Glee Cast- E.P. Blog Review

Album- Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna

Artist- Glee Cast

Once upon a time there was this little show called Glee that everyone loved and which was a global phenomenon, being a ratings and music success equally. Sadly the show has lost the fans that it once had, but there is no that the episode “The Power of Madonna” was a masterpiece of TV that integrated a pop icons back catalogue so well into the story line it would seem wrong to not have the songs. And these covers not only remind us of the greatness of Madonna but also brings a freshness and sense of the tracks being current.

Track 1- Express Yourself

The first track is a simple homage to the original song which talks about never going for second best and just showing/telling your lover how you feel. And whilst the happy shiny production of the track with it’s kind of reggae, jingle like beats sticks to the original, the combination of a variety of female vocals highlights the empowering nature pf the song and gives a new vitality to the track that a younger audience may identify with.

3.5/5

Track 2- Borderline/Open Your Heart

This mash up was in the context of the show a loving sing off kind of number between the two Glee club leaders which brimmed with a sense of I still have feelings for you even if I’m not dating you. And this definitely come through in just listening to the song, with the mash up working great in making it seem like lyrically and sonically the track has not changed.

3.5/5

Track 3- Vogue

Okay so this is funny in the context of the show and as the first time we heard Jane Lynch sing, but apart from that it’s just a homage to the original that isn’t that exciting, and s it is probably one of the worst tracks on the E.P.

2.5/5

Track 4- Like A Virgin (featuring Jonathan Groff)

This is another song in which faithfulness to the original can be tangibly observed, but within the context of the show and slightly just by listening to this version we can garner a new meaning to the song about the idea of the first time and what that means. And the intermingled vocals within the track work well in creating a kind of story and offering the idea of how sexual relations are a two way thought process and can be deep for both people.

3.5/5

Track 5- 4 Minutes

This track is quite refreshing in that it covers a more recent Madonna hit rather than an old classic, and so in this sense a more youthful edge to the track can already be heard, but with the vocal of Amber Riley and Chris Colfer this has a sense of a teen pop edge and is quirky in that the male part are sung by a female and vice versa, intriguing but also showing that the lyrics are just lyrics no matter who sings them. But whilst faithful to the original this version is cool in that it features a big band sound rather than the sleek pop production of the original and so not only works in the context of the show but works in reinventing the music just enough for us to be excited.

3.5/5

Track 6- What It Feels Like For A Girl

This is most definitely the best track on the entire E.P. It’s slow electro pop groove is very close to the original album version of the song, but with this Glee version a more sombre tone can perhaps be observed. But the best thing about this track is the male vocal, which strengthens the lyrical message of the song in a way Madonna just couldn’t with her original version, and giving that message of boys do actually understand the struggle of being a girl.

4/5

Track 7- Like A Prayer

The big finale of the episode is a big pop number that gives perhaps Madonna’s best known and best loved song a Glee makeover in that in this way the song becomes more abut the club banding together and inspiring a sense of unity within the listener rather than being the original feeling o the song, although this is not lost due to the emotional singing of some vocalists and the use of a choir that keeps a sense of faithfulness within the track. It’s epic in sound and a lush cover in that it holds just as much power as the original.

3.5/5

Track 8- Burning Up (featuring Jonathan Groff) (ITunes bonus track in the USA and UK)

The final track of the E.P. did not actually feature within the program but is a powerful pop number that sticks very close to the original, with the production being almost identical. However the most intriguing thing about the track is that it is sung completely by the male guest star Jonathan Groff, who brings a sexual, suave edge to the track that is a little bit different to the Madonna version. A nice end, if not groundbreaking.

2.5/5

Final Review

Great E.P. in that it works within the context of the show, creates some new and exciting twists on tracks but still remains faithful to the artists original work.

7/10