High School Musical: The Movies that Defined a Generation
I sit down on my bed in my fourth-floor dorm room, laptop set down on the sheets in front of me. Avoiding the impending doom of the online quizzes I have not yet started and midterms I have yet to study for, I look up at the photos on the wall beside me. A 10”x12” poster of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens as Troy and Gabriella in the second High School Musical movie; a candid shot during “You Are the Music in Me;” watches over me as I procrastinate and try to find the headspace to even begin assuming my responsibilities. To say I like the “High School Musical” franchise is an understatement. I love these movies. Back at my family home in California, there are DVDs, CDs, Troy-and-Gabriella-themed twin-size bed sheets from 2006, and long-lost Gabriella and Sharpay dolls that belonged to myself and my sister, respectively. I’ve seen each movie probably hundreds of times, can quote most of the dialogue in each, and can definitely sing every lyric like I had learned them yesterday. Except it wasn’t yesterday. The first High School Musical movie celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and wow, do I feel old.
What's interesting about my relationship with these movies is that they’re not isolated: so many people absolutely love “High School Musical.” And its commercial success proves this, too -anyone who grew up in the 2000s and 2010s can attest to witnessing High School Musical becoming a generation-defining global phenomenon. What started as a Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) made for kids went on to become a multi-million dollar franchise that premiered its final movie with a theatrical release, and catapulted the careers of its two stars, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron. (With a budget of $11 million dollars, the final film, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, earned 90.5 million dollars domestically in the box office, and 253 million worldwide. Now that’s a success!) The trilogy marked an unprecedented mega-hit for the Disney Channel, and it remains the cultural artifact of a generation that transcends the time it was created in, and for good reason too. As a self-declared “High School Musical” fanatic and lover, I think that I can speak to many of the reasons that the films just work, and the music that made it iconic.
As the films have lived on, they are, rightfully so, seen as ensemble films: the six core characters, Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad, and Taylor represent the trilogy as the characters that built and exist in the HSM world. Just like people loved them in 2006, 2007, and 2008, the characters of the film have grown to become pop culture icons; and one character in particular, the fabulous Sharpay Evans, has risen in the ranks with retrospect.
As seamlessly as early 2000s fashion has come back into style, the early 2000s films and television shows have come back to online discussions. The “mean girls,” in particular, the Blair Waldorf’s, Regina George’s and Santana Lopez’s have steadily risen in popularity amongst young people, with fan accounts on social media dedicated to the girls almost two decades after their debut. Sharpay Evans, the East High “It” girl is the newest 2000s character that I have watched step into the “Mean Girl Hall of Fame.”
Most recently, on Instagram and Twitter alike, there is a large group of people that claim that Sharpay Evans was “never the villain in ‘High School Musical’” and that she was in the right through the entire course of the trilogy. But here’s the thing: Sharpay was the villain. It is by design, and that is okay! She can be the villain and your favorite character. The two can coexist. There is no need to defend the “mean girl,” they are supposed to be nasty and scheme-y; and in Sharpay’s case, they can also be insanely talented and have a heart.
“High School Musical,” at the end of the day, is a product of early 2000s Disney Channel. The entire premise of the films is to break the status quo (no pun intended), be whoever you want to be, and do what makes you happy. And in order to clearly articulate this message in roughly an hour and a half to an audience of 4-12-year olds, the films rely on easy tropes and catchy musical numbers. There’s the jocks, the nerds, the preppy kids, etc that fit with the genre of the typical “high school” movie. And then there are narrative elements that all films include in general, and that includes a protagonist and an antagonist. The designated antagonist of the films is Sharpay Evans, who, in her desire for being a star, will do anything it takes to come out on top, and in doing so, causes external conflict in the life of the films’ protagonist, Troy Bolton, and that’s just the way that the movies were written. The discourse surrounding Sharpay’s place in the films, as a “villain” or not, is a testament to the effective writing in the scripts of the three films, which creates both its protagonist and antagonist as dynamic characters with whom audiences can resonate with. And as we established earlier, Sharpay is one heck of a force to be reckoned with, and actress Ashley Tisdale’s performance as the pink-loving, Broadway-hopeful teen has become iconic as the films have lived on, even scoring herself a solo film after the conclusion of the original trilogy.
