This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Andrew: We've got a mission to find the best song that's ever been on Glee.

[0:09] Andrew: There's no rhyme or reason to it, so don't get mad at me.

[0:18] Andrew: Gleek it by Gleek it, we'll rank everyone to see which song will move closer to spot number one.

[0:26] Andrew: Gleek of the Week, Gleek, Gleek, Gleek of the Week. It's Gleek, Gleek of the Week.

[0:36] Andrew: Hey guys, we're here with the August live stream of 2026 and I'm here with an iconic Gleek that like people there are some Gleeks that come on live stream episodes that are like wait I actually need to hear more from this Gleek they have so much to say and so many correct opinions. She just said yes her name is Calloway. Um hey Calloway how are you?

[1:12] Calloway: Hey Andrew, I'm doing so good and it is an honor to be back. Last time I was on I feel like I really came in strong with some big Rachel Berry energy about me and I'm happy to deliver that again but also I'm feeling a little more subdued. I've got my first time jitters out, um so I'm really happy to be here.

[1:31] Andrew: You had a dissertation it's been a- when was that? When was that? Like at some point early you know I'm gonna say something and it's gonna be wrong. It was not a year ago but it was some time ago. I wish we recorded it and released it wherever podcasts were found if only.

[1:48] Calloway: You know I bet you could find it wherever podcasts are found. Um yeah I really yeah. Amazing. The notes, the notes were prolific I will say. What is the spark note version of um here's what you missed on Gleek of the Week pod? What was remind me what we discussed about what was your competition?

[2:10] Calloway: Um well we it was a live stream episode I was a guest I remember introducing the concept of the pholo crisis to you which we didn't fully get into but um every time a Finn solo has been picked I've disagreed with whichever way you voted um so that's a real sticking point for me. And pholos are now dead not to jump into grievances but I imagine.

[2:35] Calloway: Oh Andrew I know the pholos are all dead. I just you didn't have it in you to vote correctly on a single pholo and now they're all gone so I can't help you with that.

[2:41] Andrew: I did vote, I did vote for and I'm sure that I've said this in maybe a recorded fashion before but um I did vote for Just the Way You Are season two which I love.

[2:52] Calloway: Andrew I'm not saying that you've never voted for a pholo I'm saying that every time a pholo came up, yeah you voted the way I would not have voted so like you voted through some pholos but in

[3:07] Calloway: I voted where the pholos should have lost.

[3:14] Calloway: Yes yes that's why it's a real crisis, it's a real crisis and it's why we're in this predicament now. Um we also you know we discussed my we've sent through um the there are worse things I could do trio which was a mega slay.

[3:29] Andrew: Yes wait that was against what in your episode?

[3:35] Calloway: You know Andrew that's such a good question and I did re-listen to that. I did in fact re-listen to the episode quite recently it was a nail-biter for me I remember it being hard for me but we don't wait we don't know off the top of our heads it was it was it was um Nicki Minaj discourse it was it was um oh and I love Sue it was Sue yeah yeah I still believe Super Bass uh-huh the Super Bass of it all.

[3:59] Andrew: Okay wow my favorite character on Glee for the record I remember you I this is what I do remember yeah this is where my memory is serving is that you brought up that you know Sue as a character is not captured well through the performances of course but I remember you bringing up like Dear Journals of Sue's that like if if we were putting up Dear Journals against Dromp then like that would be a much more meatier conversation than say Little Girls versus Dromp.

[4:25] Calloway: Exactly yeah yeah Sue's just never gonna really do numbers on the glock in the way it is structured but I do give Sue a little bit of um a little bit of zhuzh in my upcoming segment so you'll be happy to hear.

[4:39] Andrew: I feel like we we're laying up the segment though.

[4:45] Calloway: We are kind of laying out the segment because I just like I do think that Sue is such a strong character who is underused and I don't really use her to her full extent here but I use the chaotic. Tell us what you're talking about.

[5:03] Calloway: Yeah so something I feel like we've strayed from in Glocketing which is no one's fault Andrew you're a busy man um but I do miss the days when like a new Olivia Rodrigo album or Taylor Swift album or whatever would come out and we'd be like full pitch deck like let's write an outline of the spec script that we're gonna turn in to freaking Ian right now and it's gonna be the script of if we had to make an episode based on this.

[5:34] Andrew: I don't know.

[5:41] Calloway: Wait before you go any further yeah you you did the assignment and can I just say you you done the you did the assignment with?

[5:47] Calloway: This is the Lizzie McGuire Move Glee.

[5:54] Andrew: The Lizzie McGuire Move Glee and yes and how much time because like I remember doing those and I remember just being like I needed to be perfect I'm spending far too much time on this I my time could be better used elsewhere specifically when it comes to Glockasting that like how much time maybe I'm I'm speaking in a different language than you and you were able to do this quite quickly but how long did it take you?

[6:20] Calloway: I busted out in like an hour.

[6:27] Andrew: Okay okay that's pretty good.

[6:32] Calloway: It's not it's not that there's only one part where I actually like wrote down lines people would say then it's just an outline it's just a concept of a plan as we go on it's the beats.

[6:40] Andrew: Yes yeah okay.

[6:45] Calloway: But for those who I hope everyone is old enough to have watched the Lizzie McGuire movie but I'm afraid we don't live in that world anymore Andrew.

[6:52] Andrew: You know that that's not true yeah.

[6:58] Calloway: Okay so Hilary Duff is having a bit of a resurgence and Hilary Duff I mean before Hilary Duff was my culture right before Glee came out like Hilary Duff sort of held my hand as I graduated into Glee you understand.

[7:08] Calloway: Yeah um so this is mostly loosely based on the Lizzie McGuire movie which I just saw I just got back from Rome. I it's it's really perfect timing I it was so hot so I did spend one day in the hotel room just watching the movie instead of exploring Rome.

[7:25] Andrew: Yeah um that's part of vacation so yeah so yeah it's mostly kind of the plot of the Lizzie McGuire movie but I take some real liberties at certain junctures. I'm really excited thank you for kind of dusting off this segment. I think we need to bring it back. This is my pitch this is what keeps it fresh.

[7:42] Calloway: So in terms of time it's like I don't know it's somewhere before everyone graduates but you really can't hold me to the logic of like who's dating and who's broken up. So I'm imagining it's like summer or some sort of spring break situation because the Glee Club breaking news has been contracted to do a grand tour of four cities of America. Think Toledo, Peoria, Flagstaff. They're so excited you know um and for the last stop of the tour um Miss Rachel Berry, never one to pass up the opportunity she has not actually been given accidentally books everyone some non-refundable flights to not Paris, Texas but rather Paris, France.

[8:31] Calloway: She says she says yes oui oui um so just ignore the fact that like passport control has somehow let this happen. They the Glee no one has paid attention that their flight is hours longer than they expected. The Glee Club has landed. They are at the gate Will Schuster in frame with the kids behind him trying to explain to the gate agent like why are we in Paris.

[9:01] Calloway: Rachel being like um this is the you saw the Netflix movie The Wrong Paris, uh right was that what it was called like they they got a similar mix up that who was in that movie?

[9:15] Andrew: The Wrong Paris.

[9:19] Calloway: The Wrong Paris yeah I don't know well I mean I feel like it's classic it's like Paris and there's one other one right I where you can like go but anyway yeah okay Miranda Cosgrove is she in The Wrong Paris?

[9:27] Andrew: Okay she is yes the more we know um so imagine Will's doing this and then who should strut down the runway in a pilot's uniform de-planing but none other than Sue Sylvester.

[9:43] Calloway: That's right Sue oh hi William did you just pilot our plane? Sure did thought about crashing when I saw the roster but I've got bread to eat and Frenchies to kiss so I decided to deliver us safely and then she goes on uh back in the 90s I decided I had no interest in being crammed into a metal tube with all you mouth breathers one day I had enough I said I'm smart I'm capable I'm taller than you so why not?

[10:05] Calloway: Rachel jumps in through their little conversation she says Coach Sylvester thank you so much for getting us here I do appreciate your can-do aptitude she says Rachel ordinarily I would find this blatant kiss-assery grand misappropriation of school funds as well as crossing for borders without permission insufferable but those three bottles of eucalypto I pounded over the Atlantic have got me feeling downright expansive follow me Americanos.

[10:31] Calloway: Sue and Rachel lead the Glee Club in a rousing rendition of why not down the streets of gay Paris and I included this because my two favorite characters are Sue and Rachel and they never can really do anything together so they don't do any and they kind of let let's actually talk about this right now same they're they're the same character kind of like two sides of the same crazy coin that like um and also what kind of pisses me off about not to go like on a tangent in the middle of your beautiful episode so far no please like we've only framed it up but um in in the opening night episode I I think that the Rachel rant is so unearned that I'm like girl you haven't even talked to this woman ever no like you you had that one kind of like thing with her and come back in season two but like no girl you are you are not at the same level as like say Santana with this woman no no and I what I wish that there could have been some sort of scene at some point like Sue and Rachel are very much like similar like Sue's almost just a more evolved version of Rachel in that they are two women who get what they want yeah like they are and it's like very interesting that there was never any sort of because they are like the Sue Rachel and Will when you really boil it down are sort of like the anchors whatever Sue and Rachel need a so I need a little number and they leave and it's not gonna be who are you now let's just say that that's not really what we're doing that's not what we want and I like this because it's like you know how when you're in a new country it's like crazy it's like this is almost fever dream like why is Sue a pilot and also Sue's singing like it really sets us up that this is not your normal Glee you know what I mean this is this is the spring spring breakers Glee.

