nothing like these music driven shows. For one it is not a musical in the sense that the cast will break into song and dance in any setting or situation. It is also not like American Dreams, which is fixed on a single era, the ‘60s, and where the songs almost always emanate from a telecast of American Bandstand. This I believe though is what provides AD most of its highlights. It is such fun to watch today’s stars perform as ‘60s pop idols. Think Usher as Marvin Gaye or LeAnn Rimes as Connie Francis.

But back to Glee. The musical numbers in the show are integrated into the plot. That means that as in real life, these only happen during music class, rehearsals or in the actual performance. Then because of the present-day setting and the variety of singing talents in the cast, it is open season for all sorts of songs. And that means anything, from Broadway, Don’t Rain On My Parade to rock, Avril Lavigne’s Keep Holding On, to hip-hop, Bust A Move from Charlie Chaplin, Smile to Lily Allen with her own Smile and so forth.

The overall effect is touching, funny and surprisingly inspiring and Glee has now become a top-rater in many parts of the world. It has also spawned a new batch of pop idols, who with the release of the Glee soundtrack, have also become singing stars.

The soundtrack for Season One comes in two separate CDs and is now available in the local stores.

Some fanatics for the show will complain about favorites that were not included or why this version and not that. But who cares about those. What I like about these CDs is the diverse line-up, the songs come from everywhere and because kids love the show, it serves as an introduction to oldies and show tunes. The singing, while not always at par with American Idol finalists, is for the most part, earnest and heartfelt.

Finn singing REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling gives you goosebumps and you can hip-hop to Mr. Schuester’s version of Gold Digger. He also has this great duet of Air Supply’s Alone with April. Rachel’s Taking Chances is moving and she and Finn are enchanting in their duet of Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks’ No Air. I am sure you will also love the tango take on Bust Your Windows by aspiring diva Mercedes.

You will also find Don’t Stop Believing, Take A Bow, Somebody To Love, Hate On Me, You Keep Me Hanging On, Keep Holding On, Sweet Caroline, Dancing With Myself, Defying Gravity and a big surprise in the Broadway showstopper by Liza Minneli, Maybe This Time by Rachel and April in Volume One of the soundtrack.

Volume Two has a more eclectic and even more enjoyable line-up. There are ’60s pop, Proud Mary, ‘60s soul Lean On Me, the Dream Girls aria, And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, ‘80s rock Jump, and even something by The Beatles, Imagine.

Also included are Endless Love, Don’t Stand So Close To Me/ Young Girl Medley, Crush, I’ll Stand By You, You’re Having My Baby, Don’t Make Me Over, True Colors, You Can’t Always Get What You Want and My Life Would Suck Without You.