Bring It On: Songs 16-18

Wrapping up Bring It On’s score today with its final three songs, including the lovely “Cross the Line” and the charming “I Got You.”  An enjoyable end to a show that, while not in the same league as In the Heights or Hamilton, carries itself much better than you might expect it to.

 “Eva’s Rant” – Quick little “I’d have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids” number for Eva.  As a song, it’s pretty lightweight, but it includes some amusing displays of attitude.

Best lyrics:  “Well, whoop de doo you caught me. / Okay, everything is true. / I’ll still wake up a winner, / And you’ll still wake up you.”

“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.

Best line:  “I wanna fall just to feel alive. / I feel like following me tonight.”

“I Got You” – The closing number is just delightful, a playful friendship anthem featuring a plethora of shoutouts to great relationships (both real and fictional) and excellent rhymes to match.  A fun, uplifting end to the show.

Best lyrics:  “I thought you were a spoiled rich / Uptight little white bitch, / Now I think you’re just white!”

Bring It On: Songs 11-15

Here are the next five songs from Bring It On.  Notable for two great friendship numbers, “It Ain’t No Thing” and “We’re Not Done.”  Despite very different melodies, styles, and ultimate theses, both songs are perfect for a show about kids surviving high school together.

“It Ain’t No Thing” – This is an enjoyable little number, a nice, affirming piece for Nautica and La Cienega to help Bridget trust that Twig could be interested in her.  Self-love and confidence wrapped in a song with a nice groove.

Best lyric:  “Love who you are / And the world will adore you -- / And the couple that don’t, / At least they can’t ignore you!”

“Enjoy the Trip” – Not my favorite, though I appreciate the sentiment.  Like “It Ain’t No Thing,” it’s something of a message song, with Randall encouraging Campbell not to let herself be overwhelmed by the more difficult parts of life.  Just a bit sappy for my tastes.

Best lyric:  “So don’t sit on your ass waiting for life to begin. / If you do what you love with your time, then you win!”

“Killer Instinct” – Humorous “villain” number for Eva.  While her evilness is pretty over-the-top and kind of more show than tell, I enjoy this song about how ruthless she is.  It’s so sweet and perky-sounding, and combined with the outrageous callousness of the lyrics, it makes for a fun song. 

Best lyric:  “I’m raisin’ hell n’ / I’m a felon / In a four foot frame!”

“We’re Not Done” – Love it.  Here, Campbell and Danielle talk (er, sing) through their conflict, coming to the conclusion that, as much as they want to win, what they’re making together and the time they’ve spent doing it is more important than any trophy.  I especially love the fantastic blending of voices as they revisit themes/lines from “It’s All Happening” and “We Ain’t No Cheerleaders.”

Best lyric:  “When they finally play our song -- / And we move in perfect time -- / We’re in the pocket and no one can stop it, / We’re not gonna drop --” - “And when we rock it, nobody can top it, / We’re not gonna stop ‘til we fly!”

“Legendary” – Not much to say here.  This song provides the backdrop for Truman High’s Nationals routine.  Catchy and vain, much like them.

Best lyric:  “Now is our time, / This is our moment, / We got here by not knowing / What the word ‘no’ meant.”

Bring It On: Songs 6-10

Though not, in my opinion, as strong as the first batch of songs in the show, there’s some good stuff in here.  Today’s post takes us through the end of Act I into the start of Act II.

“Friday Night, Jackson” – Bringing it again with the tight scene-song.  Nice hooks mixed with plot and good character moments – I especially enjoy Twig being into Bridget and Danielle starting to get a sense of what Campbell can really do.

Best lyric:  “She’s the kind of brave that I wish I were!”

“Something Isn’t Right Here” – This one’s just so-so, I think.  It moves the plot forward in a necessary way, with Campbell recognizing Eva as the villain of the story (even though no one else can see it,) but there’s nothing too wild about the melody or lyrics.  Also, having Campbell not knowing the word “redistricted” feels like an easy joke to me.

Best lyric:  “Is this all coincidence? / Just unrelated incidents / That happened to occur? / Miraculously making way for her?”

“Bring It On” – The Act I finale, while not super long or intense, still brings it (I know, I’m sorry) where it counts.  Realizing what she’s up against with Eva, Campbell has her overwhelmed moment but then moves through it and gets down to business.  I love the determined tone of the chorus, perfect for Campbell’s resolve not to let herself be beaten.

Best lyric:  “More than replaced, / It’s like she’s erased the best of me.”

“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!”

“Better” – Another just-okay song.  By and large, the songs on the Truman High side aren’t my favorite.  This short patter number gets the job done, establishing the Jackson squad as a credible threat while Skylar protests too much, but there’s not much to it.

Best lyric:  “They’re blowing up on Twitter!” – “They’re only glue and glitter!”