"What I've Been Looking For" is a song from the
Disney Channel Original Movie
Many television films have been produced for Disney Channel, an American family-oriented basic cable channel and former premium television channel since its launch on April 18, 1983. Until October 1997, films were released under the banner nam ...
''
High School Musical
''High School Musical'' is a 2006 American musical television film directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Peter Barsocchini. The 63rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) and first installment of the ''High School Musical'' film series, th ...
'' (2006). The song was written and
produced by Andy Dodd and
Adam Watts, and it was included on the
film soundtrack of the same name.
Ashley Tisdale
Ashley Michelle Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) is an American actress and singer. During her childhood, she was featured in over 100 advertisements and had minor roles in television and theatre. She achieved mainstream success as Maddie Fitzpatr ...
and
Lucas Grabeel
Lucas Stephen Grabeel ( ; born November 23, 1984) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his role as Ryan Evans in the ''High School Musical'' film series (2006–2008). His other film appearances include ''Halloweent ...
sing it in a
fast tempo. A
reprise
In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repea ...
version, titled "What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)" was also recorded, but in a slow tempo. It is credited to be performed by
Zac Efron
Zachary David Alexander Efron (; born October 18, 1987) is an American actor. He began acting professionally in the early 2000s and rose to prominence in the late 2000s for his leading role as Troy Bolton in the ''High School Musical'' trilo ...
and
Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Anne Hudgens (; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in ''Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (2006 ...
, although Efron vocals were mixed with those of
Drew Seeley
Andrew Michael Edgar Seeley (born April 30, 1982) is a Canadian actor, singer, songwriter and dancer. He has recorded many songs for the Walt Disney Company. He danced as a child in Ontario until he was about preteen age and then moved to Florida ...
.
[
"What I've Been Looking For" received positive reviews by music critics, being compared to ]Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
musical performances. It peaked at number 35 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and at number 34 on the ''Billboard'' Pop 100. Meanwhile, the reprise version peaked at number 67 and number 54, respectively on the same charts. The Spanish-language version of the soundtrack included a cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
by Mexican synthpop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s a ...
group Belanova
Belanova was a Mexican pop music, pop band that formed in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 2000. The group consisted of Denisse Guerrero (lead vocals), Edgar Huerta (keyboards, programming) and Ricardo "Richie" Arreola (Bass (instrument), ba ...
, titled "Eres Tú", and the Brazilian group Ludov covered it for the Brazilian version of the soundtrack, titled as "O Que Eu Procurava".
Composition
"What I've Been Looking For" was written and produced by Andy Dodd
Andy Dodd (born March 28, 1977) is an American music producer and songwriter. His work spans two decades and sales of over 50 million albums worldwide. He is the co-owner of multiple production companies partnered with The Walt Disney Company.
...
and Adam Watts. According to its music sheet, it was composed using common time
The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...
in the key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
of A major
A major (or the key of A) is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps. Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor. The key of A major is the only k ...
, with a tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
of 142 beats per minute
Beat, beats or beating may refer to:
Common uses
* Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area
** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols
** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men
* Battery ( ...
.[ It is a ]teen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards preteens and teenagers.Lamb, Bill"Teen Pop" About.com. Retrieved January 28, 2007. Teen pop incorporates different subgenres of pop music, as well as elements o ...
song built on the chord progression
In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in Western musical tradition from the common practice ...
A–D–A/C♯–Bm7–E, and it was written in the common verse–chorus form
Verse–chorus form is a musical form going back to the 1840s, in such songs as "Oh! Susanna", "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze", and many others. It became passé in the early 1900s, with advent of the AABA (with verse) form in the Tin ...
.[ ]Ashley Tisdale
Ashley Michelle Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) is an American actress and singer. During her childhood, she was featured in over 100 advertisements and had minor roles in television and theatre. She achieved mainstream success as Maddie Fitzpatr ...
and Lucas Grabeel
Lucas Stephen Grabeel ( ; born November 23, 1984) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his role as Ryan Evans in the ''High School Musical'' film series (2006–2008). His other film appearances include ''Halloweent ...
, acting as the siblings Sharpay and Ryan Evans
Ryan Evans (born June 19, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for Bakken Bears of Denmark's Basketligaen. Standing at and weighing , Evans usually plays at small forward. He played college basketball for the Wisconsin Badgers.
...
, perform the song in the Disney Channel Original Movie
Many television films have been produced for Disney Channel, an American family-oriented basic cable channel and former premium television channel since its launch on April 18, 1983. Until October 1997, films were released under the banner nam ...
''High School Musical
''High School Musical'' is a 2006 American musical television film directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Peter Barsocchini. The 63rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) and first installment of the ''High School Musical'' film series, th ...
'' (2006). Grabeel's vocals span from A3 to the note F♯5.[
A ]reprise
In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repea ...
version of "What I've Been Looking For" was also composed and credited to be sung by Zac Efron
Zachary David Alexander Efron (; born October 18, 1987) is an American actor. He began acting professionally in the early 2000s and rose to prominence in the late 2000s for his leading role as Troy Bolton in the ''High School Musical'' trilo ...
and Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Anne Hudgens (; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in ''Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (2006 ...
, performing as Troy Bolton
The following article is a list of characters appearing in the ''High School Musical'' film series. Currently, the characters who appear in ''High School Musical'', ''High School Musical 2'', and '' High School Musical 3: Senior Year'' are liste ...
and Gabriella Montez.[ Later, it was revealed that Efron's singing voice was mixed with that of ]Drew Seeley
Andrew Michael Edgar Seeley (born April 30, 1982) is a Canadian actor, singer, songwriter and dancer. He has recorded many songs for the Walt Disney Company. He danced as a child in Ontario until he was about preteen age and then moved to Florida ...
