Glee: The New directions' competitions, ranked

By Neeha Zaman, 2022, and Fiona Byers, 2022

Published 10/24/20

"Glee", the famous musical comedy-drama series, definitely had its ups and downs, but it’s certainly a wild ride. One of the driving forces behind keeping the Glee Club alive were the competitions, and so here’s a ranking of all of the New Directions’ performances! For the rankings, things considered were the quality of the songs and performances and how well the New Directions did in comparison to their competition.

1. Season 3 nationals:

Neeha Zaman: Everything just came together perfectly for this set; the songs sounded amazing, vocals were on point, and this is one of the few competitions for which I have no gripes regarding their outfits.

Fiona Byers: I agree with everything Neeha said, this performance does everything right. Every song is great and each character shines. I have no complaints about this, I could watch it over and over and it’s the highlight of everything the New Directions have done.

2. Season 2 sectionals:

NZ: This is one of my favorite competitions, the Fabrevans duet was just (to quote Santana) so freaking charming, and the fact that Finn and Rachel didn’t get the duet just made it even better. Valerie was *chef’s kiss* - Santana was so perfect for this song, and combining that with Brittany and Mike’s dancing made it one of my favorite competition songs - for once ND had amazing choreo!

FB: Another amazing New Directions performance; this setlist is so great. Valerie is one of my favorite performances, Santana’s voice isn’t appreciated enough! Quinn and Sam sing beautifully together, they’re two of my favorite characters, and Britney’s dancing brings it all together.

3. Season 1 sectionals:

NZ: I hate Rachel Berry, but damn can that girl sing. “Don’t Rain on My Parade” was awesome.

FB: Rachel might get on my nerves sometimes, but her performance of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” gives me chills every single time. It’s one of the first iconic Glee moments.

4. Season 3 sectionals:

NZ: I have to say, I love this performance, in large part because it actually highlighted everyone’s voice, and since there was no Rachel to hog the spotlight. While the Troubletones should have won, I did think that this was one of their better performances.

FB: Neeha is more of a fan of this one than me, but I can admit this is a mashup done right. The songs have such a variety and show off different aspects of the group, it’s all great.

5. Season 4 regionals:

FB: While “I Love It” is quite an interesting choice to use at the same competition as “Hall of Fame,” it could really be a worse performance. “Hall of Fame” is emotional and beautiful, that’s what earned this competition its spot for me.

NZ: While the set list wasn’t exactly thematically cohesive, the songs individually were fine. “I Love It” was fun, even if it did lack heart, and while Fiona’s the bigger advocate for “Hall of Fame” I do think that it was the better song in the set.

6. Season 3 regionals:

FB: The Nicki Minaj/R.Kelly mashup here is not a highlight for me but the Kelly Clarkson performance is. I love “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” and watching Santana, Mercedes, and Brittany sing it made me love it even more. All of them have some of the best stage presences of the entire group, they’re even better together than they are individually.

NZ: The mashup was simply ok, although Santana rapping was great and Rachel at times sounds angelic. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” is the real star here; it has so much energy, and combining Santana and Mercedes’ voices is always a recipe for greatness.

7. Season 1 regionals:

FB: Season 1 regionals wasn’t too great to begin with, but it was completely overshadowed by Vocal Adrenaline’s absolutely unmatched “Bohemian Rhapsody” performance- but that’s for another article. “Don’t Stop Believin” saved the New Directions for this competition, it isn’t the best, but it has the nostalgia favor.

NZ: I mean, this performance was fine, but it was nothing special. It was very typical of the New Directions, and didn’t really bring anything new - Finn and Rachel did their duet, Rachel hit some high notes, etc. etc. I’m glad the Glee gods decided to let ND lose.

8. Season 6 sectionals:

FB: The New Directions performing “Chandelier” is a lot, to say the least. I loved the show most from season 1 to season 3 so at this point; I wasn’t liking a lot of the performances, but the performance of “Take Me To Church” wasn’t too bad. It’s very sad to not see the original members singing, though.

NZ: The last performance! While this did have potential, I feel like the only song I really liked was “Take Me To Church”, as their performance of “Chandelier” was…..interesting. Vocally everything was fine, but nothing else was all that memorable.

9. Season 5 nationals:

FB: I couldn’t name a single thing about this performance before I rewatched it and I think that says a lot. It’s forgettable, with no standout vocal performances or interesting focal points in the performance itself.

NZ: Everything Fiona said! Nothing vocally was that special, and this was very unmemorable.

10. Season 2 nationals:

FB: The idea of Glee writing original songs was very foreign to me and I think after their performance, it was a sign they should’ve stuck with covers. And a side note- Rachel would never kiss Finn onstage, she’s too professional.

NZ: Aside from the infamous Finchel kiss, nothing about this performance is memorable. The original songs were not great.

11. Seasons 2 regionals:

FB: The long leggings under the dresses in this performance bother me way more than they should, but they took up a lot of my focus during this performance. It was really nothing special and I still can’t imagine how it won against the Warblers singing “Raise Your Glass”. The Warblers can do no wrong, but the New Directions definitely can and this proves it.

NZ: This should not have been a winning performance, especially when put against the Warblers and “Raise Your Glass.” Their costumes were absolutely hideous, and I didn’t really love the songs either.

12. Season 4 sectionals:

FB: I’m not sure how this performance aired and I don’t think I’ll ever be. This is a pure atrocity of bad dancing, bad costumes, and terribly sung Korean from the New Directions’s only Asian female singer- an interesting choice for her first and only competitive solo. This is an immediate last place for me.

NZ: What were they thinking with this one?! As Fiona mentions, the questionable decision to have Tina, who had never had a competitive solo song before, sing “Gangnam Style” was baffling, more so than the decision to sing “Gangnam Style” at sectionals. Just everything about this was… no.