[12:30] Calloway: Yeah yeah yeah yeah so they are doing this super fun number you know imagine them doing Paris it's very like the New York number but make it Paris and I need to sow a seed right here very subtle it should be shown not told Tina feels sick she's gonna feel sick this entire episode and it'll come out so I love planting the seeds of sick Tina yeah I love that okay Tina is ill.

[12:55] Calloway: So the next morning they're all doing something they're hanging out outside the Louvre I don't know popper oh wait no no no uh they do have to solve the issue of where to stay good thing sugar mata pops up and is like oh well why don't we just go to the family chateau uh-huh next morning we're out here the paparazzi are swarming the Glee Club Rachel of course thinks it's for her she's unfortunately mistaken they are swarming none other than Miss Quinn Fabre who they believe is the spitting image of a French pop star this is my one true fail I couldn't come up with a good name but we got to give Ryan Murphy a job so come up with a fun name for this French pop star who looks just like Quinn um I know that he's gonna do something up really great yes come on he's a smart kid um so Rachel throws a little dig which also gives us context and sets up the episode in a way she's like Quinn I just think it's so funny that they're mistaking you for her you know she got famous for having this big bold powerful voice out of such a tiny little.

[14:02] Andrew: Welcome back to Gleek of the Week! We are live, and I am so excited to have Calloway back with us today as co-host.

[14:32] Calloway: Hi everyone! I'm thrilled to be here and I have a special Hilary Duff tribute episode that I wrote myself.

[15:02] Andrew: That sounds amazing! I can't wait to hear it.

[15:32] Calloway: I also have a grievance with the Glacket grievances that I want to discuss.

[16:02] Jack: Oh, I can't wait to hear about that!

[16:32] Taylor: Yes, let's dive into that.

[17:02] Andrew: So, what do we have on the agenda today?

[17:32] Calloway: Well, we have some great songs to discuss, including "Ain't No Way," "Halo/Walking on Sunshine," and "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You."

[18:02] Andrew: Those are some classics!

[18:32] Jack: And don't forget "Will You Love Me Tomorrow/Head Over Feet."

[19:02] Taylor: I love that one!

[19:32] Andrew: Alright, let's get started with the first performance.

[20:02] ♪ Musical number: "Ain't No Way" — performed by the Glee Cast ♪

[20:32] Andrew: That was fantastic! What did everyone think?

[21:02] Calloway: I loved the emotion in that performance.

[21:32] Jack: The harmonies were on point!

[22:02] Taylor: I agree, it really showcased their vocal abilities.

[22:32] Andrew: Next up, we have "Halo/Walking on Sunshine."

[23:02] ♪ Musical number: "Halo/Walking on Sunshine" — performed by the Glee Cast ♪

[23:32] Andrew: That was such a fun mashup!

[24:02] Calloway: I love how they blended those two songs together.

[24:32] Jack: It really brought a lot of energy to the episode.

[25:02] Taylor: Definitely!

[25:32] Andrew: Now, let's move on to "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You."

[26:02] ♪ Musical number: "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" — performed by the Glee Cast ♪

[26:32] Andrew: What a catchy tune!

[27:02] Calloway: I love the choreography in that performance.

[27:32] Jack: It was so much fun to watch!

[28:02] Taylor: I can't get that song out of my head now!

[28:05] Andrew: I said it don't be mad at it. But um, yeah, in terms of like, what I will bring up as a grievance. Uh-huh. I don't even think I need to say it because the very first thing I said on this podcast. The people, Jack, who's about to be one of the Gleeks on this month's episode is said into the chat. OMG, I feel so much pressure now. Jack, this is a PSA moving forward. Like, it's okay. After this episode, know that it's on site. But this episode, you're fine. It's just like, listen, because look, listen, I think that the only thing I will bring up, I think you're already upset enough with yourself about it, Andrew, like based on competition since then. The very first thing I said in our episode together of one of my all-time favorite songs on Glee is like a prayer.

And I think that that was really messed up what you did. But there's been backpedaling on how that vote went, I've noticed in the discourse in future episodes. And yeah, I just I will say I, I'm very, like, personally attached to some things. But there's again, there's nothing I could come on here and deliver you a true rant that I feel like you really messed up. Not that just I would have passionately voted for something differently. And I'll leave it there for the Gleeks to absorb. Just sit with that. Yeah, sit with that. You've given us so much to already taken. I almost feel like the episodes over and yet it's only simply beginning. And yeah, it's only simply beginning. Let's bring in our first Gleek this month. Jack, hello.

[29:53] Jack: Hello, Jack.

[29:55] Andrew: Oh my god. Jack, are you ready? Jack, are you? And then he's also wearing his Quinn Gagabat romance.

[30:02] Jack: Yeah.

[30:04] Andrew: Love it. Grievance versus voting disagreement. That is stressing me out now not to jump the gun, but Jack, pretend you didn't hear it. Pretend you didn't hear a damn thing. Wait, before we go any further, you might recognize Jack's voice because Jack has been on the podcast once before in a live stream setting again, but he was here for an iconic matchup with Lena. Jack, do you want to remind Gleeks what the competition was?

[30:33] Jack: Yeah, I don't. Like, how can I forget? So that was round two? Yeah, end of round two.

[30:38] Andrew: It was round two.

[30:39] Jack: That would have been like, I think almost two years ago now, which is absolutely insane.

[30:43] Andrew: Crazy.

[30:44] Jack: That was Paradise by The Dashboard Light versus Survive, I Will Survive. And I feel like I know that we all voted in, like, we all voted for Survive, I Will Survive, but I feel like I take so much responsibility for that going through because I, the absolute, like, pressure that I felt, like, that that was too, in that episode, I listed those as, like, two of my top three, in my top three favorite songs, and they matched up against each other.

[31:08] Andrew: Yeah.

[31:09] Jack: Calloway, you kind of said this before, like, the first time coming onto the Glackett, the nerves, the adrenaline, it was just so much going on. The immense calm down I felt after finishing that recording was crazy because the adrenaline was just too much, but I...

[31:22] Andrew: Well, because we also, sorry to interrupt.

[31:25] Jack: No.

[31:26] Andrew: You're, like, just like now, you're just beginning your day.

[31:31] Jack: Yes.

[31:31] Andrew: Right?

[31:32] Jack: Yeah, I was meant to work after that.

[31:32] Andrew: So, like, you had to, like, live the rest of your day. Yeah, you had to go into work after doing that competition.

[31:37] Jack: The rest of us, for the most part, just go to sleep and we start a new day. We start fresh.

[31:45] Andrew: Or drink heavily, depending on how the competition goes.

[31:47] Jack: Yeah, I had to sit with that for the entire day and rethink my choices.

[31:52] Andrew: Crazy, going into the Zoom call with that on your mind.

[31:54] Jack: Yeah, yeah. But yes, that was a stressful competition. I'm really hoping that nothing that intense happens again today.

[32:00] Andrew: Yeah.

[32:04] Jack: Maybe, maybe it will, maybe it won't. Wait, Calloway, between...

[32:07] Andrew: Maybe this time.

[32:09] Jack: Both songs are back. They're eligible to be pulled. Survivor, I Will Survive and Paradise by The Dashboard Light. Calloway, between those two, what gets your vote?

[32:20] Calloway: So, something else we discussed. I'm not a Paradise writer-dyer. Like, it's fine to me. Until this podcast, I didn't understand that we as a community were so obsessed with it. My beef is that Survivor, I Will Survive, in my opinion, should have lost in round one. It contributed to the freaking FOLO crisis by beating Can't Fight This Feeling. But it goes back. It goes deep. I am always thinking about the FOLO crisis. Honestly, that would be a competition that would be very difficult for me. No one is shouting out Can't Fight This Feeling. I love you for bringing that up right now. Can't Fight This Feeling, actually, the shot, let's talk about it. The shot above the showerhead, where it's him singing, it's beautiful.

Cinematography, it's a beautiful shot. It's quintessential early season. It's the beauty of high school that they really capture in those early seasons where they make being... I could go on about the FOLO crisis. But those are two, that would be a very difficult competition for me, not because either of them are like my girls, but because they're sort of what I consider both objective excellence with very little subjective weight for me. My heart isn't being pulled in one direction by either. So it would be really like a...

[33:47] Jack: So you'd be like a perfect candidate for that competition.

[33:52] Calloway: Yeah, I think why it was so hard, because it was so early for a matchup like that to happen. And I think that now we're in round four, I think that I probably would change my vote, which is hard to say. I think that I would maybe push more for Paradise, just because I think that we can give... And I think in these rounds, it's been good hearing guests and give their flowers to these songs without pushing them through. And so I think it's like if, fingers crossed, it doesn't happen. But if Survive I Will Survive were to lose to Paradise by the dashboard light, if that gets pulled today, which hopefully it doesn't, I think that's an okay send-off because we can celebrate it and then push through one of the best New Directions group numbers to future rounds.

[34:36] Andrew: Yeah. Which again, it features so many voices.

[34:41] Calloway: Oh, so you like the New Directions more than the Treble Tones. Oh, so you hate women.

[34:48] Andrew: And I would say it again. I'll say it again. Wait, so a lot of GLAAC aggrievances have passed, have happened in the past two years. Jack, what GLAAC aggrievances do you have to share at this moment?

