Loren Javier
REVIEW: Disney Channel Summer Sing-Along

On a whim, I decided to watch the Disney Channel Summer Sing-Along which was added to Disney+ quietly yesterday. I remember having many happy days of watching the High School Musical, Camp Rock and Teen Beach movies with my nephews, not to mention my new love of The Descendants movies. I found this Sing-Along to be quite jaunty and fun.
All the songs performed during the special were peppy and what you would expect from the Disney Channel. Regardless of whether or not it is your cup of tea, one cannot dismiss the power of Disney Channel music considering it has produced several of the big names in pop music today, including Demi Lovato (who makes an appearance), Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
I did find myself having to acquaint myself with this new class of Disney Channel stars given that it's been awhile since I regularly watched the channel. But, I was impressed with their talent.
Unlike the Disney Family Sing-Along specials, this one is less DIY. It is much more slickly produced with its green screen backgrounds rather than literally phoning in performances. So, it looked nice, but there is something to that DIY look that has its charm. That said, this show was not without its charm.
Some of my favorites of the evening include "What Time Is It" from High School Musical 2 which was always in my head at the time.
But, I also enjoyed "We Own The Summer" with Milo Manheim who is the star of the newer ZOMBIES musicals to Disney Channel.
And, Olivia Rodrigo from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series performed "All I Want" which was quite lovely.
Listen, this is not Hamilton. But, it's not supposed to be and, for what it is, was an enjoyable 45 minutes to spend remembering old favorites while learning new ones. If you are a Disney Channel fan, this is perfect for you.