open/close all folders
Season One
- "I Think I Kinda, You Know"
, the sweet love ballad Nini writes in the series opener that comes to define her and Ricky's relationship, both ups and downs, through the season. - "Wondering", the song Ashlyn writes as a solo number for Mrs. Darbus and performs as a powerful duet between herself and Nini. It establishes from the start that Nini isn't the only character who's skilled at composition, and Ashlyn manages to create a very bittersweet characterization for someone who was a rather Flat Character in the source material.
- While it might be cheesy, "Born to be Brave" is a highly catchy number Kourtney uses to cheer up Nini - and is wonderfully counterpointed by scenes of Carlos breaking out of his shell during the Homecoming dance.
- "Truth, Justice, and Songs in Our Key", another adorably cheesy number, sees the kids finally come together to support Miss Jenn and each other.
- The cover of "Breaking Free", which Olivia performs beautifully, and is also used to encourage Ricky to return to the performance - "breaking free" from his old habits and embracing both the changes in his life and his relationship with Nini.
Season Two
- "Something In the Air" kicks the season off with a fun Christmas number, and also works as a great They're Back! moment after the production troubles of COVID.
- "Belle", the audition song, lets the cast show off their range now that they're all planning on being involved in the musical...or at least it's funny when some of them, like Red and Ricky, flounder through it.
- "1-2-3" is a terzet that Ashlyn writes for herself, Gina, and Kourtney. Not only does it symbolize Gina's willingness to be a team player this semester, but it also slaps.
- "Even When/The Best Part" is technically two songs written by Ricky and Nini respectively, but it really needs to be heard as the mashup to get the full experience of the two talking about their love for each other - and how they're already growing apart again.
- "Beauty and the Beast" is Dara's first full solo number, and she absolutely knocks it out of the park in this slower cover.
- "Red Means Love" finally lets Larry Saperstein show off his singing chops as well as his dance ability.
- "Granted", a haunting and bittersweet ballad where Nini dwells on everything she could be giving up by leaving Utah, and whether it's worth it to drop out of YAC in order to pursue it.
- "A Dancer's Heart" lets Sofia Wylie do the same while being a great dance number in itself.
- Seb follows up with a heartbreakingly beautiful rendition of "The Climb".
- "The Rose Song", which Nini writes from the perspective of The Beast's Rose, is a heartrending song about living for yourself instead of someone else.
- Roman Banks gives a heartbreakingly beautiful performance of "If I Can't Love Her".
- "You Ain't Seen Nothin'" is another song where everyone gets to show off their singing ability. And it's followed up by "Let You Go", with Ricky finally coming to terms with himself and Nini becoming different people.
- "In a Heartbeat" lets Carlos shine in his first solo, and it's a song dedicated to how much he loves Seb.
- "You are the Music in Me" deserves special mention for being more about the cast than the characters - they've likely had a trying time getting the show made during COVID, and clearly know it's an end of an era for them going forward due to Olivia's fame taking her away from the show and the uncertainty as to whether they'd get more seasons (though luckily they did!).
Season Three
- "Finally Free" is another powerful anthem that Ricky gets to sing after he finally gets away from Lily.
- "Balance" for Sofia Wylie, highlighting Gina's character growth compared to her ambition in the first season and her willingness to open up in the second.
- No longer just a portion of a medley, Carlos finally gets to pay homage to "Fabulous" from HSM 2.
- "What Do You Know About Love?" Ricky and Gina do the song from the stage show justice and show just how much chemistry the two characters have with each other.
- Gina gets to hold an entire dream-sequence number with Corbin Bleu in "Different Way to Dance", with both of them getting to show off both their singing and dancing skills.
- Jet, Maddox, Carlos, and Seb get to perform a disco-inspired cover of "Wouldn't Change a Thing", which a lot of people didn't recognize as a song from Camp Rock initially thanks to how well it was transformed.
- "Here I Come", which Dara Renee got to write and perform, is a great empowering anthem on its own.
- Dara Renee knocks it out of the park with "Let It Go". You've not heard it sung until you hear Dara belt out those notes.
