There are many things to like about NBC’s Rise—and there are many elements of this show that are infuriating. For me, personally, the most frustrating element of this show is that even though it is about a high school musical, there is very little singing. And the small amount of singing that does occur, only happens when they are in the rehearsal space. While this could be Rise’s way of separating itself from other musical dramas (like Glee and Smash), I feel as though Rise isn’t taking advantage of the talented cast it possesses. Last night’s episode did give us more clips of Spring Awakening songs, but here are six songs that should be covered on Rise ASAP.
1. “Waving Through A Window” from Dear Evan Hansen
This song, from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s Tony Award winning musical, taps in to the feelings of loneliness we all experience from time to time. And many characters on Rise are experiencing varying degrees of loneliness: Gordy, Mr. Mazzu, Gwen, Ms. Wolfe, Simon, Simon’s mom—the list goes on. I could see this being performed by the entire cast, with each person being in a different location, dealing with their personal feelings. Now, while this song may sound like a bummer, it has a catchy pop beat that would work well with Rise’s demographic.
2. “Sober Up” by AJR
It is apparent from this title that “Sober Up” touches on themes associated with addiction, but lyrically, this song delves into what happens when you grow up and your relationships with people change. I feel like Gordy would be the obvious choice to sing this song—not because of his issues with addiction, but because of his relationship with his father. This song would be the perfect way for Gordy and Mr. Mazzu to talk it out and reconnect with each other.
3. “Keep Breathing” by Ingrid Michaelson
This song underscores what I believe to be the saddest scene from Grey’s Anatomy and I think it could be well used in Rise. Personally, I believe someone’s heart is going to have to be broken by the end of the season, and my money is on either Gwen or Lilette. I envision one of them singing this song by themselves in the auditorium, only to be interrupted by Mr. Mazzu attempting to give them relationship advice they didn’t ask for.
4. “The Goodbye Song” by Joe Iconis from Smash
If I could go back to the episode of Rise where Simon leaves Stanton High, I would want him and Lilette to sing this, and have the rest of the drama department join in at the end. The lyrics capture the sentiment of Simon knowing that he has to leave but not wanting to, and the song itself is a great example of what contemporary musical theatre can sound like (which fits with the vibe of Spring Awakening). Bonus: This song was written for NBC’s other musical drama, Smash, so having the Rise cast perform it would: a) be super meta and b) make my wildest musical theatre dreams come true!
5. “Child of Mine” by Carole King
It is a tragedy that we are five episodes in and Stephanie J. Block hasn’t been featured on a single song. In last night’s episode, we saw even more emotional depth from her as she tried to balance doing what’s right for her son while staying in line with her family’s religious beliefs. This touching Carole King song is about a mother wanting what is best for her son. I could totally see Stephanie J. Block singing this to Simon as he sits crying in his bedroom.
6. “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman
I don’t necessarily think a cover of this would make sense in this show, but I have a theory about how this could potentially work. I predict that the principle of Stanton High will once again try to intervene and cancel the musical. Mr. Mazzu, in a fit of passionate rage alongside Ms. Wolfe, leads the cast and crew of the musical through the hallways of Stanton High to confront the principal and demand respect for arts education, while they sing this song. Would it fit the style of the show? Not really, but boy is this something I want to see!
You can find all of these songs on Spotify or iTunes!
Rise airs Tuesdays, at 9pm on NBC.