I love
the scores for Next to Normal and In the Heights, so it’s a no-brainer
that I’d love Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tag-team effort in Bring It On. I’m not the least self-conscious about my
delight with this based-on-a-movie cheerleading musical, because the music is
just that good. Here are my favorites.
“What I Was Born to Do” – This showcase for
Campbell opens the show with energy and spirit.
The chorus, with its mantra “These Truman girls / Are superhuman girls,”
is ridiculously catchy, and I love the cheer introductions in the middle. Right away, we see that Campbell is a
cheerleader because she loves it, not because of stereotypical high-school-movie
pecking order reasons, which gives us a better idea of what kind of show we’re
about to see.
Best line: “We got one shot that we work all year for -
/ We got more balls than the team we cheer for.”
“Do Your Own Thing” – Lin-Manuel Miranda
has such a talent for scene songs that establish settings and characters, move
the plot forward, have insane hooks, and boast clever lyrics all at the same
time. This song, in which Campbell
starts her apprehensive first day at Jackson High, is a stellar example of
this.
Best line: “Step one to become invisible: / Books up –
de-accentuate the physical, / Head down – use only your peripheral. / Stick
with me; we’ll be indivisible.”
“We Ain’t No Cheerleaders” – I’m so in love
with the groove of this song. Danielle
leads us with strut and stagger, and she’s backed well by Nautica and La
Cienega. The dance crew wasn’t around
for “What I Was Born to Do,” so their idea of cheerleaders is the teen movie stereotype, and they clarify their roles in this number that sizzles with attitude.
Best line: “You can call your therapist / And complain, ‘Those
girls ain’t right,’ / ‘Cause every day / We get haters / Who say they can take
us. / Okay, baby - / If that helps you sleep at night.”
“It’s All Happening” – Another fantastic
scene song. As Campbell and Danielle try
to recruit kids for their squad, I like the way they paint a picture for their
potential converts. They offer a wide
assortment of motives, everything from fame/a chance to show off, to
representing their neighborhood and proving what they can do to the rich white
kids of the other schools.
Best line: “What – are y’all scared? / Y’all think
cheerin’ is feminine? / Then I’m a feminist swimmin’ in / Women, gentlemen!”
“Cross the Line” – This isn’t even a
song performed in the show – it’s the backing track to Jackson’s competition
routine. Still, I adore it. It has such lovely themes of bravery and
risk-taking, and I like that it focuses more on self-victory than on trophies. Plus, the melody is gorgeous; I especially
love the final, triumphant chorus that comes in after the bridge.
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