You can admit it: you think Zac Efron (or Vanessa Ann Hudgens, depending on your sexual preference) is hot. However, with the popular High School Musical franchise set to release its third installment, all eyes are now looking to see if it was just looks or actual talent that carried these young actors to the big screen. Now, while a soundtrack isn’t much help for the looks portion, it can at least help to see if there’s any merit in checking this Disney production out.

“Now or Never” starts things off with a countdown. In true HSM fashion, basketball is the heart of this song and the full chorus sounds like a cheerleading squad. It’s not a bad song and actually quite catchy, which maybe why it is the pick for all the HSM3 trailers. However, it is ridiculously cheesy that Efron’s character Troy has his usual self-doubt breakdown in the middle of the song where he needs the love and reassurances of Gabriella (Hudgens) before he feels up to winning the game.

From this point the soundtrack jumps into a series of relationship songs, which will make most of us that are out of school thrilled to be past those days and the drama that comes with those crushes of yore. “Right Here, Right Now,” “Can I Have This Dance” and ”Just Wanna Be With You,” are all love duets. My main problem with these love songs is that they come in such bulk, but seem to offer little for the plot. Granted, Disney plots aren’t super complicated. So even the introduction of another relationship in “Just Want to Be With You” is already a bit of a plot twist as far as Disney goes. Also, these songs also have a tendency to be approached as potential radio pop singles than as songs intended for a musical that would be performed live. They lack in that organic feeling that many musicals thrive off.

To break up these love songs is a Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) number called “I Want It All.” Quite similar to her song in HSM2, “Fabulous,” this number showcases her dream to be a big NYC star. With all its traffic sound effects, it sounds like it will be a big fantasy sequence in the movie. Despite this number being ridiculously silly, I like it because it makes fun of itself and the performers fully embrace that they are in a cheesy musical. I also like that the character of Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) is finally standing up for himself and his sarcasm on this song is fantastic. “Sharpay and what’s his name,” he sings in response to his sister.

Continuing the trend of songs being rehashes of the earlier movies, is “Walk Away,” which is your typical whiny solo number by Gabriella. Then you have Troy singing his token angsty song with “Scream.” One can only hope he wears all black again and the dance moves are even better than what we saw in his solo in HSM2, haha. Then, of course you have the big, full chorus movie closer filled with lots of percussion and brass. This can be found in the appropriately titled “High School Musical.” Be warned. You may want wine to go with this cheese. “High School Musical” is hands down the most over the top song as the chorus sings, “I want the rest of my life to feel just like a high school musical.” Way to dream big Wildcats.

While most of this of this is the same as the content as what was in the first movie, a few new plot movers are introduced. Not only is the cast preparing for a big music production, but they are preparing for Prom and Graduation. Graduation takes place in a slowed down reprise of “We’re All In This Together” from the first HSM. In “A Night to Remember,” the guys and girls go back and forth over the preparations for the dance. As lovely as the girls’ part is on this song, I again love the humorous fear behind the guys’ replies to the girls. “It’s going to be a night,” sing the girls to which the guys cut in sarcastically, “Can’t Wait.” “To remember,” continue the girls and the the boys reply, “Oh, man,” followed by the girls singing, “Come on, it’s going to be the night” and the boys, “I guess,” and the girls, “To last forever,” and finally the boys “Lucky us.” The displeasure of the boys is sure to make anybody laugh. Again, this is another amusing, but incredibly cheesy song, so prepare accordingly.

If so far you don’t feel like spending any of your time checking out any of these songs, at least give “Senior Year Spring Musical” a try. The idea of this movie is that as graduation approaches, the seniors decide they should put on musical about their experiences. This song is the result of this idea and basically serves as a nice little vignette. There’s a not so pleasant jazzy intro to this song followed by reprises of “Now or Never,” “I Want It All,” “A Night to Remember” and “Just Wanna Be With You.” I’m curious to see how this will play out because Sharpay and her brother Ryan sing “Just Wannabe With You” as a duet and it is quite disturbing. The reprise also has Troy and Gabriella singing it in addition to the full chorus. Even though this gives a taste of the music on the soundtrack as a whole, it should be noted that many of the singers are rearranged and who sings the reprise is often different than the original singer. Movie viewing may be necessary to see how this plays out.

OK, so yes this soundtrack is very cheesy and incredibly over-produced as Disney tries to push their little stars to be more like Justin Timberlake, but it is a musical. Relax and have fun with it. Go see the film. Nobody expects this to take the Oscar for best picture, but it sure will entertain you.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year hits theaters October 24th, but you can pick up the soundtrack as of October 21st.

Tracklisting:
01. Now or Never
02. Right Here, Right Now
03. I Want It All
04. Can I Have This Dance
05. A Night to Remember
06. Just Wanna to Be With You
07. The Boys Are Back
08. Walk Away
09. Scream
10. Senior Year Musical (“Last Chance,” “Now or Never,” “I Want It All,” “Just Wanna Be With You” and “A Night to Remember”)
11. We’re All in This Together (Graduation Mix)
12. High School Musical

High School Musical 3: website | soundtrack info

Written by: Bethany

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