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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| For the love of Glee | For the love of Glee |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Choral singing has stormed the US pop charts on the back of a TV series called Glee. Now the show is being aired in Britain, and the music is in the top 10. | Choral singing has stormed the US pop charts on the back of a TV series called Glee. Now the show is being aired in Britain, and the music is in the top 10. |
| If you've just looked at this week's Top 10 singles don't worry, you haven't fallen asleep and woken up in 1981. | If you've just looked at this week's Top 10 singles don't worry, you haven't fallen asleep and woken up in 1981. |
| There's a simple explanation for Journey's power ballad Don't Stop Believin' sitting at number six and number seven in the chart - Glee. That's the name of a hit US TV series aired in Britain for the first time last week. Days later the "Glee effect" - as it has been dubbed by the American press - was rubbing off on the British pop charts. | There's a simple explanation for Journey's power ballad Don't Stop Believin' sitting at number six and number seven in the chart - Glee. That's the name of a hit US TV series aired in Britain for the first time last week. Days later the "Glee effect" - as it has been dubbed by the American press - was rubbing off on the British pop charts. |
| The show is a fictional tale about a young teacher trying to turn a bunch of high school misfits into a show-stopping choir. In an integrated media strategy that surely points the way of things to come, after each episode was broadcast in the US last year a song from that show was released for download. And each song stormed the charts. | The show is a fictional tale about a young teacher trying to turn a bunch of high school misfits into a show-stopping choir. In an integrated media strategy that surely points the way of things to come, after each episode was broadcast in the US last year a song from that show was released for download. And each song stormed the charts. |
| After the first episode was screened on E4 in the UK last week the show achieved a double whammy in the UK charts, with Don't Stop Believin' sung by the Glee Cast reaching number six and Journey's original version reaching number seven. Expect more of the same as the series builds momentum. | After the first episode was screened on E4 in the UK last week the show achieved a double whammy in the UK charts, with Don't Stop Believin' sung by the Glee Cast reaching number six and Journey's original version reaching number seven. Expect more of the same as the series builds momentum. |
| Vibrant | Vibrant |
| The show's blend of dark humour and high camp are a big part of its success, but the feel-good, serotonin-stirring songs belted out each week are also winning over even the most hardened critics. | The show's blend of dark humour and high camp are a big part of its success, but the feel-good, serotonin-stirring songs belted out each week are also winning over even the most hardened critics. |
| "It blasts past any defences you might put up," said Entertainment Weekly. "Glee will not stop until it wins you over utterly." | "It blasts past any defences you might put up," said Entertainment Weekly. "Glee will not stop until it wins you over utterly." |
| But while glee clubs are a staple of American high school and college life, the concept is almost unknown in the UK. | But while glee clubs are a staple of American high school and college life, the concept is almost unknown in the UK. |
| Show choirs are catching on in the UK | Show choirs are catching on in the UK |
| The irony is that glee actually began in Britain, around the 1700s, according to historians. Glee clubs remained popular until Victorian times, when other styles of singing became more fashionable. | The irony is that glee actually began in Britain, around the 1700s, according to historians. Glee clubs remained popular until Victorian times, when other styles of singing became more fashionable. |
| Back then "glee" referred to a specific form of unaccompanied English part song - singing with two or more voice parts, with one part carrying the melody - and were all male. This style was adopted by America's first - and now oldest - glee club, formed by students at Harvard University in 1858. | Back then "glee" referred to a specific form of unaccompanied English part song - singing with two or more voice parts, with one part carrying the melody - and were all male. This style was adopted by America's first - and now oldest - glee club, formed by students at Harvard University in 1858. |
| The term has evolved over the years and is now encompasses everything from Harvard's traditional 60-voice, all-male choral ensemble to the sort of high school show choirs featured in Glee. | The term has evolved over the years and is now encompasses everything from Harvard's traditional 60-voice, all-male choral ensemble to the sort of high school show choirs featured in Glee. |
| But while they have mutated into many forms, glee clubs are still a "distinctly American tradition," says Professor Scott Tucker, director of the Cornell University Glee Club, which was founded in 1868. | But while they have mutated into many forms, glee clubs are still a "distinctly American tradition," says Professor Scott Tucker, director of the Cornell University Glee Club, which was founded in 1868. |
| 'Triumph or disaster' | 'Triumph or disaster' |
