While the iconic television show, "Glee" aired its final episode this past March, for many, the music from the show has lived on. So many people love to hate Glee's infamous covers, but in reality, some of the over 700 covers performed on the show are in many ways better than the originals. As a passionate, obsessive, and proud "Glee" fan (or Gleek, if you prefer), I have gone through my music library and created my own list of what I feel are the 25 best covers performed on "Glee." The show may be over, but these songs are all still worth listening to.
25. "If I Were A Boy" — Unique, Season 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yilrlypz-R8
I know it’s crazy to think that someone can do this song better than Beyonce, but just trust me with this one. Sung by Unique, a transgender girl after facing some harsh bullying by football players in the boy’s bathroom, it changes this songs meaning completely. Her vocals literally slay and she brings so much powerful emotion. Simply incredible.
24. "Jesse’s Girl" — Finn, Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqmXc60xVcw
This is a "Glee" classic. It’s kind of obvious that the writers named Jesse St. James’s character just so they could do this, but I really don’t care because this performance was just awesome. Finchel for life.
23. "No One Is Alone" — Kurt, Blaine, and Rachel, Season 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8FU3Yq1t4I
Sung as Blaine, Kurt, and Rachel light candles at a memorial for a gay man who was beat up in New York City, this song is emotional and beautiful. I’ve always loved when "Glee" puts musical theatre songs into real life contexts. To be honest, I listen to this song when I’m away at school and feeling lonely. It makes me feel better. Y’all should try it.
22. "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For" — New Directions, Season 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEjHC04oAyY
“This is his favorite song.” This is sung by the New Directions as they compete at Nationals after Finn’s passing. This song just reminds me of the incredible performances the whole cast is capable of doing together.
21. "How Will I Know" —Kurt, Rachel, Mercedes, and Santana, Season 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOA26S0L-Qs
The four best voices on the show, together, a cappella, and singing Whitney Houston. How could this not be amazing?
20. "Fire and Rain" — Artie and Sam, Season 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgfYqI4wTDA
This song was sung during Finn’s tribute episode. Almost every song sung in that episode deserves to be on this list—and most of them are. This cover brings really brings out the tears. Can’t listen to it without crying.
19. "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" — Rachel, Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niw1YpOEwf0
Yet another 80s cover that was just so classic for "Glee" in Season 1. While this performance is incredibly corny and kind of lame, Rachel brings the song to life, and the song altogether is so dumb that it makes it good.
18. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" — Finn, Season 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J00bnYkjJIQ
This is literally Finn’s best performance. Singing this song to Santana after he outs her pretty publicly, he changes this song in a way that gives it a deeper meaning. This is just perfect.
17. "A Thousand Years" — Jake and Marley, Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ceB5Ax20E
I have to give the new voices a shout out. Honestly, making this song into a duet was brilliant. This cover is in so many ways better than the original. It has more passion and Jake and Marley sing it so beautifully. Tears and heart eyes all the way.
16. "Homeward Bound/Home" — New Directions, Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzsnV1vqa_k
This song was performed when all of the recent graduates from McKinley High School come back to visit for the first time. They all come together for this rad mashup, started out by my girl Quinn Fabray, this song reminds us of the core group who made "Glee" the show it was.
15. "Shake It Out" — Santana, Tina, Brittany, and Mercedes, Season 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4MCzmUQrTk
This song in general is beautiful, but the blend of these voices and their harmonies totally transform it into something spectacular. There really is no one more talented than the ladies of "Glee."
14. "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" — Kurt, Season 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvt1DFkeoDI
This is one of those performances in the choir room that people still talk about, almost five years later. While the lyrics don’t fully fit the situation (Kurt was singing this about his dad who was in the hospital), this is one of the first times we see Kurt be vulnerable in his music, and he just absolutely kills it.
