*Don’t read if you haven’t watched Julie and the Phantoms all the way through. Spoilers ahead.
Can we just talk about the song Stand Tall and that entire scene because it’s probably one of the most emotional scenes from JATP
I mean, they all agreed on this song for their set when Luke and Julie suggested it. I’d like to believe Juke knew what this song meant for them. Like at first glance, this song is kind of uplifting because it’s like no matter what happens things are going to be okay and you’re gonna get through it, but it’s also like a goodbye.
At this point, they all believe performing at the Orpheum is the boys’ “unfinished business” so after they do this, they’ll be able to cross over, but none of them really knows what comes next, if there’s even anything.
And they were all prepared to sing this together as a final goodbye to each other, but then things happen and it’s just Julie, which is also super important for reasons.
Just looking at the first few lines of this song makes me want to cry. I mean,
Don’t blink
No, I don’t want to miss it
One thing, and it’s back to the beginning
Cause everything is rushing in fast
Keep going on never look back
They became a family in the time they had together and now it’s being cut short. It’s not fair by any means, but they can’t dwell on it.
And it’s one, two, three, four times
That I’ll try for one more night
Light a fire in my eyes
I’m going out of my mind
This is the last time they’ll be together. Like what are they supposed to do after everything they’ve been through? It’s like losing the people they love all over again. Also four times and there’s four of them. Probably no connection, but it still makes me sad because they each got a second chance at life. Wait actually they all kinda got closure with something. Luke with his parents. Julie with her mom and music. Reggie with finding a good parental figure and having his own family he created himself with the others. And Alex with Willie.
Whatever happens
Even if I’m the last standing
Imma stand tall
Imma stand tall
This is like reassurance. None of them knows what’s going to happen next, but they have to keep going. This repeats a few more times and during this moment, Julie is on her own. She already thinks they’re gone and she’s kind of made peace with it. She’s determined and she’s doing this for them and her mom and herself.
Then during that last “Imma stand tall,” Alex appears and starts playing. Julie looks so freakin relieved (and surprised) at this point and then Reggie appears and starts playing as she sings:
Right now
I’m loving every minute
Hands down
Can’t let myself forget it, no
Cause everything is rushing in fast
Keep holding on never look back
And she feels Every. Single. Word. They’re not gone. They’re there right at that moment and it’s the most wonderful feeling because they’re together and doing this at least one more time and she gets to say goodbye. They get to say goodbye.
Then it repeats, but Luke hasn’t appeared yet. They see flashes of him and they’re all concerned and looking at each other. Julie’s voice starts to get a little frantic and she’s speaking directly to Luke.
That I’ll try for one more night
Light a fire in my eyes
And then we finally get Luke AND JULIE RUNS TO HIM
I’m going out of my mind
I mean, I, too, would go out of my mind if I was trying to get back with the people I loved and I couldn’t. Ngl, at this point I was about to cry. My little cold heart was breaking because I FELT THAT LINE. AND I JUST WANT THEM ALL TO BE HAPPY.
Just imagine what Luke was probably thinking. They’re at the club against their will and then Alex disappears, shortly followed by Reggie, but Luke still hasn’t. He’s alone and doesn’t know what’s going on, but then he starts to appear at the Orpheum, only not all of him because Caleb is holding him back and he’s fighting it with everything he has because Alex and Reggie and Julie are just within reach. Everything is just within reach.
Then he’s there with them. Now they’re all together, just like how it was supposed to be. You can see the relief and joy on their faces. Things are okay for now, but then they remember why they’re there and that’s when we get one of the best and saddest moments of this song where each of them sings a line and then they all come together for the rest of the song
Whatever happens
Even if I’m the last standing
Imma stand tall
Imma stand tall
In a sense, it’s like each of them reassuring themselves and each other that no matter what, it’s going to be okay and they’re going to face whatever comes next because they all know that they didn’t do this alone. They’re a family. They love each other. And they will Always have each other.
This song just perfectly ties everything together for them. They don’t want to let go, but they have to and even though they all know they love each other, I think this is when it really hits them. Ugh I’m a MESS.
Y’all watch Julie and the Phantoms.