[35:01] Jack: I do. I'll be quiet.

[35:03] Andrew: No, I mean, look, I could rant and I probably will. I think there's quite a few competitions that I certainly have agreed with, but I won't go through all of them. I think the biggest one, and it's actually been brought up recently, which is good, is Diva vs. Problem. Is Diva vs. Problem in round three. I hate it. It makes me so sad.

[35:18] Calloway: Problem winning.

[35:25] Jack: Problem won. It makes me so sad that Diva's still longer here. Problem is still around. Yeah. And I remember listening to that episode and thinking, I feel like, okay, I can't remember the guesswork, but I remember, all I remember is that Andrew, I feel like you could afford harder. That's all I'm going to say. I know that you do so many of these and you can't, you know, fight for everything.

[35:45] Andrew: I could have fought harder. I probably could have.

[35:49] Jack: Because I feel like when Problem was pulled, like in that round and the previous round, I feel like it was getting like the send-off discussion, right? Like it was very much, time is done for this song, get it out of here. There's better, you know, unholy trinity numbers. And then the fact that it went through over Diva, which is, I think one of the most, I think it's the best Beyonce cover on the show. Cover. There's not many, but it's definitely the best. I think so. And, you know, the, like, in season four, one of the best season four numbers, four voices, four characters that don't ever sing together. Like, it just has everything about it. I think it's just amazing.

[36:26] Calloway: Yeah.

[36:26] Jack: And I love the runway set that they built for that number. I love the, them getting ready with like each of them having like someone helping them get ready. I thought it was very, very fun. The entire thing is like such a great sequence to get ready into the Diva episode too.

[36:45] Calloway: Yeah. And I feel like compared to other group numbers, I feel like, cause you've got what it's Blaine, Tina, Unique and Britney all on the track, right? I think it's just the four of them.

[36:56] Jack: It's just the four.

[36:57] Calloway: Yeah. There's more in the number, but those four sing. I think that they all get their moment to shine and that doesn't always happen equally in other group numbers. So I really like that about that one. So sad that that's no longer here, but it is what it is.

[37:11] Andrew: Is that, wait, is that your list? Is that the only one?

[37:15] Jack: I've got more.

[37:16] Andrew: Oh, okay.

[37:17] Jack: Well, the other two, the other two are more just like, just, I feel it's just sad that that has happened. So I understand when Heather Morris is on the podcast, we do what she wants. I understand that. Disco Inferno versus We Are Young. I'm sorry, Mercedes is my number one, Disco Inferno top tier Mercedes solo, but We Are Young should still be here. I'm sorry. It's for my favourite episode, 116. I think it's one of the best final end of episode group numbers. It's just, it's sad to me that it's no longer here. And I love the, the Quinn grabbing. She, she like takes Mercedes over, right? Like she kind of like dances her back over into the new directions. It's, it's really sweet.

[38:01] Calloway: Yeah. Sorry. And the last one is I like, I just don't know how I would avoid it. And I'm glad that I didn't was in round four, a few episodes ago, Nasty Rhythm Nation and Sweet Transvestite. Again, Mercedes solo, love. I think it's such an, I think it's pretty well appreciated, but I think it is a little bit underrated in, in terms of the other solos out there. I was surprised to have been the only vote for Sweet Transvestite. I think I already spoke so much about it in the episode itself, but like, it's, it's, I think it's just so inspired what they, what they could do with Amber Riley's voice as well in that character. I just thought that really spoke really highly. And Nasty Rhythm Nation, I know you and I both Jacob Artis, pulls a lot of strings.

But, you know, I don't know, it's Sweet Transvestite for me. And I love Nasty Rhythm Nation. I'm really, I'm glad that it's going through. I'd probably still would have voted Sweet Transvestite, but I'm not mad that it's there. I think it's probably the best or one of the best season five. So I think that representation at least for future rounds is good. That's good.

[39:05] Andrew: Yeah. I love it. And what are you, what are you hoping to see? You're not hoping to see those two baddies against each other again?

[39:10] Jack: Hopefully not. I look, I think I would like an easy competition. I think there's a few songs in the remaining songs to the left. I think there's a few that probably, like, I like, but I feel like they could not go through to the next round. So I kind of want to be here to be able to push through one of those. So I've wrote down three. That's how I feel.

[39:34] Andrew: Okay, well, hopefully we're on the same page then. Which songs are you feeling that way about? I mean, this is asking a lot, but are there any specific ones?

[39:42] Jack: Yeah. So I think that, Andrew, I might be mistaken. I feel like in another episode, you said that you weren't a big fan of Keep Holding on season one. Is that right?

[39:52] Andrew: I don't like Keep Holding on season one.

[39:55] Jack: Okay. I don't know what it is.

[39:59] Calloway: We need that to come through. Calloway, how do you feel about that one?

[40:08] Calloway: I would probably vote it through just on like Glee Project nostalgia, depending on what it's up against. Like it pulls those strings for me, which is a whole other layer of comedy in my brain. Just the Glee Project as a concept.

[40:15] Jack: Yeah, I think that, I agree. I think that to me, Keep Holding on is like quintessential season one. And I feel like it doesn't get brought up much.

[40:25] Andrew: Yeah. So I think it is so drama. If it were to go out this round, I wouldn't, you know, be that upset. But I think that it should go more and I would like to fight for that one.

[40:35] Calloway: I want to see the light with Keep Holding on. Like, I think that there is definitely like, I want to be sold on it. I don't think that I'm just, I'm not sold on it yet, is the thing.

[40:45] Jack: Wait, Andrew, I have this memory. Did I send you a video of like drunk karaoke once of me and Dan, my partner, us singing Keep Holding on? I think that happened. And I've just remembered that now.

[40:57] Andrew: Probably. I don't recall it, but it likely could have happened.

[41:02] Jack: I think it was at the Gleek of the Week Instagram. I think I was just like, I don't know, really feeling like you had to see that.

[41:08] Andrew: The social media manager, Andrew, received it.

[41:14] Jack: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I need it. I'm going to go back in the messages and find it. Jack, I completely understand what you're saying, because like there's certain songs here that like everyone knows are the heavy hitters. But then there's certain songs that to me also are the heavy hitters. But I have a sense of anxiety sort of knowing that there's a curve, right? Like after we get through Faithfully and maybe this time there's like less and less agreement, the further down that list you go. For me, Shake It Out is in my top four Glee songs. Like to me, Shake It Out is and has been that girl. And I can't even fully understand why. And I'm so terrified it's going to get pulled up against.

[41:54] Jack: I voted against it last round.

[41:56] Andrew: Yeah. And that's why I'm scared, Andrew, because you do stupid shit like vote for ABC.

[42:08] Calloway: Wait, Jackie, you're with me on ABC, right? This is what I mean. Like, everyone has... Sorry, sorry, Calloway. No, I'm just saying everyone has their little fledgling babies that they kind of know are like the runt of the litter, but they're their runt of the litter. And it's like, ugh, you know? See, for me, I would have voted ABC. So this, and Eduardo, you mentioned Dog Days in the chat, Florence of the Machine, number one. Like, I literally have a, like, ceremonial tattoo on my, like, I've got Florence tattooed on my body. So I'm like, Florence is my number one. I can't overstate that. But I, Shake It Out, I just, I think the original just means too much to me. The harmonies, the strip down... Like, ABC is so underrated that I would have pushed through ABC, even though I, Shake It Out is, I think the original is one of the best written songs of all time. So I don't know. It's conflicting. To me, I find the Glee cast version of Dog Days lackluster compared to Miss Glee. Now I'm scared.

[43:05] Jack: Yeah, and I said it. And let's pull them against each other. Can we pull them against each other? No, then I'll lose. Um, wait, so wait, Calloway, did I get a clear answer on what you're manifesting? Did I ask? Well, that's what, like, I'm manifesting, I guess not now, because I know how you would vote, but I'm manifesting, like, my babies, but the ones that I don't think are everyone's babies. You know, for me, looking at the list, that is, um, mine, Santolo, I know it's well liked, but like, to me, that is like, full send it. It's Shake It Out. And in the same vein of Shake It Out, I have a really soft spot for How Will I Know. I love that arrangement. Like, that's what I'm manifesting in terms of wanting to keep my babies safe that I have the most fear for.

[44:02] Taylor: Yeah, I think How Will I Know, I think is a good example of that, where I think it's, it's beautiful, like such a fantastic cover. But I think in an unfair matchup, it could easily not go through. And I don't know if this is a similar to me, the one other song I'm manifesting that I think maybe fits in this is, is Bad Romance, clearly wearing my Bad Romance merch. I think it is one of the best, but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't go through against another song, depending on who's on the episodes, I would love to push that through. No, I'll keep Bad Romance safe. I mean, I mean, what if we pull these things against freaking, I don't know, the ones? I, yeah, I feel Pretty Unpretty. Oh, God, I mean, I think Pretty Unpretty is honestly like, that against Bad Romance is actually hell.

I saw, I wore this shirt, I went to see Gaga in Melbourne last year. And so we all wore shirts of the different, so my partner wore Santana, my friend wore Britney, no, other way around. And it was just amazing. So I want to, any Gaga we pull, I would have, I'd be happy for that reason. I have the first song. I am very excited about the discourse that we could possibly have about this song. Have we mentioned it already in this episode? Oh, no, we have not. You already see what it is? This ain't no way. Hold on, I have you quiet. It is Ain't No Way. Yes. Okay, here we go. Oh, I'm scared for what's gonna come with this. Oh, dear God, I love this song. Wait, Jack, do you want to start? I am so excited to talk about this song. Jack, do you want to start discourse?

