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High School Musical 3:
Senior Year soundtrack review
By Kenyth Mogan
When compared to the music of the previous films, the music in HSM 3 is bigger, better, and brilliant. Each song in the film fits with the story, but also stand on its own. The soundtrack opens with "Now or Never" performed by the entire cast, and takes place in the last sixteen minutes of East High's final basketball game of the season and seniors: Troy (Zac Effron), Chad (Corbin Bleu), Zeke (Chris Warren, JR) and Jason's (Ryne Sanborn) last game as Wildcats. The song centers around the fact that this last game's outcome will be the legacy they leave behind.
"Right Here, Right Now" is a duet between Troy and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) which is basically the two of them taking a moment to enjoy one another. That everything else can wait, even though they know that everything is going to change.
"I Want it All" is Sharpay's (Ashley Tisdale) dizzying daydream about all of the perks and pleasures fame can bring her, and her twin brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel). The song is catchy, fun, and hysterically written.
"Can I Have This Dance" is another Troy and Gabriella song, where Gabriella is teaching Troy to waltz in preparation of prom. The song is a ballad, and genuinely captures the essence of a first love that is both growing and facing goodbye.
"A Night to Remember" performed by the cast shows the two sexes different views on the senior prom. Where the girls view it as a dream night come true, the boy's view it as a nightmare that just won't end. The song does a great (and comical job) at showing how differently one thing can be viewed by many different people
"Just Wanna Be with You" performed by Olesya Rulin, Lucas Grabeel, Zac Effron and Vanessa Hudgens, is a song that states that no matter where we are, the people we care about are always with us in our hearts.
"The Boys are back" is a rock infused song that reflects on all the imaginative adventures that the characters Chad and Troy (Bleu and Effron) shared as children. It's danceable, and sentimental. The song was also covered by international boy band US5 as a bonus track.
"Walk Away" performed by Vanessa Hudgens, is the most soulful track on the album, dealing with the fact that even though she doesn't want to say goodbye, she has too. It's a song that show's just how fragile the heart is where first love is concerned.
"Scream" performed by Zac Effron, is his best song on this, or any other soundtrack. Powerful and emotional, it deals with how torn Troy is between who everyone wants him to be and who he himself wants to be.
"Senior Year Spring Musical" is performed by the whole cast including the sophomore wildcats Matt Prokop, Justin Martin, and Jemma McKenzie-Brown. The song is a medley of all the songs we've heard before.
"We're All in This Together (Graduation Mix) is an orchestrated ballad of the first movies biggest song.
"High School Musical" is a multidimensional track, where the worlds of the characters and the actors who played them start to collide and blend into one. The characters are saying goodbye to high school, the actors are saying goodbye to High School Musical.
Talking to Tiffany
By Kenyth Mogan
The lights go down and a filled theatre silences. Four musicians walk out on stage and start to play. The lights flash, a powerful voice booms over the speakers and Tiffany walks on stage. The crowed erupts into cheers, but I can barely hear them, my heart is beating too loud. I have been waiting for this moment since I was five years old. In addition to an awe inspiring concert, I was able to do a phone interview with the busy icon.
Do you prefer to sing with a live band or with a backing cd and do you prefer theatres or clubs?
I like either, I just love to sing, it's different, because if I'm in a club it's hard to take the band. I enjoy the clubs and pride festivals because I get to wear little dresses and be more fun, I get to act more like a Diva. At the pride performances, people are there to dance and have a good time. They come with a different mind set than people who just buy tickets to sit there and be entertained. It's more personal, I get to interact with the crowd more. With the band, I get to rock out. When I was little, and wanted to be a singer, having a band was my vision. Having someone else to share the stage with makes it come alive. It's one thing in rehearsals, but on stage, you get to see the bands personality and what they bring to the table, and I think this band is great.
With your talent in so many genres of music what is your favorite and is there one in particular you want to explore?
I want to do more of the singer songwriter stuff. It's deeper and you have to be more crafty in the lyrics. As a song writer I am like, yea you can say it that way, but that's generic how can you get crafty? It's more challenging. I look at people like David Grey and John Mayer who are strong writers. They don't take just the direct approach either, especially David Grey. More than anything I just enjoy the whole writing process.
Can you tell me a bit about the new dance record?
If I do release another record it won't be until summer. Right I am content doing singles, one song at a time, working with different producers, getting different remixes and seeing what people can do with the song.
"Just another Day" is currently out, "Move Ya" will follow that and in the next three to six weeks I will be writing. Mostly in the dance direction, a lot of people want to work with me, and it's a great avenue to express myself. Some great things could come out of just a few hours of work. It depends on the track, but if I am into it there is no telling where it could go.
"Dust off and Dance" was a track Shawn Winstain wrote and as a friend, I recorded the song with him. He has other plans, remix and all that jazz, I am excited; I think the song is great. Josh Harris has done an amazing job and so has Scotty K. I believe in it. He is thrilled to be doing something that is his dream, I am glad to help.
In the past two years you've charted twice on the billboard charts with "Higher" and "Just Another Day" how does it feel?
Its exciting, When I do these things I don't expect certain things, just that they will get to my fans and I will perform them in my shows. I don't ever expect them to go on the charts or anything, so when it does, it's amazing.
You've done a few reality shows, have you learned about yourself from them?
I do best in physical shows, because that's where I want to be challenged, that's interesting to me to see how much my body can take, and how I can hang. Its easy to get hurt and give up, but I'm a tomboy at heart, so, I keep at it.
You have a new horror film coming out, Necrosis, what was that like and are there any more projects lined up?
I never know what I am going to be into, and the film was amazing, it was a great cast and a great learning experience. I am open minded, every project I take is by a project by project basis. I have to do stuff I'm really in to. I don't know if I would want to do another horror or slasher film, but I would like to do something with vampires. I love vampires.
With everything going on, do you find time to Relax?
I make time to relax. Moving to Tennessee is going to help, I have acres now, I can just go out and stand in my yard and just kind of be one with peace. I think I have to create it. As much as I love the city, if I have to be in it every day, it's hard to find. I am always go go go, so I'm yes yes yes to everything. I am a Mom and a wife; I enjoy being home and being domestic. If you don't enjoy life, and it takes the breaks to be with friends, you're going to get burnt out. I believe in balance. This tour was so crazy busy, I have not stopped. So I am looking forward to the holidays, throwing dinner parties, like I said, I am always doing something. But, it's different when you're in your own house, you also get to sit and watch TV.