Customer Reviews

High School Musical [2-Disc Special Edition Soundtrack]

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a 40-something adult, this is the kind of movie that would usually send me running from the room. Of course, things change if you have a target-aged young daughter who comes home and tells you that her friends told her this movie is a MUST WATCH!! All right, so with much trepidation I agreed to sit and watch this with my daughter.

And what do you know? It turns out to be charming. No, there are no surprises here (except maybe that it IS charming and not just treacly pap, as are so many for-kids morality movies). Someone had the clever idea of making a musical for kids--a series of music videos tethered by a thin plot, really--and it works. I have to admit that I was fully won over when the basketball practice turned into a music number (Get'cha Head in the Game), with the stock sounds of basketball (squeeky shoes, etc.) cleverly mixed into the song.

There are a number of pretty good songs/videos in the movie, though my favorite is the Breaking Free duet that basically serves as the climax.

Much has been made about the question of whether the actors who sing these songs are really all that musically talented. It's hard to say without seeing them perform live, but most of these songs have clearly been enhanced by an autotuner, which suggests these may be actors with very modest singing ability (typical of the modern Disney stable, think Hilary Duff, Christy Carlson Romano, etc.) rather than singers who can also act.

But who cares? The songs are catchy and worthwhile within the context of the film and they sound fine and in-tune and catchy on the soundtrack album. I don't expect that these actors will be taking the production on the road anytime soon, so it really is irrelevant what studio trickery might have been used to get the songs to their final state. This album is a fine sourvenir of the movie, and is eminently listenable (and often a lot more than that).

This "deluxe" version of the original soundtrack (which is still available in the non-deluxe version at a lower list price) includes a second disc with CD+Graphics karaoke versions of most of the songs on the soundtrack (missing are the What I'm Looking For reprise and Stick to the Status Quo), plus a relatively worthless Disney tie-in video promoting their latest faceless lollipop group (B5) performing Get'Cha Head in the Game, and a little foldout "poster". If your kids (or you) are are into karaoke, this deluxe version is probably worth the extra bucks. Otherwise, there's not much added value. (The original version features the same karaoke instrumentals for Start of Something New and Breaking Free, but they are not CD+graphics encoded, which means the lyrics won't appear on your video-compatible karaoke player).

This version of hsm is a two disc set. The first is a "regular" cd of the hsm soundtrack. The second is a "bonus" karaoke disc. I give the regular disc gets 5 stars but the karaoke disc gets about 2 stars. Why? Well, it only has instrumentals. Most CD+G discs out there (certainly ones meant for kids) have, say, the first 8 tracks instrumental and the next 8 tracks with vocals. My kids (and most others I know) prefer to sing along with the artist. So if you're just looking for a HSM cd, buy this one. If what you really want is a good karaoke cd, buy the Disney karaoke series cd (red and yellow cover, must say cd+g).

This version of the soundtrack is sooo much better than the single disc! It comes in a gold package, a free ringtone, a poster( troy and Gabreilla: signed, or the high school musical cover) and a second disc with instrumental versions of the cast songs!

I finally found something that both my granddaughter and I can enjoy listening and dancing to together. Praise the Lord I don't need to keep telling her to turn it down, because it doesn't drive me crazy like some of her other music she and her mother listen to.

Hi Parents - This CD is great. I bought this for my 4 & 5 yr old daughters. This CD is good for kids because it is a change from the typical kid songs that you hear all the time, yet does not have the adult language of popular youth songs today.

The songs are pretty catchy and as a Dad of two daughters, I would even admit that some of the songs are enjoyable to listen too.

A great buy for the money!

Having already owned the original movie soundtrack, I purchased the "karaoke" version to use with my middle school choir for "We're All in This Together". My idea of a karaoke song is background music only (instruments, not vocals.) It wasn't until I listened to the cd that I discovered that the song included ALL background chorus vocals. The only thing left out were the solos by the main characters. Quality was fine, content was disappointing.

I loved this soundtrack... Vanessa Anne Hudgens and Zac Efron aren't very talented in my opinion. Lucas Grabeel (Ryan) was the best singer... he was great in "We're All in this Together"...

GREAT ALBUM!

'Because everyone's high school experience is like a little microcosm of society (separate groups competing and manipulating for recognition and control), I think High School Musical is very valuable (and very fun) edutainment for both kids and adults.

In the crucial stage of a teen-ager's search for identity that can often come with suffering to both child and parent, it is a beautiful thing that this movie offers the pure essence of happiness,confidence, and strength.

For me, one portrayal of the high school/society parallel was during the excellent song "Get'cha Head in the Game" when Troy sings "Why am I feeling so wrong? My head's in the game but my heart's in the song." The battle between the head and the heart is painful no matter what your
age. Society can be too saturated in its compulsion at "doing things right" and obligating a person to keep their "head in the game." Yet, at the cost of beauty, one's sense of self, and love (as this movie successfully conveys).

Wonderfully, a happy balance between these two (the head and the heart) and their equal validity is expressed in "We're All in This Together."

The Jocks' and the Brainiacs' attempted to divide Troy and Gabriella's relationship for their own agendas (at the manipulation of Sharpay and Ryan). A very beautiful and key part of this movie was when after the two groups failed at this attempt, I perceived that they were so moved by
Troy's & Gabriella's sadness at separation (and guilty by their own behavior, at what they themselves had engineered) that each group sincerely apologizes to the couple for what they have done wrong. A very adult thing to do! This mature behavior turns all of their high school world around. And after further manipulations, this unifying spirit propels the two camps to join with the couple instead of trying harder to separate them and succeed at only their own game.

The joy and celebration of "We're All In This Together" confirms the happiness of finding greater success in the joining with others and being who one truly is vs. being separate from others and not being who one truly is! Troy - "I finally figured out that all our dreams have no
limitations." Gabriella - "Everyone is special in their own way, we make each other strong.
We're different in a good way. Together's where we belong."

The energy from these kids is contagious and the presence of happiness is easily felt!

NOT TO MENTION -- this is a superb musical! Musicals can be corny or dumb, but this is thrilling singing and dancing! Sharpay and Ryan's "Bop To The Top" number is so incredible that it leaves me practically speechless because there is so much that could be said on just that
one song alone! But there were no duds whatsoever. Every number was top-notch.

This CD is wonderful! This is a wonderful cd to buy because most of the songs are karaoke too! It comes with the words and a free poster of Troy and Gabriella. My friends and I love singing and dancing to the Wonderful music. If you are an adult, you may not like it, but kids LOVE IT!!!

When this movie and soundtrack first came out it was more towards kids and teenagers but after living with teenagers and hearing them playing this soundtrack it got to me and I decided to purchase one of my own. This is a good two disc set and I really enjoy them. This isn't just for teenagers and kids. This can be for adults too if you like muscials!