Our picks for the 15 most showstopping performances of the first 10 episodes of Glee season 2. Did your favorite make our list?
#15 ”Sing!”
Originally performed by: A Chorus Line
Glee-fied by: Mike Change and Tina Cohen-Chang
As heard on: “Duets”Two words: MIKE. CHANG. OK, just a few more words: Tina and Mike proved that you don’t have to have Rachel Berry’s pipes to put on a showstopping performance. Killer dance moves, silly lyrics and infectious couple chemistry help a lot, too.
#14 ”Forget You”
Originally performed by: Cee-Lo Green
Glee-fied by: Holly Holiday (Gwyneth Paltrow)
As heard on: “The Substitute”Censorship issues aside, Gwynnie wooed everyone on and off-screen with this playful cover that proved her character’s “top 40” hipness. But more than that, it proved that Paltrow had the energy and vocal chops to hold her own on Glee. Because of said censorship issues, we really wanted to hate this cover … but that was impossible. (Well, some of us still hate it.) But that shows the choice had guts, and most of us came back around and loved the performance instead.
#13 ”Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
Originally performed by: Elton John and Kiki Dee
Glee-fied by: Rachel and Finn
As heard on: “Duets”Ah, the days when Rachel and Finn were happily in love! This was a fun duet that totally captured the playful relationship between Finchel at the time–so fun that it inspired more than a few of us to put it on our karaoke to-do list immediately. Rachel and Finn totally would have been contenders for the Breadstix prize if they hadn’t ditched this Elton John/Kiki Dee classic for the “offensive” “Born Again.”
#12 ”The Only Exception”
Originally performed by: Paramore
Glee-fied by: Rachel Berry
As heard on: “Britney/Brittany”Rachel may do terrible things to … well, pretty much everyone, but darn it if she can’t turn around and make it up to them (and us) with a beautiful ballad. The combo of a lovely song, Lea Michele’s pure, controlled vocals and the emotional resonance of the lyrics for Rachel and Finn made this number a delightful, meaningful cap on an otherwise rather nonsensical episode.
#11 ”Telephone”
Originally performed by: Lady Gaga and Beyonce
Glee-fied by: Rachel and Sunshine Corazon (Charice)
As heard on: “Audition”CHARICE! Short-lived as her appearance as Sunshine was, at least it produced this hilarious, epic diva-off in the girls’ bathroom. And just when we thought it couldn’t get better, Sue busted in and yelled “SHUT UP!” So awesome.
#10 ”Me Against the Music”
Originally performed by: Britney Spears
Glee-fied by: Brittany and Santana
As heard on: “Britney/Brittany”This episode introduced us to the quadruple threat that is the glorious Heather Morris, and her many talents were never on better display than in this dream sequence with her #1 partner in crime, Santana. Double sultry voices and sexy pantsuits, a mid-song dance-off, and a Britney Spears cameo: What’s not to love about “Me Against the Music”?
#9 ”Marry You”
Originally performed by: Bruno Mars
Glee-fied by: The Glee Club
As heard on: “Furt”Sure, the wedding aisle group dance thing has been done before. But who cares? This number was one of the purest moments of joy and celebration that we’ve ever seen on Glee, and the fun, romantic energy of the song suited the club and the moment perfectly. It doesn’t get more feel-good Glee than this.
#8 ”Le Jazz Hot”
Originally performed by: Victor/Victoria
Glee-fied by: Kurt Hummel
As heard on: “Duets” Very few people could sing by themselves in a duets competition. Even fewer could take on a jazz number, dress in half-drag, put on a Broadway-worthy show and still make it the vocals that shine in the performance. And that is exactly what Kurt Hummel/Chris Colfer did with “Le Jazz Hot,” and boy(/girl), was it epic.
#7 ”Dog Days Are Over”
Originally performed by: Florence and the Machine
Glee-fied by: The Glee Club
As heard on: “Special Education”Warm and fuzzies like woah! We can never get enough Mercedes and Tina, and they killed it in the final performance of the sectionals episode with this joyous group rendition of “Dog Days are Over.” It was loud, proud and jubilant–just as it should have been.
#6 ”(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” / ”Valerie”
Originally performed by: Bill Medley/Jennifer Warnes, Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse
Glee-fied by: The Glee Club
As heard on: “Special Education”Each of these songs were great performances on their own–but together they were an incredible pair that sealed the team’s sectionals win (OK, their tie). The sweet, restrained chemistry between Sam and Quinn slowly built up to the feel-good climax of “Time of My Life,” and then the energy erupted in the smooth and able voice of Santana with “Valerie,” backed up beautifully by the club’s vocals and Brittany and Mike’s sick dance moves. It was a back-to-back blast.
#5 ”Toxic”
Originally performed by: Britney Spears
Glee-fied by: The Glee Club and Will Schuester
As heard on: “Britney/Brittany”Forget about the Will Schuester creepiness factor for a moment, as well as all the obnoxious audience interruptions. This performance was glorious, made even more so by the major changes to the song thanks to the mixture of strong male and female voices, especially Will’s. In an episode of pretty straight-forward covers, it was only once the club strayed from Ms. Spears’ version that they achieved true greatness.
#4 ”Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy”
Originally performed by: Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand
Glee-fied by: Rachel and Kurt
As heard on: “Duets”It didn’t feel like we were watching Rachel and Kurt perform this gorgeous Garland-Streisand mashup, it felt like we were watching Lea and Chris, doing what they do best and loving every moment of it. And the thing is, that made this performance by Rachel and Kurt somehow feel even more genuine, like they finally transcended their petty differences and just let themselves be carried away by the beauty of the song and its message. And we got carried away right along with them.
#3 ”River Deep, Mountain High”
Originally performed by: Ike & Tina Turner
Glee-fied by: Mercedes and Santana
As heard on: “Duets”This number proved that, when it comes to divas on Glee, there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing. Santana and Mercedes sang and danced the crap out of this one, and their voices go so well together. If you ask us, they should have won the duets competition for this one. It was the most epic performance we’ve ever seen happen in the Glee choir room.
#2 ”I Want to Hold Your Hand”
Originally performed by: The Beatles
Glee-fied by: Kurt Hummel
As heard on: “Grilled Cheesus”It may be the most emotional and powerful moment the show has ever produced. In an episode that pressed some hot buttons about religion, Kurt’s solo performance of this Beatles classic was an oasis of genuine, heart-felt emotion for his ailing father. Chris Colfer has never been better as Kurt: Visibly hurting, almost on the brink of tears, but still hitting the pure, powerful soprano that gives us chills.
#1 ”Teenage Dream”
Originally performed by: Katy Perry
Glee-fied by: Blaine and the Dalton Warblers
As heard on: “Never Been Kissed”It’s a bit weird that Glee produced its best performance the season so far with a character who had been introduced just seconds before, backed by a group from a rival school. Weird, and impressive. Maybe it’s because Blaine and his Warblers took a less-than-tolerable cheesy pop love song, “Teenage Dream,” and turned it into an amazing acapella anthem dedicated to the star of the season, Kurt. We fell in love with Blaine alongside Kurt during this performance, and we saw exactly what Blaine meant when he called his group the “rockstars” of Dalton: They did the song better than Katy did. And the millions of iTunes users who rushed to buy up the cover clearly agree.
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