"Glee: The Music, Vol. 5" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Glee: The Music, Volume 5" Soundtrack Description

Overview

What happens when a cover-driven show writes its own hits? Volume 5 answers by folding two originals into a post–Super Bowl run of high-profile covers. Released March 8, 2011, the 16-track set spans S2E11–S2E16, from the football-field spectacle to Regionals — and introduces the franchise-first originals “Loser Like Me” and “Get It Right.”

The sequencing mirrors the arc: mass-appeal mashups (“Thriller/Heads Will Roll”), recruitment duets (“Need You Now”), a Valentine’s shake-up (Queen, MJ, Perry), the Bieber detour, then Gwyneth Paltrow’s return (“Kiss,” “Landslide”) before the competition climax with the new songs. Apple Music confirms date, runtime (≈57:00), and credits; PR Newswire announced the originals and street date; the album page and episode entries document placements and regional variations.

Questions & Answers

What exactly is on Volume 5?

Fourteen covers from S2E11–S2E16 plus two originals — “Loser Like Me” (ensemble) and “Get It Right” (Rachel).

When did it release and how did it chart?

Released March 8, 2011; debuted #3 on the Billboard 200 with ~90k U.S. first-week units; #1 in Australia.

Which episode premiered the originals?

“Original Song” (S2E16, aired March 15, 2011). Both tracks premiered on Ryan Seacrest’s show Feb 25, 2011; “Loser Like Me” hit radio March 1.

Any regional album differences?

UK/Brazil editions swap out “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)” for “Afternoon Delight.”

What’s the time span of the covers?

From the Super Bowl special (“The Sue Sylvester Shuffle,” S2E11) through “Sexy,” “Silly Love Songs,” “Comeback,” to “Original Song.”

Where can I verify track/credit details?

Apple Music (date/runtime/℗), Wikipedia album/episode pages, and Glee Wiki placements.

Notes & Trivia

• “Thriller/Heads Will Roll” was staged for FOX’s post–Super Bowl slot; the episode drew 26.8 million U.S. viewers.
• Max Martin co-wrote “Loser Like Me”; it sold ~210k downloads in week one and debuted #6 on the Hot 100.
• UK/Brazil editions remove the Gary Glitter–penned “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah),” swapping in “Afternoon Delight.”
• Gwyneth Paltrow’s return adds “Kiss” and “Landslide,” aligning with her Season 2 guest arc.
• The set covers six broadcast weeks but a wide stylistic range: MJ to My Chemical Romance.

Genres & Themes

Arena-pop & mashups → spectacle as unifier: The halftime sequence (“Thriller/Heads Will Roll”) fuses horror-camp with pep-rally swagger to force rival cliques to cooperate.

Country-pop confession → persuasion: “Need You Now” reframes recruitment as vulnerability to sway the football team.

Valentine’s jukebox → desire and misfire: Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls,” MJ’s “P.Y.T.,” and Perry’s “Firework” map crushes, cringe, and reset.

Indie-emo anthem → solidarity: “Sing” repurposes My Chemical Romance as a school-wide morale song.

Originals → identity statement: “Get It Right” is Rachel’s precision-cut ballad; “Loser Like Me” makes the underdog credo explicit.

Tracks & Scenes

(Scene placements verified against episode guides; timestamps vary by platform.)

“Thriller / Heads Will Roll” — New Directions + Titans
Where it plays: S2E11 halftime show; full-field diegetic performance in zombie makeup.
Why it matters: Post–Super Bowl showcase that unites factions and spikes the album’s opening energy.

“She’s Not There” — Finn with ND boys & team
Where it plays: S2E11 warm-up before halftime; diegetic, still in zombie look.
Why it matters: A groove reset that primes the bigger mashup.

“Need You Now” — Rachel & Puck
Where it plays: S2E11 auditorium attempt to win over the football players; diegetic duet.
Why it matters: Soft-sell recruitment framed as late-night confession.

“Fat Bottomed Girls” — Puck
Where it plays: S2E12 Valentine’s week; diegetic serenade to Lauren in the choir room.
Why it matters: A bold, debated choice that pushes a new pairing.

“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” — Artie (with Mike)
Where it plays: S2E12 love-song assignment; diegetic with Mike’s dance showcase.
Why it matters: Turns a classic into teen courtship — charm over flash.

“Firework” — Rachel
Where it plays: S2E12 competition coda; diegetic performance under stadium lighting.
Why it matters: Pop as self-resolve after a messy Valentine’s shuffle.