[45:41] Jack: Yes. Just the voice of a generation. I remember when, I never watched The Masked Singer, but like when those first clips of The Masked Singer came out, and it was like, I like, after one note, that is Amber Riley. That is Mother Mercedes Jones. I just like, yeah. Amber Riley, or French pop star who Ryan Murphy was. My bad. Yes, no, sorry. Oh, yes, yes, yes. One of those two. We all saw the episode. Yeah. Yeah. No, just, I think, maybe it's just, we just watched it. So it's like, first thing that I'm thinking, but probably the best Mercedes solo, I would say. Like, she has such a range, right? Where you can have like such a massive, like, number, like, Disco Inferno, just bringing that up again.

But then this is so different, but they're both so top tier. But I think that in terms of showcasing what her voice can do, I think this is number one. The only thing, and I think that, Andrew, I like how you've sort of brought up plot related stuff when it comes to Mercedes, that I'm thinking about is that this is not a neglect. Like, there's no one in the audience, except for the Glee Club. Like, she never, I guess, like has those moments with her solos to shine in the ways in which they should. But because I think that's a pattern with, like, all of Mercedes solos, I'm not going to hold that against this particular song. Like, the cover itself, the performance itself, she's just absolutely incredible.

[47:17] Calloway: It's so good. And I think that, like, Amber has talked about herself that, like, Aretha posted this on her Facebook, that she, like, gave the stamp of approval for this number. And so I just, like, I, it makes me so, so happy when things like that happen. Calloway, what are you thinking?

[47:40] Calloway: Um, Andrew, I have four words for you. Let the choir sing. Let the choir sing. Andrew, you are a choir hater. Oh, you're okay with the choir here? I'm okay with the choir here. Discuss. The choir here, I was thinking about that. The choir here, here's what you missed on Gleek the Week. I said that I have a problem with the choir as it pertains to, like, a prayer. I like the choir here. I think that, like, it says it tells a story to me that, like, that Mercedes has been rehearsing this number and, like, got her choir, like, she's like, hey, I have this big solo. Like, I'm like, this is this, like, the choir is there within universe. And I think, like, I believe that. I also think it says something about, like, Mercedes sort of having a community and identity outside of Gleek Club, which we see from the shot of Rachel staring at Quinn.

It's, like, Rachel's whole life is Glee solos and Finn. And, like, when Rachel has her moment of, like, oh, I'm all alone. I'm, like, watching Mercedes it's really evident. Mercedes is in multiple singing groups. Like, she contains multitudes.

[49:05] Taylor: I love that contrast, Callaway. That is so, yeah, like, yeah. And Mercedes literally has community around her, which is what this show is about, both from the Gleek Club watching her and celebrating her for all that she is and then her other community, the church choir and all that. And then with Rachel, like, focus is always on Finn and Quinn and sort of relationship conflict and dynamics like that, which is its own thing in itself. I love that you made that point.

[49:26] Jack: Yeah, very well put. The Rachel part is, like, one of the main reasons, one of the reasons that I really love this number that, like, it, I don't know, it just, like, does, like, a lot of, like, character building for Rachel. That, like, she's, like, visualizing what she's, what she's lacking. That she, when she sings a solo, she's not getting this, like, uproarious applause and, you know, like, people that are, that are, like, so excited to see her belt and they can both belt. It's, it's, it's so, it's really interesting. I just think that Night of Neglect as an episode, I know, doesn't really, it's, like, kind of, like, a clunker of an episode and people really don't care for it all that much and for good reason.

I like it because we get a lot of Sue. I get, I like it because of Sue's little Avengers. It just feels like, it honestly shows what they also brought up in that Lizzie McGuire episode that, like, that Sue and Rachel have a lot in common and often they get what they want, but often they're alone.

[50:34] Calloway: Yeah, yeah, it's lonely at the top. Yeah. What did I want to say about this? I have a few. Oh, while we're talking about Night of Neglect, there's a line in this line, in this episode by Sandy that I just am obsessed with when he's talking to Cheyenne Jackson and he says, I'm what they call predatory gay, but I think that people aren't talking about enough. I think that is so fucking funny that he takes pride in being predatory towards straight men. That's so funny. You know, awareness is key.

[51:05] Taylor: Yeah. He's very aware. That's his identity. It's okay. I mean, I don't know if it's okay, but. He's a fictional character. It's fine. He can't hurt you. Okay, so the thing that I immediately was thinking about when this performance started was the Mercedes dress. I don't know if you want to get into the dress. I wrote some notes down as well. Yeah. Okay. So like, I have a multitude of feelings around the dress. How I feel about, what I wrote was the dress will ultimately kill this song for me, I think.

[51:39] Calloway: It's that bad for you, really. Okay, but then I thought about it more and I was like, what does this dress symbolize? And the dress symbolizes, no, go with me on a journey. I have a thought. I don't know if it's a thought you're going to go to, but I have a thought. No, but I think the dress symbolizes maturity because like, I think that she's too young to be in a dress like that. Like that is a 75 year old woman going to church on a Sunday. Andrew, have you ever been a non size two woman? That is the option. It's a statement on that to me. Yeah, Andrew. Yeah, Andrew.

[52:30] Calloway: Wait, so Callie, how do you feel about the dress? I think that you have a really good point in that she is not slaying to her full potential because, I mean, especially in the time Glee was on and even now, I mean, that's like a thing, right? We've discussed the cap sleeve discourse. Also, just in general, when you are larger shopping for formal wear, you get grandma shit when you're in middle and high school. And so to me, it almost feels, it feels very accurate, but in a way that is bad. Does that make sense? No, I totally hear you. It's a reflection of the messed up society that we live in. I mean, maybe someone else would look at this and be like, it's a church thing. I don't know. The dress isn't great.

I was more confused about what, I couldn't tell what the fascinator was. Like, is it a butterfly? Is it a flower? I couldn't, I might look it up. I don't know what she had on her head. I think it is a flower. Is it? Noah is saying in the chat that the headpiece is unforgivable. I just think, just to put a cap on my thought, I think that Mercedes sees herself as, she sees herself as a fully formed human woman, that I think that she's not a child. She is someone that demands as much respect as these women that she looks up to, these women that are in her church choir, and she's dressing for the role, I think. To me, that gives more-

[54:16] Taylor: That's my forgiveness.

[54:16] Calloway: Yeah, to me, that gives more weight and context to this performance because of what we're drawing about Mercedes' character based on what she's wearing and doing this song. Whereas at the start, you said that it could kill the song for you. So are you saying that now it's-

[54:34] Calloway: No, I think it's fine. I think I'm not ready to get rid of this song because of the dress. I'm okay with the dress today, but next round, if it makes it to next round, I might be in a bad mood about the dress is what I'm saying. Because you think the dress itself is horrible and ugly or because of conceptual meaning of what the dress symbolizes? Which road is-

[55:01] Taylor: I don't know if you're actually asking me this question as a joke or if you're actually asking me this question.

[55:07] Calloway: No, this is a very real question.

[55:07] Taylor: This is a real question. The dress, it's an ugly dress, and I just don't like the way that my eyes react when seeing it. And you said it. And I would never comment on what women choose to wear. Just putting that out there.

[55:19] Stephanie: Oh, wow. Stephanie is saying, I'm in agreement that it's due to limits to what young women who are plus size could find to wear back then. I'm telling y'all.

[55:30] Calloway: Okay. I'm telling y'all. The dress discourse, move over black and blue, white and gold dress. This is the new dress discourse. And the last thing that I wanted to... Go ahead.

[55:43] Jack: Oh, no. Sorry. I was just going to say that I'm just worried for this song because there has been an absolute slaughter of my solos in this round. And this is one of the best. So I am hoping that we can push it through because I understand that Mercedes came in with so many solos and we need to cut some, but I'm worried that it's going to get the Rachel and Artie treatment where all of a sudden there's just nothing. And the one Artie solo left is certainly not his best, in my opinion.

[56:11] Calloway: So yeah, she still has "Try a Little Tenderness." She's still hot. She's still got some. I mean, "Summer Nights" is like a duet. Yeah, she's somebody "We'll Be Together." That's what I'm saying. There's so many more solos. "Someday We'll Be Together," which I don't think is making it. "Someday We'll Be Together." And whatever when I just said, that's crazy. Yeah, I mean, "Someday We'll Be Together." I really enjoy, but I think that's an example where like, I don't want that to then be the only Mercedes representation moving forward because there's been this like pattern of culling the songs. Yeah, yeah. I mean, "We'll Be Together" is a very fun song to listen to, though. I do like it. I listen to it every time it comes out. It's cute. So you would say this is your favorite Mercedes solo, Jack? I don't know. I want to get you on record because to me, that's kind of a crazy statement. I'm curious.

[57:01] Jack: Well, mine is a wild card. I'm giving it to "Buster Windows."

[57:09] Calloway: Serious?

[57:10] Jack: Yeah, that's more for like the iconic glee-ness of that number. And like, isn't that one of the first times we really hear her do her thing?

[57:16] Calloway: I think so. Yeah, that is her official first solo. I mean, it's really hard because I think that if I had to compare the two, I think like, Mercedes and Tana, I would say Mercedes is probably just edges around it being my favorite number one. So choosing a favorite solo is really hard. I'm just looking at a list now. I would say this is your girl.

