by Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Schwartz List Price:$18.00 Our Price:$13.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Details
Media: Audio CD
Release Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Label: Decca
Average Customer Review: 4.5 Based on 412 reviews.
Sales Rank: 28
Tracks
1.
A Sentimental Man - Joel Grey
2.
Defying Gravity - Kristin Chenoweth
3.
Thank Goodness - Kristin Chenoweth
4.
Wonderful - Idina Menzel
5.
I'm Not That Girl (Reprise) - Kristin Chenoweth
6.
As Long as You're Mine - Norbert Leo Butz
7.
No Good Deed - Idina Menzel
8.
March of the Witch Hunters
9.
For Good - Kristin Chenoweth
10.
Finale - Kristin Chenoweth
11.
One Short Day - Kristin Chenoweth
12.
I'm Not That Girl - Idina Menzel
13.
Popular - Kristin Chenoweth
14.
Dancing Through Life - Michelle Federer
15.
Something Bad - William Youmans
16.
What Is This Feeling? - Kristin Chenoweth
17.
The Wizard and I - Idina Menzel
18.
Dear Old Shiz
19.
No One Mourns the Wicked - Cristy Candler
20.
As Long as You're Mine - Norbert Leo Butz
21.
I'm Not That Girl (Reprise) - Kristin Chenoweth
22.
I'm Not That Girl - Idina Menzel
23.
Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel
Editorial Review
One of the most common complaints about musicals is that the books are flimsy pretexts from which to hang numbers. Wicked runs into the opposite problem: it has a great plot, but too often the songs just get in the way. Based on Gregory Maguire's novel of the same name, Wicked tells us what happened between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, before Dorothy showed up in Oz. And the show is lucky to boast a pair of ace leading women in the main roles. As Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth delivers a sensational star turn, displaying a crystal-pure voice and sharp comic timing; Idina Menzel lends her powerful pipes to the tricky role of Elphaba. Unfortunately, you wish they had better material to work with. Stephen Schwartz's pop score is often dragged down by overly synthetic orchestrations and sentimental lyrics (think Chicken Soup for the Witch). Still, at its best Wicked is a seductive slice of popular entertainment that could well give a younger audience a lasting taste for musical theater. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Top Customer Reviews
Rating:
5 Wicked Awesome!
When I first picked up the book last November and soon found out it was to become a musical in fall of 2003 I was overjoyed! I followed it from its San Francisco test run to it's Broadway open, and it's been very pleasing to see mostly positive reviews. I, unfortunately haven't seen the musical yet, so I have been waiting for the CD ever since. I received it for Christmas and all I can say is that it's extraordinary!The best thing about Wicked is it's two stars Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba).Kristin Chenoweth sparkles and shines as Glinda (Galinda). She sings some songs with an opera feel to them, other times she sings softly, sometimes like a pop singer and sometimes she sings with so much emotion, you can almost feel the emotion in the raw. She melds so many voices into one character, and is fantastic as Glinda!Idina Menzel is extremely talented and she really gets to showcase it as Elphaba. Idina has such a strong belting voice, and brings a lot to the show. In some songs she belts like no other person could, and in other songs her voice is so soft and pure it greatly adds to the emotion of the song. She sings Stephen Schwartz's score beautifully and is wonderful as Elphaba!Light and fluffy at times, and also dark and cold, Wicked has it all! Some of the numbers are Pop-y, some are strong ballads, some are dance numbers, and some are so powerful it makes you want to wish you were back in Kansas. Armed with a piano, a guitar, and a well versed orchestra, Wicked has class, style, and it's SO MUCH FUN!! This is one that the whole family can enjoy! Don't worry that you won't understand the music if you haven't seen it, just follow along in your CD booklet complete with all of the lyrics and an introduction by "Wicked" author Gregory Maguire.I must say this is one of the best CDs of 2003! It has the courage to go where no Broadway musical has gone before: Oz before Dorothy. Give Wicked a try; you owe it to yourself!
Rating:
5 Wicked is not even close...
I saw Wicked in June during the previews in San Francisco before it was even on Broadway. It is the middle of January, and it is still all I talk about! Though I sound obsessive, that is not true. I have seen many plays in my mere 14 years, and I have Best of Broadway tickets in San Francisco. I can tell you, that, as a teenager, it is amazing when I like a jacket for longer than a month. For me to hold on to anything as long as I have held on to Wicked is incredible. When I learned that the CD was coming out, I jumped for joy. In fact, as I type this, I am listening to it. The songs on this CD are upbeat, yet operatic enough to still pass as a musical. Beautiful instramental work, combined with the two single most incredible voices on Broadway, who couldn't love it? As Idina Menzel belts out such powehouse song as Defying Gravity, and Kristin Chenowith sings her heart out in Thank Goodness, I feel their love for the roles, and the feeling of the play. Indeed, I still laugh every time Ms. Chenowith sings the upbeat Popular, and I can't help but start singing along with Ms. Menzel every time The Wizard and I comes on. My point? Buy this CD. I did.I couldn't be happier.