“Baby” / “Somebody to Love” — Sam, Artie & the boys
Where it plays: S2E13 “Bieber Experience” sets in the auditorium; diegetic performances to sway Quinn and the crowd.
Why it matters: Comic detour with real ripple effects in the triangle plot.

“Take Me or Leave Me” — Mercedes & Rachel
Where it plays: S2E13 diva-off onstage; diegetic showdown-then-hug.
Why it matters: Converts a provocation into solidarity; two leads, one truce.

“Sing” — New Directions (+ Sue)
Where it plays: S2E13 assignment closer at the civic pavilion; diegetic anthem.
Why it matters: Emo-anthem retooled as group therapy and recruitment.

“Kiss” / “Landslide” / “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)” — Holly Holiday (Gwyneth Paltrow)
Where it plays: S2E15 “Sexy”; faculty lounge flirt (“Kiss”), trio-with-guitars reflection (“Landslide”), and a provocative class number (“Do You Wanna Touch Me”).
Why it matters: Guest-star arc that toggles between cheeky and tender. UK/Brazil editions replace “Do You Wanna Touch Me” with “Afternoon Delight.”

“Get It Right” — Rachel
Where it plays: S2E16 Regionals stage; diegetic original ballad.
Why it matters: Character thesis — perfectionism meets fear of failure, finally honest.

“Loser Like Me” — New Directions
Where it plays: S2E16 Regionals closer; diegetic original with confetti “slushies.”
Why it matters: Mission statement set to radio-pop; the moment the show owns its underdog brand.

Music–Story Links

Sports vs. arts gets literal in S2E11: mashups as peace treaties. Valentine’s week weaponizes songs — sometimes poorly (“Fat Bottomed Girls” lands messily) — then Rachel’s “Firework” reframes autonomy. “Comeback” pivots to anthems (“Sing”) and a diva-off that ends in a laugh, previewing Regionals unity. The originals close the loop: “Get It Right” isolates Rachel’s fear; “Loser Like Me” turns the club’s stigma into fuel — and a trophy.

How It Was Made

Producers/arrangers Adam Anders and Peer Åström cut radio-ready mixes weekly; for “Loser Like Me,” Anders brought in Max Martin and Shellback to craft a chart-calibrated single. The label announced the originals via press on Feb 22, 2011. Gwyneth Paltrow’s return aligned with her earlier “Forget You” success; clearance and selections route through the show’s standard pipeline (PJ Bloom supervising across Season 2).

Reception & Quotes

Volume 5 bowed at #3 on the Billboard 200 (~90k U.S.); Australia #1; Canada #3. “Loser Like Me” debuted #6 on the Hot 100 (≈210k downloads week one). Critics praised the halftime mashup’s scale and the hooky original, while debating some Valentine’s choices.

“A very uptempo, kind-of-summery hit.” Adam Anders (press)

“Gwyneth…completely captured the track’s naughty spirit.” Contemporary recap of “Do You Wanna Touch Me”

“Student-written songs… and a Regionals win.” Vanity Fair recap of “Original Song”

Additional Info

• Runtime/edition: 16 tracks; ≈57 minutes; ℗ 2011 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
• Regional swap: UK/Brazil add “Afternoon Delight,” remove “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah).”
• Super Bowl episode budget was reported at $3–5M; most-watched Glee hour.
• “Sing” briefly out-charted the My Chemical Romance original the week it aired.
• “Loser Like Me” and “Get It Right” premiered Feb 25, 2011 on radio; Regionals aired March 15, 2011.

Technical Info

• Title: Glee: The Music, Volume 5
• Year/Type: 2011, TV soundtrack (Season 2 — spring arc)
• Label: Columbia / 20th Century Fox TV
• Producers: Adam Anders, Peer Åström, Max Martin, Shellback, Ryan Murphy; exec. Dante Di Loreto, Brad Falchuk
• Scope: S2E11–S2E16 (Super Bowl special through Regionals)
• Selected placements: “Thriller/Heads Will Roll,” “Need You Now,” “She’s Not There,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” “P.Y.T.,” “Firework,” “Baby,” “Somebody to Love” (Bieber), “Take Me or Leave Me,” “Sing,” “Kiss,” “Landslide,” “Get It Right,” “Loser Like Me.”
• Chart notes: U.S. #3 (~90k), AU #1, CA #3; “Loser Like Me” Hot 100 #6 (≈210k wk1).
• Availability: Digital/CD/streaming; UK/Brazil alternate track #12.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Apple Music; Wikipedia (album & episodes); PR Newswire; Vanity Fair recaps; Pitchfork (Super Bowl mashup).

November, 09th 2025