Professional Fangirl- Katelyn Benschoter
In September of 2009, a show called Glee came out. It follows a rag-tag group of high schoolers attempting to revive their high school glee club. The club ends up bringing high schoolers from all different social statuses together, and they bond over their shared love of music. The show went on for six seasons, totaling 121 episodes. The show is now known for some great covers and tackling many heavy themes. The show is still loved by many music and theater kids of today. Audience members love the show because they can see themselves or people they know in the characters in the show. We all knew a Rachel Berry in high school, right? If you are anything like me, anytime you hear a song they did a cover of on Glee, you shout “they did this on Glee!” Well, good news for Glee fans all around, because show creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed that there is a Glee reboot coming soon. It is hard to say how far they are in the process of creating the reboot, but hopefully the producers take notes, because these are the top ten songs that must be sung in the new reboot.
- First and foremost, what is Glee without a Rachel Berry ballad? The answer is nothing. “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo is screaming to be sung by Rachel Berry. The song builds, it’s dramatic and it has an impressive range. These are all qualities that Rachel loves in a song. I am unsure how exactly this will fit in plot wise in terms of Rachel’s love life, but they will find a way. This opportunity is just too good to pass up.
- This next point I feel very passionate about, and it is something that would change my life. The show over the years has featured a fair amount of musical theater, and they would be doing the reboot wrong if they did not feature one of the most historic musicals of the past ten years. This is of course Hamilton. I could see them using either “My Shot” or “Nonstop” as the current glee club gets ready for a competition.
- Another obvious pick for me is having Kurt sing a Chappell Roan song. What song exactly is tricky, but I just know he would kill many of them. I think I could see him doing “Good Luck Babe” or, depending on the status of him and Blaine, “The Subway.”
- I think they would not be doing the Glee reboot right if they did not work in a way for the cast to sing one of the most popular songs of the last few years, that song being “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. I think they could definitely do something clever with the line “I’m working late, because I’m a singer” perhaps as a way to catch us up to speed on what the previous glee club members are doing now. Regardless, I think it needs to be included.
- Another song that, if included, would change my life forever is Taylor Swift’s ten minute version of “All Too Well” and it would absolutely be the ten minute version. Rachel Berry would definitely be the one to sing it, because like myself, she is that dramatic. I feel like this is not as much of an automatic shoo-in for me in terms of what is most likely to be in the show, but this is the idea that excites me the most.
- I just could not make this list without selecting a song that one and only Sue Sylvester would sing in the reboot. The reboot would not be the same without her. And what song would Sue sing, besides a song that has her name in the title? I mean we all remember when Sue tries to marry herself right? So I am of course talking about Audrey Hobert’s “Sue Me.” Hearing this from Sue Sylvester would be the most iconic thing to ever happen, and I hope I get to see it happen.
- The next song I would love to see featured I have absolutely no guess on how it would fit into the show plot wise, but I just know that it would be done so well. This is the electro pop song “Midnight Sun” by Zara Larsson. I think Britney would especially do good with this piece and have an excuse to do a great dance number.
- As I have stated, it is unclear where exactly the reboot will pick up, but I imagine there will be a meeting between the previous Glee Club and the current Glee Club. The previous members could explain what they have been up to and I think that is where this next song could come in. That song is “Fame is a Gun” by Addison Rae, but think of Rachel Zegler’s cover of the song. It is dramatic, raw, and can act as a warning of how difficult show business is. I think this would work so well plot wise as well as vocally.
- If you have seen even one episode of the show you know that drama is key to the plot. A song I think would be perfect for a few of the main characters to sing— perhaps Quinn and Rachel— would be “Girl, so confusing” by Charli XCX featuring Lorde. The song depicts a complicated female friendship, and could act as a throwback to their “I Feel Pretty” and “Unpretty” mashup from season 2.
- For my last song I think should be included in the Glee reboot, it is from none other than Harry Styles himself. I think if Glee was around for Styles’ solo music, so many of his songs would have been featured. I think if I have to pick one I will be going with a classic “Sign of the Times.” I could see either Blaine or Jesse St. James absolutely killing this song. It reminds me of the iconic Bohemian Rhapsody moment that occurred in season 1 of the show.
Regardless of what ends up happening in the Glee reboot, I am excited. The show has stayed relevant for so long because of how fun and wild, yet real it is. One episode they are all dressed as Lady Gaga and the next they are tackling eating disorders, which seems like too much of a tonal shift, but it really does work. With so much new music and more hardships that young people are faced with, I am looking forward to the reboot, and can not wait to gain more details on when it will be coming out.