Glee Season 5 Cory Monteith Tribute Episode Songs: Naya Rivera Sings 'If I Die Young' During Thursday Night Farewell [LISTEN]
This Thursday, the cast of "Glee" will say goodbye to Cory Monteith and his "Glee" character, Finn Hudson. Music has helped the show's characters get through a myriad of drama, and this week's episode will be no different.
Monteith died on July 13 at the age of 31 after mixing heroine and alcohol. Naya Rivera, who plays Santana on "Glee," will perform a cover of the country ballad "If I Die Young" in honor of the late actor.
Listen to Rivera's performance:
"If I Die Young" was originally performed by The Band Perry. The song was nominated for a Grammy and reached the top of charts. Kimberly Perry, The Band Perry's lead singer, wrote the ballad, which appeared on the group's self-titled debut album in 2010.
Other passionate songs will be performed to say goodbye to Finn in the episode that has been titled "The Quarterback."
"The episode is called 'The Quarterback,' and Cory really was that to that group of people and to me particularly," Ryan Murphy, "Glee" creator, told MTV News. "That group of kids particularly went through the limelight and became world famous at a very difficult age, and many of them really struggled with it ... Cory obviously very much struggled with it, but never on the surface, and I think that's why everybody loved him. He was the most kind, the most generous - never a bad word for anybody."
Last week, a teaser for the episode showed Lea Michele, was who both Monteith's real life girlfriend and onscreen girlfriend, singing a cover of "Make You Feel my Love." Bob Dylan wrote and recorded the song in 1997. "Make You Feel My Love" was also covered by Adele.
On Thursday's episode, "Seasons of Love" from the musical Rent will be performed by the entire "Glee" cast. Amber Riley, who plays Mercedes, will perform The Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You." Sam and Artie, portrayed by Chord Overstreet and Kevin McHale, respectively, will sing a duet of James Taylor's "Fire & Rain." Finally, Puck, who is played by Mark Salling, will sing the Bruce Springsteen song "No Surrender."
"It was very difficult to shoot, and it was very difficult to edit," Murphy said in an interview with E!. "I only got through two tries, but it was done with a really pure feeling of love for him and I think that's what that episode is about. Treasure your friendships when you have them because one day they're not going to be there, and for young people in particular, I think that's a really sweet, kind message."
Canadian and American net proceeds from the sales of the songs in performed in "The Quarterback" will go to Project Limelight Society. The proceeds will be donated by the "Glee" artists, FOX and Columbia Records in order to support cultural arts for the youth community in Downtown Eastside in Vancouver. Monteith was originally from Calgary, Canada.
The storyline behind the departure of Finn Hudson has not yet been revealed.