Image Credit: Michael Putland/Retna; Chris Cuffaro/Fox; Steve Granitz/Getty ImagesWord on the street is that, in Glee‘s post-Super Bowl episode, the McKinley High kids will be singing either the songs of Michael Jackson or Bruce Springsteen. Which seems win/win, right? They’re both musical icons with back catalogs overflowing with hits. But which would be the better choice? Figuring that out, as Sue Sylvester would say, is hard. Luckily, we’re here to help with a handy-dandy list of the pros and cons of devoting an hour to one vs. the other.
Jacko
Pros: The diversity of his song styles would lend itself brilliantly to Glee‘s variety of singers. For instance, soft-spoken Kurt could whisper his way through “Billie Jean,” jocks Finn and Puck could muscle their way through “Beat It,” and powerhouses Rachel and Mercedes could—no, would—kill MJ’s once-upon-a-duet with sis Janet, “Scream.” Plus, you just know Mr. Schue would do a mean moonwalk.
Cons: Since the Super Bowl is in February, not October, chances are slim that we’d get “Thriller.” And I want “Thriller.” Badly. Also, since he’s passed on, do we forget about all the child-molestation allegations now? Is that, like, a rule?
Bruce
Pros: Not only could a Bruce-centric episode possibly bring gridiron fans to the show in a way that (sorry) the football team getting down to “Single Ladies” never could, a “Born in the USA” cover could easily be 2011′s classic-rock answer to “Don’t Stop Believin’.” (And c’mon, Finn is pretty much made to fill out Springsteen’s jeans.) Moreover, Puck could show off his softer side on “I’m on Fire,” “Dancing in the Dark” could take on a whole new meaning with daffy Brittany performing it, and can’t you just picture the flashbacks to a teenage Will belting out “Glory Days”?
Cons: How many Springsteen songs do you really know? I mean, quick—can you hum “Streets of Philadelphia” or “Secret Garden” from his
greatest-hits CD? I, um, can’t.
And the winner is… Oh, I’m not touching this one. You guys can vote below. And something tells me you will…
MJ..
They did the Boss for the Emmys opener.
Better fricken be Michael Jackson. How many high schoolers really give a crap about Springsteen?
Are people supposed to believe the Glee kids are so enamored with the Boss they’d do a medley of his songs (a la Madonna, Lady Gaga)? Hardly. One of those is not like the other. MJ fits, Bruce doesn’t.
“How many high schoolers really give a crap about Springsteen?”
What kind of high school did you go to?
Bruce all the way.
Yeah um The Boss was my all time favorite in high school. Geez if we’re going by what high schoolers today listen to, according to you we’d toss out half of Glee’s songbook.
I’d love to see an MJ Glee, but for the Superbowl? That screams Springsteen.
@Robinson, maybe the question isn’t what high school did I go to, but when did I attend. And it was in this century.
Glee isn’t a show for middle-aged, whitebread folks who jam to heartland rock.
Lea Michelle has no hips.
You don’t sound that Cheery….
i thought “obviously MJ” until after reading this… now springsteen feels like the obvious choice lol. for the purposes that it is the slot after the superbowl, i will definitely give my vote to springsteen. both would be awesome, though.
To answer your question…
None.
MJ all the way!
they would never do a MJ episode if he wasn’t dead… he was a joke when he was still alive (his music on the other hand is great)
Cheery- I went to high school “in this century” too (graduated in 2006), and I’d prefer Springsteen to MJ. And I must say, comments like yours often make our generation look bad…acting as if we’re so superior to everyone else. Guess what? Lots of people across age ranges watch and enjoy Glee. I know plenty of middle-aged people who are into the show, so stop acting like it’s exclusively for younger people. Obviously a big chunk of the audience IS in our generation, but it isn’t the entire audience. Plenty of people love Glee, so stop slamming those who you disagree with.
Yes it has to be MJ. Just make sure the pedophilia angle is shown since the show is geared to HS boys. Then again that age bracket was too old for MJ.
If you want to bring up nasty old reality, how many high schoolers care about glee club? Glee is all about celebrating the unexpected and opening peoples eyes to the things they don’t “give a crap about”. You Cheery, are a brick in the wall that Glee is trying to break down.
