Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens — Breaking Free (High School Musical) It’s crazy to imagine that this 2006 gem is almost over 2 decades old, yet it bangs just as hard today. Efron’s and Hudgens voices are so addictive how they perfectly blend together, and the stellar orchestration allows both of their talents a place to shine.
Zac Efron’s natural charisma certainly helps as does Vanessa Hudgens’ appeal, creating an unforgettable performance with that undeniable chemistry. The scene is so well-intended, it might even trigger something sentimental from your own high school past.
Troy, Gabriella – Breaking Free (From “High School Musical”)
Over time, fans have kept coming back to “Breaking Free,” making the video rack up 46 million YouTube views and cement its status as one of the “timeless Disney classic.” It is worth noting that this duet comes second in most viewed of High School Musical performances right behind “We’re All In This Together” which sits at a substantial 55M views – a difference thats not too far off. Efron and Hudgens also stand out in that song since they sing the first verse together.
Even though Efron’s charisma did much to help the success of High School Musical, it is also crucial that he be brutally called-out for not singing nearly all of those parts — they were mostly done by Canadian singer and actor Drew Seeley. Well, Efron himself admitted that his vocals were replaced in the franchise’s first movie — “In the original, after everything was recorded my voice didn’t end up on them,” he explained during an interview with Orlando Sentinel. “I was never really told why this mattered. It that just kind of what happened. Unfortunately, this left me in a strange position. That is not a thing which I anticipated to be fixed. And then High School Musical like blew up.”
However he did got to show off his vocals again in High School Musical 2, where he sang all of his lines.“That was a very huge point for me,” he said. “I had to put my foot down and fight to get my voice on these tracks. I’m very fortunate that Drew has gotten proper credit and also that I’ve gotten the opportunity to come back and try it again with my own voice. He’s very talented. I consider myself a regular kid that can carry a tune.”
Fans have suggested in the comments that Efron may have sung the opening lines of “Breaking Free,” with Seeley’svocals added in for the rest of the song. This theory makes sense, as the opening lines sound lighter and more airy, while the rest of the song has a fuller, richer tone.
Performed by: High School Musical Cast– “We’re All In This Together” from HSM
You can watch, re-watch and experience all the captivating moments you want from Zac Efron on his YouTube channel. Follow him on his Facebook for the latest updates regarding his projects and life.