Songs 1-4: Vivo

*Spoilers.*

I reviewed Vivo a while back, but now it’s time for a rundown of each of the songs in this Lin-Manuel Miranda score. We’re covering the music from the first section of the film today.

“One of a Kind” – This is the lively “let me introduce myself” opening number. Vivo bears more than a passing resemblance to Usnavi, enthusiastically rapping about his friendship/partnership with Andrés and the music they make on their corner of the plaza. It’s fast without being frantic, and I like the interludes of Vivo and Andrés singing together. Even if there are much better songs later in the film, this one kicks off the movie effectively.

Best lyric: “We are a part of a time-honored tradition / Of timing and precision. / Your finest two musicians are top-notch / As we hopscotch the competition.”

“Mambo Cabana” – Here, Andrés insists to a worried Vivo that they’re going to the Mambo Cabana in Miami, where Andrés will bring Marta the song he wrote for her years ago. This song has a really nice groove, and I like Andrés’ refrain of, “It’s not too late.” I also like how much heavier and steadier the beat gets during Vivo’s interlude, contrasted with Andrés’ lighter, more playful rhythm. And from a filmmaking standpoint, the animation beautifully complements the music, with guitar strings and piano keys lighting up the screen with their own magic.

Best lyric: “There is a place / Many miles away, / Where the rhythm digs in deep / And won't let go, that's how you know / You've reached the Mambo Cabana.”

“One More Song” – First of all, I want to say that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s singing has definitely improved since his Hamilton days. He was never a bad singer, but it was lower down on the list of his many talents. Here, as Vivo laments Andrés’ untimely death and wishes for “one more song” from his old friend, Miranda’s voice sounds great. This is a beautiful number. I love the way the chorus flows and how the bridge rises with Vivo’s realization that he can go to Miami on his own and deliver Andrés’ song to Marta.

Best lyric: “Time to be strong for / The journey ahead, sing through the doubt. / Sing through the dread, with a scream and a shout. / Break through the fear like the sun through the clouds, / Like you're still here, no crying allowed.”

“My Own Drum” – What a fun number. In this exuberant dance-beat song, complete with an autotuned bridge, Gabi is gloriously herself. She tells Vivo all about how she makes no apologies for who she is, preferring her own company over changing herself to fit in. The beat and Gabi’s enthusiasm are both infectious, and it’s easy to get swept up in her over-the-top anthem of self-love.

Best lyric: “Extra, extra! Read all about it. / I'm extra, extra, / The kid that the other kids / Can't get next to. / I got my own seat on the bus. / I've always been a me, not an us.”