I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via age’lessmate.c’om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends..w43d
rofl, that made my day…now I’m undoubtedly more cheery than cheery her/himself
But isn’t a Glee club for people who love music and not just “modern” music. It should be. I graduated in 2002, and some of my favorite songs are “oldies”. then again, at 26 I’m probably considered ancient to people like Cherry.
I may be out of touch, but did current high school students blast Journey before they did their songs? This show helps the irrelevant, be relevant in pop culture. PS I am older and love the show. I had no idea there was an age limit. They should put that as a disclaimer.
Excuse me, but I graduated high school in 2007. Springsteen is and was my favorite artist…I listen to his music religiously, and go to every concert I can.
Also, my friends have been dancing and singing to Journey for years….Love the “Glee” version but it didn’t start there
A lot you idiot,,,,Keep your worm food pedophile,,,,,I’ll take the Boss any day
@Robinson Just because you listened to Springteen in high school doesn’t mean EVERYBODY did. I graduated in 2009 and even though there were people in my class you listened to him I can say almost EVERYONE in my class knew at least one Micheal Jackson. As much as you might not like to believe it, there aren’t a lot people in our Generation that listen to Bruce Springsteen. I have nothing against him and I think he is very talented but I will be honest. When he did the Superbowl three years ago I was completely bored. I only knew one song and to be honest they didn’t get me pumped up and excited. So I choose Micheal Jackson. His songs are more dancable and fit the glee club better.
They should so MJ as atribute to him
and also… what teenager knows Boss? I can think of 2 songs for Boss but like 20 for MJ
Glee DO MJ!!
I agree, my kids know most every song MJ has, but they mabe know one song from Bruce
at first, i had a hard time deciding; i’m a big MJ fan, as well as bruce springsteen. I am a high schooler and i’ve seen bruce more than 5 times in concert. Glee will not lose teenage fans by doing one episode of Bruce or MJ, since their music should live on through generations. For the super bowl, bruce all the way, but i would also love to see an MJ episode.
No offense to Springsteen, but it HAS to be Jackson. Jackson’s got more hits and his songs fit Glee better. Plus, it just seems weird that Glee’s done Madonna and not Jackson. MJ deserves a Madonna like episode– with the iconic costumes and dances. Springsteen’s great, but he hasn’t influenced popular culture like Jackson (who didn’t know somebody in the 80s with a red leather jacket or a sequined glove?).
The Madonna and Lady GaGa episodes of “Glee” were two of their poorest episodes. I’ll have to see how the Britney Spears episode turns out, but I’m going to go ahead and say that they need to leave theme shows like this alone.
What was great about the first episode was the eclectic mix of songs they’d chosen. It’s OK that viewers might not know a song or two. Shouldn’t this show be trying to broaden your musical report anyway?
madonna is a has been… Britney is the QUEEN… and lady gaga is a wannabe
and sandy is a moron
Watching the Britney episode now. Dialogue is funny…music kind of stinks. I think Glee should limit or even eliminate episodes based on a single artist.
steve is correct. You are a colossal moron sandy. Madonna will always be the Queen. And at least Gaga has a good voice. Can’t say so for Britney.
I agree with Sky. I think they should stop doing episodes based on only one artist. It felt like they were stretching. although I really enjoy the music of Glee, it’s still a show and last night’s episode felt like nothing more than a music video.
Last night’s Britney Spears episode of Glee broke ratings records for the hit show!
‘nough said @steve & casey
As an 18 year old I am BEGGING you please MICHAEL JACKSON XD
As a 19 year old I am BEGGING you please BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!
MICHAEL!!!!
Duh…
Why?
Because MJ is KING!
Glee should definitely do Michael Jackson
As much as I love GLEE, those kids won’t do enough justice to the King of Pop. I mean, he’s the King. If you cant be as good as him, just let it go.
M
As much as I love GLEE, those kids can’t tackle the King of Pop. If you can’t do just like him, then just don’t do it!
My bet is actually on JANET JACKSON. I mean, aside Madonna, she’s the other living legend. I can see already what songs would be covered:
*Pleasure Principle (Quinn)
*That’s the way love goes – The N’sync version (Will, Puck, Artie, Finn)
*Again (Kurt)
*Lonely (Mercedes)
*Black cat (Rachel)
*Together Again (All cast).