But Sharpay isn’t the only iconic thing about the “High School Musical” movies. The relationship between Troy and Gabriella is the heart of the franchise, and teen heartthrobs Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were both just so stunningly cast. I am an Efron lover and a Hudgens apologist - they had such an impact on my childhood that I have no choice but to keep up with them and their projects. I could write for days about Zac Efron’s career trajectory, how he was born to be a musical performer, but I will stop myself before I get carried away. All of this to say that the two actors’ musical and relationship chemistry, like their characters, worked extremely well and set the movies over the threshold of being “Disney Channel good” and actually good. Not to mention, the songs shared between the two are some of the best in the franchise.
The creative team behind High School Musical, as with any film or television production, played an equally important role in the success of the films. Director and co-choreographer Kenny Ortega was no stranger to the musical scene when we signed onto the project. Ortega was (and still is) a choreographer with an insane resume, choreographing multiple Michael Jackson tours, iconic 80s movies like Dirty Dancing and Pretty in Pink, and Madonna music videos. And on top of those insane choreography credits, he also directed the film to the dance-musical Newsies and the world’s most campy and iconic Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus. Now when Disney Channel enlists somebody this qualified to direct and choreograph an original new musical, it is bound to be something extremely special. Ortega’s creative genius, mixed with excellent music from David Lawerence and Faye Greenberg, were the backbone of the trilogy.
Before addressing what makes “High School Musical” what it is, the music, let’s address the elephant in the room: Yes, Zac Efron didn’t sing completely in the first “High School Musical” film. Actor, singer, and songwriter Drew Seeley, who initially auditioned for the role of Troy Bolton himself, had his singing voice blended with Efron’s for the musical numbers in post-production for the first film. After the success of the first film, though, Efron took over completely as the singer and actor for Troy Bolton in the subsequent movies, reaching his fullest potential as a performer, earning his place in the hearts of boys and girls alike who grew up watching the jock-turned-singer who taught us to follow your heart. With all that said, let’s get into the fantastic music of the “High School Musical” movies.
In the interest of keeping myself from praising every good thing about every single song in the HSM universe, I will instead be ranking what I think are the top three songs from each movie. With careful consideration, these rankings are based on the quality of the song itself and how it works as a device to further the plot of the film, because that is the job of a song in a musical, after all. I’m trying to be as objective as I possibly can, so these rankings may not necessarily reflect my favorite songs from the films, though a list of those would most likely exclusively include the underrated ballads since I’m a sucker for slow, dramatic songs (Right Here, Right Now from “High School Musical 3,” I’m looking at you!)
High School Musical (2006)
1st Place: “Breaking Free”
Is this arguably the most famous song from “High School Musical?” Yes. Does that make it any less good? No, not at all. This song is popular and beloved for a reason! It is just musical excellence! This song wraps up the narrative arcs of Troy and Gabriella so perfectly at the end of the movie. The lyrics of the song go “You know the world can see us / In a way that's different than who we are / Creating space between us / 'Til we're separate hearts / But your faith it gives me strength / Strength to believe / We're breakin' free.” As a piece of narrative literature, the song reflects exactly what is seen through the movie: when Troy and Gabriella are together, they find the courage to be who they really are and step away from who they’re supposed to be. They are singing together at the callbacks for the spring musical, in front of the whole school, literally and metaphorically breaking free from the expectations put on them, and doing what makes them happy. They are breaking the status quo that both characters, but especially Troy, battle with for the course of the movie. The song, in all respects, deserves its spot at the top of this list.
2nd Place: “We’re All in This Together”
I’d go as far as to say that this song is a modern classic. Kids everywhere were pumping their arms up and down trying to mimic the choreography of this iconic closing ensemble number. Maybe I wouldn’t stream this song on a daily basis on Spotify, but as far as creating a musical theater-pop-fusion number to rehash the positive lesson of the film, this song achieves tremendously. It's catchy, it's fun, and you learn that you can achieve the best things when you stand together, rather than against each other! And everyone can sing along to the notable chorus; but the verses, I think, don’t get enough credit! Gabriella’s in particular, highlighting that “We’re not the same / We’re different in a good way / Together’s where we belong,” with a fantastic melody, conveys a message of love: of yourself, of your uniqueness, of those around you, and of building community, to recognize that it is together that we can achieve anything. Quite an important lesson for kids (and adults!) to remember.
