Product Description: No Description Available No Track Information Available Media Type: CD Artist: WICKED Title: ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING Street Release Date: 12/16/2003 Domestic Genre: CAST RECORDINGS
Amazon.com: 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
Amazing songs and perfomances When me and my family were visiting USA a couple of weeks ago we saw this musical. It was actually my first musical I'd ever seen. It blew me away. The day after the show we went to a CD store and bought this soundtrack to bring home so we all could have something to remember it by. I can't stop listening to it.
First of all, the perfomances (especially the two lead female vocalists together) are amazing. They bring so much emotion to their songs so it's impossible not to sing along. And the songs themselves are incredibly well written and arranged. In my opinion, especially the song "Defying Gravity" stands out. All the songs are worth their five stars, but this song is worth seven.
A good thing is that in the following booklet, you can follow the lyrics.
Hype Gone Wild This is a classic example of people jumping on the bandwagon for a play which despoiled the great Oz of L. Frank Baum, and music which was humdrum and un-memorable. But because most humans are herd animals, it becomes a classic. It even hand a song which goes like this.....[see, Spamalot].
WONDERFUL I know that some people out there have said they didn't like the score from this show......How can you NOT! To be fair the first time I played I said OK...........could be better. Then I played it again and read the words and listen to it and you know what? A hole other part of me took over, this show is just wonderful and looking at the book of the stage show and playing the cd I couldn't wait to see it. I did get to see it in Phila. the touring company and they were just, just.....there are no words to say how wonderful this show is. Watching this show there is no way it can't effect you, enless you are as hard as a rail. If you can pick up the cd buy the book of the musical or just go see it...it truly is great fun to sit and just watch this piece of magic weave its songs and visiual spell. I can't and haven't heard anyone come out of this show and say it wasn't entertainment. To Stephen Schwartz and company I can only say they did one HELL of a job bring this to the stage...............Now wheres that movie?
Wicked is Wickedly Wonderful Just Awesone! You can't go wrong - if you love this musical, you'll love this!
"Wonderful"! Wicked is a true phenomenon. A new musical with the potential to run for years, Wicked possesses certain qualities that distinguish itself from any other contemporary! The biggest asset Wicked has is an amazing plot. Kudos goes to Gregory Maguire for creating the premise! Though Wicked does not follow the book, it has an intricate and enthralling plot guaranteed to bewitch you. The story of a green girl with amazing powers, Elphaba, and her very popular friend Galinda, the tale follows them through years at school and all the way until the bitter end. The most entrancing and original aspect of the plot is its novelty. Wicked takes the story we all know, and upon which many of us have been raised, and shows just how little we actually know! Before Wicked how many of us can explain the significance of the ruby slippers? Or for that matter even grant the simple kindness of giving her a name beyond "the witch"! None of us could. But Stephen Schwartz changed all that with his most remarkable musical. Bringing me to second point. The music. Catchy and inspiring they help craft a tone that makes Wicked both tragic and comedic. Not often can the two merge so seamlessly, and the music helps to enable this. Third point. The lyrics. They are incredibly witty and poignant. They will reveal deep ironies and foreshadowing. I for one could spend years interpreting the lyrics and finding nuances. In the song "Wonderful" the Wizrd tells Elphaba that he really just wanted to help the people in Oz. Elphaba retaliates by accusing him of lying. In return, he tells her "Elphaba, where I come from people believe all sorts of things that aren't true... We call it history!" and then he continues on to sing about our historical hypocrisy. Though superficially light and funny, this hits on a deep and sadly true fact of life! Fourth point. Great cast. Who doesn't love Idina and Kristin? They are both so amazing, and with beautiful voices too!
If anyone criticizes this show, they just must be unable to appreciate the nuances to it. Whether they dislike the plot, or the music, some people will always dislike every great show. I'm sure many people hate "South Pacific" too! But I think Wicked has proven it can compete and endure. In LA (near where I live) the show has cleaned out the Pantages box offices. It completely wiped out the huge record set by "The Producers." As I write, the show runs in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Osaka, London, Melbourne, and Stuttgart. Future locations include Greensville, San Francisco, and more (Thanks to a tour!)! The show has a future that is truly "Unlimited"! With great acting, music, lyrics, and a story that could captivate any theater-lover, Wicked promises to be a major presence forever! So I will close with a selection from a Time review: "If every musical had a brain, a heart, and the courage of Wicked, Broadway would really be a magical place!"
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