.
Promotion
In ''High School Musical
''High School Musical'' is a 2006 American musical television film directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Peter Barsocchini. The 63rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) and first installment of the ''High School Musical'' film series, th ...
'', "What I've Been Looking For" was composed by Kelsi Nielsen (portrayed by Olesya Rulin
Olesya Yurivna Rulina (russian: Oлeся Юрьевна Pулина; born March 17, 1986) is a Russian-American actress. She is best known for co-starring in all three films of the ''High School Musical'' franchise as Kelsi Nielsen. She also star ...
). Sharpay and Ryan Evans sing an uptempo
A variety of musical terms are likely to be encountered in printed scores, music reviews, and program notes. Most of the terms are Italian, in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical conventions. Sometimes, the special mus ...
version of the song as their audition song for a role in the East High's upcoming winter musical ''Twinkle Towne''. During the audition, the Evans dance and sing on stage. Later, Gabriella Montez tries to audition but Ms. Darbus (Alyson Reed
Alyson Reed is an American dancer and actress.
Life and career
Alyson Reed was born in Fullerton and grew up in Anaheim, California. She began ballet at age 4, started performing in musicals at age 7, and was working professionally by age 12. R ...
) tells Gabriella she lacks of a co-singer, so Troy Bolton offers himself. Then, Ms. Darbus explains them it is too late to audition. As Kelsi leaves, she drops her music sheet
Sheet music is a handwritten or printed form of musical notation that uses musical symbols to indicate the pitches, rhythms, or chords of a song or instrumental musical piece. Like its analogs – printed books or pamphlets in English, Ara ...
s so Troy and Gabrielle help her. Kelsi then asks them to sing her song, in which Kelsi plays in the piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
. A hidden Ms. Darbus listens to it, and then offers them a "callback audition".
"What I've Been Looking For" and its reprise version were included on the setlist for the ''High School Musical'' live cast concert, titled High School Musical: The Concert, and both versions were included in its live
Live may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film
* ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film
*'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD)
Music
*Live (band), American alternative rock band
* List of albums ...
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
(2007). Seeley replaced Efron's character during the shows. "What I've Been Looking For" was also included in the video game '' High School Musical: Sing It!'' (2007).
In 2006, the song was covered
Cover or covers may refer to:
Packaging
* Another name for a lid
* Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package
* Album cover, the front of the packaging
* Book cover or magazine cover
** Book design
** Back cover copy, part of co ...
by Mexican synthpop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s a ...
band Belanova
Belanova was a Mexican pop music, pop band that formed in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 2000. The group consisted of Denisse Guerrero (lead vocals), Edgar Huerta (keyboards, programming) and Ricardo "Richie" Arreola (Bass (instrument), ba ...
for the Spanish-language version of ''High School Musical'', titled "Eres Tú". Brazilian group Ludov also covered the song, their version was titled "O Que Eu Procurava". During the filming of the commercials for the DVD ''High School Musical: Encore Edition'', eighth grader from Exeter Township Junior High School Samantha Sostak and her sister performed the song with cast member Corbin Bleu.
Critical reception
"What I've Been Looking For" received positive reviews from music critics. Heather Phares wrote for AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
the song "flirts with satire" in its usage in the film because " harpay and Ryan arethreatened by these upstarts from other cliques invading their territory", in reference of Troy and Gabriella's performance. Phares considered its melody "so bright" and Tisdale and Grabeel's vocals "so relentlessly cheery, it sounds like a parody of a show tune". A writer for Talkin' Broadway echoed this view, describing the song as "a clever parody of Broadway styles". Chris Willman, for ''Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'', compared the song with "You Are The Music In Me
"You Are the Music in Me" is the second single released in the UK from the Disney Channel Original Movie, '' High School Musical 2''.
Original version
Music video
The music video is just the clip that was in the movie that featured the song, bu ...
", a song included in the sequel ''High School Musical 2
''High School Musical 2'' is a 2007 American musical television film written by Peter Barsocchini and directed by Kenny Ortega. The 70th Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), it is the sequel to ''High School Musical'' (2006) and the second insta ...
''. He wrote "both an earnest Troy/Gabriella duet and an insincere (but more fun) showstopper for self-absorbed Sharpay". A reviewer for Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children. highlighted the track. Commenting on the reprise, DVD Verdict said it "is a little soft". The Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is an American Christian media production and distribution organization. Founded in 1960 by Pat Robertson, it produces the long-running TV series ''The 700 Club'', co-produces the ongoing ''Superbook'' an ...
offered a spiritual analysis of the song: "t is
T, or t, is the twentieth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''tee'' (pronounced ), plural ''tees''. It is deri ...
a great opportunity to look at who God is and His character, including the fact that He's always with us."
Chart performance
In the United States, "What I've Been Looking For" peaked at number 35 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and 34 on the Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009. It ranked songs based on airplay on Mainstream Top 40 radio stations, singles s ...
chart. The song was eventually certified
Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...
as gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
. The reprise version appeared in the same charts, reaching the numbers 67 and 54, respectively. In the United Kingdom, "What I've Been Looking For" debuted and peaked at number 155 on the UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Certifications
Notes
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2006 songs
Ashley Tisdale songs
Lucas Grabeel songs
Songs from High School Musical (franchise)
Vanessa Hudgens songs
Zac Efron songs
Songs written by Adam Watts (musician)
Songs written by Andy Dodd
Male–female vocal duets