Rating:
5 SOOO FAB!
This CD is extremely good. The voices of the singers soar and dip reaching levels of such musical bliss that it is undescriable.
Rating:
5 Thank Goodness!
This CD of the smash new musical now leading the boxoffice in New York is a somewhat uneven representation of the best new Broadway score of the new millenium. After the bland "Aida", the instantly dismissable "Producers", the quirky but annoying "Urinetown", and the pleasant but overwhelmingly derivative "Hairspray", Broadway has finally given up a score that moves and excites. Admittedly, "Wicked" is at times somewhat done in by an overreliance on 70s pop sensibilities, but there's an energy and excitement to this score that even Sondheim rarely achieves. It's a bit pokey in the early sections, but once Kristin Chenowith performs her charm number, the delightfully playful "Popular", the score comes into its own. Chenowith has been given a huge share of the credit for the show's success but Idina Menzel, as the evil witch, holds her own and is the heart and soul of "Wicked". From the lilting "I'm Not That Girl" to her whirlwind turns on "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed", she brings passion and heartbreak to the lost Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West. The recording itself is, unfortunately, somewhat spotty. The first duet for the two stars, "Loathing", is at times flat and at other times soaring. Both of Joel Gray's songs as the wizard are hardly memorable, and the overlong "Dancing Through Life" is one sidetrack this show could do without. In addition, some of the orchestrations rely too heavily on percussive bite, at the expense of rather delicate melodies. Still, when the two stars are front and center, the show rises to skies. The running theme of "Wicked" is not "good vs. evil" but rather, surface vs. substance, and how worthwhile people can sadly fail. These dichotomies are ever present in the unlikely friendship forged by the two witches, and it's quite thrilling to have a substantial show built around female bonding and identity. Chenowith and Menzel are the women to do the trick, and they turn "Wicked" into a passionate experience. As they go their separate ways in the eery but exciting "Defying
Rating:
5 WICKED AWESOME
Okay, before you buy this CD, make sure that you like Kristin described as an acquired taste. But really, Kristin's voice is the only subjective aspect of this brilliant collection. The music is uplifting and sensitive- everything that a musical score should be. The lyrics are very touching and the vocal talent is stellar. Idina Menzel's powerful voice takes the music to new levels with her expressive style. She shines in all of her ballads and really belts her heart out on the show-stopper, "Defying Gravity". Kristin Chenoweth deserves a Tony for her character work and the highly amusing "Popular", which is even more hilarious when seen on stage. Norbert Leo Butz also delivers a flawless performance, as usual. He portrays the relaxed Fiyero with grace and style, never faltering despite his challenging vocal part. The duets between Kristin and Idina show the true spirit of this show- friendship and collaboration. Both performers display their awesome talent without overshadowing the other. Outstanding music and lyrics surpassed only by the terrific talent of the lead performers.
Rating:
5 DIVA FEST!!!
Wicked is definitely not a masterpiece of musicaal theatre. It's a really fun show, however, with some great hummable pop tunes that will have you humming in the car and in the shower. The score serves well to showcase the strengths of two UBER-DIVAS- Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth. Both are just absolutely amazing in it- Kristen with her near-operatic lyric soprano and Idina Menzel with her rock-tinged belt. This is a must-buy for all Broadway diva lovers.
Rating:
5 Defies Gravity
Plain and simple, "Wicked" is possibly the best pop musical to come out since, well, probably the 80s, (with the exceptions of the love-it-or-hate-it AIDA and Jekyll & Hyde). The most important element of "Wicked" is that has a very strong story to build upon. While it doesn't stay particularly close to the book upon which it is based, the sheer appeal of this re-imagining of Baum's timeless characters is undeniable.Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel are both fantastic, each nailing their respective characters and firmly establishing the important central relationship between Glinda and Elphaba. As for some of the complaints I've read about the "nasal" quality of the leads' voices, I can't say I agree. Kristin is slightly nasal, but only because it's appropriate for the character of Glinda- incidentally, Glinda in the show looks like she's going to have a nosebleed at any second.Another fantastically entertaining aspect of the show is its rampant use of dramatic irony as Elphaba sings about "a celebration throughout Oz all to do with me," "I'll be so happy I could melt," etc. And the show balances the fun and drama just perfectly; it manages to keep the story central enough to avoid becoming something akin to "Mamma Mia!"That all said, the real jewels of the score are "The Wizard and I," "Popular," "For Good," "No Good Deed," and the phenomenal "Defying Gravity." I wouldn't be surprised to see several of said tracks become Broadway standards in the coming years.