PLZ MAKE IT HAPPEN, RYAN !!!
Don’t you folks mean Queen of Pop?
Pro Boss. Love me MJ music, but I think the Boss’ music could be better intergrated into the story.
How many Boss songs do I know (and love?)
Born in the USA
Glory Days
I’m on Fire
Born to Run
Hungry Heart
Pink Cadilac
Dancing in the Dark
Fire (already done on Glee)
I’m going down…. down…. down
They did do Springsteen at the Emmys. That pretty much ends the conversation for me.
Bruce!
I hope it’s MJ because Glee is a crap show and Springsteen is better than that.
Hasn’t two of Springsteen’s songs already gotten the Glee treatment (“Fire” and “Born to Run”)? Apparently he’s not better than that.
And don’t forget that Kurt sang “Pink Houses” in an episode, too.
Um, pink houses is john mellencamp
Superbowl and the boss. Has to be the bruce. And you can’t do a glee epi featuring MJ without Thriller.
I completely agree with you. Save the MJ episode so they can do Thriller. Springsteen was the soundtrack of my high school years. Perfect choice!!
Perhaps it’s because I’m from NJ and worship the man, but I know over 150 different Springsteen songs. I can hum both Streets of Philadelphia and Secret Garden, as well as somewhat obscure songs like Thundercrack. So, there you go.
I’m 18 years old and even I know Streets of Philadelphia and Secret Garden.
But, uh, not Thundercrack.
I’m 19 and I know it – but only because my mother owns every Springsteen CD ever released, including “Tracks”. Probably also the reason why I have 4 different versions of “Born to Run”.
Her brains they rattle and her bones they shake…
Whoa,she’s an angel from the Innerlake
jump back jack…
I grew up listening to Springsteen (there’s an audio recording of me singing, badly, “Born in the USA” at about 3) Now, I don’t know “Thundercrack”, but I do know “Thunder Road.” And I actually liked “The Rising” and the most recent album. However, I still bear a mild grudge against my mom for not taking me to the last tour with the E-Street Band that hit Toronto.
LOVE Thundercrack.
As a Bruce baby (I basically grew up listening to everything by him because of my dad – mainstream and underground stuff) I would also like to say I could hum both songs and Thundercrack, and I have 7 DIFFERENT VERSIONS of Thunder Road.
Voice wise I don’t think they can tackle either but maybe Michael Jackson would be easier to achieve, they got great dancers.
I was actually thinking the exact opposite- I think they’ve got the vocals covered for either artist but mike chang and brittney are their only dancers. I’m not sure I’d want to see any of the other cast members trying to dance like MJ.
Bruce!
As much as I’d rather hear Springsteen songs, didn’t he just perform last year? Besides, Michael Jackson’s death, even after a year, still feels fresh to a lot of people, and his songs lend themselves better to Glee-esque choreography. Seems a no-brainer.
Oh…I thought they were performing the halftime show. Oh well…I don’t care, then. Either or.
The Boss!!! More people would continue to watch it after the SB. Plus I need the gleeks to do Born To Run with Finn as leaf.
leaf. you mean lead. not leaf, also, Springsteen all the way:D
I am thinking Springsteen for the Superbowl episode but save Michael for the 3rd season.
That is actually a great idea Jessica!
I want ABBA! That would be an awesome episode.
That aside, I don’t know which I’d prefer. I’m a teenager of the 80′s, so I’d probably enjoy both.
i want Meatloaf, and my wife wants Pearl Jam
Dude it has to be the Boss, this is Glee’s chance to bring in a bigger audience and Bruce will do that.
MJ all the way. The songs are so much better.
MJ
MJ
Neither.
agreed neither im sooooooo sick of mj and i love bruce but i dont know about an entire episode about him
I agree neither. I feel over saturated with MJ since he died. I would like a break, and I know most of the over saturation has to do with his money hungry family, but it still does not bode well for me. Bruce is great, but maybe a song here or there, not an entire episode. I think it might be kind of of fun for Shue to do a parody episode and feature like Weird Al takes. It could that the Glee kids are stressed about Nationals or some competition so Shue decides to lighten things up to try and de-stress them. That could be fun! I also think I would like to see some Beach Boy songs.
Yeah, neither.