3rd Place: “Stick to the Status Quo”
Like “We’re All in this Together” before it, I think that “Status Quo” achieves so well because it takes more of a musical theatre route, and therefore acts as both a catchy, memorable hit, and as, arguably, the most important piece of storytelling through song. The entire conflict of the movie is basically summed up in this song; the kids at school are urging each other to, for lack of better words, “stick to the status quo” and remain in the groups that they have been bottled into for their high school years. A jock should only be a jock, a nerd should only be a nerd, and a skater should only be a skater (though, in retrospect, we all know those “skaters” were just G-rated stoners). This problem, of having to stick to what is expected of you, is the internal conflict that the main character, Mr. Troy Bolton, struggles with for the majority of the film. He is plagued by this fact, really, and struggles to find a way out of being “the basketball guy” and be just “a guy.” With iconic performances such as Martha’s “Pop, and lock, and jam and break” and Sharpay and Ryan’s antagonistic interlude, proposing that they have to keep this restricting social order to come out on top; the song is just stacked with musical moments and narrative functions that make it so well done. And not to mention the dance number is phenomenal too!
High School Musical 2 (2007)
1st Place: “Bet on It”
Now this is real music. I stream it frequently and I am proud! “Bet on It” is the turning point of the second film, the glorious anthem that Troy belts from a golf course, working as a “realization” song of sorts. His main conflict in this second film is that he is desperate to create some sort of foundation for his future, one that he is still undecided on. With his desperation to rid himself of this uncertainty, he jumps at any opportunity to propel his future; and this comes at the expense of his integrity, his relationship with Gabriella and his friends, and his character. This song reflects on this idea, and has one of the hardest beats on a track that I’ve ever heard. He may not know what he wants to do with his life, but he realizes that he has to be the one to decide. Every single lyric of the song works to articulate this and I can go on and on about how the tune is a masterclass in musical storytelling, but you should just take my word for it.
2nd Place: “Gotta Go My Own Way”
There is no denying that screaming “What about us? What about everything we’ve been through?” to your friends while watching HSM2 is a formative experience for many millennial and Gen-Z teens. If there is one thing even a casual High School Musical watcher can remember from the second film, it's that line. The musical composition sits in the area of early 2000s teen pop, remnants of Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul” hang in the strummed guitar, and it works extremely well. This may be the song in the entire franchise that can be identifiable by the period in which it was created, and as a lover of the 2000s music scene, I love it. As a vehicle of storytelling, I think that this song is extremely monumental in Gabriella’s characterization; it is a declaration of her strength and self-respect. From the previous film, we know that Gabriella’s life has been rather unstable: she moves around from place to place, never having a stable home or friend group. After finding solace, and stability, in the East High community, and in Troy, it hurts when he begins blowing her off in the name of “his future.” She then takes control of her own life and does what is best for her, which is removing herself from the physical situation; the country club; and emotional situation, her relationship with Troy. And it's no easy feat either, she sings “I gotta leave but I’ll miss you,” and with this it exists that she can still love him and leave. Leaving takes power. This pivotal moment for Gabriella, combined with an awesome melody, campy drama in the bridge, and catchy guitar riff earns Gotta Go my Own Way it’s number two spot on this ranking.
3rd Place: “Everyday”
“Everyday” is the “Breaking Free” of the second film. It wraps up Troy’s narrative arc in the second film in a stunning, delicate duet with Gabriella, and turns into a joyful chorus of voices that scream with triumph after the hardships of the film. The song’s message urges us to focus on life in the moment instead of consuming ourselves with the dread of not knowing what tomorrow will bring. It resolves the issues posed in the lyrics of Troy’s song of self-realization, “Bet on It,” where he asks himself if he ever “pushed away the ones [he] should’ve held close,” as he has now returned to those he knows he should have around him. A verse in “Everyday” sings, “They say that you should follow / and chase down what you dream / but if you get lost and lose yourself / what does it really mean?” Again, this works to close Troy’s arc because it was him that forfeited his character and integrity in order to chase down his future in the only way he thought possible; but, as he learned, it means nothing to gain everything and lose yourself. It didn’t matter that he had his “fancy italian shoes” from his promotion to a golf instructor if it meant that the friends that he loves aren’t beside him. Music wise, “Everyday” is, in my opinion, a perfect duet, it has tight harmonies, an inspiring melody, and the entire ensemble joining in at the end just elevates its power. This calls back to themes of the first film, how being together is what is important; it is not all the great material things in life that you could have that will make you happy (a la Sharpay, the movie’s representation of a “material girl”), but it is the people by your side that make it all worthwhile.
