Music
Store

I have had the priveldge of seeing Wicked live at the Gershwin Theatre New York, and had a wonderful experience. Wicked is a grand and glorious Broadway Musical in every sense of the word. Huge, amazing sets; awe-inducing costumes and special effects, but it does, however lack the strong music to back it up.

I am a fan of Stephen Schwartz who writes great music for shows like Pippin, Godspell, Children of Eden, The Baker's Wife, and such films as Disney's Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Schwartz has a real knack for writing 3-5 amazing songs and the rest become mediocre, and this is definitely the case for Wicked. You might recall Schwartz gave the world such wonderful songs as "Corner of the Sky" "Meadowlark" "Colors of the Wind" among countless others. He has now given us Wicked's apointed Anthem, "Defying Gravity", "The Wizard and I" "I'm Not That Girl" "As Long As You're Mine" and "For Good." These are obviosuly the best songs of the show and you might agree as well. While these songs are good, they still can't hold the show up to the calibur of other Broadway greats. I'm wondering what the show would sound like if Schwartz wasn't afraid to take risks, or if it was composed by Sondheim, or even Robert Brown.

Anyhow, the main things that keep these songs from defying downfall are the amazing lead actors. Menzel (Now the Tony Ward winner for her protrayal of Elphaba) has the powerhouse voice (which she displayed in RENT, and Lippa's WILD PARTY) that can make any song sound great, while Chenoweth's impecable comic timing can have you roaring with laughter and appreciation at her comedic brilliance. Chenoweth's live performance was nothing short of amazing. Her comic timing really is a force to be reckoned with, while Menzel's big a brassy belt and subdued meek performance was endearing. Norbert's voice lends a helping hand to the sultry, "As Long As You're Mine" while Joel Grey has two forgettable songs.

Wicked is a shown to be seen, heard and experienced. Yes, the Broadway Cast Album does, indeed have some wonderful moments, but all in all there are many things missing from this. Perhaps it's the upbeat rock and roll/operatic style to the music that leaves us confused, but none the less, the story of Elphaba and Galinda lives on, just not as great a life as one had hoped it would be.


Incredible   February 4, 2004
 37 out of 39 found this review helpful

Although I've been a huge admirer of both Kristin Chenowith and idina Menzel for a few years now, I was not sure what to expect upon first hearing this soundtrack. Actually, I ended up seeing the show on broadway, and buying the CD the day after because i couldn't get enough of this music! Stephen Schwartz has made a brilliant creation, and couldn't have gotten better voices to sing it. The vocal harmonies are beautiful throughout. Defying Gravity, the real showstopper (much thanks to Ms. Menzel's UNBELIEVABLE voice), gave me almost as big of a chill when hearing it on the soundtrack as it did in live performance. Ms. Chenowith's lovely voice carries songs as well, and the song Popular is cute and funny, while showing off her vocal talent. Aside from Defying Gravity, my favorite songs are I'm Not That Girl (sung by Ms. Menzel), and the love ballad As Long as You're Mine. It's a fun, entertaining musical more full of emotion than I had expected it would be. Between Norman Leo Butz, and the two leading women, I can hardly put into words the feeling that their voices produce- you have to hear it to know! This is definitely one of the best new broadway shows to come about since RENT, and I hope it has a long, successful run.


Wicked   March 9, 2004
 25 out of 42 found this review helpful

A few years ago, I heard You're a Good Man Charlie Brown soundtrack and the well crafted talents of Kristen Chenoweth. I heard her again in the Walt Disney records The Music Man soundtrack as Marion the Librarian. In Wicked cd, she takes the center stage and the vocal lead. She makes some of the pop style lyrics of Stephen Schwartz's score her own with her powerful voice.

The proficiencies of Idina Menzel are not to be missed on such pieces as The Wizard and I, One Short Day, and her show stopper Defying Gravity. The production have spotlighted the talent of actor Joel Grey in Wonderful, which reminds me of Mister Cellophane from the Broadway soundtrack of Chicago.

The weakest spots in the whole cd are the Greek chorus like echoes through the soundtrack of "Wicked" from the opening song No One Mourns The Wicked, as if we do not know the play's name. The score is overdone is some places and musically raw in others, I see why the critics gave the play a lukewarm reviews.

All the whole, this score is worth hearing-if only for Defying Gravity, which should become a musical theater standard like Schwartz' Day by Day from Godspell. Musically, it seems like sweet tarts for the ear..very tart and sour combined with veins of sweetness