Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth - Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Such amazing songs - a must for Broadway fans
Hit: 5 Stars
Though I have never seen the actual show Wicked (but will be seeing it soon), I still love, love, love the songs on this CD. My favorite songs are:
1. The Wizard and I - this song is beautifully sung by Idina Menzel (Elphaba), and it tells of Elphaba's desire to fit in.
2. What is this Feeling? - this upbeat song tells of Galinda and Elphaba's initial dislike for each other. The lyrics are clever, and Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel sing their parts perfectly. I always smile when I hear Galinda say "My Dearest Darlingest Momsy and Popsicle" at the beginning of the song.
3. Dancing Through Life - this is a sweet song, and, having never seen the musical live, this was my first introduction to Nessarose, Fiyero, and Boq, and Michelle Federer sings Nessa's part perfectly.
4. Popular - this is a fun song in which Galinda describes how she's going to make Elphaba popular. Kristin Chenoweth has the perfect voice for Galinda.
5. Defying Gravity - this song's lyrics are so powerful, and Idina Menzel's captivating voice can convey so much of that power.
6. As Long as You're Mine - I love the powerful emotion in this love song between Elphaba and Fiyero
7. No Good Deed - a powerful and passionate song sung by Elphaba
8. For Good - this song has such meaningful lyrics, and Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth's voices complement each other perfectly.
The songs I listed above are my very favorites from the CD, though "Thank Goodness" and the sweet "I'm Not That Girl" are close seconds. Some of the songs, such as "Something Bad" and "Dear Old Shiz," are songs I tend to skip over, though I do not doubt their importance in the context of the musical as a whole. I would recommend this CD to... well, everyone, especially Broadway fans, though I have friends who don't particularly like Broadway, but love the songs from Wicked. This is a CD you'll listen to over and over.
Update:
Having recently seen the musical Wicked, I found it necessary to add a bit on to this review. Seeing Wicked live is amazing - the CD is spectacular, but there's nothing like seeing the play. My one small problem with the play is that there are a few elements of the story that don't completely go with the plot of The Wizard of Oz, but I won't go into that, since explaining would include a few spoilers. The original Broadway cast is no longer performing, but Megan Hilty (Glinda) and Shoshana Bean (Elphaba) are currently performing on Broadway. Megan and Shoshana are great, even if they can't top Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Also, "I'm Not That Girl" and "Thank Goodness" have officially moved up onto my list of favorite songs from the musical.
Free Music Review: Best Soundtrack I've Heard in a Decade
Hit: 5 Stars
I've only seen bits and pieces of Wicked on television and missed it when it toured my city. However, knowing that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are in it, I knew it was a winner and between the cast album and feedback from family who saw the show confirmed it.
As with most musical soundtracks, it can be challenging to figure out what's happening just from the songs alone as action and talking occurs between songs. To overcome this, just do a search the Internet for the show's synopsis. Here's a short synopsis of the show as explained on the show's official Web site:
"Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years."
After listening to the music, I'm eager to read the book and find another opportunity to see the show. Thankfully, the CD comes with the song lyrics, so those of us with less than perfect hearing can follow better.
It's rare that I find a new musical that I want to repeatedly listen to its CD. The last CD that accomplished this came out over a decade ago. Wicked has joined my replay list and it's wicked good! After listening to this, any questions as to why the show won many Tony Awards are answered.
As soon as the music plays, Chenoweth and the Citizens of Oz sing "No One Mourns the Wicked," which goes back to the scene we all know about from the original story - the wicked witch is dead. The song jumps at you with its striking minor harmonies and grabs you and takes you on a captivating back story of the witches and other Ozian characters.
In "Dear Old Shiz,"Chenoweth and the students sing about Galinda's (better known as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in Wizard of Oz) and Elphaba's (Wicked Witch of the West) school days in which the two witches end up as roommates. They sing of their first impressions and how they loathe each other in "What Is This Feeling?"
Eventually, they become friends and Glinda gives Elphaba a make over to help her become "Popular." However, Glinda tells Elphaba, "You'll be popular, just not as quite as popular as me!" This is the best song on the soundtrack with its sharp lyrics and peppy beat. As the soundtrack progresses you learn more and more of the "true?" story of Oz. It's delightful soundtrack that is easily worth playing many times. Even other household members of different ages agreed.
