BURBANK, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Walt Disney Records) - The East High Wildcats are back on August 14 with the highly-anticipated High School Musical 2 soundtrack. The album, available wherever music is sold, features 10 new songs from the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie sequel plus a bonus track from a musical number to be included on the DVD release later this year.
Like its predecessor, "High School Musical 2" uses songs to tell much of its story with the themes "believe in yourself," "express yourself," and "stay true to yourself" carried through the lyrics. Together, the songs tell the highs and lows of summer for Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad, Taylor and the rest of the East High School Wildcats in the singing, dancing, comedy and romance-filled movie sequel.
The soundtrack features music by many of the same songwriters who contributed to the original movie - Jamie Houston, Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Randy Peterson, Kevin Quinn, David Lawrence and Faye Greenberg - as well as the work of a pair new to the "High School Musical" sensation, Tim James and Antonina Armato.
"WHAT TIME IS IT"
This jubilant anthem comes at the top of the movie as the last minutes of the school year clock finally tick down to summertime. Not even Mrs. Darbus can tame the excited Wildcats as they break into song, jump out of their seats and pour out of the classroom, "roller coasting" down the hallway and through the school in an exhilarating song and dance that exclaims the pressure's off and the party's about to start. Songwriters Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, who wrote the iconic "We're All In This Together" and "Start of Something New" for the first movie's soundtrack, hearkened back to their own school days to capture the celebratory feeling as summer vacation begins. At director and choreographer Kenny Ortega's request, Gerrard and Nevil included the entire cast and infused a percussive, rhythmic feel to the music. And to remind viewers of where the popular storytelling of the first movie left off, the horns and drum beat evoke a bit of "We're All in this Together."
"FABULOUS"
Ensconced poolside at their family's country club, Sharpay – with back-up from her loyal brother Ryan and a trio of snobby friends known as the Sharpettes - expresses her needs for something "more" in this comedic Broadway style tune from husband and wife songwriters David Lawrence and Faye Greenberg. The couple experimented with lyrics, but the word 'fabulous' best conveyed Ortega's vision to showcase Sharpay's "me, me, me" personality. Inspired by two songs, "Material Girl" and "Popular" from the Broadway musical "Wicked," they delivered a flamboyant and funny tune that captures Sharpay's materialistic and self-absorbed ways with lyrics that include, "Iced tea imported from England, Lifeguards imported from Spain, Towels imported from Turkey, and turkey imported from Maine." From there, Ortega created a highly stylized, kaleidoscopic production number that pays homage to Busby Berkeley.
"WORK THIS OUT"
In this funky, percussion-driven dance number written by Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn, the Wildcat gang hassles Troy for getting them jobs where they have to wait on Sharpay and take orders from bossy Mr. Fulton. It's up to Troy to convince them that, if they work hard, they can still save the summer.
"YOU ARE THE MUSIC IN ME"
A mid-tempo ballad with an R&B and rock influence, Jamie Houston's expressive lyrics tell the story of how music brought Troy and Gabriella together. The song also confirms their true feelings for each other. In the storyline, the song is written by Kelsi for Troy and Gabriella and includes their Wildcat friends in the first and last verse. Later Sharpay takes this song and makes it all her own, somehow manipulating Troy into singing with her.
"I DON'T DANCE"
Songwriters Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil nail a home run with a song that blends elements of swing, jitterbug, hip hop and rap, as Ryan, Chad and the Wildcats engage in a battle of wits on the baseball diamond, displaying both athletic and dancers' grace to make their point.
"GOTTA GO MY OWN WAY"
Songwriters Adam Watts and Andy Dodd crafted this affecting pop ballad to mark Gabriella's turning point, one where she accepts that the summer plans she and Troy made won't be working out. It is sung solo by Gabriella until Troy joins her for the bridge of this break-up song.
"BET ON IT"
In this pulsating urban-pop song written by Tim James and Antonina Armato (who have written for Mariah Carey and for the Hannah Montana soundtracks), Troy delivers a powerful rock and roll vent when he finally realizes what he's lost and that it's up to him to make things right again.
"EVERYDAY"
Jamie Houston provides an uplifting pop power ballad. Troy and Gabriella share the romantic verses in which they vow to seize the day. The rest of their friends join for the final chorus, pledging to celebrate everyday together.
"ALL FOR ONE"
Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil penned this sunny hip hop anthem, one blended with a twangy, surf guitar salute to beach blanket bingo.
"HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUA'PUA'A"
In a bonus musical scene for the DVD due out later this year, Sharpay's ambitions are laid bare during a campy, Polynesian fantasy tune from songwriters Faye Greenberg and David Lawrence. In song and spoken word, she shows Troy the big colorful number that's sure to win his everlasting affections and the Star Dazzle Award at the Midsummer Night's Talent Show. With layered harmonies from Ryan and a hip hop ode to Mighty Mount Fufu, Sharpay is the Pineapple Princess looking for her Fresh Fish Prince in this comedic tour de force. The songwriting couple's inspiration came from a t-shirt purchased by their daughter during a family vacation, a souvenir emblazoned with a little fish with a long name, Humuhumunukunukua'pua'a, Hawaii's unofficial state fish. The couple recalled that only their kids could pronounce the name of the fish, and with the tongue twister as their creative centerpiece, they fashioned Sharpay's over-the-top musical tale about a Hawaiian princess in a storm.
The High School Musical 2 track list is as follows:
1. "What Time Is It" - High School Musical 2 Cast
2. "Fabulous" - Sharpay and Ryan
3. "Work This Out" - High School Musical 2 Cast
4. "You Are the Music in Me" - Troy and Gabriella
5. "I Don't Dance" - Chad and Ryan
6. "You Are the Music in Me (Sharpay Version)" - Sharpay
7. "Gotta Go My Own Way" - Troy and Gabriella
8. "Bet On It" - Troy
9. "Everyday" - Troy and Gabriella
10. "All For One" - High School Musical 2 Cast
Bonus Track:
11. "HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUA'PUA'A" - Ryan and Sharpay
The original High School Musical soundtrack was the musical sensation of 2006, shattering numerous records on the Billboard charts and becoming the year's No 1 best-selling album in the U.S. on the Nielsen SoundScan charts. High School Musical was the first-ever TV movie soundtrack to peak at No 1 on Billboard's Top 200, where it spent two weeks in the top position. The album is certified quadruple platinum and has generated six gold singles. On a global basis, it has sold 7 million CDs and was ranked the No 1 top selling album of 2006 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI represents the recording industry worldwide). Disney Channel's High School Musical movie has reached over 160 million total viewers worldwide.
The High School Musical 2 soundtrack will be available August 14, 2007 for a suggested retail price of $18.98 wherever music is sold. All Walt Disney Records and Buena Vista Records audio products also can be ordered by visiting DisneyRecords.com.