Rating:
5 Wicked- Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel steal the show
Wicked is a fresh new musical and the soundtrack allows listeners unable to see the Broadway show to hear the wonderful voices of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. The two leading ladies have amazing vocal skills and the harmonies the two create during the CD are wonderful. Kristin Chenoweth's belting soprano voice is showcased in the cute song Popular that is also humorous and catchy. Idina Menzel deeper voice performs a show stopper in Defying Gravity. After listening to the great songs on the CD, you will be singing their praises along with vocalizing them for the next week. The musical is fresh and new, and filled with catchy songs that appeal to everyone. The soundtrack is a great buy if you are partial to muscials and love Broadway
Rating:
5 Incredible
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.
Rating:
5 New love for Musical Theater
I just got back from New York and I saw both Wicked, The Boy from Oz, and Avenue Q on Broadway. They were so amazing, fresh and different. I hadn't seen a musical in years after being so disappointed by Cats on Broadway, (I could actually see some of them lip sinking) that turned me off. But now I am fired up about musical theater again. So much so that I bought myself singing Lesson Cds- Voice Lessons To Go by Vaccarino , so that I could justly sing along with my new Musical CDs. Hey if only a was a few years younger I would consider going for those broadway lights myself. Even to be in the choruses of these productions must be awesome
Rating:
5 WICKED GOOD!!!
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 an
Rating:
5 Sublime...
Miss Kristin Chenoweth... If there is a greater star on the rise on the great white way I dare you to name her. I spend my days puttering around in my care listening to Ariella Vaccarino's must-have CD series "Voice Lessons to Go" in preparation for the moment I put the real deal on here and try my best to match the vocal styling of Ms. Chenoweth... and fail (but maybe with these vocal CDs I've been listening to... who knows). Anyway, the woman is a queen of the stage at the moment and this recording is a vocal photograph of a true star in the midst of her prime. I highly recommend buying it.
Rating:
5 "Wicked" awesome
Let me first preface this review by saying that I have anticipated this soundtrack for a long time. Upon first hearing that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth were doing a musical based on the Witches of Oz, I was enthralled. I've had some bootlegs of the songs for several months now, and have been waiting impatiently for the official Original Cast Album. That said, I love this CD. It's good to see Stephen Schwartz, a fantastic composer (Pippin, Godspell, Children of Eden) back on the boards with a totally unique and original show. His songs are immediately catchy and beautiful. Idina Menzel as Elphaba, the girl who would become wicked, belts her heart out and proves that she is a bona-fide Broadway star and so much more than just 'Maureen from Rent.' She sounds effortless on "The Wizard and I" and "No good deed" - both of which are incredible songs. Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda (NOT a typo) is adorable and gets to showcase much more of her voice than audiences are used to. We're all familiar with her fantastic belt voice, but Wicked shows off her phenomenal classical soprano as well, in the opening "No one mourns the wicked." Another great performance is given by Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero, though he is only given two songs. Joel Gray as the Wizard does the best he can with the music he is given. In honesty, The Wizards songs are my least favorite on the CD. All in all, there is a lot to love on this CD. My personal favorites are Norbert and Idina's "As long as you're mine," Kristin's "Popular" (or Pop-you-oo-lar) and the gorgeous Act One Finale; "Defying Gravity." Epic score, epic show, epic voices. Well worth it.
Rating:
5 Wicked Rocks!
You wouldn't expect a teenager to love broadway music, but Wicked has me hooked!I can't get enough of "The Wizard and I" and "Defying Gravity".Other great tunes on the cd are "Popular", "As long as you're mine","I'm not that girl", and "Popular". The vocalists are fabulous, the tunes are catchy, and its a fun cd to listen to! If you want to hear a GREAT CD, listen to Wicked!
