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MsMojo
  • 12/10/2024
From hidden melodies to brilliant foreshadowing, "Wicked" is full of magical moments! Join us as we explore the most swankified details and clever nods in this beloved musical. We'll uncover Easter eggs, lyrical genius, and homages that will make you see the show in a whole new light.
Transcript
00:00And all of Oz has to love you, when by the wizard you reclaim.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most swankified small details,
00:12easter eggs, and clever nods in Wicked's musical numbers. If you haven't seen the film or musical,
00:18we encourage your eyes you to be cautious of spoilers ahead.
00:21Life's more painless for the brainless.
00:2410. Ding Dong and Good News
00:29On stage, Wicked opens with the words,
00:39Oh come on fellow Ozians, don't sugarcoat it now.
00:42In the film though, you might catch a familiar melody before the opening number.
00:55Can't place it? Let us help.
01:01In The Wizard of Oz, it's sung about the Wicked Witch of the East, Nessaros to Wicked fans.
01:06A reprise, Hail Hail the Witch is Dead, sung about the Wicked Witch of the West,
01:10was cut from the movie, but lives on in some stage versions.
01:17Also, you know that stunning shot of Elphaba's hat in the puddle?
01:21According to director Jon M. Chu, it's a nod to the original set piece,
01:25where Ozians would burst out of a giant hat and sing.
01:289. Some Popular References
01:31Ariana Grande has always admired Kristen Chenoweth, Broadway's original Glinda,
01:36who remains a mentor in her life. And as a Wicked superfan, Grande poured love,
01:41dedication, and nuance into her performance, just as she promised.
01:51Take Popular for example, she even mirrors Chenoweth's strong arm pose on the line,
01:57specially Great Communicators. That's a level beyond superfan, right?
02:01Also, how about that brilliant nod to the 1939 film's Ruby Slippers?
02:13During Elphaba's makeover, Glinda picks up a pair of ruby red shoes,
02:16clicks them together three times, and tosses them into Elphaba's lap.
02:20It's little moments like these that show they thought of everything that
02:23really counts for Wicked and Wizard of Oz fans.
02:368. Finding Optimistic Voices in One Short Day
02:40So much happens in one short day that we couldn't possibly cover it all at once,
02:44but we have to start somewhere. Do you recognize this melody as
02:47Elphaba and Glinda make their way through the Emerald City?
02:51It's a sample of Optimistic Voices, which plays as Dorothy and her friends
02:58head to the Emerald City after the whole Poppy fiasco.
03:08In the Whizzomania number, the origins of the Grimmery and the Wizard's rise to power are shown.
03:13A projection of the Wizard repeats Omaha, which might sound mystical to the Ozians,
03:18but fans of the books know that's just where he's from.
03:34Was he pulling a fast one, or maybe just asking for directions?
03:377. What Is This Feeling?
03:40This addresses events from Act 2. Consider yourself warned.
03:43What Is This Feeling is a brilliantly choreographed number that shows Elphaba
03:47and Glinda's rivalry as powerfully as the lyrics.
04:02With the magic of cinema, the sequence gets even bigger,
04:05covering much of the school grounds to show how deep their rivalry runs.
04:08In some shots, Elphaba and Glinda seem to be in combat.
04:12Don't worry, it's probably just a schiz PE class.
04:17If there's a strange exhilaration,
04:20in such total detestation,
04:24it's a you're so strong.
04:27Keen-eyed Wicked fans might notice that their movements mirror a certain Act 2 scene
04:31when the former besties reunite.
04:33Glinda's crushed that Fiyero left her for Elphaba,
04:36while Elphaba pays respects to her sister,
04:38who's been crushed in a totally different way.
04:40Talk about full circle moments.
04:48If Wicked has a central love story, it's the one between Elphaba and Glinda.
04:53Sure, it starts off rocky,
04:54but ultimately they'll always carry each other like a handprint on their hearts.
05:17That's why the melody of For Good, from Act 2,
05:20threads through their most heartfelt moments in Part 1.
05:23Actually, the first time we hear it is between
05:25No One Mourns the Wicked and Dear Old Schiz,
05:28as Glinda starts to reflect on their friendship.
05:30Our paths did cross, at school.
05:34Later, listen for it during the Ozdust duet,
05:37which marks a turning point in their relationship.