| "Choral singing in general is incredibly vibrant in the US," he says. "The number of people singing in choirs here is surprisingly high." | "Choral singing in general is incredibly vibrant in the US," he says. "The number of people singing in choirs here is surprisingly high." |
| One factor that could explain why this touchstone of American culture is all but unheard of in Britain is America's focus on competition. Glee isn't just about the joy of singing - many show choirs compete at national level. | One factor that could explain why this touchstone of American culture is all but unheard of in Britain is America's focus on competition. Glee isn't just about the joy of singing - many show choirs compete at national level. |
| CLASSIC GLEE CLUB SONGS The Whiffenpoof SongFar Above Cayuga's WatersMy Cutie's DueDancing in the StreetsDon't Stop Believin' | CLASSIC GLEE CLUB SONGS The Whiffenpoof SongFar Above Cayuga's WatersMy Cutie's DueDancing in the StreetsDon't Stop Believin' |
| "They are uniquely American," says Peter Ling, professor of American Studies at Nottingham University. "That's because American schools and colleges have always had a hugely competitive element. They like things that tap into something climatic, that could end in triumph or disaster - hopefully triumph." | "They are uniquely American," says Peter Ling, professor of American Studies at Nottingham University. "That's because American schools and colleges have always had a hugely competitive element. They like things that tap into something climatic, that could end in triumph or disaster - hopefully triumph." |
| The history of show choirs, such as that in Glee, is very recent. They began popping up in America in the 1970s, according to cultural historians. When competitions started being screened on Public Broadcasting Service stations they got national exposure and grew from there. | |
| "In high school you have the football team, you have cheerleaders and you have show choir," says Jake Smith, a former member of the show choir at Bloomington High School South in Indiana, Illinois. | "In high school you have the football team, you have cheerleaders and you have show choir," says Jake Smith, a former member of the show choir at Bloomington High School South in Indiana, Illinois. |
| The misfit image is exemplified by Kurt Hummel - a central character in Glee | The misfit image is exemplified by Kurt Hummel - a central character in Glee |
| But where sports players are cool and athletic, glee singers have a reputation for being a bit nerdy. | But where sports players are cool and athletic, glee singers have a reputation for being a bit nerdy. |
| "An island of misfit kids," is how Mr Smith sums it up, although the success of the TV series is starting to change perceptions. | "An island of misfit kids," is how Mr Smith sums it up, although the success of the TV series is starting to change perceptions. |
| So could glee signal a shift in the transatlantic balance of TV's influence on pop tastes? Thanks to Simon Cowell, the US has taken the X Factor ideal to its heart. But could Glee work a similar influence on British music tastes? | |
| Journalist John Walsh has joined a glee club in London, recently set up by a friend. It's informal and people just sing what takes their fancy. He loves it. | Journalist John Walsh has joined a glee club in London, recently set up by a friend. It's informal and people just sing what takes their fancy. He loves it. |
| "It's singing by brute force rather than any real technique. You are just grabbing a tune and going for it. Forget book clubs, glee clubs are the future." | "It's singing by brute force rather than any real technique. You are just grabbing a tune and going for it. Forget book clubs, glee clubs are the future." |
| 'Exportable' | 'Exportable' |
| It's not a lack of interest in music holding Brits back, it's not having the same tradition of choirs, says Caroline Redman Lusher. She started Rock Choir in Farnham, Surrey, in 2005. It's one of the closest things in the UK to contemporary glee clubs and show choirs, but without the competitive edge. There are now 60 such choirs in the South East and members range from children to pensioners. | |
| Glee clubs used to be all male | Glee clubs used to be all male |
| "There are loads of community choirs in the UK but they tend to be traditional," she says. "What we do allows anyone to sing, without having to read music or know the theory behind it. There's no auditions and it's not about the best singers, it's about what we create together." | "There are loads of community choirs in the UK but they tend to be traditional," she says. "What we do allows anyone to sing, without having to read music or know the theory behind it. There's no auditions and it's not about the best singers, it's about what we create together." |
| It's not a question of if they spring up in the UK, but when, says Prof Ling. | It's not a question of if they spring up in the UK, but when, says Prof Ling. |
| "Glee clubs are extremely exportable and kids over here have taken to other such exports, like the school prom. It's only a matter of time before we them here and they will be the all-singing-and-dancing version." | "Glee clubs are extremely exportable and kids over here have taken to other such exports, like the school prom. It's only a matter of time before we them here and they will be the all-singing-and-dancing version." |
| Britain, begin exercising your vocal cords now. | |
| Glee is broadcast on Mondays on E4 at 2100 GMT. | Glee is broadcast on Mondays on E4 at 2100 GMT. |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |