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23 songs that make fans wish ‘Glee’ still existed
Fox Broadcasting Company

23 songs that make fans wish ‘Glee’ still existed

Catching random clips of Glee makes the Fox series seem like a fever dream, and it kind of was. A teacher walks in with zero experience, takes myriad high school tropes, and turns them into an insanely talented, competitive ensemble. It was a wild ride that catapulted its stars to fame, inspired tours, and ultimately housed the best songs ever created (that they got the rights to) until 2015 when the show took its final bow. 

However, thanks to the likes of TikTok and these clips reemerging, fans, both new and old, are yearning for Glee once more. Since leaving the air, so much amazing music has come and gone, and fans of Glee just want to hear Mercedes, Brittany, Kurt, and all the other New Directions make these songs their own.

 
1 of 23

Beyoncé, “TEXAS HOLD 'EM”

Beyoncé, “TEXAS HOLD 'EM”
Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA

Glee not getting to highlight Renaissance or Cowboy Carter is criminal.

 
2 of 23

Harry Styles, “As It Was”

Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA

The charm of Chord Overstreet’s Sam would have been enough to make one think “As It Was” was his and not Harry Styles’.

 
3 of 23

Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”

Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”
Andrew Schwartz/SIPA/Sipa USA

Given how many iconic looks Chappell Roan has given the world thus far, Glee’s costume department would have a field day dressing the background singers and dancers for “Good Luck, Babe!”

 
4 of 23

Jonas Brothers, “Sucker”

Jonas Brothers, “Sucker”
Ron Elkman/USA TODAY NETWORK/Sipa USA

Artie would have absolutely slayed this song, there is no question about that.

 
5 of 23

Ariana Grande, “Thank U, Next”

Ariana Grande, “Thank U, Next”
Christophe Petit-Tesson/epa-Pool/dpa/Sipa USA

Ariana Grande recreated classic romantic comedies for the “Thank U, Next” video, so Glee could have, of course, paid their own homages to iconic TV couples instead.

 
6 of 23

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
picture alliance/SIPA USA

Darren Criss would be the one to bring “Blinding Lights” to life alongside Harry Shum Jr.

 
7 of 23

Billie Eilish, “Bad Guy”

Billie Eilish, “Bad Guy”
Britta Pedersen/dpa/Sipa USA

Glee fans can agree that Jane Lynch’s Sue Sylvester would roll up in that red tracksuit and dominate some Billie Eilish.

 
8 of 23

Panic! At The Disco, “High Hopes”

Panic! At The Disco, “High Hopes”
Daniel DeSlover/Sipa USA

“High Hopes” feels like a song tailor-made for a big group number during a season finale set at a competition.

 
9 of 23

Olivia Rodrigo, “Good 4 U”

Olivia Rodrigo, “Good 4 U”
Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA

With Olivia also being an actress, she could’ve guest-starred!

 
10 of 23

Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”

Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
PictureGroup

Glee verged on corny and cringe, but “That’s What I Like.”

 
11 of 23

Paramore, “Hard Times”

Paramore, “Hard Times”
youtube.com/channel/@paramore

One of the students from Glee is either pregnant or has failed a test, and they find themselves dancing through the stress, singing Paramore’s “Hard Times” to make it through.

 
12 of 23

Shawn Mendes, “Treat You Better”

Shawn Mendes, “Treat You Better”
Anthony Behar/Sipa USA

“Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes could possibly be the start of a new couple alert for William McKinley High School.

 
13 of 23

Gayle, “ABCDEFU”

Gayle, “ABCDEFU”
Christoph Schmidt/dpa/Sipa USA/picture alliance

Dianna Agron’s Quinn would have gone off with a song like “ABCDEFU.”

 
14 of 23

BTS, “Butter”

BTS, “Butter”
L.E. Baskow/LeftEye Images/Sipa USA

Did anyone call for another ensemble performance?

 
15 of 23

Halsey, “Without Me”

Halsey, “Without Me”
Corine Solberg/SipaUSA

Glee was about singing and high school, but a lot of relationship drama also unfolded, and after a breakup, nothing hits quite like “Without Me” by Halsey.

 
16 of 23

Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”

Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”
Yui Mok/PA Images/Alamy Images/Sipa USA

What “How Do You Talk to an Angel” was for Beverly Hills, 90210, “Someone You Loved” should have the chance to be for Glee.

 
17 of 23

Taylor Swift, “Cruel Summer”

Taylor Swift, “Cruel Summer”
Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA

Since Glee said goodbye, Taylor Swift has dropped several new records and a handful of her versions, so in reality, Glee has enough material to dedicate an entire season to her, or perhaps “Cruel Summer” would be enough.

 
18 of 23

Justin Bieber, “Sorry”

Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Sthanlee Mirador © Sipa USA

Glee always did Justin Bieber justice.

 
19 of 23

Dua Lipa, “Levitating”

Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Anthony Behar/Sipa USA

Anything off Dua Lipa’s 2020 masterpiece, Future Nostalgia, would suffice.

 
20 of 23

Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”

Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA

Sometimes, Glee fans just want to shake it to Ed Sheeran, which is strange that Ed Sheeran shakes it at all.

 
21 of 23

Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”

Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA

Singing this up and down those hallways declaring one’s self-worth? Yes, please.

 
22 of 23

DNCE, “Cake by the Ocean”

DNCE, “Cake by the Ocean”
Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA

Because who doesn’t love a ridiculous pop song?

 
23 of 23

Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”

Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
youtube.com/channel/@cardib

Jane Lynch did what needed to be done with Nicki Minaj, but could she handle “WAP"?

Kendra Beltran

Kendra Beltran is a pop culture obsessed writer who spent her youth tirelessly jotting down ‘Total Request Live’ data after school. She took that obsession and a useless college degree, and spun it into enough to pay her rent by writing for MTV Geek, Collider, Popverse, and more. Over the years her interest in pop culture has only grown, and today she finds herself baking while streaming ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ running (slowly) while listening to podcasts about the ‘90s, and hanging out with her dog while taking in emo playlists

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