International Singing Sensation Charice Lands Role on 'Glee'
If I wasn't blogging about music already, I'd be blogging about television. It's no wonder I love Fox's Glee so much...I mean HELLO! Music and TV together?! It's an obvious match made in heaven.
Why do I love Glee? Is it the sappy storylines? Well...yes...partially. Is it the cast? Oh, absolutely! What about the music? Um...DUH! While the storylines are cute, EVERYBODY tunes in weekly for the spectacular music numbers, that put any REAL high school show choir to shame (I'm sure Fox has a bigger budget than your average public high school). Not only are people TUNING in to Glee but people are spending money on the music! Digital downloads and albums are both bringing BOATLOADS of $$. Case in point? Check out this weeks Billboard Charts! The newest Glee EP, Journey To Regionals took the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 (besting even Christina Aguilera's new album) and Volume 3 of the Soundtrack is still in the top ten, after peaking at #1. Volume's 1, 2 and the Power of Madonna are also still charting. Singles-wise, on the Hot 100 Singles Chart, seven Glee Cast recordings are featured in the Top 100 (the most recent being Glee's take on Journey's "Faithfully" which debuted at #37). Not only are NEW Glee songs charting but old ones are RE-charting. The Glee Cast's internationally successful cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'"re-entered the Hot 100 at #59, after having peaked at #4. Glee's got CHART power.
While we have an ENTIRE summer to go before Glee returns in the Fall, at least we have something to look for. Entertainment Weekly's own TV Guru, Michael Ausielloreported today that popular Warner Brothers Recording Artist, Charice will be joining the cast next season as a "foreign exchange student whose killer vocals get Rachel (Lea Michele) contemplating murder." BRILLIANT move...for both Charice's career AND for the show. Giving Rachel some proper vocal competiion can ONLY be a good thing, and while I fear this will mean lots more of Rachel Berry pouting and threatening to quit the club, I'm anticipating some KILLER duets.
L-R - Charice, Glee's Lea Michele
Charice, who hails from the Phillipines has been paraded around the U.S., garnering support from the likes of David Foster and Oprah, to name a couple. Her self-titled Reprise Records release marks Charice's international debut. Her first single, the Diane Warren-penned/David Foster-produced "Note To God," (also heard on JoJo'sThe High Road album and on Charice's Oprah appearance) peaked at #44 on Billboard's Hot 100. Second single, the Iyaz-assisted "Pyramid" peaked at #56 but made it all the way to #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Songs with the help of remixes by Barry Harris, Jonathan Peters, Dave Audé and Ruff Loaderz.
While Glee doesn't seem to need any help at the moment, the addition of Charice is only going to enhance the musical element of the show. Fall can't get here soon enough!
