When Glee was good, it was actually amazing. It's legacy has been grossly under explored and my worry is that it will be remembered for its many Journey renditions rather than anything else. In an attempt to combat that, I present the performances that you may not have remembered were the bees knees and then some. You are all very welcome.
20. I Still Believe/Super Bass (Season 4).
Jane Lynch in rapping to Nicki Minaj mashed with Blaine singing a 90s Mariah song shouldn't have worked, but it really, really did.
19. Nasty/Rhythm Nation (Season 5).
The saddest thing about the final two seasons was watching Puck's half-brother waste his talents on a sinking ship. Please, Exhibit A.
18. Clarity (Season 4).
I don't remember who this girl was or what she was doing but this song still plays in my head sometimes.
17. How To Be a Heartbreaker (Season 4).
Remember when Rachel was dating a male escort, and then he randomly sung about it? Classic Glee.
16. Afternoon Delight (Season 2).
I actually screamed at this performance, mostly because of their expressions were what did it for me. (John "Bae" Stamos also didn't hurt.)
15. With You, I'm Born Again (Season 2).
The innapropriateness of this performance is almost overshadowed by the acting chops on Lea and Cory. Almost. I was crying with laughter.
14. Raise Your Glass (Season 2).
I need an answer to why Ryan Murphy never did a Glee spin-off based on The Warblers. In their glorious Regional performance, Blaine was at peak-Blaine-ness and he slayed it as usual.
13. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Season 2).
This was the moment that Kurt and Blaine officially became couple goals. I rooted for them so hard and this song was cute and sexy and adorable, all at the same time. Iconic.
12. Human Nature (Season 3).
Mercedes and Sam were a strange couple. No tangible attraction, no shared interests, no prior communication. But after their beautiful "Michael" duet, the started to grow on me.
11. One Less Bell to Answer/A House is Not a Home (Season 4).
Kristin Chenoweth was the true MVP of Glee. It's hard to pick a stand-out moment, but in season 4, she knocked it out of the whole damn park with this song.
10. Saving All My Love For You (Season 3).
WHAT. HAPPENED. TO. JOE?! He managed to make a Whitney Houston love ballad into one of the sexiest duets on the show, and he should be remembered and appreciated for that.
9. Shake It Out (Season 3).
Even non-Gleeks respected this cover. Any moment with Santana and Mercedes was golden, and Tina's voice didn't hurt.
8. Thriller/Heads Will Roll (Season 2).
Glee shined brightest in its weirdest moments and this was a testament to that. I still don't get why the New Directions performed with the football team but it was pretty lit.
7. Rumor Has It/Someone Like You (Season 3).
Where to even begin with this performance? It was emotional because it was Adele, it was emotional because Santana was figuring out her sexuality, it was emotional because those harmonies were heavenly. Best mash-up ever. Slap included.
6. Bohemian Rhapsody (Season 1).
It' s a damn shame that Jonathan Groff's legacy will lie in some small, Tony-award winning musical, because this too, was career defining. The New Directions didn't stand a chance.
5. Don't Rain On My Parade (Season 5).
Unless #7-9 weren't proof enough that Santana was a force in her own right, this power move against Rachel should convince you.
4. Tik Tok (Season 2).
The New Directions were never known for their dance moves, and that's where Brittany S. Pierce came in. One of the few Glee moments with a proper dance routine, and they actually pulled it off.
3. Landslide (Season 2).
Listening to this song makes me want to cry about white boys I've never even met. It's that deep. I listened to it everyday, I cried to it everyday, and I regret nothing. Play this at my funeral, abeg.
2. Don't Rain on My Parade (Season 1).
I knew Lea Michele was good, but in this moment, she became a star. With this one performance, Glee went from being a weird, musical TV show, to the best programs of television. All hail the queen.
1. Teenage Dream (Season 2).
For the stans, this was the moment that did it for us. I knew Glee was good, but The Warblers showed me that it was no fluke. This show had something special. It was the moment we fell in love.