Pour One Out for Naya Rivera

I think I want to write this post less than I wanted to write about Charlie Daniels because this is enough to make anyone sick. On Monday, July 13th, the authorities located the body of television star/musician/general bad ass Naya Rivera after she went missing on Lake Piru in California on July 8th during a boating trip with her four year old son. Rivera was only 33.

Naya Marie Rivera was born in Santa Clarita, California on January 12th, 1987, the first child of George & Yolanda Rivera and older sister to brother Mychal and sister Nickayla. She got started in show business incredibly early, like 8 or 9 months old, when she started being cast in television commercials. She was a child star at age 4 on the sitcom The Royal Family and had her big comeback at 22 when she was cast as Santana Lopez on Glee, where she continually stole the show for six straight seasons. Her son, Josey, was born in 2015 and appeared to be the literal light of Rivera's life.

I loved Glee, and I loved Santana. She would make me so angry when she'd be the hugest bitch in the universe, but the older I've gotten the more I can appreciate how well written her character was. As a closeted lesbian for the first couple of seasons, she lived in constant fear of being rejected by her friends and family and was the textbook definition of the phrase "Hurt people hurt people." She really came into her own when she began to accept and love herself for who she was, and the character is widely known as a role model for many.

I have to say, Rivera was my favorite female vocalist on the show the entire run. Her voice was really phenomenal, and she proved over the six seasons that she could sing anything the show runners were willing to throw at her. She could dance, she could act, and she was overall amazing. I know that Rivera was so, so much more than just the character of Santana, but because that's how I'll remember her in my heart, I've chosen my favorite Santana song from each season of the show to highlight in her memory.

Season 1: Bad Romance by New Directions Girls ft. Chris Colfer (written by S. Germanotta, N. Khayat)

Featured in S1E20 Theatricality and originally performed by Lady Gaga. I'm about 96% sure this was Rivera's first featured song on the show and she nailed that bridge section like nobody's business.

I want your love, and I want your revenge/I want your love, I don't wanna be friends/Je veux ton amour, et je veux ta revanche/Je veux ton amour, I don't wanna be friends/No, I don't wanna be friends/I don't wanna be friends, want your bad romance/Caught in a bad romance, want your bad romance/I want your love and I want your revenge, you and me could write a bad romance/I want your love and all your lovers' revenge, you and me could write a bad romance/Oh, caught in a bad romance/Oh, caught in a bad romance

Season 2: Songbird by Naya Rivera (written by C. McVie)

Featured in S2E19 Rumours and originally performed by Fleetwood Mac. Not only is this my favorite Santana song of Season 2, this is probably my favorite Santana solo in the entire show.

For you, there'll be no more crying/For you, the sun will be shining/And I feel that when I'm with you, it's alright/I know it's right/To you, I'll give the world/To you, I'll never be cold/'Cause I feel that when I'm with you, it's alright/I know it's right/And the songbirds are singing like they know the score/And I love you, I love you, I love you like never before

Season 3: Smooth Criminal by Grant Gustin & Naya Rivera ft. 2CELLOS (written by M. Jackson)

Featured in S3E11 Michael and originally performed by Michael Jackson. I think this is my second favorite performance in Glee history. Her high notes in the last chorus give me goosebumps every time.

As he came into the window, it was the sound of a crescendo/He came into her apartment, he left the bloodstains on the carpet/She ran underneath the table, he could see she was unable/So she ran into the bedroom, she was struck down, it was her doom/Annie are you okay, so Annie are you okay, are you okay Annie/Annie are you okay, so Annie are you okay, are you okay Annie/Annie are you okay, so Annie are you okay, are you okay Annie/Annie are you okay, so Annie are you okay, are you okay Annie/Annie are you okay, will you tell us that you're okay/There's a sound at the window that he struck you, a crescendo, Annie/He came into your apartment and left the bloodstains on the carpet/Then you ran into the bedroom, you were struck down, it was your doom/Annie are you okay, so Annie are you okay, are you okay Annie/Annie are you okay, so Annie are you okay, are you okay Annie/Annie are you okay, so Annie are you okay, are you okay Annie/You've been hit by, you've been hit by a smooth criminal

Season 4: There Are Worse Things I Could Do by Naya Rivera, Kate Hudson, & Alex Newell (written by J. Jacobs, W. Casey)

Featured in S4E6 Glease and originally performed by the character Betty Rizzo in the musical Grease. Was it super weird that they had Santana come back as a college freshman just to be Rizzo? A little. But it's not the most questionable thing the show did by a long shot and I don't know who else could possibly have done it because she's just perfect for it.

There are worse things I could do/Than go with a boy or two/Even though the neighborhood thinks I'm trashy and no good/I suppose it could be true/But there are worse things I could do

Season 5: Brave by Naya Rivera & Lea Michele (written by J. Antonoff, S. Bareilles)

Featured in S5E9 Frenemies and originally performed by Sara Bareilles. They didn't sing together a lot because Rivera and Michele weren't on good terms in real life, but a Santana/Rachel pairing was always destined to be phenomenal.

You can be amazing, you can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug/You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love/Or you can start speaking up/Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do when they settle 'neath your skin/Kept on the inside, no sunlight, sometimes, the shadow wins/But I wonder what would happen if you/Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out/Honestly, I wanna see you be brave/With what you wanna say and let the words fall out/Honestly, II wanna see you be brave/Just wanna see you, I just wanna see you/I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be brave/Just wanna see you, I just wanna see you/I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be brave

Season 6: Hand in My Pocket/I Feel the Earth Move by Naya Rivera & Heather Morris (written by A. Morissette, G. Ballard, C. Klein)

Featured in S6E3 Jagged Little Tapestry, Hand in My Pocket was originally performed by Alanis Morissette and I Feel the Earth Move was originally performed by Carole King. Santana/Brittany duets were always amazing because you could just see how great of friends Rivera and Morris were in real life.

I'm broke but I'm happy, I'm poor but I'm kind/I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah/I'm high but I'm grounded, I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed/I'm lost but I'm hopeful, baby/What it all comes down to, what it all comes down to is that everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine/'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket, and the other one is giving a high five/'Cause I got one hand in my pocket/I feel the earth move under my feet, I feel the sky tumbling down, tumbling down/I feel my heart start to trembling whenever you're around/What it all comes down to, what it all comes down to is that everything's gonna be quite alright/'Cause I've got one hand in my pocket, and the other one is flicking a cigarette

Rest In Peace, Naya. There's no way anyone could ever forget you.