Jon M. Chu’sWickedwas among the most popular and acclaimed movies of 2024, and one of its clearest strengths as a musical is the rich, intricate dance numbers that constantly help push the story forward. There areeleven songs in total inWicked, and each one serves a specific purpose regarding the characters and their respective journeys. Songs like “Popular” and “What Is This Feeling” help develop the dynamic between Elphaba and Glinda, while songs such as “One Short Day” and “Something Bad” expand the history of Oz and push the narrative forward.
The majority of these songs come with large-scale dance numbersthat pay homage to the original stage musical while changing things slightly for a more cinematic experience. Chu does an excellent job of bringing a new life to these songs, referencing the source material through his choreography and even foreshadowingthings that will happen inWicked: For Good.
11Something Bad
Performed By Peter Dinklage & Cynthia Erivo
“Something Bad” is one of the few songs inWickedthat doesn’t have any kind of dance choreography, but that’s likely because of its dark content and foreboding atmosphere.The song appears shortly before Elphaba’s departure for the Emerald City, as she learns that something terrible is happening to the animals in Oz.
Wicked’s Lone Golden Globes Win Doesn’t Make Sense
Although Wicked did won one Golden Globe, this still somehow felt like a snub given just how ill-fitting this award was for the blockbuster.
Although it doesn’t rank among the highlights ofWicked’s soundtrack, “Something Bad” is an important moment in the story that helps give purpose to Elphaba’s decision at the end of the film. The lack of dance choreography is made up for by the ominous use of shadows and atmospheric storytelling, which Erivo and Dinklage capture perfectly.
10A Sentimental Man
Performed By Jeff Goldblum
Another song that doesn’t feature much dance choreography at all, “A Sentimental Man” is one of the film’s last songs before the grand “Defying Gravity” finale. The lyrics seemingly explore how the Wizard came to his position as the ruler of Oz, though its ironic tone and suspicious language reveal something more sinister about his character.The song represents one ofWicked’s major turning points, and it’s the final piece of calm before the inevitable storm.
AlthoughWickedmakes some adjustments and improvements to “A Sentimental Man”for the screen, there still isn’t much dancing to be seen. The song is performed solely by Goldblum’s antagonist, and while the actor brings huge amounts of charm to this piece of music, it ultimately doesn’t stand out among the rest.
9Dear Old Shiz
Performed By Shiz University Choir (ft. Ariana Grande)
“Dear Old Shiz” is often criticized for being one of the weaker songs inWicked, but it clearly serves a purpose in establishing Glinda’s character. It comes very early in the story, andit’s the moment that audiences are first introduced to Glinda in the past. There’s an argument to be made thatGlinda is the most important character inWicked(at least the first part),so her early scenes in Shiz are hugely important. That being said, the song itself doesn’t really feature any dance choreography - but at least there’s a large ensemble.
Despite the lack of dancing, this large ensemble of characters gives the impression of a big set piece that pays homage to the Broadway production.
Despite the lack of dancing, this large ensemble of characters gives the impression of a big set piece that pays homage to the Broadway production. After “No One Mourns The Wicked”, this is the first moment in the movie that feels like a large-scale scene from the stage play, and the fact that it doesn’t require dancing to create that sense of scope is arguably even more impressive.
8I’m Not That Girl
Performed By Cynthia Erivo
“I’m Not That Girl” is a pivotal moment towards the middle ofWicked, told from Elphaba’s perspective as she reckons with her romantic feelings for Fiyero and her jealousy of Glinda’s effortless popularity.It’s a crucial song that really speaks volumes to Elphaba’s character, and the film does a great job of capturing her isolation by placing her in the background of these scenes and framing her just outside the rest of society.
Thelove triangle between Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyerois a huge part ofWicked’s narrative, and “I’m Not That Girl” is the moment that Elphaba finally recognizes her own role in this dynamic. The cinematography is rich and powerful, as the character watches her two friends from the shadows and tries not to get involved. There’s no dancing as such, butthe choreography does a great job of exploring how Elphaba views herself as externalto the rest of the students.
7Defying Gravity
Performed By Cynthia Erivo (ft. Ariana Grande)
“Defying Gravity” is acrucial moment in Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, as the pair are forced to realize that their roles in this story cannot be the same. Elphaba is much too ambitious and moral to remain in Oz with the Wizard, and Glinda is too proud to stand against him and risk her reputation. It’s a hugely powerful finale, and while there’s little dancing in the scene,it’s choreographed excellently to display this push-and-pull betweenWicked’s main characters.