Free Music Review: WICKED GOOD!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
WOW!!! Thats all I can say is wow. Not since Les Miz has a show moved me so much. The only thing better than the CD is to see the show. Major props to the driving force's of the show, the 2 diva's. First off Kristin Chenoweth, is absoloutley hilarious as blonde Glinda. She really revokes good old fashinoned musical comedy in her show stopper "Popular" (it will stay in your head for days), she also has incredible timimg. But don't think this girl can't be serious, in her operatic turrn in the finale, it will give you goosebumps. Now on to Idina Menzel as Elphaba aka The Wicked Witch of the West. OMG!!! She is to good. She is so passionate about what she sings and is a great actress. She belts out The Wizard and I with so much stamina, and power, you'll be blown away, and Im not that Girl is quiet, and beautiful. Her Showstopper, though, is the electrifying Defying Gravity, her belt range is awesome!!! Plus the duet For Good (probably one of the show's best) is absoloutely haunting. Overall these ladies are so different but so incredible.But what would 2 Divas be w/out a supporting cast, and great material. Joel Grey(as the Wizard), always gives a great performance, and his vaudeville number Wonderful is incredibly catchy. Carole Shelley as the loud (very british), fiesty headmistress Madame Morrible is very funny (but you really have to see her on stage to see how good she is.) Norbert Leo Butz turns in a very good performance as Fiyero, the two girl's love intrest. He has a great number in Dancing through Life (which is even better on stage). Quirky, fun and surprising work done by Michelle Federer (Nessarose), Christopher Fitzgerald (Boq, and William Youmans (Dr.Dillamond). The Opening is very addiciting and tells a story to (plus provides a great entrance for Ms.Chenoweth). What is this Feeling is so much fun. One Short Day is nothing short (hah get it) of spectacular. Wizomaina on stage looks so cool. Kristin shines in Thank Goodness (her Eva-Peron esque) showstopper, with heartbreaking realism. Norbert and Idina shine in the lovely duet as long as your mine. Idina gives it her all in the powerful No Good Deed. March of the Witch Hunter's is a terrifying ensemble number, and the finale gives you chills. Overall this show was incredible!!!
Plus I gotta give major credit to the girl I saw as Elphaba Eden Espinosa. She was phenomonal. I look forward to seeing her in Brookyln. Her Defying Gravity was so awesome (that note made my jaw-drop) you were amazing!!!
Free Music Review: Perhaps the best new Broadway score of the year.
Hit: 5 Stars
Since I have not had the pleasure of attending a performance of this new show, I can only judge it from the quality of its score and lyrics as presented on this recording.There are few new scores that sound original and have a style that is all its own; "Wicked" comes the closest. It is very post-Pippin Stephen Schwartz, but that is definitely not a bad thing. The score here is wonderful in its ability to tell a story and to develop characters as well as retaining a pop sensibility that reminds us, the listener, that Broadway musicals do not always have to sound like they were written circa 1950 and still be theatrically successful.
There are many great songs here, four of which deserve to become musical theatre standards. The comedic "Popular", the showstopping "Defying Gravity", the beautiful lament "I'm Not That Girl", and the absolutely heartbreaking "For Good" will remain in anthologies long after "Wicked" stops being performed. There are few songwriters who are able to craft such diverse and tuneful songs, numbers that linger on in your head after a first listen.
Of course, there are other great songs as well. The opening number, "No-one Mourns The Wicked", is unique in that rather than establishing a few recurring themes, it is made up of a main theme and a number of interesting musical motifs that are unheard later on. It is successful in giving the audience a good background to the story.
"The Wizard and I" is great for a belter like Idina Menzel.
"What Is This Feeling" develops two characters fairly well and is mildly comedic.
"Dancing Through Life" is a great song. It encompasses many different characters and scenes and is something that musicals often lack: a song that tells a story rather than just serving as filler.
"As Long As You're Mine" is extremely poppy, catchy, and pretty. It's the kind of power love ballad that may suit the musical in which it belongs but also works as a radio Top 40 hit.
While I haven't seen the show, most of the reviewers who disliked the play did so mainly because of discrepancies with the novel. This isn't very fair; the musical should be judged on its own, and whether or not it works as a stage production. Comparing it to the novel is inherently impossible; the two mediums are completely disparate.
Still, the score is great.
Free Music Review: Wickedly perfect!
Hit: 5 Stars
First of all, if you didn't like the musical, forget about it. Do not read the review and do not buy the soundtrack.
However, if you've enjoyed the show as much as I have, you're going to love the soundtrack!
For those who didn't have the luck to watch the show in 2003-04 (like me) and missed the breathtaking performance of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, here's the chance for us to hear the voices of the two Broadway divas, whom the roles were originally written for.
As much as we have some emotional attachment to the cast we first saw, we can't deny the fact that the roles, the songs were originally written for Kristin and Idina and thus are designed to magnify their uniqueness and strengths... and they did have the most touching vocal performance.
I can't argue technically which singers are the most skilful in handling the music, but I do feel that this Original Broadway Cast touched my heart the most... You can argue about flaws and who and who is better, but acting is not just about technical perfection, it's about the connection to emotions and this pair have found their ways into the souls of many, many of us...
If you close your eyes and listen to just the music, the way they performed with their voices, the way they delicately articulated each word vividly brought me back to the scenes and helped me visualize the story again. It brings back so the emotions you experienced during the show, the funniest parts like "What is this feeling" and "Popular", the most heart-wrenching moments like "No Good Deed" and "For Good". Till now, when I have a quiet moment and if I'm really focused on the CD, it still brings tears to my eyes, it still chokes me...
I enjoyed every single song in the CD as in the live performance I did miss the beauty of some songs... when I get the CD and the lyrics I appreciates the songs even more...
If I had to make one complaint - I wish this would be a full recording of the show including the dialogues in between, like the Les Miz 3-CD set... That would be even more wonderful for Wicked fans... and I love the voices of Idina, Kristin and Norbert, I would love to hear them speak on top of the singing part...
Just love it! It's just so wickedly beautiful and be careful that once you let it cast a spell on you, it's not reversible!