43. Dont Rain on My Parade
(Sectionals, Season One) This performance is Rachels first competition solo and, arguably, her most memorable solo. Much like Dont Stop Believin is the New Directions signature of song, Dont Rain on My Parade is Rachels personal. She even she refers to it as her go-to song in Season Three. This
Funny Girl classic was also the first ever competition number and set the benchmark for all future competition performances on
Glee. Not to mention, Rachel performed it on the fly without any rehearsal. Talented or what? Its too bad she used it as her NYADA audition piece and messed up the performance.
42. One Less Bell to Answer / A House is Not a Home
(Home, Season One) Home features Aprils second visit to Lima and this time we get to see more to the pint-sized soprano than her previous drunken, homeless and sex-crazed personality. Will is now separated from Terri and in the midst of divorce. His Barbra Streisand / Dionne Warwick duet with April at his apartment that night is more mature, melancholic and down-to-hearth. The scene of them sleeping together (without having sex) is an interesting, more profound dimension to their otherwise flirty, comedic relationship. Plus, Kristin Chenoweth has a voice to die for and its always a treat to hear Matt Morrison sing something that isnt a stupid rap.
41. Beautiful
(Home, Season One) This solo from Mercedes goes hand in hand with her first individual storyline issues with her weight. An oldie but a goodie! Having joined Sues Cheerios, Mercedes is pressed by her to lose 10 pounds in a week or be kicked of the squad and, by association, become a nobody once more. However, surprisingly, Quinn is on hand to offer her some sage advice about regaining her self-confidence and it marks the start of a nice friendship between them. Mercedes performance, in the gym, compels everyone to come a join her is a soft, understated performance for her, given that the majority of her solos are big, belting power numbers.
40. Beth
(Theatricality, Season One) A duet led by Puck, and backed up by Finn; this KISS cover finally showed us a more vulnerable side of the shadowy bad boy. Accepting that Quinns, and his, baby is his responsibility. He sang to Quinn as an apology, and suggested Beth as a name for their daughter. It helped that Mark Sailing and Dianna Agron have great on-screen chemistry, even without speaking to each other, and bring to Glee a more grounded and realistic quality, which is a refreshing counterbalance to the talkative, hyperactive Rachel and often, clueless and bumbling Finn.
39. I Dreamed a Dream
(Dream On, Season One) Not only is it a Les Miserables number Lea Micheles forte but it is the moment Rachel first hears her mothers voice (over a tape) and sings along to the musical power ballad. The performance melts into a dream sequence of Rachel meeting her mother, Shelby. They dont actually meet until the next episode. However, you kind of wish it was their first meeting after their duet. It helps that Shelby is played by Broadway powerhouse, Idina Menzel, who looks uncannily like Lea Michele.