Songs 9-11: Vivo

*Spoilers.*

And we’re onto our final grouping of songs for Vivo! Even though I’d say this score wouldn’t unseat any of the others in the Lin-Manuel Miranda rankings, it still has plenty of catchy rhythm, clever lyrics, and the patented LMM trick of getting you to tear up simply because the melody hits you so hard. Another fine score from one of my favorite composer/lyricists!

“Running Out of Time” – The climactic song of the movie. It’s crunch time—Vivo and Gabi are on the last leg of their journey, but with obstacles arising every which way, they might not make it in time to get the song to Marta. The frenzied tempo and overlapping melodies add to this sense of urgency. I really like the electronic “M-I-A-M-I— / Running out of time” motif, the brief callback to “Keep the Beat” is a nice touch, and the song pairs beautifully with the candy-colored neon lights of Miami.

Best lyric: “When I thought we were done for, / My new friend gave us an encore.”

“Inside Your Heart” – It can be tricky when a musical builds up to a culminating diegetic song—it’s no secret that “One Song Glory” is way better than “Your Eyes.” In the case of Vivo and “Inside Your Heart,” I think it goes all right. It’s far from my favorite song in the film, but it resonates due to the feeling behind it. The song Andrés wrote for Marta before she left Cuba but was too afraid to share with her—it’s a big moment for Marta to finally receive the song and perform it. I love the 2-D animation on the dream sequence as Vivo watches, imagining both Andrés and Marta young again and dancing together.

Best lyric: “And this fear that keeps me by the door / Shouldn't interfere with you wanting more. / I am here, just on another shore, / Always in your corner watching you soar.”

“Grand Finale” – An updated reprise of “One of Kind,” this time with Vivo, Gabi, and friends in Miami. Vivo’s rap sequence is terrific, and I like how pretty much everyone gets their moment in the finale. It’s a homey, celebratory way to bring things to a close.

Best lyric: “Y'all don't understand my singing. / I'm running rings around / This riveting rhythm and swinging. / Somebody gimme the rhythm and gimme a minute / And gimme a limit so I can exceed it – / A brand-new song's just what we needed.”