Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is taking the world by storm with its original songs, written by acclaimed songwriter Justin Tranter. One song, in particular, has captured the hearts of fans: “New Cool,” performed by Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia, an aspiring T-Bird. This catchy and inspiring number has become a favorite here, and we have previously shared the musical number here on Trevor Decker News.
Interestingly, “New Cool” played a significant role in Tranter’s journey to become the lead songwriter for the series. During their initial meeting with showrunner Annabel Oakes, Tranter offered to demo a song from the pilot to prove their dedication to the project. They chose “New Cool,” which tells the story of Cynthia trying to convince the T-Birds that she is worthy of their time, respect, and the iconic jacket. In an exclusive with Consequence, the details about the song’s creation and its impact on the series were shared.
‘New Cool’ is a very special song to me, because it’s the song that got me this job. When I met with Annabel, we hit it off — she loved me and she loved my work in the pop world, but she just wasn’t convinced I actually wanted this job, just because of my career and my schedule. So I offered to demo for her — everyone at Paramount+ was like, ‘You can’t ask Justin Tranter to the demo. That’s disrespectful.’ I was like, ‘No, no, no. She can ask me whatever she wants, like, this is her story. These are her characters. This is her vision. I want her to feel just as confident in me as I am in her.’
“So I read the pilot and picked one of the songs. It was already mapped out in there, the tomboy version of ‘Greased Lightning,’ but with Cynthia trying to convince these T-Birds that she is worthy of their time and worthy of their respect and worthy of that motherfucking jacket. The song spoke to me, and I had to do it.”
The song’s unique blend of modern and classic musical elements showcases Ari Notartomaso’s incredible vocal talent. Tranter was able to craft a song that highlights their strengths as a performer while staying true to the Grease universe’s distinctive vibe.
As Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies continues to captivate audiences, “New Cool” will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the standout musical numbers of the series, thanks to Ari Notartomaso’s stellar performance and Justin Tranter’s masterful songwriting.
Now that we have more details, we are even more thrilled to feature this unforgettable tune and look forward to more captivating performances from Ari Notartomaso and the rest of the talented cast.
