The Oscar-winning composer shares his writing process for Wicked's iconic songs, from 'Popular' to 'Defying Gravity.'
he Wicked Witch of the West has been a fixture in American culture for nearly 125 years. After coming to life in 1900 with, portrayed by Margaret Hamilton as a sinister old lady intent on ruining an innocent girl’s wish to go home. Decades later, Gregory Maguire gave her an origin story, introducing her as Elphaba in his 1995 novelis much more than a simple origin story.
Initially, Schwartz wrote a song more resembling a ballad, but during readings he could see that it wasn’t working. “I realized the idea was right, but it needs to be really high energy,” he says. He went home after one reading and wrote the song overnight. That version made it to Broadway—and Schwartz notes it is one of the songs in the movie that most closely resembles how it is performed onstage.
For the movie, Schwartz considered an idea for a new song about Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Boq , and Nessarose being friends."Like asong, a 'We Go Together' type of thing," he says. Ultimately, the song didn't feel necessary because that storytelling was accomplished in other ways, much of if through dancing.After the breakthrough in their relationship at the dance, Glinda sings to Elphaba that she wants to help her become popular.
The movie also features an extended ending for the song, which Schwartz recalls that Grande was initially hesitant to perform. But Schwartz explained to her that he felt that this was what Glinda would do, especially visually on screen. Then, he remembers, she went with it"wholeheartedly."This was the third song Schwartz wrote for the show, following a version of what became"No One Mourns the Wicked" and an earlier version"The Wizard and I.
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