GLEE – IT’S A PHENOMENUM!
The Glee takeover has begun… after one ratings busting airing of the Glee pilot and Episode 1 on E4 (UK) and TV3 (IE), seven tracks are already in the Top 75 of the single chart, including the Glee casts recording of Don’t Stop Believin’ at #6 and tipped to go even higher.
The US TV show has become both a total sensation since airing last year and is now the most talked about programme of the year enjoying blanket media coverage. With a unique mix of twisted humour, a cast of amazingly diverse characters, a fantastic genre defying soundtrack and bursting with show-stopping musical numbers with a plot that defies any usual rules, “GLEE” is a total must see and listen – delight.
Co-Creator and Nip/Tuck writer Ryan Murphy defines the show’s title “GLEE” as “malicious optimism”, which sums up the tone of the show perfectly. A prime time comedy featuring all singing and dancing social outcasts, pregnant cheerleaders, idiot jocks and wannabe divas to name a few, it has also caused a massive buzz by the unique way it has sold its music on a weekly basis two tracks at a time on the back of every episode. The songs covered in the show are equally eclectic, with the cast performing songs by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, Rhianna, Queen, Salt’n’Pepa, Heart and even tracks from “Cabaret” and ” Wicked”.
A complete revolution in US music sales, “Don’t Stop Believin’”, the Journey hit sung by the cast in the first episode, exploded on iTunes selling over 500,000 copies and entered The Billboard Hot 100 at No. 4. Since then, with new tracks being released on a weekly basis on the back of each new episode, the "GLEE" Cast have sold over 3 million downloads in the US alone. The first soundtrack album released on Columbia Records, “GLEE: The Music Volume 1” has also been a huge success debuting at no 4 in the Billboard album chart in November and is set for release in Ireland 12th February 2010 & in the UK on the 15th Feb.
The season runs on E4 & TV3 (Ire) through until the end of June, airings for GLEE are as follows:
TV3, Wednesdays 8pm, Sundays from 5.30pm
3e, All New Episode, Fridays 9pm
E4, Mondays from 9pm.
