'Julie and the Phantoms' Soundtrack: Netflix's teen musical thrills with fresh tunes that'll give you earworms
The newest teen musical from Kenny Ortega is sure to have you dancing and singing along in no time, thanks to its stunning soundtrack of fresh tunes created for the show and delivered by its very own leading cast members. The show's premise is built around a coming-of-age, healing from loss and building new bonds plot, and its soundtrack delivers a mix of feel-good tunes that convey the story perfectly.
Each episode of the show includes at least one song performed by the cast. Striking a balance when selecting songs for a teen musical is a gamble, because too few and your audience will forget they're watching a musical, and too many and they'll forget there's a story to follow. 'Julie and the Phantoms' manages to find that balance, slotting in songs exactly where they need to be and thus never having them ruin the momentum of the show. To top that off, the songs themselves are pretty great. Ortega's team delivers, yet again, a show with some catchy tunes, flashy choreography and stunning outfits that are sure to dazzle you.
Madison Reyes, who plays Julie, delivers several stunning numbers demonstrating that at just 16, she's already a singer worth watching out for. Julie's singing pairs perfectly with Charles Gillespie's Luke and their duets form the basis of most of the main performances on the show. Jeremy Shada's Reggie and Owen Patrick Joyner's Alex deliver some solid backing vocals and harmonies.
Reyes shines on softer, slower solo tracks that reveal her deepest thoughts, but there's a spark when she's singing with the band that makes songs like 'Flying Solo', dedicated to her best friend Flynn. Gillespie's big moment comes on 'Unsaid Emily', a song he wrote for his mother and sings to her from beyond the grave. All four vocalists get a moment to shine on their big finale number 'Stand Tall', which leaves room for the band to explore some different arrangements in future seasons.
Ortega's love for extravagant marching band-style musical numbers also comes through on 'Julie and the Phantoms' as Julie, having just had a major breakthrough in her journey to recapturing her passion for music, engages in a fantasy impromptu music video through her school's hallways. Jadah Marie's Flynn gets her moment to shine here, making an epic entrance in a dazzling outfit as she delivers her rap verse.
A number that brings the whole school together is a staple in any teen musical, and this number, titled 'I Got the Music', is a super fun take on that. The show also delivers some truly theatrical performances through Cheyenne Jackson's Caleb Covington and his troupe at the ghost club he runs. His final number, 'Nothin' to Lose', featuring the Phantoms is an absolute showstopper and despite his club's underhanded dealings, it's hard to not want to apply for a membership card when it puts on a show like that every night.
Overall, 'Julie and the Phantoms' delivers a solid, fun soundtrack with earworms for days. The track 'Edge of Great' was released earlier as a digital single, offering a taste of what was to come. Fans of the show's music will now be able to hear the full soundtrack of the show's original songs, which released along with the show's official drop on September 10.
All episodes of Season 1 of 'Julie and the Phantoms' are now streaming on Netflix.