"There is no <strike>joy</strike> <em>Glee</em> in <strike>Mud-</strike>Blur-Ville..."

Damon Albarn has joined the ranks of musicians lining up to criticise Glee.

The Gorillaz and Blur frontman claimed the US TV series would be "forgotten in a few years" and that he would not allow his music to be used on the show.

"We wouldn't let that happen," said Albarn. "And not that they haven't asked us because they haven't, and now they definitely won't."

Now, I'm only peripherally aware of the doings and transpirings in Britpop, but I think it's great that Albarn is so concerned about the legacy of his music. Not many musicians have the artistic vision -- much less the marketing acumen -- to ensure their songs are only used in movies and TV shows that will endure through the generations.

Let's take a look at some of those that have passed Albarn's rigorous litmus test.

The Love Guru -- "Song 2"
Dead Man On Campus -- "Cowboy Song"
Dude, Where's My Car? -- "It Could Be You"
The Eight (TV) -- "Song 2"
Nancy Drew -- "Dare"
The Karate Kid -- "Dirty Harry"
Charlie's Angels -- "Song 2"

Talk about your classics. Hell, you could program a medium-sized film festival with the movies and TV shows that use "Song 2" alone. Why, it was even used in that crappy Super Bowl episode of The Simpsons (ob APCB self reference).

In the interest of embarrassing full disclosure, I write a weekly Glee recap over on the Houston Press' Art Attack blog. I do this for two reasons: they asked, and it pays. I won't be defending a show that often sends me into uncontrollable muscle spasms of rage, but I find it interesting that Albarn appears to have no problem letting his music get play on some of the most horrendous crap released in the last 15 years.

And the best part is, they haven't even asked him yet. Apparently this is some kind of pre-emptive strike against Ryan Murphy, who will undoubtedly run out of Streisand and show tunes some time around 2025. And not to make any predictions about the future of Gorillaz or any of Albarn's side projects, but he might just want to consider it at that point.

I just wish I could find the actual TV spot for Starship Troopers that used "Song 2"...

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