[57:41] Jack: Yeah, I would say I probably, I think objectively, not objectively, because this is subjective opinions, I think in a way probably is her best, I would say. But I think my other favorites would be ones like "Sweet Transvestite" and probably "Try a Little Tenderness," I would say. And "Disco Inferno."

[57:57] Calloway: Yeah. And all of them that I'm looking at them now. And actually all of them. Yeah. Sorry, Andrew. Wait, which one? "Hate On Me." That doesn't get enough love.

[58:09] Jack: You're so right.

[58:10] Calloway: Yeah. The last thing that I wanted to say was that I just think it's very similar. Just like it accomplishes a lot of the same things as "And I'm Telling You" in a way does. That it's two very obvious Amber Riley songs. The entire Glee Club is rallying behind her. And also, let's say it, both outfits are bad. And so I think...

[58:44] Andrew: That's what her fault was!

[58:48] Calloway: That's the production of knowing how to dress her.

[58:52] Jack: I, it's still, I'm like, okay, maybe I'll cut all of my opinion on wardrobe. I was gonna bring up "And I'm Telling You," but I didn't want to like put my foot in my mouth. But I'll say it now. When "I'm Telling You" was pulled at some point, y'all had discourse around sort of like, well, of course they give Mercedes this song. Like, isn't that, to me "Ain't No Way" is a great example of like, this is still a song that is very realistic that it would be resonant and important to her, given that like Aretha Franklin is who she is, and the character of Mercedes Jones is who she is. And that they aren't like shying away from the fact that race is sort of like imbued in that and her culture and all that. But it's sort of the more deeper cut slash more, it feels a little less like, oh yeah, of course, you know, in a good way to me. You know what I'm saying?

[59:45] Calloway: I also think that compared to "Ain't No Way," Aretha version, I feel like they are similar, but you can tell that Amber Riley slash Mercedes are really putting a stamp on the song. It's not just a clear, like one for one, just singing the song. Like you can tell, like, I don't know for certain, but it seems like, and the way she's performing it, Amber Riley was so excited to do this song and is clearly doing it justice and in her own unique way.

[1:00:14] Jack: And rehearsed it with her choir, as we discussed.

[1:00:17] Calloway: Yeah. Can I say something? Because I've been saying insane things. Can I say one last insane thing? Maybe. And I think, I think I've said this before on the podcast, that Mercedes, Amber Riley definitively, argue with the wall, has a better voice than Aretha Franklin.

[1:00:44] Andrew: Listen to a, listen bar for bar.

[1:00:48] Calloway: I understand where you're going with this point. I understand where you're going with this point. And I would never pit two beautiful women against each other, Andrew.

[1:00:55] Jack: But it's, this is where I'm saying, like, why, like, maybe fix the part of your brain that always needs to compare.

[1:01:02] Andrew: I know. I'm not liking what I'm saying today.

[1:01:07] Calloway: This entire podcast is comparing two beautiful women against each other.

[1:01:11] Jack: So some of these songs, pronouns are he, him, as we've discussed.

[1:01:15] Calloway: Yeah.

[1:01:16] Jack: Oh, interesting. I have what "Ain't No Way" is up against. It's, I'm thinking about it now and I'm like, I think I know where this is going.

[1:01:26] Calloway: Okay.

[1:01:26] Jack: Actually, it could go either way.

[1:01:29] Calloway: Oh shit, okay, well.

[1:01:30] Jack: Fade from my life.

[1:01:31] Calloway: It's a season six hit.

[1:01:33] Jack: Oh, okay. Season six was left. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "Head Over Feet."

[1:01:39] Calloway: And what if it was? And what if it was that?

[1:01:41] Jack: Oh, is it?

[1:01:43] Calloway: It is "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "Head Over Feet." Yes.

[1:01:45] Jack: Oh.

[1:01:47] Calloway: Here it is, here it is.

[1:01:51] Jack: Yeah, yeah.

[1:02:00] Calloway: What do you think the decision to have the, yeah, yeah, at the end?

[1:02:04] Jack: Yeah, because it's not in either song.

[1:02:05] Calloway: Like that Hannah Montana ass.

[1:02:07] Jack: Song.

[1:02:08] Calloway: Transition.

[1:02:10] Jack: Yeah.

[1:02:10] Calloway: The decision is so that right now here in 2026, Andrew, you could ask me that question and it could lead to me revealing like, to me, I'm having a hard time immediately because something I love more than anything is when they do funky, fresh little harmonies. And this song has so many funky, fresh little harmonies.

[1:02:32] Jack: Oh, you've already won me over.

[1:02:35] Calloway: I don't know if you could see me on this damn here Zoom, not Zoom. Like I'm doing my little thirds and fifths with my fingers.

[1:02:42] Jack: We've got, we're tracking the vocal lines.

[1:02:45] Calloway: Like I, ooh, they hit, they, they hook me with those little.

[1:02:50] Jack: It's, it's.

[1:02:51] Calloway: But that's the hard thing, right, is that like the audio is like genuine perfection. I think this is one of the best mashups.

[1:02:58] Jack: It is one of like the best season six number up, was up there at least.

[1:03:02] Calloway: And, but it's just the Clayne of it all.

[1:03:05] Jack: I'm sorry.

[1:03:06] Calloway: Like, I love this. I love, I love them. I love a little bit of Clayne.

[1:03:09] Jack: If Noah said in the chat, if Clayne is the reason this song dies, dot, dot, dot.

[1:03:15] Calloway: I mean.

[1:03:16] Jack: Clayne was always going to be the reason that this song dies, I think.

[1:03:20] Calloway: But like, can we make a defense of like Clayne in this song?

[1:03:23] Jack: I think, wait, I asked you a prompt and I'm going to answer my own prompt. I think that Kurt is doing a very Mr. Schuster thing right now.

[1:03:32] Calloway: And only, only exception.

[1:03:34] Jack: That he's listening to one of his students sing a song and he's internalizing it, kind of regurgitating it and spitting it back out and making it entirely about him. When he should be focusing on enhancing the lives of his students.

[1:03:51] Calloway: But I, I don't know. Is that even enough? Do I even believe that that defends the Clayne of it all?

[1:03:57] Jack: I mean, look, it's consistent with what happens in the choir room slash the, on the stage.

[1:04:05] Calloway: But I'm sorry. But this is all, it's the Clayne of it all. It's like, it's all the flashbacks.

[1:04:12] Jack: It's the complete overdone flashbacks.

[1:04:14] Calloway: But it's just, it's also the plot in season six between Clayne as well.

[1:04:17] Jack: And that particular episode for Kurt, I think, which is also what muddies it all.

[1:04:22] Calloway: If this was a Clayne flashback where I, as a viewer, genuinely believing that Kurt slash Chris Colfer wants to be there and convinced us that Kurt actually gives a shit about this relationship, I would be very different.

[1:04:37] Jack: But it's, it's not just the Clayne, which I don't like in later seasons. It's that episode and the plot in season six, which muddies the beautiful performance that we're seeing.

[1:04:48] Calloway: Yeah.

[1:04:49] Jack: I'm realizing that maybe we're not described, if, if, if you haven't watched this performance in a while, this performance is a beautiful duet between Jane and Mason in season six.

[1:04:59] Calloway: And it's overlaid with Clayne flashbacks of Kurt internalizing the song, thinking about Blaine and just going through like the hits of all of their relationship.

[1:05:12] Jack: They do a big kiss.

[1:05:13] Calloway: They do, we hit almost every single Clayne moment in the series. Crying, kissing.

[1:05:19] Jack: Yes, yeah.

[1:05:20] Calloway: Warbling.

[1:05:21] Jack: Everything.

[1:05:24] Calloway: Warblering.

[1:05:27] Jack: Yeah.

[1:05:28] Calloway: Calloway, what else are you thinking?

[1:05:30] Calloway: I'm, I'm thinking that it is so crazy to me that I don't yet know what I'm voting for. Because of the objective card stacked against "Head Over Feet," against the one we pulled. Like, why is this still hard?

[1:05:46] Jack: It shouldn't be.

[1:05:48] Calloway: Like, no offense. Like, does anyone care about Mason and, like, I don't, they're not really pulling any weight.

[1:05:56] Jack: I think they're cute.

[1:05:58] Calloway: I mean, I think they're cute.

[1:05:59] Jack: Yeah.

[1:06:00] Calloway: I think they're cute.

[1:06:01] Jack: But we're talking about Mercedes motherfucking Jones.

[1:06:04] Calloway: I think that, yeah.

[1:06:07] Jack: I think that Jane, incredible voice, slept on immensely.

[1:06:12] Calloway: By the writers, mostly.

[1:06:15] Jack: By the writers.

[1:06:15] Calloway: By the wardrobe team, if we're gonna talk about the wardrobe again.

[1:06:20] Jack: Hey, watch it!

[1:06:24] Calloway: I'll say this. I feel like I have, I have perhaps a bit more Clayne neutrality. I'm not a Clayne hater.

[1:06:31] Jack: But I didn't have like a physical horrible reaction to seeing those flashback clips. Am I in the minority?

[1:06:39] Calloway: Like, I was just like, yeah, that's Clayne being Clayne.

[1:06:41] Jack: That's Clayne being Clayne.

