Top Ten ‘Glee’ Performances
#5 – ‘Beautiful’ – Mercedes
While Rachel is clearly the star of New Directions (in large part because she insists on the title), one could argue that the strongest voice in the group actually belongs to Mercedes (Amber Riley). What she lacks in nuance she makes up for in range and power.
She’s the Effie of the group, and indeed she gets her chance to shine on Dreamgirls‘ signature tune, ‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,’ in a rehearsal for sectionals. It’s a cliche for a big black woman to sing that song, of course, but the show plays up that fact just enough to make it work.
Mercedes’ finest moment of Season One, however, came in an episode titled ‘Home.’ She has joined the Cheerios, the award-winning cheerleading squad coached with ruthless efficiency by Sue Sylvester, and is reveling in her new popularity. However, Sue’s constant taunts about her weight have her collapsing with hunger and feeling miserable about herself.
The show never slips into after school special mode in exploring the topic of eating disorders and teenage self esteem. Instead we’re treated to a touching scene between Mercedes and Quinn, the head cheerleader whose whole outlook has changed since she became pregnant.
And we’re treated to today’s Song of the Day, a pep rally performance of Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful’ that unites the whole school, at least for a few minutes, in the knowledge that every one of them is worth more than the perils of high school might have them believe.
Watch the video clip here.
Now and then I get insecure, from all the pain
I’m so ashamed
I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes words can’t bring me down
So don’t you bring me down today
To all your friends you’re delirious
So consumed in all your doom….
Trying hard to fill that emptiness,
The pieces gone,left the puzzle undone,
Aint that the way it is?
You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring you down
you are beautiful in every single way
Yes words can’t bring you down
So don’t you bring me down today
No matter what we do (No matter what we do)
No matter what we say (No matter what we say)
We’re the song inside the tune
Full of beautiful mistakes
And everywhere we go (And everywhere we go)
the sun will always shine (the sun will always always shine….)
And tomorrow we might awake
on the other side
‘Cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes words won’t bring us down
we are beautiful in every single way
Yes words can’t bring us down
So don’t you bring me down today
Meet Me In Montauk 
This is yet another example of a song I generally dismiss as anthem schmaltz that just works masterfully within the context of the show.
Again, this is new to me as I haven’t seen these episodes, it’s a lovely moment. I am not a fan of the big screaming voice and while I appreciate the talent, I like her in this number a lot more then “And I’m telling you I’m not going”.
I’ve never been a big fan of this song – for the same reason as Dana – but this moment was so powerful that I couldn’t help but like it. I don’t even skip over it on the cd because I think of this moment on the show and in context it is just the perfect tune.
Wow! Half way through the countdown. I’m sad it will be over soon because I’m enjoying it so much, but I’m thrilled at the same time because it means the show will be BACK!! 🙂 Can’t wait!
This was an odd moment for me. This was one of two performances (the other was the deaf glee club/New Directions “duet” of Imagine) that had me divided as I watched. On the one hand, I was somewhat moved and allowing myself to give in to the overt and contrived sentimentality of the scene; on the other hand, I was disappointed that Glee wasn’t delivering another “Defying Gravity,” the most powerfully unsentimental emotionally devastating moment I can recall in any television show ever.
Now I know we’re not supposed to reveal our top ten moments yet, but it’s clear to all of your regular readers which would (will) be mine. Once Glee set that bar, I was a bit reluctant to watch them miss it.
As a musical performance, I enjoyed this song. As a scene in the show, I most enjoyed Sue’s snarky side glances at the critic 🙂 #5? Interesting.
I bought into the sentimentality because it’s set in a high school, and I think this song has particular resonance in that setting. The video for the original song, which shows people who are beautiful despite being too skinny / too fat / too goth / too you name it, has the same sort of teenage appeal.
I normally resist moments like this, but this one got me. If they were adults, it probably wouldn’t have.