High School Musical - Various Artists > Reviews > ~*~Don't mess with the status quo~*~

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	One hit and lots of B-sides
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	great for kids, catchy tunes
Disadvantages:	bit too much alike Grease, very cheesy !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

As a supply teacher I need to be up to date with current affairs affecting the kids. I find that I need to go to the cinema as soon as a U or PG film is released just so that I know what the kids are discussing. I find myself watching Teletubbies, Blue Peter and Newsround so I can be 'in the loop'.

On a few occasions I have seen children acting out the scenes from 'High School Musical' or singing the tunes in the classroom. Until the end of term I managed to stay pretty much 'out of the loop' in relation to this film. I was quite happy to go into school teach my lessons, chat with the kids and generally have an easy time until the last week of term. All schools organised leavers assemblies for the year 6 children, some chose to focus on 'High School Musical'. I walked into one classroom, the teacher was in a hurry so handed me the High School Musical Soundtrack CD, DVD, book of lyrics and a playscript and told me the children "HAD TO PRACTICE". Pretending that I knew everything about 'High School Musical' I needed quick info on the film before the kids entered the classroom.

I contacted my little sister in a flustered state knowing that she had watched this many times and sat ready for a 'crash course' on this film. On first impressions I thought it was a rather ripped of version of Grease. But if it kept the kids occupied for a day it would be worth it.

***HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL***

I can't really describe the soundtrack without giving a little information about the film. The soundtrack CD relates directly to the film and tracks are in the same order that they appear in the movie. In fact all songs have a story behind them.

High School Musical can be liked to Grease in many ways. Troy Bolton (Zak Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) meet at a New Years Eve Party whilst on Christmas vacation. They fall in love after singing 'Start of Something New', unknown that they will soon be at school together.

Troy and Gabriella could be described as 'chalk and cheese'. Troy is a member of the basketball team and Gabriella an intelligent pupil who joins the team for the Scholastic decathlon.

Once the basketball team and decathlon entrants realise what their mates are up to they try their best to throw a spanner in the works. After finding out the two teams help make Troy and Gabriella's dreams a reality. They have to compete against the mean Ryan and Sharpay to get a place in the schools play.

This is a film of love, friendship, teen angst and peer pressure. It is a great school film showing the issues facing young people. It is very alike Grease however the modern adaptation is refreshing and is a way of including today's youth.

This review is about the soundtrack and songs featured in the musical. Like Grease these songs have the potential to become 'classic hits' sung in almost every school playground (if they haven't already).

***THE SOUNDTRACK CD***

The Soundtrack CD is great and this review will only focus on the 'main songs' the CD does include a few musical songs without lyrics but they are the same as the songs mentioned below, just repeated with different instruments etc. This review focuses on tracks 1-10 but there are 13 tracks in total. It is a two disk CD and does come with words to sing along to.

TRACK 1: Start of Something New
(Troy & Gabriella)
This song is sung by Troy and Gabriella at the New Years Eve party. This song is quite nice and whilst singing this song they realise that they like each other and there is chemistry between them. They exchange numbers and agree that they must keep in touch. This is a nice slow song and its easy to sense the chemistry throughout the song.

7/10

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TRACK 2: Getcha Head in the Game
(Troy)
After the New Years Eve party Troy and Gabriella never think they will see each other again. Gabriella's mother gets a job in Troy's town. They end up bumping into each other at school. Later on at the basketball game Troy just cannot concentrate as his mind is on Gabriella. This song is about 'getting in the game' and concentrating on the basketball game. Its is a 'rappy' song and is quite upbeat, its not my favorite song. I personally did not think it was anything special.

6/10

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TRACK 3: What I've Been Looking For
(Ryan and Sharpay)
Troy walks out of Basketball pactice so that he can audition for the winter play. He waits with Gabriella backstage afraid to adition. Whilst they wait Sharpay and Ryan sing this song for the audition. This track is slightly faster and more 'forced' than track 4.

6/10

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TRACK 4: What I've Been Looking For
(reprise by Troy and Gabriella)
This is the second version of the audition song sung by troy and Gabriella. Fortunately despite hostility from Mrs Darbus Troy and Gabriella get a chance to audition. This song is much better than the song in track 3. It's easier to sense the love and attraction between Troy and Gabriella. The song seems 'easier' and is not 'forced' like the song in track 3.

7/10

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TRACK 5: Stick to the Status Quo
(the cast)
When the basketball players find out that Troy missed the basketball game for the auditions and that he is doing something 'out of the ordinary' they sing this song. The song is basically about 'sticking to the stuff you know' and staying with the 'status quo'. I loved this song it is rather upbeat and easy to sing along to.

9/10

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TRACK 6: When There Was Me and You
(Gabriella)
Annoyed that Troy is dabbling with music and neglecting his basketball his team mates devise a plan to split Troy and Gabriella up. They record him acting macho to impress them but show Gabriella over webcam. She is hurt and upset about what Troy has said and sings this song. This is a sad ballad style song and is quite sweet but slightly sad.

6/10

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TRACK 7: Bop to the Top
(Ryan and Sharpay)
On the day of the big basketball match and Scholastic decathlon Gabriella and Troy hatch a plan to leave the competitions so they can sing. This song 'Bop to the Top' was sung by Ryan and Sharpay. They are confident that they will get the part and are pleased when Gabriella and Troy do not turn up for the 'callbacks'. This is a good song but one of those 'Steps', 'Sclub7' or Spice Girls style cheesy pop songs that really only 7 year old girls sing along to.

7/10

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TRACK 8: Breaking Free
(Troy and Gabriella)
Troy and Gabriella appear for the callbacks late, but after support from their fellow students Mrs Darbus has not option but to let them sing. They sing 'Breaking Free'. This song is a powerful, belting song.

The lyrics "we flying, soaring there's not a star in heaven that we cannot reach" is a great song. The lyrics are really powerful and motivating. I love this song, I think its my favorite.

10/10

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TRACK 9 We're All In This Together
(cast)
After winning the scholastic decathlon and basketball game the whole school filters into the hall to celebrate, it is at this point they all sing "We're All in This Together". This is quite good song which draw the whole film to a close.

7/10

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TRACK 10
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
(troy/Gabriella/Ryan/Sharpay)

This track is not in the film, but for those who have watched the film will understand the lyrics. The song has an 80's feel a little like the style of Jason Donovan/kylie Minogue etc. It's not my favorite but it's OK and is different its less cabaret and more of a 'chart single' style song.

5/10

***SUMMARY***

This is a great CD and is enjoyed by many kids in most schools in the UK. Until I spent a day in school watching the DVd and singing the songs I didn't really appreciate the value and excellence of the music. The songs are great and tell a story, it is impossible to review a soundtrack without giving the story behind each track. I hope that you are a little more knowledgeable about High School Musical now and are not as baffled as I was when I set foot in school that day.

Overall I think this CD deserves a 8/10 and I will be replacing my 'Pop Jnr' CD in my teaching bag.

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