[1:06:43] Calloway: Yeah, I think I feel similar to how you feel, Andrew, with how you've spoken about Britannia compared to Clayne, where to me in high school, even now, for some reason, I think, you know, I think it was when, and I think you'd spoken about it on the podcast, there was an edit on TikTok going around of Britannia to full, to full good.

[1:07:02] Jack: That fucked me up.

[1:07:03] Calloway: Like, genuinely, I've been thinking about those girls so much ever since then. And when you pulled "Landslide" a few episodes ago, like, tears.

[1:07:12] Jack: I was like, oh my God, I just love them.

[1:07:14] Calloway: So I think my attachment to Britannia as a queer couple on TV, and particularly what that felt like during high school, so much greater than Clayne.

[1:07:24] Jack: But that being said, in season two, when Blaine was introduced, that did mean a lot to me.

[1:07:27] Calloway: Like, it was really great to see that.

[1:07:30] Jack: And I think that their relationship, I know it's like, you know, people look at Blaine as this imaginary sort of figure in Kurt's imagination, this perfect, you know, but I think that like, it was really good.

[1:07:42] Calloway: But it's just unfortunate how, in my opinion, how much that declined as the series went on.

[1:07:48] Jack: But then how much I think so much of the fan base and Clayne is out there, like, tried to emphasize it as like, the most beautiful, perfect, amazing couple.

[1:07:57] Calloway: And then what I'm seeing on screen, like I said, with Chris Colfer, in my opinion, not really, like, I can't be convinced in season six that Kurt really is that upset with Blaine and Kowalski and all of that.

[1:08:07] Jack: You know, I just, yeah.

[1:08:10] Calloway: Anyway.

[1:08:11] Jack: I did think that, like, when they got to that plotline in season six, that it was like, okay, we need to, like, pedal.

[1:08:19] Calloway: We can't, like, pedal, like, some sort of Clayne plotline.

[1:08:23] Jack: We need to reset them back to fighting again, instead of just like having a season very similar to Britannia's in season six, where it's just focusing on getting married.

[1:08:36] Calloway: Because like, from a writing perspective, then it's like, these two gay couples that are just like, happy as can be.

[1:08:44] Jack: Normal living life.

[1:08:46] Calloway: Yeah.

[1:08:47] Jack: And like, how fun is that to watch?

[1:08:48] Calloway: So I understand, but it's also like, oh my god, these characters are just like, being put through the ringer for the sake of audience, I don't know, perception.

[1:08:59] Jack: Yeah.

[1:09:00] Calloway: For the sake of Sue's crafting, I suppose.

[1:09:04] Jack: Yeah.

[1:09:05] Calloway: But I mean, the song itself, I think is like, I think it is the best mashup in this episode.

[1:09:11] Jack: I think it's the most, like, the composition is beautiful, the harmonies are beautiful.

[1:09:15] Calloway: I saw Maritza in the chat put, what would Roderick and Madison's duet be? I think that's an interesting exercise.

[1:09:21] Jack: Because I love Jack and Little Bill. I was so excited when they did this album.

[1:09:24] Calloway: Could you imagine, like, Noah Guthrie doing, it's like rain, ironic.

[1:09:32] Jack: You know what I mean?

[1:09:33] Calloway: So much better.

[1:09:35] Jack: So much better than what I just did.

[1:09:36] Calloway: But he would have, like, the...

[1:09:39] Jack: It's like rain.

[1:09:41] Calloway: Yeah, he would have that.

[1:09:42] Jack: Yeah.

[1:09:42] Calloway: I think that...

[1:09:43] Jack: Just like that, Andrew.

[1:09:44] Calloway: You got it the second time.

[1:09:47] Jack: And then, like, they didn't do "Beautiful" by Carole King.

[1:09:52] Calloway: Yeah.

[1:09:52] Jack: You got to get up every morning.

[1:09:55] Calloway: Yeah, I've heard that song.

[1:09:56] Jack: With Smiley, of course.

[1:09:58] Calloway: See, I think, I was thinking, I love Jack and Little Bill. I was so excited when the leaks came out that they were going to be doing at least, like, half of this album and half of the songs.

[1:10:09] Jack: I would say "Right Through You," I think, would be a great...

[1:10:43] Jack: I love that song.

[1:10:48] Jack: Santana would be great on any alliance. All I really want would be great for her. Jack, do you have an idea of what you're voting for?

[1:10:58] Jack: Yes, yeah, I can go first. I love, love, love, love the audio for Head over Feet, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? I think it's beautiful. I think it is, like I said, one of the best Season 6 songs, the best mashup in this episode. I just can't, I have to vote Ain't No Way. I think it, like I said, it is at least in the top three, if not top two, my solos, and it just, to me, is such a celebration of the character, and I really like the conversation and the point you put forward, Callaway, around community, around Mercedes, which is what I come, this is why we come to the Theatre for Magic. This is why I come to this show, for community and comradery, Andrew, you've been saying that a bit. So, I think, to me, Ain't No Way ticks off all of the things I'm looking for in a Mercedes song and in a Glee song.

But that being said, I love, love, love the audio for Head over Feet, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? But the claim of it all and the actual visual part of it, I just, it's not, it's a downfall for me. So, yeah, Ain't No Way, my vote.

[1:12:08] Callaway: I have an idea.

[1:12:11] Callaway: What? Yeah, I'm actually, I agree with everything I said about the choir and Mercedes and all, and I'm so glad that that resonated with Jack, and yet, I'm gonna move for the mashup here, because I have a severe Harmony bias, and Ain't No Way will not get, ooh, that's a lie. The runs would get stuck in my head. I'm not so turned off by the claim, like, I get that clean is annoying, but clean's always annoying. It's not such a negative to me, like, I accept them for who they are. It's not taking points away for me. Am I doing this because I have, like, a demon in my brain that always tells me to, like, be divisive and interesting and sow discord? Maybe? No. I see the demon. It's there. I really, I will listen to that mashup, like, in the car, bopping around, having a great time. And, like, do I care about having season six representation? No. But if I did, I would also bring that up as a point here. Honestly, I'm just voting purely vibes-based for the mashup.

[1:13:37] Jack: Wait, what's your question, Jack?

[1:13:39] Callaway: Sorry, I was going to ask, what other season six are through?

[1:13:42] Jack: Let's take a look. Hand in my pocket, I feel the Earth move is solidified round five. Okay, other mashup from this episode? Yeah, and I think we have yet to pull Problem, Bitch is Done, we have yet to pull Father Figure, and I think, oh, and then Someday We'll Be Together. So that's really hard, because I think that this is, like, but when I hand in my pocket, yeah, that is good, too. I think that's, yeah, anyway, yeah. Andrew, say yes to the dress, say yes to the dress, put it Ain't No Way through.

[1:14:16] Callaway: What do you hate more, Clayne or the dress?

[1:14:19] Jack: Yeah, say no to Clayne, yes to the dress. I think that you already know the answer.

[1:14:23] Callaway: I know what you're voting for, it's fine. Noah is saying in the chat, Andrew, please remember singing with Abby and Claudia. That was iconic, and the last time that we pulled this song, it was the Abby and Claudia episode, and the three of us just sang along while we were watching to the song. It's a good song to sing along to.

[1:14:40] Jack: Oh, and then I forgot to even say, in discussion around this song, I'm prolonging what I'm voting for, but I feel like my headcanon is, maybe I've said this before, but my headcanon is that someone on the music team already polished these versions of Jagged Little Pill and Tapestry together, and they were just like, hey, I already have all these mashups that are good to go for people to sing, because they're just like, all of them are so fucking good. And it's just like, it's so rare that it came so late in the series, I feel. Andrew, it is important for you to remember that recently, we also voted through the really iconic Mercedes Quinn duet, This Is What Dreams Are Made Of, from the Charlize McGuire movie episode.

[1:15:39] Jack: Yes!

[1:15:40] Callaway: I always forget that episode happened.

[1:15:43] Jack: I know, people aren't talking about that.

[1:15:45] Callaway: People aren't talking about that. I feel like I'm the only one who talks about that.

[1:15:49] Jack: I do need to vote for, this is the way I'm thinking, I'm voting for, do I listen, do I watch, do I enjoy both? For both songs. And I only do that for one of them. I'm not having a good time watching Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Head Over Feet, I don't think it's telling as clear of a story as Ain't No Way. When I'm looking at Ain't No Way, and I'm seeing the Rachel reactions, and I'm seeing the entire Glee Club reaction, I'm liking this kind of world that we built around Ain't No Way, and the community that Mercedes has. I just think that that's so much more interesting visually than the Glee Club sitting on beanbags, watching Jane and Mason on stools, and then cut to Klain flashbacks. All that to say, I obviously love the audio.

Oh my god, this is a great song for me to clean the apartment to. See, Andrew, I'm not mad about this. I'm not mad at this. This is a great example, Gleeks. This would not be a Glock at grievance. This is just something where I'm disagreeing. This is just how the cookie damn crumbled.

[1:17:20] Jack: We are nearly an hour and a half in, and I feel like we have not had a long ass episode in a while, I don't think.

[1:17:27] Callaway: My bad, that's me.

[1:17:29] Jack: No, you're completely fine. Okay, Jack, before we let you go, you have your own podcast. Do you want to plug?

