The value of glee in our world
Musically, the world doesn’t need any C & W Rap. Or heavy metal waltzes. Instead, let’s protect the classics. From the 70s and 80s.
Tonight, Glee decided to use Rumours by Fleetwood Mac as their bed. A whole hour (less commercial breaks that put the brakes on things, over and over). An album released in 1977 according to the database at Allmusic.com, just to keep things in context. An album released before Mr Shue was born… an album that was already worn out in vinyl before any of the “teenagers” in the cast were available, for anything. Classical music, without a single oboe or viola to test the autotuning.
I thought the choice was great. The new song versions would be welcome on my iPod (if I had one). No amateur hour here, what with a guest appearance by Kristin Chenoweth, on loan from a Broadway stage for the week. Let’s send praise where it belongs. Two seasons in the can, and Glee has taken the premise of “musical youth” to new levels. Great production standards. Gripping story lines (OK, a bit of hyperbole).
The generation that lives by Much Music playlists (my generation?) might be put off by the impossible premise of a school where the piano player (furniture, according to Santana) is always ready. A local high school, where “slushie attacks” don’t provoke police lock downs. It doesn’t matter. Without a Sunday evening of Ed Sullivan, where else will the youth of today learn about the artistic place of show tunes?
May the show live on; just not in syndication.
