"High School Musical 2": The Music

For some, listening to the soundtrack to a musical before you see it is kind of like cheating.

And maybe it is, but it was a chance I was willing to take as I put the soundtrack to “High School Musical 2” in my computer and gave it a listen.

If you don’t want to know any details about the songs—which do shed a little more light on the story—stop reading now. Otherwise, keep on going…

The CD opens with the first single, “What Time Is It?” which sets the scene for the movie (The answer to that question, by the way, is summertime.). The song has a little more sophisticated sound than we got from the group numbers in “HSM,” but those sunny lyrics are just as we remember…

Then it’s Sharpay and Ryan time with “Fabulous,” which introduces us to Sharpay’s lavish lifestyle…

“Work This Out” features the entire Wildcat gang—minus Sharpay and Ryan, of course—trying to make the best of their summer jobs at the country club. This one gives us our first real opportunity to hear Monique Coleman (Taylor) sing and you just know it’s going to have killer choreography to go with it…

Once you hear “You Are the Music In Me,” you’ll forget all about “Breakin’ Free.” It’s a great ballad that gives Zac Efron (Troy) a real opportunity to showcase his voice (FINALLY!) and we also get to hear Olesya Rulin (Kelsi) sing a few bars…

Then the soundtrack really picks up with this movie’s answer to “Getcha Head In the Game,” the baseball-themed “I Don’t Dance.” The song features the truly inspired pairing of Lucas Grabeel (Ryan) and Corbin Bleu (Chad). I can’t wait to see how the choreography combines dancing with baseball…

No surprise that Sharpay has her own upbeat version of “You Are the Music In Me” that features—gasp!—Troy…

Which probably explains the next song on the CD, “Gotta Go My Own Way,” which is a Troy-Gabriella breakup song. It’s not quite as good as “When There Was Me and You,” but it’s still a good one and a good showcase for Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella)…

But don’t worry “HSM” fans, the next track is “Bet On It,” in which Troy seems to get himself back on track with lyrics like “It’s no good at all to see yourself and not recognize your face.” The song, with its R&B/hip-hop beat, sounds like it belongs more on a Corbin Bleu CD than in this movie, so I’m wondering how it will work in a scene. “Billboard” said it sounded like the Backstreet Boys, and I can’t really disagree…

Then, we get the makeup song, “Everyday,” which has a little bit of a gospel feel to it. Don’t be too surprised to see the first official Troy-Gabriella kiss after this one…

Finally, we get the “We’re All in This Together” song, “All For One,” and yes, Sharpay is a part of it, meaning she has once again decided to join the gang—until she hatches another scheme for the third movie, of course. I don’t like this song as well as I do “We’re All In This Together,” because I don’t think the chorus is as catchy, but it really works with its summertime feel…

The bonus track is “Humuhumunukunukuapua’a,” a Sharpay and Ryan song that was cut from the movie. My guess is that this was going to be their talent show song until she decided to do “Music” with Troy. It’s a shame we won’t see how this one was going to work, because I have a feeling it was going to be pretty funny…

Anyone who had any concerns as to whether the songs for the sequel were going to live up to the originals can put those to rest. My only concern now is that the sequel is going to be too much like the original.

But I have a feeling that when I see Ryan finally put Sharpay in her place (and he better), I’ll be okay…

The “High School Musical 2” soundtrack is in stores now…