Rating:
4 highly recommended
I haven't seen the Broadway show, so I can't say much about it. I bought the CD because I am a big fan of the Gregory Maguire novel, and was intrigued by the very idea that a musical had been derived from it. I'm glad I did; the CD is excellent, with more than a few standout numbers, including "No One Mourns the Wicked," "Dancing Through Life," "Popular," "Defying Gravity," and "Wonderful." The two leads, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth (playing the Wicked Witch Elphaba and Galinda the Good Witch), have beautiful singing voices, and also do a fantastic job of adding to the characterizations through their performances (for a good example of this, listen to the song "What Is This Feeling?", which is another of those standout numbers I mentioned a second ago). Also excellent, not that this is a surprise, is Joel Grey, who plays the Wizard with tremendous charm and an undercurrent of dangerous mania. The orchestra turns in a beautiful performance on this recording, as well.If you happen to be unfamiliar with the story of "Wicked," it's a take-off on "The Wizard of Oz" in which we learn the origins and background of the Wicked Witch of the West. It turns out she had a name, Elphaba, and that she didn't begin life as a villain. In fact, it seems to be debatable as to whether she was ever a villain, or simply a victim of a fascist government and a gullible girl from Kansas.I highly recommend this CD. Hopefully, someone will issue a DVD of the show so I can see it!
Rating:
5 AMAZING
If you haven't seen the play... you must go NOW!!! Idina Menzel who plays Elphaba (Wicked Witch) is amazing and awesome to watch... I've seen the play twice and hope to see it again!! If there were such thing as 6 stars... This musical absolutly deserves it!
Rating:
4 Wicked
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
Rating:
5 Deliciously wicked and most definately wonderful
Being of fan of the original novel and ecstatic that a musical was made from the book, I bought the CD the day it was available. It is pure and simple magic. Idina Menzel, who's voice blew me away on the OBC of Rent, proves her power and stands right up there with the superb Kristen Chenowith. I've been playing the CD non-stop since Decemeber, and with great fortune and luck, I was able to see the actual Broadway show this past weekend...front row lottery tickets. The power and majesty of this show cannot be conveyed on this CD, but it comes very close. Seeing all these perfomers dance, sing, and act the songs I fell in love with cannot be described. You'll have to see it for yourself. There's not a bad song in the show or on the CD...these songs, standing alone on the CD out of context from the show, are enough to move anyone. From Idina's perfect 'The Wizard and I' to 'No Good Deed,' from Kristen's comic songs to ballads, from their duets together (no two voices have ever matched better), and from Norbert Leo Butz's 'Dancing through Life' to 'As Long as Your Mine,' this CD is a definate to buy and share!
Rating:
5 A full and stable score performed energetically
The cornerstone of this recording is Stephen Schwartz's music--a bit too synthetically orchestrated--but still very strong. Highlights include "Dear Old Shiz", "Popular", "I'm Not That Girl" and "For Good". I think the first one speaks to the type of composer Schwartz is. He's not just a crowd pleaser with one big number, but the fact that he can write for a four-part choir (one of the very few instances in a broadway musical where there is unaccompanied choral singing--and it's very impressive) shows that he is deeply rooted in music. His lyrics are witty and excellent. I especially like the line in "I'm not that Girl": "She who's winsome, she wins him." And unlike too many recent scores (Avenue Q being the exception), there's not too many downers in the middle. There were a few problems, though: the male leads were a real disapointment, although we don't hear a lot from them. Joel Grey, I thought, was awful as the Wizard--singing and acting. And some of Schwartz's songs go on a little too long or (believe it or not) are too connected too plot, while others seem, while good music, not necessary to the plot. But the female powerhouses and their ballads make up for all the problems. Kristen Chenoweth is energetic and seems like she is a great character actress. She sings well too. But the show definately belongs to the resonant alto of Idina Menzel who creates her character and she alone is worth the price of this CD, especially on "I'm not that Girl". They also work together well on "For Good."
Rating:
5 Idina Menzel...Need I Say More???
In the spirit of not wanting to re-state what everyone else has said, I will keep this quite brief. Idina Menzel is simply amazing, espscially when she belts out "Defying Gravity". Kristin shines as well, but Idina Menzel eclipses her times ten. Love the soundtrack, love the book, can't wait to see it in Chicago on August 24th. BUY "WICKED"...simply for Idina.
Rating:
5 Memorable! Breathtaking! Inspiring!
This is the kind of entertainment Broadway musicals have been missing for years! This is truly the best cd I have ever heard in my life. It has MEMORABLE tunes, BREATHTAKING notes, and is INSPIRING to one when listening to it. Especially in Defying Gravity. The soaring melodies make you feel limitless as Idina Menzel takes you with her in her roof-rasing voice. In Popular, Kristin Chenoweth's lovely soprano voice bounces off the notes and is entirely a Get-Happy song. Each of the songs posess the most beautiful tunes I have ever heard. Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel make this the BEST CD I HAVE EVER BOUGHT! WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE SHOW! GO BUY THE CD!
