Step Up Soundtrack: Composers, Songs and Tracklist by Film

Three composers have scored the five Step Up films: Aaron Zigman wrote the music for three of them, Bear McCreary for one and Jeff Cardoni for one. Zigman scored Step Up (2006), directed by Anne Fletcher, then returned for Step Up 2: The Streets (2008), directed by Jon M. Chu, and for Step Up Revolution (2012), directed by Scott Speer. That makes him the nearest thing the saga has to a house composer.

Each film also has a songs album, and those are the records most people go looking for. The "Step Up" soundtrack (Jive, August 8, 2006) runs 16 tracks. It includes "Get Up" by Ciara and Chamillionaire, "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me" by Sean Paul and Keyshia Cole, "Show Me the Money" by Petey Pablo and "80's Joint" by Kelis.

The "Step Up 2: The Streets: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (Atlantic, February 4, 2008) also has 16 tracks. "Low" by Flo Rida and T-Pain leads the listing, and Missy Elliott is represented by "Ching-A-Ling" and "Shake Your Pom Pom". "Killa" pairs Cherish with Yung Joc, and T-Pain returns on "Church". "Step Up Revolution (Music from the Motion Picture)" (Interscope Records, July 17, 2012) has 13 tracks, among them "Hands in the Air", "Get Loose" and "Bring It Back".

Bear McCreary took over for Step Up 3D (2010), which Chu directed for a second time. It is the one entry where the director stayed and the composer changed. TheWrap reported that the film was shot in 3D, with custom rigs and longer shots than a typical dance picture. Its album, "Step Up 3D" (Atlantic, July 23, 2010), has 15 tracks. The track most tied to the film by name is "My Own Step (Theme from Step Up 3D)", and T-Pain appears there as well, alongside "Already Taken" and "Fancy Footwork".

Jeff Cardoni scored Step Up: All In (2014), directed by Trish Sie. Film Music Reporter covered his hiring in January 2014, and the film has a separate Cardoni score album alongside its songs album. That songs album, "Step Up: All In (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" (Ultra Records, August 5, 2014), has 13 tracks, opening with "Revolution".

If you are mapping the music to the story, the Step Up movies in order page shows where each composer sits, and the Step Up cast page covers the people on screen.

The signature Step Up songs are a run of hip hop, R&B and dance pop hits, and each of the five films has its own soundtrack album. The series started with Step Up (2006), directed by Anne Fletcher, and the music has moved with the dance trends of each era ever since.

Step Up (2006). The album leans on Southern hip hop and R&B. It includes "Get Up" by Ciara and Chamillionaire, "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me" by Sean Paul and Keyshia Cole, "Say Goodbye" by Chris Brown, and "'Bout It" by Yung Joc and 3LW. Petey Pablo supplies "Show Me the Money" and Kelis brings "80's Joint". Anthony Hamilton's "Dear Life", YoungBloodZ's "I'mma Shine" and Samantha Jade's title song "Step Up" complete the group. Sources show that "Step Up", "Get Up", "Show Me the Money", "80's Joint", "Dear Life" and "I'mma Shine" were written for the film.

Step Up 2: The Streets (2008), directed by Jon M. Chu. This is the most Missy Elliott heavy entry, with "Ching-A-Ling" and "Shake Your Pom Pom" both on the album, and she also appears on "Bounce" alongside Timbaland, Dr. Dre and Justin Timberlake. Flo Rida and T-Pain lead with "Low", and T-Pain returns with Teddy Verseti on "Church". The rest of the lineup includes "Killa" by Cherish and Yung Joc, "Hypnotized" by Plies and Akon, "Push" by Enrique Iglesias, "Is It You" by Cassie, "Let It Go" by Brit and Alex, "The Diary of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin, and "Girl You Know" by Scarface and Trey Songz.

Step Up 3D (2010), also directed by Jon M. Chu. The album opens with "Club Can't Handle Me" by Flo Rida and David Guetta, followed by "My Own Step (Theme from Step Up 3D)" by Roscoe Dash, T-Pain and Fabo. Other tracks include "Already Taken" by Trey Songz, "Irresistible" by Wisin & Yandel, "This Instant" by Sophia Fresh and T-Pain, "Fancy Footwork" by Chromeo, "Beggin'" by Madcon, "Up" by Jesse McCartney, "Freak" by Estelle and Kardinal Offishall, "Bust Your Windows" by Jazmine Sullivan, and "Tear da Roof Off" by Busta Rhymes.

Step Up Revolution (2012), directed by Scott Speer. Here the soundtrack goes electronic and remix heavy, with "Goin' In" by Jennifer Lopez and Flo Rida, "Hands in the Air" by Timbaland and Ne-Yo, and "Live My Life (Party Rock remix)" by Far East Movement, Justin Bieber and Redfoo. "Feel Alive (Revolution remix)" features Fergie, Pitbull and DJ Poet, and M.I.A. appears on "Bad Girls (Nick Thayer remix)". The Cinematic Orchestra's "To Build a Home" is also credited to the film.

Step Up: All In (2014), directed by Trish Sie. The final film to date is the most dance floor focused, with "Revolution" by Diplo, Faustix, Imanos and Kai, "My Homies Still" by Lil Wayne and Big Sean, and "Do It" by Pitbull and Mayer Hawthorne. It also includes "Delirious (Boneless)" by Steve Aoki, Chris Lake, Tujamo and Kid Ink, "Lapdance" by N*E*R*D, "Every Little Step" by Bobby Brown, and "I Won't Let You Down (Shockbit Remix)" by OK Go.

The television series Step Up: High Water is not a film, so it sits outside this list. For the dance side of the story, see the best Step Up dance scenes and the Step Up dance crews, and to find the films online, check where to watch Step Up. The full list is on the Step Up movies hub.

Our picks: the best songs in the Step Up films (opinion)

• "Get Up" by Ciara and Chamillionaire: in my opinion, it is the song that best captures the energy of Step Up (2006).
• "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me" by Sean Paul and Keyshia Cole: a smooth, easy to replay pairing that sounds as good now as it did then.
• "Low" by Flo Rida and T-Pain: perhaps the most recognizable song from Step Up 2: The Streets, with a beat that practically choreographs itself.
• "Ching-A-Ling" by Missy Elliott: a playful, bouncy track that suits the underground feel of The Streets.
• "My Own Step (Theme from Step Up 3D)" by Roscoe Dash, T-Pain and Fabo: it earns its place as a theme song for the third film.
• "Goin' In" by Jennifer Lopez and Flo Rida: a big, flash mob ready opener for Revolution.
• "Delirious (Boneless)" by Steve Aoki, Chris Lake, Tujamo and Kid Ink: it gives All In its club night punch.