Music Review: Glee Cast – “Silly Love Songs”

Glee is getting lovey-dovey this week with the song selections from their Valentines’ Day-themed episode, “Silly Love Songs.”

For the second episode in a row Kevin McHale (Artie) takes a Michael Jackson hit. In his episode, he’s singing “P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing).” Out of all the males, I think McHale was definitely the right choice to sing this song. His voice has the right tone and flavor to pull this song off. I think it was important for him and the show to not have a carbon-copy vocal, but still manage to keep the essence of the song intact, and I think they succeeded on both levels.

This week Mark Salling (Puck) is singing Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls.” I know this song fits in with Puck’s storyline for the episode, but I feel like the song was in the wrong key for him. At times it sounded like he was straining to hit the higher notes. Because of this, I have to wonder if the backing vocals are purposely drowning his voice out. It seems depending on the song selection for him, Salling’s vocal performances continue to be very hit or miss this season.

We’re treated to two songs from Dalton Academy’s Warblers during the episode. Per usual, the vocal stylings of Darren Criss (Blaine) are featured on both tracks. First up with Robin Thicke’s “When I Get You Alone,” Criss continues to impress. His vocal performance is flirty and has some swagger to it, which really adds to the song overall. There’s a big note that he hits at the end of the song which is absolutely fantastic. I really like that the Warblers sing songs that are more pop/R&B, because it distinguishes their style from New Directions.

For their second song this week, the Warblers sang Paul McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs.” I’m definitely not complaining getting not one, but two songs from the Warblers this week. Especially when both songs were produced and sung really well. Criss got to show two different sides to his voice this episode, and in the process gave the rest of the Glee guys a run for their money.

The upbeat “Silly Love Songs” really showcases the enormously talented Beezlebubs from Tufts University. Their harmonies sound really good and mesh well with Criss’ lead vocals.

Lea Michele (Rachel) sings Katy Perry’s big hit, “Firework” this week. I love that Michele has a solo in this episode, however I am so sick of songs from today’s Top 40 being used on the show, especially when they aren’t putting a Glee spin on them to change them up. I understand that they’re trying to appeal to the masses, but for the most part the songs they’ve done this season straight off the current Top 40 charts have been my least favorite tracks.

That said, I’m not loving Michele’s vocals on this track. It was like they wanted to purposely make her sound like Katy Perry. As much as I really like Katy Perry, Michele has more of a tremendous voice.There are parts where I thought she sounded really great, but for the most part this song just wasn’t my cup of tea. Michele has such a beautiful voice; I wish she was given songs that would allow her to showcase it to her advantage.

The music from “Silly Love Songs” is available on iTunes now.

Glee airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on FOX.