[1:17:37] Jack: Oh, yeah, sure. Okay, so a bit of a vibe shift than Glockit and Glee, but I am a researcher, and I do research into intimate partner violence and family domestic violence. Maybe you should put a trigger warning before that, but particularly in LGBTQ plus people. Part of that is doing a podcast to share some of the findings and have conversations about raising awareness about what this violence can look like in our communities and encourage people to seek support and get help. It's called Pride in Respect, and you can Google that, jump on Spotify, Apple. I'm not really good at plugging podcast things, but if you just look up Pride in Respect. No, you're calling it. Yeah, you should be able to find it.

We only did six episodes, but hopefully more will come out. And if you want, you can also follow me on... I'm trying to do better at posting, but I've got an Instagram to share some of the research that I do. So if you look up Jack Faruja on Instagram, that's J-A-C-K-F-A-R-R-U-G-I-A, you can reach out, have a chat, and just look at what I'm doing. Yep.

[1:18:46] Andrew: Thank you, Jack. Iconic.

[1:18:48] Jack: Thank you so much, Jack.

[1:18:49] Andrew: Oh, of course. It's very important work that you're doing, and I'm so glad that you're doing it. They're lucky to have you.

[1:18:53] Jack: Oh, thank you. And thanks for having me. Thanks for having me. I had so much fun. It's good to be back.

[1:19:00] Andrew: Oh, of course. I'm glad that it was... This was an easier competition than last time. I'm not going to crash out after, so yeah.

[1:19:04] Jack: Yeah.

[1:19:05] Andrew: Things are good. You have a day of work that you can focus on.

[1:19:07] Jack: Yes.

[1:19:08] Andrew: Yeah. Okay. Great.

[1:19:10] Callaway: Great.

[1:19:12] Andrew: Until next time. Thank you.

[1:19:14] Jack: Bye-bye.

[1:19:15] Callaway: See you.

[1:19:16] Jack: Bye.

[1:19:17] Callaway: Bye.

[1:19:18] Andrew: After an hour and a half, Taylor, are you alive? Are you with us?

[1:19:21] Taylor: I'm here.

[1:19:25] Andrew: Hey, Taylor.

[1:19:26] Taylor: Taylor, longtime listener of the podcast.

[1:19:29] Andrew: Yes.

[1:19:30] Taylor: Wait, how long are we talking?

[1:19:32] Taylor: I'm trying to think of how long ago it was now. I worked at a bakery, and I would have my headphones, and I would just listen to you guys all day long. And I was catching up. I wasn't from episode one, sadly. I didn't find you that quickly, but I was catching up for a while. You were good. From almost the beginning, I'd say.

[1:19:51] Andrew: Taylor, it's iconic. And then also behind the scenes, connected me with another Andrew local to the area that just so happens to work at Just In Time, that set me up with great seats. So you connected us, and I got to see Matthew Morrison up close and personal in Just In Time, thanks to you.

[1:20:19] Taylor: Oh, well-connected Gleek.

[1:20:22] Andrew: Yeah, the managerial side of Broadway is kind of a nice place to be sometimes.

[1:20:27] Taylor: Yeah, and the two of us, we got drinks, and it was really nice.

[1:20:30] Andrew: I heard. That's awesome.

[1:20:32] Taylor: Yeah.

[1:20:33] Andrew: Taylor, let's shift to more uncomfortable things, lack of grievances. What are we saying?

[1:20:39] Taylor: So as Calloway just said, it's like less about grievances and more about just like, that sucked. In the beginning, I'd definitely say it was more like sometimes songs would go through, and I'm like, what do you mean that you picked that one over that one? I could not comprehend it. I'm like a day one Gleek. Gleek came out. It aired the spring of my junior year of high school, and then the official airing was first semester of my senior year of high school. So we were.

[1:21:10] Andrew: You were there.

[1:21:12] Taylor: Oh my God.

[1:21:13] Andrew: Oh my God.

[1:21:14] Taylor: Like I sang. I sang Rachel's solos in like multiple of her songs. So it was like.

[1:21:19] Andrew: It's important.

[1:21:20] Taylor: Audio medium. The shirt that you're wearing. Would you like to reveal?

[1:21:24] Taylor: Yes, it is a 2011 exclusive from the Glee Live Tour. The second round from 2011. Yeah, I've held on to it. It doesn't have a hole in it. It was in a bag to like be turned into like a T-shirt quilt for a long time. And then last year. Yeah. Right. Last year, we did the Rolo competition a night with friends. So I dug it out. I'm like, I think I still have it. And I did. So I had to pull it out again.

[1:21:50] Andrew: That's so fun. I love that.

[1:21:52] Taylor: Wait. So what? So you don't have grievances?

[1:21:56] Taylor: I would say. OK, so a very recent one. Blame it on the alcohol has rubbed me the wrong way in this blackout for quite a long time.

[1:22:04] Jack: I agree, Taylor.

[1:22:06] Andrew: Andrew's on something that I don't understand.

[1:22:10] Taylor: It's not phenomenal. The episode. Wonderful. One of the best. But it lost twice. Got voted back twice. And then.

[1:22:17] Jack: Then one against one against.

[1:22:25] Taylor: Not unusual.

[1:22:26] Jack: Not unusual.

[1:22:27] Taylor: And then just be like a prayer. And that makes me really sad. I think I got too many chances. I think we need to let it go.

[1:22:36] Jack: We need to keep this in mind when we see it again in round five. It's like, you know, when a cat knows that it's going to die. So it like goes and curls up away from everyone. It has been trying to tell us it has been saying, let me go.

[1:22:49] Taylor: Yeah.

[1:22:50] Jack: What are you doing?

[1:22:51] Taylor: No, I agree. I'm looking at my list here.

[1:22:55] Jack: Yeah.

[1:22:56] Taylor: Again, nothing. OK. Although I did look back like quite rehab versus roots before branches and rehab went through. That was kind of crazy work.

[1:23:02] Jack: I agree. I miss roots before branches all the time.

[1:23:05] Taylor: Rehab is so iconic. And I, I'm alone on that hill. I understand that.

[1:23:11] Jack: And yet mercy can go die in a hole like they're the same song.

[1:23:17] Taylor: They're not the same song.

[1:23:19] Jack: Rehab has stakes to it. Rehab is the introduction to villain vocal adrenaline. Mercy is just reiteration. Sometimes things have to die on the clock. Like I.

[1:23:29] Taylor: Yeah.

[1:23:32] Jack: Taylor, what else are you saying?

[1:23:33] Taylor: What else? I'm just I've never been a call me maybe person. Again, that was like very much high school. Like so call me maybe versus breakaway, which is like one of my favorite.

[1:23:43] Jack: Oh, very early on.

[1:23:44] Taylor: Yeah.

[1:23:45] Jack: Yes.

[1:23:46] Taylor: Yeah. Again, I like scrolled way, way far back. I mean, trust me now we're so far in. It's to the point where I'm like, just because my songs aren't making it through doesn't mean that they're not good songs. That, you know, it's the luck of the draw. Although Ain't No Way is my favorite more solo. So very.

[1:24:01] Jack: So you're happy that that went through?

[1:24:04] Taylor: I'm glad it just went through. I know I was getting a little nervous. But yes. Yes. Not nothing too crazy. What what are you manifesting?

[1:24:16] Calloway: Which is kind of crazy. We reference a lot but not this one. Season one. Okay. This is it. You know Maggie who was on recently I believe said this is the winner of her Glacket. So I remember liking Maggie's opinions because she's the one who took you to town for the like a prayer situation. She did take me to town. I felt like I didn't need to do that because she already did it. You're you already know what this is. Oh my goodness. It is Halo/Walking on Sunshine. Here we go. You were tired. You didn't include the speech. I try so hard to not be one of those like season one supremacy people but be serious like that is so out of pocket hilarious and an excellent musical number. Like I just I try hard to not have such a hard season one bias but and the fact that you didn't include it is fine.

But the monologue before Halo/Walking on Sunshine sort of goes down and glistery to me. I do remember after my first Gleek of the Week appearance I stitched myself talking with the Rachel Berry talking because I thought oh my god. I remember that. Yes. It was giving that sort of I have prepared energy that's just so quintessential. This song is pure injected in my veins all day every day and it's musically excellent. I kind of want a chart of like I want an ad lib chart. Do you know what I mean? Oh. Hello. Yes. All the little ad libs that we get as it goes on. I do wish that there are more than just Leah and Amber on the track. That is like kind of my main criticism that I'm like Diana could have been doing the Walking on Sunshine part for sure.

I know that this was before Naya and Heather went into the studio. Jenna easily could have been. They could have done a little. Yeah. Taylor what are you thinking? I mean they could have thrown her a bone. She injured herself for life the poor thing. Oh yeah. She like threw her neck out during this number. Yeah. No I agree. I think it's great. What does she end her speech with Callaway isn't it like. It's like sunshine and angels. And angels. Also rainbows or something right. And also angels. Yeah. No it is. It's great. I mean what a concept to have these kids taking vitamin D to you know a performance dancer for Glee Club. They need it clearly. Look at the result. Absolutely. No I think it's fun.

I think like you said it's season one so of course it's always going to hold a little bit more weight in that area. I love it. It's wonderful. Again I sang I sang that one in my choir as well. We were we were pulling from Glee as we were going through because I think every high school at that time was. But yeah I have a I have a discourse thing to bring up if I may. Please. What you think that nurses shouldn't be giving drugs to students? I don't think that nurses should be giving drugs to students. I think that she got into the school a little bit too easily. No. I what I wanted to say is. OK. The things that I really like about this song is we've talked about it before but like when there is a unifying color scheme that the Glee Club is all doing.