Honorable Mention: “Fabulous”
I must give credit where credit is due. “Fabulous” is a campy, fun, and, well, fabulous musical number that embodies all things Sharpay. There is little joy greater than seeing Ashley Tisdale portray this pop culture icon in the making so seamlessly. A fun pop beat and its visual iconography has made “Fabulous” a standout number in the entire franchise, being the Sharpay Evans anthem for all things luxury, calling back to pop stars like Britney and Madonna to make it the diva anthem of a generation.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
1st Place: “Can I Have This Dance”
By the time the third film has rolled around, audiences have fallen in love with Troy and Gabriella’s love. Their relationship, as I’ve stated previously, is the heart of the franchise. This song, simply put, is just a great, great love song. In the context of the film, it, as the title states, follows Troy asking Gabriella to their senior prom, but its greater, metaphorical purpose, is that it acts as a love letter to their love. They sing that “It's like catching lightning / the chances of finding / someone like you / it's one in a million / the chances of feeling the way we do.” I don’t know how else to explain the magnificence of this song without hailing it as a testament of an epic love, as a Shakspearean star-crossed relationship that has beaten the stars. And of course, the song also fits in perfect narratively, alluding to a later conflict in the film, where Gabriella leaves East High early to participate in a program at Stanford University, with lyrics singing, “‘Even a thousand miles can’t keep us apart / ‘Cause my heart is wherever you are.” Now that’s poetic… take that Shakespeare!
2nd Place: “I Want it All”
If “Fabulous” calls back to the pop stars of the nineties, “I Want It All” pays homage to the larger-than-life Broadway divas in the only way Sharpay can; extravagantly and without flaw. It has the drama of an entire theatrical production in under 5 minutes, and is the embodiment of all that Sharpay can be. It brilliantly portrays her character as ambitious, deserving of fulfilling her dreams, and able to get there with the skill and talents she was both born with and worked to perfect. Maybe some could read it as shallow, still, if they connote the desire for “fame” with narcissism and self-absorption; but I don't think that that is necessarily the case. Sharpay obviously wants to be praised and adored, the hook of the song proclaims that she literally “want[s] it all,” and she has a history of being selfish in the movies; but she, still, like Troy, like Gabriella, has hopes and dreams that she wants to achieve. She thinks bigger than her peers, her goals being more than what college to go to or what to study once she's there, and that's not a bad thing. Musically, this is a big musical-theatre influenced number, with noticeable influences from shows like Chicago, Legally Blonde, and Anything Goes. It succeeds as a backdrop for Ashley Tisdale to ultimately own the lyrics, own the musical punches to take this piece of music and make it her own; once again, cementing Sharpay Evans in the pop culture hall of fame.
3rd Place: “Scream”
Maybe I’m just a Zac Efron lover, or maybe this is just one of the best songs to ever exist. Regardless, “Scream” is the holy grail pop-rock-musical-theatre-fusion number that expresses the plight of existential dread that comes with being alive. The final chorus sings, “I can’t choose, so confused / What’s it all mean / I want my own dream / So bad I’m gonna scream,” followed by a wailing scream let out by Troy in a (seemingly) empty East High performing arts theater. Sure, on the surface it's about Troy feeling lost now that Gabriella is gone and with his dad pushing him to attend his alma mater, the University of Albuquerque. But really, it's about Troy’s existential crisis about not knowing who he is or what he wants to do with his life. A killer guitar solo and shrilling piano keys underscoring the entire song build a world of its own, one of the only numbers in the franchise to do this both lyrically and musically, the emotions that Troy feels are extremely successfully communicated through the composition of the instrumental music. “Scream” definitely has earned its place in the top three songs of the film.
It is amazing to see how the “High School Musical” franchise has lived on in pop culture today, 15 years after the release of the first film. Most notably, “High School Musical” has found new life in the Disney+ teen television show, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” that takes place in our world, where “High School Musical” is just a movie, and follows students that attend the school that the movies were filmed at. The television show, which follows a mockumentary-musical style, comparable to a mix between “The Office” and “Glee,” is one of the most followed original content creations on the Disney+ platform, and is most notable for propelling the career of the young mega-pop star, and Driver’s License singer, Olivia Rodrigo. “High School Musical,” in short, has become the staple of a generation after its commercial success with television ratings, box office sales, merchandise sold, units sold for the soundtracks, the release of the rights for high schools to perform it as a school production, a celebration event for its ten year anniversary, beloved characters, iconic songs, and of course, dedicated fans. It's a joy to see conversation online, to this day, about these movies: arguments about which of the three is the best (It’s the third one and I will not elaborate), what songs are top tier and why, and even Troy and Chad fancams with hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter. And again, as a self-declared “High School Musical” fanatic and lover, I do not intend for this conversation to end anytime soon, not if I have anything to say about it.
