High School Musical: The Right Notes at the Right Time
I’ve always loved musicals. Period.
Whichever way they are done, being it on my screen or in the theatre, musicals often leave the most memorable mark on many, including myself.
But they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. In late years before the turn of the millennium, musicals did have a big place in show business history. Still, they never took off into the mainstream popularity of TV or the fast-approaching phenomena of the internet. Eventually, perhaps they would have, but I’d like to focus on one critical cog out of many in the machine that made musicals explode in popularity and quality for many years, the ripples of which can still be felt today.
I’m talking of course, about the Disney classic, High School Musical.
As a quick synopsis, the two teenagers Troy Bolton the basketball superstar and closet brain whizz Gabriella Montez, reunite at East HIgh School after meeting at a New Year’s Eve party at a ski lodge where they sang together (and a bit of chemistry may or may not have occurred). They hear about the auditions for the school’s upcoming show production, and reluctantly decide to rehearse together as a duet, becoming quite close in the process. This however creates a stifling division among the rest of the school not unlike a classic Romeo and Juliet scenario.
The stereotypical clique thing in American schools flies over my head since Kiwi/Aussie schools didn’t have cliques or groups or labels, we just were. But I digress.
Love it or hate it, HSM did a couple of things way right when it came to climbing the rungs of success, from cast to music to theming, writing and direction. And timing played a huge part as well.
Firstly, no company has its finger on the pulse of each generation better than Disney. In the expanse of the 2000’s, teen pop was already running through the streets, neighbourhoods, and school hallways of kids and teens alike. HSM catered to that genre and demographic like mint sauce to lamb.
This is heard in the iconic and classic soundtrack that many still remember off by heart after wearing down the CDs from playing them over and over in their cars. The upbeat, funky, catchy and rhythmic tunes of HSM were written and composed with great effort and passion by composer David Lawrence.
Disney executives wanted to ride off the success of one-time music numbers in other shows on Disney Channel like Even Steven’s, and it paid off.
However, I’d be lying if this film/trilogy hasn’t been met with heavy-handed criticism. I myself can say that the music, choreography and the cast (which have all gone in great directions hereafter) are definitely the strongest aspects of the film, but when it comes to other parts, I do have to admit that it falls flat and may prove boring to adults uninterested in either the genre or story.
The division of the school cliques when Troy and Gabriella decide to audition creates some interesting conflict and scenes between characters. The themes of being yourself and not allowing others to define you is a clever message to deliver to anyone, let alone growing teenagers. But at the end of the day, it is made for a young audience and subtlety of story as well as logic are notably forsaken here.
Does HSM stand against the greatest musicals of all time like “The Sound of Music”, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Les Miserables”, or “Evita”?, certainly not, but I don’t think that should warrant it being bashed so hard.
HSM does follow (somewhat) what I believe is a golden rule for musicals, and that is to blend the music into the narrative.
Unlike old school musicals like “Singin’ in the Rain” or “My Fair Lady”, more and more musicals nowadays have music that not only are powerful on their own, but serve as important story elements and plot progression amidst the story, or serve the narrative in some way.
Take HSM, “Get your Head in the Game” is a catchy song on its own, but in the context of the story, it follows Troy’s internal conflict on trying to focus on the most important match of the year, against auditioning for the show and garnering the affection of the girl he fancies.
“Stick to the Status Quo” is also a cool tune without context, but within the story, showcases the ripple effect of other students coming out with their esoteric, unconventional interests following the example of Troy and Gabriella. They are then met with other students bashing them for “breaking the status quo” and not “staying in line” with what they are expected to be. This naturally shakes up the school something fierce and makes them re-think who they are and what they choose to be without judgement.
A great musical has songs that hold extremely well on their own as well as in the context of the story they are telling. Even if it’s just exploring more about a character and their motivations, the song should serve the story and not freeze it in place to make way for an unrelated musical number much like what musicals like “Singin’ in the Rain” are guilty for doing.
The six members of the main cast also do a great job in their respective roles, and it shows that they loved being a part of it all. Even though the characters themselves are fairly cardboard and one-dimensional, they all offer great and unique voices barring Zac Efron who had to have his voice blended with Drew Seely in many parts.
Across the board, the HSM trilogy did improve vastly with each title released, the second raking in more profit and the third having a full theatrical release, but the impact the first left behind shouldn’t be ignored.
The criticism you may find from critics, you could argue is justified, HSM is by no means perfect and the cracks are visible from a distance of 17 years ago when it came out, but fans have come to fill those cracks with gold filling and make the musical and the trilogy shine regardless.
If you’re not a musical fan, there’s no harm in you skipping this humble piece of Disney history. But if you love musicals like I do… actually there’s still no harm in you skipping it but let me remind you that High School Musical had everyone singing and dancing like mad just like Grease, Footloose and all the rest before it.
And don’t act like you weren’t joining in on it too.
Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day!
Daniel