13. "I Feel Pretty/Unpretty" — Quinn and Rachel, Season 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVTrgz09qas
This mashup is everything. Sung by two of the best characters on the show, the songs flow together like magic, and the blend of their voices is even better. I don’t even know what else to say other than yaaaaaasssss.
12. "Mine" — Santana, Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snn_kZwdruM
Honestly, I never thought "Glee" covering a Taylor Swift song would turn out well, but DAMN. Naya Rivera totally transforms this song, making it new and interesting again, not just another corny love song.
11. "Cough Syrup" — Blaine, Season 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t5ZUd8WEPo
Another hella emotional performance done by the one and only Blaine Anderson. In the context of the show, this song was performed cutting back and forth between scenes of Blaine singing and scenes of Dave Karofsky enduring bullying, contemplating, and eventually attempting suicide. This song perfectly compliments the tones of the episode and Darren Criss kills it vocally, as usual.
10. "If I Die Young" — Santana, Season 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtrZL0-Pgv0
This is one of Santana’s best performances, sung as her tribute to Finn. Nothing really can be said about this other than that it is amazing, and makes me cry always.
9. "Let Me Love You" — Jake, Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKdXhBYq9wc
Contrary to popular belief, the newer kids of Glee really did do some incredible performances. Jake Tuckerman shed his bad-boy look to do this stripped-down performance as his way of telling Marley he loves her. Making me swoon, all day, every day.
8. "Poker Face" — Rachel and Shelby, Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUhA0oXnpq4
Idina Menzel and Lea Michele covering Lady Gaga? This combination is simply glorious, and started a revolution of acoustic covers similar to this. I could listen to this all day.
7. "Being Alive" — Kurt, Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZaGcRjEssE
This is by far my favorite performance by Kurt. Finally dedicating a song to himself and ditching all of his props and costumes, Kurt performs this song as an impromptu audition for his dream school, NYADA. He sings the song beautifully and reminds everyone how important it is to simply be alive.
6. "My Man" — Rachel, Season 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jFZs9Lmze4
While this cover doesn’t stray far from the original, this list had to include one of Rachel Berry’s signature ballads and this is my all time favorite. Lea Michele slays as always and brings not only powerful vocals, but also powerful emotion, making this performance so freaking good.
5. "Rumour Has It/Someone Like You" — The Troubletones, Season 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI39eVf9S_k
"Glee" is in many ways known for its mashups—some being kind of random and some making total sense. This one in particular is just genius. The mixture of these two incredible songs sung by a fierce group of female vocalists amounts to an absolutely incredible performance.
4. "Landslide" — Holly, Santana, and Brittany, Season 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb4vSaZJgFA
This song is probably one of the show’s most famous covers. This song is performed as Santana’s way of telling Brittany she loves her, giving the song much emotion. In addition to Santana and Brittany’s chemistry, the guest appearance by Gwyneth Paltrow as Holly Holiday makes this song really special.
3. "Make You Feel My Love" — Rachel, Season 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEaCDdTQvk4
This is yet another song performed on the tribute episode to Finn Hudson, “The Quarterback.” Lea Michele sang this fully from her heart, and I still cry every time I hear it.
2. "Teenage Dream" (Acoustic Version) — Blaine, Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wcDS5hpxnU
"Teenage Dream" performed by The Warblers blew people away in Season 2, but Blaine’s own stripped down version in Season 4 completely changed the game. His heart wrenching vocals and the emotional undertones make this song one of the most memorable performances on "Glee."
1. "Faithfully" — Finn and Rachel, Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO2edLk0Ckc
This is, by far, what I believe to be the best song ever covered on "Glee." Not only were the vocals on this song incredible, but this song also immediately followed Finn telling Rachel he loved her for the first time. Additional note: this is also one of my favorite songs to belt in the car alone. You should really try it sometime.
And here you have 25 songs that prove anyone wrong who says all of Glee’s covers are terrible. Never underestimate the power of show choir. #Gleek4Lyfe #LoserLikeMe
























