Wicked: 5th Anniversary Special Edition
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Music CD Cover Composer: Stephen Schwartz Conductor: Brian May. Conductor: Phil Ramone. Performer: Idina Menzel Performer: LeAnn Rimes Performer: Delta Goodrem Edition: Music CD Audio: English (Unknown) Format: Cast Recording CD Release Date: 2008-10-28 Music Label: Decca Broadway Soundtracks: Music CD 1
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Free Music Notes for Wicked: 5th Anniversary Special Edition Album
Free Music Review: The phenomenon celebrates 5 years
Hit: 4 Stars
Wicked has become a true Broadway phenomenon. It's broken Broadway records and has productions in Chicago (which recently finished an amazing run of over 3 years and revitalized Chicago theatre), LA (which also closed recently to move to San Francisco), a National tour, London, Germany, Japan, and in 2009 will be launching a 2nd National tour. In recent years and really in anytime, staying on Broadway for 5 years is a big accomplishment.
This 2 disc set features a shiny cover and inside a timeline of Wicked and a booklet with pictures of actresses who have played Glinda and Elphaba and photos of the international Elphabas and Glindas. The first disc is the regular cd and also comes with the regular cd booklet. The second cd is some special recordings:
1st disc thoughts:
-The Original Broadway Cast Recording sounds just as good as it did 5 years ago. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are so completely talented. 5 years later and I still get goosebumps when I hear Idina singing "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed". Kristin's "Popular" and "Thank Goodness" are also beautiful and so funny.
2nd disc thoughts:
1. For Good by Leanne Rimes and Delta Goodrem. A very beautiful version of this song. They both sound beautiful. I recently became a Delta fan and it's great to see that Stephen Schwartz recognized her talent.
2. I'm Not That Girl by Kerry Ellis. Kerry is a London Wicked alum and did a stint on Broadway in 2008. This version is a rockier version but I still think it fits the mood of the song and I love it.
3. Making Good by Stephanie J. Block. Stephanie has been involved with Wicked pretty much since the beginning, before Idina Menzel signed on to be Elphaba. This is one of the songs that didn't make it to the final production and was replaced by "The Wizard and I". While I prefer "The Wizard and I", "Making Good" does have some good bits in it and Stephanie sounds fabulous and I get goosebumps listening to it.
4. Solang Ich Dich Hab by Willemijn Verkaik and Mark Seibert. This is the German version of "As long as you're mine". It's weird to hear this song in another language but it's just as romantic in German
5. Gutes Tun by Willemijn Verkaik. German version of "No Good Deed". Willemijn has such an amazing voice and I think she's probably an excellent Elphaba. I'd love to see her make a jump to Broadway as Elphaba one day.
6.Jinnsei Wo Odori-Akase by Li Tao and the Japanese company. Great version of Dancing Through Life. It's really weird to hear it in Japanese but the cast seem really talented
7. Popyurraa by Mikyuki Numao. Japanese version of Popular. Miyuki sounds like a great Glinda. I think it would be great to see this cast perform.
8. Defying Gravity (Tracy Young Flying Monkey Radio Mix) by Idina Menzel. The original Elphaba closes out the extra disc with a dance version of what has become her signature song. I like the mix but I've heard it before.
My only complaint, and the reason I gave the recording 4 stars instead of 5, is the song that I think should have been on this anniversary collection. "The Wicked Witch of the East". It's one of the best songs in the production and I feel that enough people have seen the show and it doesn't reveal anything that doesn't get revealed in another song that is on the orginal cast recording that to me, there is no reason that it wasn't included. It was what I was hoping for when I heard about the re-release of the cd and it's a shame that Stephen Schwartz decided yet again not to include "The Wicked Witch of the East" on the bonus cd. But other than that, I think fanatics and new fans of Wicked will definitely benefit from this new version.