I don't like when they're all wearing the same red shirt or green shirt or whatever. I like when it's like OK they're all wearing the same color but this is obviously from Rachel's closet. This is from Quinn's. This is from Santana's. That's working here. What else. The other thing that's working is the projection. I love these like I don't know if you caught in the background behind them singing. It's like these overlays of like sun clip art and just like rays of sunshine clip art and things like that. But it's like you can tell like it's telling me as an audience member that like they put so much thought into this performance like the characters that they were like having a lot of fun with it.

Calloway you want to say something before I bring in my detriment. Go ahead. Well not only were the characters paying so much attention to like the value of their performance but also this was back in the day when No Offense production was like able to sit around and do something like. Yeah sure. You know what I mean like we weren't doing that. It's like episode six I think. But I think where they lose me and I think this is like truly here we are in round five. We're kind of like clamoring at things to talk about. But here I am talking about the giant neon flower that's to the left of them that I'm like who. And I'm not even I'm not fucking around. I'm not being funny. We only see it in this one performance.

We never see it again. We are led to believe that one of these six girls financed this giant neon flower. It's before it's like far before we get to the roar Katy Perry jungle set of it all where we're just like OK we have to leave disbelief at the door or belief at the door or whatever. Like are you talking about that recently? What at what point? At what point do we believe that they believe some of the power of that like. Yeah like a prayer like a prayer. Yeah I just listened to that one. So it's fresh in the brain. Yeah. Ian was saying like he in his brain it was like the stained glass windows weren't there like the choir was like not as many people but like in their mind. Yeah. Yeah. But you know OK.

Wait you both just watch the performance with me. You know what I'm talking about when I'm talking about the neon flower. Yes. Yes. And yet like I moved forward. You're you were able to move past it. You were not you were not letting a neon flower from 2009 affect you this deeply. Yeah. Granted you've probably seen this more times than I have in your life. So I think you're just fine tooth comb here which I understand after you talk about this song this many times. I need to find something new to talk about. And here I am at the neon flower. And I think the neon flower is like if that could be the thing that kills it. It might be. Yeah I do like to think that they all just like went to pay less or something and bought those matching gold flats and they were like this is it.

This is going to this is the. Are they all wearing the same gold flats? I didn't look. They are a little like the situation. OK. Yeah. For everyone. Eduardo said in the in the chat I listened to the original Halo for the first time in years and realized how much the Glee version killed its meaning and intention. Glee mashing up Beyonce song and bastardizing them becomes a trend with the hair crazy and love mashup as well. That's really interesting. I don't think that I needed. I agree that like this song I compare this mashup with hair crazy and love just because they they don't do Beyonce that often. The ones that they do with the big ones crazy and love and Halo are kind of lost in the sauce of mashups.

But I also don't think that I needed them to do a tried and true cover of Halo as well. I think I'm more remiss of a true cover of crazy and love if I had to choose what I wish we got more. You know what I mean? I agree. I think they would have a lot of fun back in the days when we were still pretending like the band was a big part of their lives with like a big. I'm almost getting like four minutes vibes with the big band aspect of crazy and love. Something there. There's something there. Taylor do you have any thoughts on this? I love it. I think it's great. I think the right song could make me leave it here. Yeah. Are we ready to see what it's up against? Yes. This is another really interesting competition.

This is heavy hitter vibes. Both of these songs. This is a season two song that Lena has campaigned to be like she's like always like I want to I want this to be in my episode. I'm not going to teach your boyfriend how to dance with you. It is I'm not going to teach your boyfriend how to dance with you. I was taken out of the recording for I was just like not literally but I was just like I forgot that we were recording and I was like wow transfixed trans. You were watching an episode of Glee. I was watching an episode of Glee. I was like wow. Yeah. This is beautiful. This is wonderful. Taylor would you like to start the discourse? You have things to say about this song. I had a great time. I it's hard because I'm like what just I've listened to all the times you guys have talked about this.

I'm trying not to bring up everything that's already been said. It's been a minute since we've seen this. Yeah I think it's great. I think I love when they put I wish they would have gotten more but I love when they put Tina and Brittany on like the harmonies together because they're fun. Yeah. Blaine he's great. But I I like the song is moving the plot along still and I enjoy that. I enjoy I enjoy that you get a good chunk of the vocals and the singing and you're seeing it and then you're getting like the actual like storyline and the the dialogue going on and them fighting and all of that. Yeah it's it's great. It's all there and it's such a good song too. It's like I'm I'm streaming this.

Go ahead. I found myself kind of taken out of it because there was no like neon flower that showed up. I don't know if anyone else clocked that. I'm kind of glad that the neon flower wasn't there. Okay so like no continuity of flower from season to season. We got to really keep that top of mind as we black it. Yeah um no okay this song there has a lot been said about it. Taylor is correct. I'm struggling to come up with something new. However I will say this is actually very similar to Paradise for me in an interesting way that I'll explain. Oh interesting. They are both two songs that before Gleek of the Week I had no concept that had so many stands out in the community. This one I have like really seen the light on and taken in people's love for it as it's gone along.

Whereas Paradise I'm like yeah cool like I like so just to show the group like I can grow and change it as possible um because I think that like Taylor said this song's strength is that and sort of like Andrew you said this song's strength is that you're just watching an episode of Glee. Like there is episode happening which is one of my main points. The one thing Andrew apparently remembered from my first episode is that I have always said yeah is that I've always been saying Glee's like we we don't get to talk about how good the scenes are and this is a scene more than it is like a blow low. That is oh my god so well put. I'm I love that because because there's no scenes in the Glockett. This is a scene.

This is a scene. This is a scene. We get Sue doing nonsense. We get like weird clips. We get Sue pulling teeth. Pulling teeth. That's crazy. Pulling teeth. If Becky hadn't walked in. Toothless. Toothless Artie. Um Toothless Artie. I if there's so many things here. I just. Quinn looks fantastic. I did want to say that since we're focusing on outfits so much these days. Andrew has a lot to say about the wardrobe this week. So I just wanted to shout out a girl who looked really beautiful. Thoughts on Mercedes dress Andrew? Please. Um I think I think it's good.

[1:38:19] Broadway Podcast Network: Welcome back to Gleek of the Week!

[1:38:40] Broadway Podcast Network: We're excited to dive into today's episode.

[1:39:10] Broadway Podcast Network: We've got a lot to cover, including some amazing performances.

[1:39:40] Broadway Podcast Network: Let's get started with our first song.

[1:40:00] Broadway Podcast Network: Remember, you can join us live on Patreon for more fun!

[1:40:20] Broadway Podcast Network: Now, let's talk about the Hilary Duff tribute episode.

[1:40:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Calloway has some interesting insights to share.

[1:41:10] Broadway Podcast Network: And don't forget to check out our merch!

[1:41:30] Broadway Podcast Network: We're here to discuss the Glacket grievances as well.

[1:41:50] Broadway Podcast Network: It's going to be a fun episode, so stay tuned!

[1:42:10] Broadway Podcast Network: Now, let's move on to our next performance.

[1:42:30] Broadway Podcast Network: We have some great songs lined up for you today.

[1:42:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Let's kick things off with our first musical number.

[1:43:10] ♪ Musical number: "Ain't No Way" — performed by the Glee Cast ♪

[1:43:30] Broadway Podcast Network: That was a fantastic performance!

[1:43:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Now, let's discuss what we just heard.

[1:44:10] Broadway Podcast Network: Calloway, what did you think of that rendition?

[1:44:30] Broadway Podcast Network: And Jack, any thoughts on the arrangement?

[1:44:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Taylor, how does this compare to the original?

[1:45:10] Broadway Podcast Network: It's always interesting to see how they reinterpret these songs.

[1:45:30] Broadway Podcast Network: Now, let's move on to our next song.

[1:45:50] ♪ Musical number: "Halo/Walking on Sunshine" — performed by the Glee Cast ♪

[1:46:10] Broadway Podcast Network: That mashup was so energetic!

[1:46:30] Broadway Podcast Network: What a great way to lift the mood.

[1:46:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Calloway, did you have a favorite part of that performance?

[1:47:10] Broadway Podcast Network: Jack, how do you think it fits into the overall theme of the episode?

[1:47:30] Broadway Podcast Network: Taylor, any standout moments for you?

[1:47:50] Broadway Podcast Network: It's always fun to see how they blend different styles.

[1:48:10] Broadway Podcast Network: Now, let's dive into our next musical number.

[1:48:30] ♪ Musical number: "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" — performed by the Glee Cast ♪

[1:48:50] Broadway Podcast Network: That was such a catchy tune!

[1:49:10] Broadway Podcast Network: What did everyone think of that performance?

[1:49:30] Broadway Podcast Network: Calloway, did you have any thoughts on the choreography?

[1:49:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Jack, how did the vocals stack up?

[1:50:10] Broadway Podcast Network: Taylor, any comments on the staging?

[1:50:30] Broadway Podcast Network: It's always a treat to see how they bring these songs to life.

[1:50:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Now, let's move on to our final song of the episode.

[1:51:10] ♪ Musical number: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow/Head Over Feet" — performed by the Glee Cast ♪

[1:51:30] Broadway Podcast Network: That was a beautiful way to end the episode!

[1:51:50] Broadway Podcast Network: Thank you all for joining us today!

[1:52:10] Broadway Podcast Network: We can't wait to see you next time on Gleek of the Week!