The song: ''Rumour Has It/Someone Like You,'' originally by Adele
The episode: ''Mash Off'' (306)
The hook: So many glorious Glee numbers, so little time! Everyone from Tom Jones to Stephen Sondheim has figured into this fall's line-up, but the emotional wallop delivered by the fiery blend of two of the British chanteuse's most evocative cuts tops for 2011, just like Adele herself. The performance was on-point plot-wise, outstanding vocally, and choreographically exciting (thanks to Zach Woodlee). First, Adele's drum-pounding ''Rumour Has It'' zestily summed up Sue Sylvester's mud-slinging congressional campaign, then Santana's heartwrenching belt of the otherwise crying-into-your-pillow delicacy of ''Someone Like You'' conveyed the jeerleader's deep anguish after her own Mean Girling backfired and forced her out of the closet.
Watch it! EW just happened to offer a sneak peek of the mash-up before the episode's Nov. 16 air date. Don't forget to check out Abby West's rundown of the night's highlights!