Wicked 2: Why The Flying Monkeys Will Work For Elphaba After Being Her Enemies
Wicked introduces Elphaba to the Wizard’s Flying Monkeys, and here’s how their role will change in the upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good.
“Defying Gravity” is much longer in Chu’s film than in the original Broadway production, and this leaves space between the verses for important character moments, such as the pair’s escape on the hot air balloon and Elphaba’s decision to enchant the broom and fly away. These moments exist in “Defying Gravity” in place of the large dance numbers of some other songs, and it gives the scene a much grander feeling of narrative importance.
6The Wizard And I
Performed By Cynthia Erivo (ft. Michelle Yeoh)
“The Wizard and I” is arguablyWicked’s first huge musical number, and it’s an extremely important one. The song comes shortly after Elphaba’s arrival at Shiz and details her lifelong dream to meet the Wizard, buther words are laced with foreshadowingas the audience already knows from “No One Mourns The Wicked” that her relationship with the Wizard will ultimately be one of pain.
The choreography in “The Wizard and I” is much subtler and more individual than some ofWicked’s larger dance numbers, but it does a great job of developing Elphaba’s character through her body language and some keen cinematic tricks.
The choreography in “The Wizard and I” is much subtler and more individual than some ofWicked’s larger dance numbers, but it does a great job of developing Elphaba’s character through her body language and some keen cinematic tricks. For example, the moment in which the green of Elphaba’s face is concealed by a stained-glass windchime is extremely poignant, relating her love for the Wizard to her desire to be “cured.”
5Popular
Performed By Ariana Grande
“Popular” is Glinda’s most important song inWicked,and it’s arguably the height of Ariana Grande’s physical performance in the movie. The way she moves and sings in “Popular” reveals so much about her character, from her superficiality to her growing fondness for Elphaba. It’s another huge turning point in their relationship, andthe choreography reveals just how excited Glinda is to be able to share her expertisewith a new friend.
However, the sharp humor of “Popular”’s lyrics are also laced with an ominous foreshadowing. It’s ultimately Glinda’s obsession with being well-liked and respected that forces her to stay behind at the end of the movie, unwilling to risk her reputation for the greater good. Her poised movements and vain glances in the mirror in “Popular” reveal this about her character long before this pivotal finale.
4No One Mourns The Wicked
Performed By Ariana Grande (ft. Andy Nyman, Courtney-Mae Briggs, Jeff Goldblum, Sharon D. Clarke & Jenna Boyd)
“No One Mourns The Wicked” isWicked’s first musical number, and it’s the perfect way to begin this story. Opening with a flash-forward helps audiences understand where these characters will ultimately end up, with Elphaba “dead” and Glinda working for the Wizard, which gives a whole new dimension to their actions in the rest of the film.
The choreography itself is some ofWicked’s most sweeping and absorbing,with the residents of Munchkinland using their huge numbers to maximum effect. It’s dynamic and exciting in all the ways that an opening song should be, though Ariana Grande is actually the underdog of this piece with her multi-layered performance that takes on a new meaning followingWicked’s ending.
3What Is This Feeling
Performed By Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
The rivalry between Elphaba and Glinda is definitely the highlight ofWicked’s first half, and “What Is This Feeling” perfectly summarizes this dynamic. It’s one of the movie’s funniest songs, with plenty of humorous insults thrown between the two characters, butit’s still very lighthearted thanks to the lively and upbeat dance choreography.
Wicked Box Office Numbers: Total, Worldwide, Domestic, Opening & Records
Wicked has been an overwhelming success at the worldwide box office, proving that The Wizard of Oz is an undeniably profitable franchise.
What’s most interesting about “What Is This Feeling” is how it presents the physicality of Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship in a totally different way to “Defying Gravity.” Here, they’re constantly pushing away from each other and their movements are extremely sharp, whereas later songs have them performingtogetherand bouncing off each other with their warm chemistry.
2One Short Day
Performed By Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande (ft. Idina Menzel & Kristin Chenoweth)
“One Short Day” is the song that marks Elphaba and Glinda’s arrival in the Emerald City, andit’s one ofWicked’s most upbeat and positive songs- despite the tragedy that’s not too far behind. It’s poppy and catchy, and everything about the choreography represents that, with plenty of background dancers and dynamic camera movements to capture the characters’ sense of awe.
This song also features a major alteration from the Broadway production, with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth making musical cameos and explaining some of the lore behind the Wizard and his magical Grimmerie.
This song also features a major alteration from the Broadway production, withIdina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth making musical cameosand explaining some of the lore behind the Wizard and his magical Grimmerie. Their involvement helps separate this version of “One Short Day” from the original cast recording, and their brief roles help to seamlessly further the story.
