GLEE Redux • Michael

The show opens with Mercedes and Santana complaining about not performing Michel Jackson at sectionals a few weeks ago, and Blaine and Kurt wanting to perform more. In fact, Blaine knows just the song he wants to sing, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.



Of course, he is joined by the group, all dressed from a variety of periods/videos of Michael Jackson. Soon they are talking about performing Michael for Sectionals. But soon we find out the Warblers are going to do an MJ tribute, too. In fact, Sebastian gloats that he got the idea from Blaine. The New Directions get into a tizzy about it, but soon decide they need to move forward, and take the argument to the streets, and perform Bad.



At the end of the number, Sebastian hits Blaine with a slushy. Blaine is taken to the hospital, needing surgery on his right eye. In the chorus room, the kids are talking about wanting to get even, since they know Sebastian did it on purpose. Artie is angry, and not wanting to hear the whole 'it gets better' crap, he wants it to be better now. He yells at Mr. Schue, and gets up out of his wheelchair. He is joined by Mike Chang, and performed Scream.



Back in the room, Artie is still confined to his wheelchair, and still upset. We follow Rachel to the ladies room, and we find Quinn. She tells Rachel about her early acceptance to Yale, and Rachel mentions that Finn proposed. Quinn suggests she needs to take it easy, and tell Finn no. Quinn sings Never Can Say Goodbye.



After the class applauds her song, she announces her plans to go to Yale. She thanks everyone for their support and their love, their unconditional love. She looks Rachel when she explains she needed to let the past go, in order to move forward. Next, Santana is walking down the hallway, and sees Kurt, and the two talk about beating Sebastian, but taking the high road. The continue to plot, but we join Sam and Mercedes in the auditorium, Sam looking cute with a guitar. He wants to sing a duet with Mercedes, who he still loves. Mercedes tries to leave, but Sam stops her when he starts to play Human Nature.



The song ends with a kiss. This reminds me just how happy I am that Sam is back on the show. We cut to the chorus room, and Kurt's Dad is there. He has a letter from NYADA. Kurt is a finalist, still up for admission. His father is so proud of him, it brings a tear to my eye. Kurt rushes to tell Rachel, how has not heard from NYADA, and collapses into Kurt's arms, crying over her lack of a future, sure she will be denied by NYADA.

Kurt is reading the trade magazines, when Rachel and Finn come to visit the eye-patched Blaine. Upset he is missing MJ week, they bring it to him, and Kurt, Finn and Rachel sing the haunting Ben.



We go to Warblers rehearsal, and see Santana coming to call Sebastian on his nefarious behavior. Soon they are dueling, with the aide of the spectacular 2Cellos, the handsome duo of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser. They sing Smooth Criminal.



Santana is laying it down. Afterwards, Sebastian admits to putting rock salt in the slushy meant for Kurt, but has nothing in the one he tosses on Santana. Back in the chorus room, and Santana is explaining she had a tape recorder attached to her underboob. However, Kurt doesn't want to hit back, or get Sebastian arrested. He has an idea, and takes the kids to the auditorium. But Finn stops Rachel, and tells her there is something he left out of his proposal. He brings in the band members, and sings I Just Can't Stop Loving You.



Of course, Rachel joins in on the song, and it is quite lovely. Rachel accepts Finn's proposal, and there is much hugging. He is, after all, the love of her life. The Warblers walk into McKinley High, and the New Direction are on stage, saying they won't do Michael for Regionals, but if they did, they would be better, because the Warblers don't do it justice. To prove it, they sing Black or White.



Soon, the other members of the Warblers are on stage dancing, except for Sebastian. He claps a sarcastic round of applause, only to be put in his place by Santana. The other Warblers learn of his treachery, and it seems as though this is a victory to truth, justice, and the American Way. With a gay flair, of course. Next, we are at Kurt's locker, and Rachel walks up, with a letter in hand. She has been made a finalist at NYADA, and they are both overjoyed. But when Kurt asks if she has told Finn yet, there is an awkward silence. Well, except for the dramatic score. Hmmmm.

2Cellos Do Sting

Standing: Stjepan Hauser and Sitting: Luka Sulic.

I have already written about the amazing music being made by the absolutely brilliant duo of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, better known as 2Cellos. They have made some excited interpretations of some Pop and Rock classics, by Nirvana and Michael Jackson. Watching them play their instruments with the amazing passionate and kinetic energy just keeps me entranced. But this fine Saturday morning, I will go just a little bit easier, as the handsome duo takes on Fields of Gold, written and performed by Sting.



I will also share with you a rather beautiful version of a song by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. They add something just a little special to Michael Jackson's 1983 hit Human Nature. The song was off the colossal album Thriller.



While I am mentioning Michael Jackson, I see that the boys will be appearing of the next episode of GLEE this Tuesday, the episode devoted to Michael. They will be performing the 1988 hit, Smooth Criminal. I think it will be Santana singing it with Kurt's rival for Blaine's affection, Sebastian. Should be great, since I have been loving Santana's voice each time we hear it. But first, let me move on. And for the last song this morning, the boys tackle Californication, the song written and performed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from the 2000 album of the same name.



They are a brilliant combination of Classical music with a renegade twist, tossing a bit of Jazz and Pop in the mixture, along with some real Rock Star bravado as well. You can find many of the songs on the album 2Cellos, on iTunes and on Amazon. I am so glad I made my purchase, and sure you will be too.

Making Classics Rock with Sulic & Hauser

Nirvana. Guns 'N Roses. Micheal Jackson. Shostakovich. The Cello. New Classic Rock. Have I lost you? Well, when Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser play together, they go by the rather descriptive name of 2Cellos, and that string of words makes sense. The Croatian duo first took YouTube by storm, using a video of a song by the King of Pop to conquer the world. Soon, they were signed by Sony Masterworks, getting an album out, and touring with Elton John, opening his show. All the while, the boys were putting the classic back in rock, playing their cellos with a strength, passion, and talent that is hard to miss. And, of course, their dashing good looks.



Both Sulic and Hauser are classically trained cellists, and in fact went to school together, and often had to compete while playing at school. Now, instead of competing, they are playing together, making some incredible music. One of the things I love about the first clip I will bring to you, is the interpretive nature of their work. While you will be able to clearly recognize they are playing Guns 'N Roses Welcome To The Jungle, it certainly doesn't sound as if they are just imitating Slash. No, they are bringing something of their own to this very special song.



And if I thought Welcome To The Jungle was cool, I was blown away by their version of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. I don't know if it is just the nature of the cello, but their Teen Spirit has an even greater moodiness, increased sexiness, and an almost heightened intensity that drew me in immediately.



But this was the video that started the sensation that is 2Cellos, Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal. Within two weeks of the video being posted, it had over 3 million views, and grabbed a great deal of attention for Sulic and Hauser. Soon they were appearing on the Ellen Show, and with Perez Hilton. But first, there was the music.



In many interviews, both Sulic and Hauser maintain they have no plans on leaving Classical music behind, but instead would like to get to a place where they can play both the Pop songs and Classical compositions. Here is a clip of them playing their arrangement of Prelude by Dmitri Shostakovich.



For more about 2Cellos, check out their official website here. You can find their album on iTunes here, and on Amazon here. For me, this album is a breath of fresh air, bringing new beauty to the aural landscape. They combine the beauty and finesse one would expect to hear and feel from classical musicians, with a power and strength that, at times, exudes masculinity. Along with the above, I love their covers of U2, Sting and Nine Inch Nails, although I could have done without the Coldplay song. I am so glad this is a part of my music collection.