"Glee: The Music presents The Warblers" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Glee: The Music Presents The Warblers" Soundtrack Description

Overview

What happens when the rivals steal the show? This album answers: a tight, a cappella-forward set where polish equals power. Released April 19, 2011 on Columbia/20th Century Fox TV, the record collects Season 2 Warblers highlights with two album-exclusive cuts. It’s the cleanest snapshot of Blaine’s (Darren Criss) arrival and Kurt’s (Chris Colfer) Dalton year — chart pop rebuilt as choral sparkle.

Arrangements come from Tufts University’s Beelzebubs; most tracks were cut at Q Division Studios with stacked multitracking to achieve that “larger than eleven voices” sheen. Wikipedia and Apple Music confirm release details and credits. Billboard reported an immediate chart impact — a rare spin-off disc that didn’t feel secondary to the main cast.

Questions & Answers

When did the album come out, and what’s on it?

April 19, 2011. Thirteen covers from Season 2 performances plus two exclusives not used in-episode.

Who actually sings the background Warblers parts?

The Beelzebubs (Tufts University) recorded the a cappella backing; the on-screen choir lip-syncs to those tracks.

Which leads dominate?

Darren Criss carries most leads; Chris Colfer fronts “Blackbird” and shares/co-leads on select numbers.

Are any songs exclusive to the album?

Yes — “What Kind of Fool” and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” are album-only (one performed at MusiCares; the other planned but unused on the show).

How did it perform commercially?

Debuted #2 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Soundtracks chart with ~86k first-week units.

Where can I verify track, edition, and credit info?

Apple Music, Discogs, and MusicBrainz provide edition metadata; Wikipedia aggregates credits and chart runs.

Notes & Trivia

• “Teenage Dream” first sold 214,000 U.S. downloads in week one — a franchise record at the time — before being repackaged here.
• Two Beelzebubs arrangements (“Bills, Bills, Bills” and “When I Get You Alone”) predated their TV work and were adapted for the show.
• “Blackbird” is the lone track not backed by the Bubs; it’s a Kurt-led moment tied to the canary named Pavarotti.
• Japanese editions add a bonus track; Discogs and Apple storefronts show minor runtime variances by region.
• The Warblers’ crisp blend came from meticulous overdubs; Q Division’s sessions stacked takes for stadium-size sheen.

Genres & Themes

A cappella pop precision → belonging & decorum: Tight voicings and zero percussion project Dalton’s order — community by uniform, harmony as discipline.

Power ballads reframed → vulnerability: “Blackbird” and “Candles” turn stadium sentiment into chamber music — small rooms, big stakes.

Radio hits as courtship → performance-as-confession: Public serenades (“When I Get You Alone,” “Silly Love Songs”) blur show choir swagger with real feelings.

Tracks & Scenes

(Episode placements verified against episode pages and contemporary coverage; timecodes vary by release, so scenes are described precisely.)

“Teenage Dream” — Blaine & The Warblers
Where it plays: Season 2, Ep6 “Never Been Kissed.” Dalton staircase performance as Kurt visits; full diegetic number introducing Blaine and the Warblers.
Why it matters: Franchise-defining entrance that pivots Kurt’s arc and establishes the Warblers’ signature sound.

“Hey, Soul Sister” — The Warblers (lead: Blaine)
Where it plays: S2 Ep9 “Special Education,” Sectionals stage set; diegetic competition number.
Why it matters: The choir’s first big win posture; a crisp, camera-aware arrangement that sells their precision.

“Bills, Bills, Bills” — The Warblers
Where it plays: S2 Ep13 “Comeback,” Dalton rehearsal/performance for visiting New Directions; diegetic showcase.
Why it matters: A ’90s R&B flip that proves the group can be playful without drums.

“When I Get You Alone” — Blaine & The Warblers
Where it plays: S2 Ep12 “Silly Love Songs,” in-store flash-serenade at The Gap; fully diegetic, handheld feel.
Why it matters: Courtship via pop theater — bold, messy, public.

“Animal” — Blaine & Kurt with The Warblers
Where it plays: S2 Ep15 “Sexy,” Dalton rehearsal; diegetic duet with teasing choreography.
Why it matters: Moves Blaine–Kurt from subtext to spark.

“Misery” — Blaine & The Warblers
Where it plays: S2 Ep16 “Original Song,” pre-Regionals warm-up; diegetic rehearsal opener.
Why it matters: Sets the “Blaine and the Pips” tension that the plot calls out explicitly.

“Candles” — Blaine & Kurt with The Warblers
Where it plays: S2 Ep16 “Original Song,” Regionals stage; diegetic competition ballad.
Why it matters: First competition duet for the couple; tender restraint amid arena stakes.

“Raise Your Glass” — The Warblers
Where it plays: S2 Ep16 “Original Song,” Regionals stage; diegetic uptempo closer.
Why it matters: Contrast to New Directions’ originals; pure pop adrenaline.

“Blackbird” — Kurt (with background voices)
Where it plays: S2 Ep16 “Original Song,” memorial scene for Pavarotti; intimate diegetic performance.
Why it matters: Kurt’s stillness lands harder than spectacle; Blaine finally sees him.

“Somewhere Only We Know” — Blaine & The Warblers
Where it plays: S2 Ep18 “Born This Way,” goodbye at McKinley auditorium; diegetic serenade to send Kurt off.
Why it matters: The Warblers at their most emotional — a farewell that doubles as a promise.

Music–Story Links

Dalton’s order is musical: a uniform of sound and blazer. “Teenage Dream” opens a door for Kurt; “Hey, Soul Sister” codifies the team’s competition persona. Public serenades (“When I Get You Alone”) test the line between theater and truth, while “Blackbird” strips everything back so Blaine can finally fall for the person behind the uniform. “Somewhere Only We Know” closes the loop — the choir becomes a chorus for Kurt’s transition back home.

How It Was Made

Backing vocals/arrangements: the Beelzebubs; leads cut by Darren Criss and Chris Colfer with producers Adam Anders and Peer Åström. Sessions largely ran through Q Division (Somerville, MA), with “Teenage Dream” tracked in New York. Ed Boyer handled a cappella arranging duties that translated TV blocking into record-ready stacks. Apple Music, MusicBrainz, and Wikipedia align on credits and studio notes.

Reception & Quotes

Billboard recorded a #2 Billboard 200 debut (and #1 Soundtracks) with ~86k first-week units; subsequent coverage tracked sustained single sales (“Teenage Dream” gold). Critics were mixed-to-positive, praising the arrangements and Criss’s lead work.

“One of the best Glee collections — inventive a cappella that stands on its own.” About.com (contemporary review summary)

“Criss shows range; Colfer’s ‘Blackbird’ is fragile by design.” AllMusic (review takeaway)

“A cappella architecture turns radio gloss into character beats.” The Hollywood Reporter (track-by-track insights)

Additional Info

• Two album-only tracks: “What Kind of Fool” (performed at MusiCares) and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (planned for TV but unused).
• “Teenage Dream” previously appeared on Glee: The Music, Volume 4; this album consolidates the Dalton era.
• The Beelzebubs’ visibility boosted their own catalog sales following broadcast exposure.
• Regional (JP) editions include a bonus track; Discogs lists multiple CD pressings.
• Several tracks were also issued as weekly singles in sync with episode airings.

Technical Info

• Title: Glee: The Music Presents The Warblers
• Year/Type: 2011, TV soundtrack
• Artist: Glee Cast (Dalton Academy Warblers)
• Label: Columbia / 20th Century Fox TV
• Studios: Q Division (Somerville, MA); sessions also in New York (notably “Teenage Dream”).
• Key placements (TV): S2E6 “Never Been Kissed” (“Teenage Dream”); S2E9 “Special Education” (“Hey, Soul Sister”); S2E12 “Silly Love Songs” (“When I Get You Alone,” “Silly Love Songs”); S2E13 “Comeback” (“Bills, Bills, Bills”); S2E15 “Sexy” (“Animal”); S2E16 “Original Song” (“Misery,” “Candles,” “Raise Your Glass,” “Blackbird”); S2E18 “Born This Way” (“Somewhere Only We Know”).
• Music supervision: PJ Bloom; Exec. music production/arrangements: Adam Anders with Peer Åström.
• Chart notes: #2 Billboard 200 debut; #1 Soundtracks; strong single sales (“Teenage Dream” gold).

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Billboard; Apple Music; Wikipedia; Glee Wiki (Fandom); MusicBrainz; Discogs; TV Guide.

November, 09th 2025