05:48It's a beautiful foretelling of their bond that also ties everything together,
05:52reminding us that these moments are ultimately Glinda's memories.
05:55Number 5. Defying Gravity on the Yellow Brick Road
05:59In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's journey begins on the Yellow Brick Road,
06:02while Elphaba's takes her to the western skies as she defies gravity.
06:12But did you know there's an intersection where these paths meet?
06:15Listen closely and try singing Follow the Yellow Brick Road in tandem with this.
06:32Perfect fit, huh?
06:33Honestly, Stephen Schwartz's attention to detail in every note of this song
06:37is truly awe-inspiring,
06:38and the film's creators brought a little extra magic to the movie version as well.
06:42The number has been extended to fully capture its drama and intensity.
06:46It all builds to that breathtaking shot of Elphaba in the sky,
06:49a stunning homage to the most iconic moment of the stage show.
06:53No wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down
07:09Number 4. A Celebration Throughout Oz
07:13The Wizard and I is Elphaba's I Want song, but with a twist and plenty of clever details.
07:23Did you spot the rainbow behind her as she takes that leap to make the bluebirds fly?
07:34You see where this is headed, right?
07:47Plus, science fans might appreciate this one particularly smart lyric.
07:53But the real brilliance lies in the moments that foreshadow what's to come.
08:02As Elphaba dreams of joining the wizard, her vision is almost a little too on the nose.
08:14Whether it's a premonition or gut feeling,
08:16she's certain she'll leave a mark on Oz worth celebrating.
08:19So who wants to break it to her?
08:21Not it.
08:23Number 3. Life's More Painless For The Brainless
08:38It's truly astounding how much brains,
08:40heart and courage went into creating this spectacular number.
08:53Some fans have noticed a hint of the scarecrow in Fiyero's dance moves.
08:57Yet the foreshadowing goes even deeper, starting with Schwartz's clever lyrics.
09:01The first part of the song is about how life is easier when you don't give a twink about anything
09:05and just focus on having fun and dancing through life.
09:16The irony and brilliant foreshadowing of that line becomes clear in part two,
09:20if you haven't seen the show yet.
09:22Although you don't need to be a doctor of thinkology to figure it out.
09:29Number 2. Whizzamania
09:32A lot can happen in one not-so-short song,
09:34and this one perhaps deviates the most from the original musical.
09:48We've already mentioned Whizzamania,
09:50but who better to share Oz's history than the two women who were there from the start.
10:07We basically melted with happiness when Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth appeared.
10:11And again when Menzel recreated her iconic battle cry.
10:20They also share a sweet moment with Grande and Erivo,
10:28practically offering their blessings on screen.
10:31Plus there are cameos from former Fiyero understudy Michael McCrory Rose,
10:35book and screenwriter Winnie Holtzman,
10:37and composer Stephen Schwartz, who delivers the famous line.
10:41The wizard will see you now.
10:43As Grande revealed, that line was changed, but she and Erivo insisted it be put back in.
10:49We know, what in Oz were they thinking?
10:59Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
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11:15Number 1. The Unlimited Theme
11:18The Unlimited Theme is the melody that plays every time the word Unlimited is sung.
11:22Unlimited.
11:27You're green.
11:29I am.
11:31Together we're unlimited.
11:36It's woven throughout Part 1 and continues in Part 2.
11:39But did you know that Schwartz cleverly included an Easter egg
11:42that connects it to The Wizard of Oz?
11:43The melody is made up of the first seven notes of Over the Rainbow.
11:47Why seven? Well, hit eight and copyright issues arise.
11:50It's completely different rhythmically and harmonically.
11:53It goes somewhere over the rainbow.
12:01And the Unlimited Theme is...
12:08And so on.
12:09Schwartz then tweaked the rhythm, tempo, and chords to make it even more his own.
12:13Unlimited.
12:17Together we're unlimited.
12:22Right now, it's played in a minor key, but that's set to change too.
12:26Although let's not get ahead of ourselves.
12:28What we're trying to say is that the genius behind Stephen Schwartz's soundtrack
12:31is truly unlimited.
12:36My future is unlimited.
12:41Which musical detail defied your expectations?
12:44Let us know in the comments.
12:53Think of what we could do together.
12:56Do you agree with our picks?
12:57Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
13:00And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.

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