SOUND OFF: What The World Needs Now? 8 Great New GLEE Musical Moments To Remember

By: Pat Cerasaro Feb. 06, 2015

Tonight we recount the sensational songs of Burt Bacharach as performed on tonight's fresh new episode of GLEE.

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That's What Friends Are For
The songs of Burt Bacharach have touched hearts, ears and minds around the world for more than 60 years, from his Brill Building hits with longtime lyricist Hal David - including "Wives & Lovers", "Walk On By", "There's Always Something There To Remind Me" and many more - onto a big Broadway smash in the form of 1960s hit PROMISES, PROMISES - featuring breakout gems "Promises, Promises" and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" - all the way to Academy Award-winning work for Hollywood in a wide range of properties such as BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (the Oscar-winning "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"), CASINO ROYALE ("The Look Of Love"), ALFIE ("Alfie") and ARTHUR ("Arthur's Theme"), among others. Plus, who could forget his later-career chart-topper with charity single "That's What Friends Are For"? Indeed, Bacharach is a music master with few peers and FOX's hit musical dramedy series GLEE finally tackling his rich songstack with a spectacular episode this week in the form of the all-too appropriately titled "What The World Needs Now" is a cause for celebration. The theme of GLEE itself could veritably be the title of a Bacharach tune that unfortunately did not make the cut, as a matter of fact - "That's What Friends Are For". Yet, as we all saw tonight, 8 showstoppers in an hour was more than enough to satiate the most burning desire for a Valentine's Day entertainment extravaganza in any gleek, anyway - and, all told, also make up for some less-than-stellar entries in recent weeks, too.

So, to change it up in honor of the man who changed the sound of modern music, let's eschew the standard plot and character analysis and focus primarily on the music - because, after all, at the end of the day, GLEE is really all about the music. Now, here are 8 great Bacharach songs as they were paid tribute to on tonight's GLEE.
1. "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" - the first of two standout musical moments from Burt Bacharach and Hal David's 1968 musical hit PROMISES, PROMISES, based on Neil Simon's hit film THE APARTMENT and adapted by the playwright himself, Lea Michele and Chord Overstreet ingratiatingly explored their tenuous courtship with this instant earworm to kick off the ep in a befittingly swingin' and swirly 60s manner, with winning results.
2. "Baby It's You" - Brought to fame by girl-group The Shirelles, Amber Riley blasted the brassy and sassy tune to the rafters with appreciable help from some of McKinley High's finest female sirens - namely, Heather Morris, Naya Rivera and Lea Michele.

3. "Wishin' & Hopin'" - Super-specific syncopation is a hallmark of many Bacharach tunes and this one is no exception, finding always reliable GLEE vocal superstars Kevin McHale and Darren Criss wringing every last bit of funky musical and lyrical fun out of the groovy tune, with the amenable aid of Heather Morris and Chord Overstreet, of course.
4. "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)" - With lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and co-composed with Christopher Cross and Peter Allen, this ARTHUR theme song standout was given a sweetly sonorous singing led by the male members of New Directions old and new, joining together with top hat and tails to croon the 80s-tastic tune. Bacharach may have had his heyday in the 1960s, but he could still churn out a chart-topping hit when required to do so (with a well-earned 1981 Golden Globe and Oscar win, to boot).

5. "Promises, Promises" - Lea Michele and this song fit together like hands to a glove and her emphatic and emotional enacting of the big-bodied melody and even larger-than-life intent behind the lyrics was expertly rendered. Sublime.
6. "(They Long To Be) Close To You" - in direct juxtaposition to Michele's Broadway-ready big ballad was her PROMISES, PROMISES duet partner Chord Overstreet with an elegant and slightly jangly Jason Mraz-y take on the tuneful hit made famous by the Carpenters (and before them, none other than Richard Chamberlain, in 1963). One word really says it all, though: Aww.
7. "Alfie" - Naya Rivera passionately performed the Dionne Warwick and Cher radio gem with appropriate luster, notably shining in expressing the slightly melancholy yet winsome message implicit in the tune. Simply lovely.
8. "What The World Needs Now" - Matthew Morrison has repeatedly proven his adeptness at taking on soulful songs in seasons past and this was no exception, with the rest of the McKinley High crew adding their own characteristically idiosyncratic and effective readings of their respective lines in the eminently apropos concluding number of the music-packed episode. Certainly, this was one of GLEE's finest eps to date - and, without a doubt, the best episode of the final season... so far!

Next week? Coach Beiste makes her much-discussed gender transition in "Transitioning", set to feature a spirited and spot-on HAIRSPRAY stunner ("I Know Where I've Been"). Be there! Until then... keep smiling and keep shining.

Photo Credits: FOX

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