The Grimmerie of Melodies: The Sorcery of Wicked: The Soundtrack
The 2024 film adaptation of Wicked has brought Stephen Schwartz’s beloved Broadway score to the big screen with a fresh cinematic twist. This soundtrack highlights the first act of the musical, offering a blend of iconic tracks performed by a star-studded cast, including Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Glinda), and Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard). Below is a detailed review of each track, along with an overall analysis of the album.
Track-by-Track Ratings:
“No One Mourns the Wicked” – 10/10
The opening ensemble number effectively sets the stage for the story, introducing the moral ambiguity surrounding Elphaba. Ariana Grande’s Glinda shines with a blend of charm and theatrical flair, capturing the satirical undertones of the song. Her vocal capabilities really came through in this song!
“Dear Old Shiz” – 8/10
This shorter track introduces the setting of Shiz University, with the ensemble and choir delivering a polished performance. While functional in context, it lacks standalone appeal.
“The Wizard and I” – 12/10
A personal favorite of mine, it is very catchy and I just love everything about it. Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba conveys raw vulnerability and ambition, supported by a lush orchestral arrangement. This is one of the standout performances, perfectly capturing the heart of the character.
“What Is This Feeling?” – 9.5/10
The comedic tension between Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo) comes through brilliantly in this duet. Grande’s bright tone contrasts beautifully with Erivo’s grounded delivery, making for an entertaining interplay.
“Something Bad” – 7.5/10
Peter Dinklage’s portrayal of Dr. Dillamond brings a gravitas to this foreboding track. While plot-driven, the song’s melody doesn’t quite have the impact of the others.
“Dancing Through Life” – 8.5/10
Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero) brings charm and nonchalance to this jazzy, carefree number, while the ensemble adds vibrancy. The cinematic arrangement highlights its celebratory mood.
“Popular” – 10/10
This song is a fan favorite! Ariana Grande’s playful interpretation of Glinda’s signature solo is delightful and refreshing. Her comedic timing, humor, and vocal embellishments add a personal touch without straying too far from the original.
“I’m Not That Girl” – 9/10
A poignant solo from Erivo, showcasing her emotional depth and nuanced vocal control. The subtle orchestration allows the song’s tender lyrics to take center stage.
“One Short Day” – 8.5/10
This lively duet between Glinda and Elphaba (Grande and Erivo) captures the dazzling excitement of the Emerald City. The energetic ensemble enhances the celebratory atmosphere.
“A Sentimental Man” – 8/10
Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard exudes charisma and charm, offering a lighthearted interlude. While not as vocally demanding, his performance adds an air of mystery to the character.
“Defying Gravity” – Wicked/10
My #1 track in this movie! The crowning jewel of the soundtrack, this track is a breathtaking showcase for Erivo and Grande. Their soaring vocals, paired with sweeping orchestration, create a powerful, spine-tingling moment. Erivo perfectly captured the emotion and power in this song, making it memorable. The high notes at the end of the song still give me goosebumps today!
“Ozdust Duet (Bonus Track)” – 8/10
A charming instrumental bonus, showcasing the orchestra’s versatility. While not essential to the narrative, it adds an enjoyable layer for fans of the score.
First Impressions
The Wicked: The Soundtrack (2024) album immediately stands out as a cinematic reinterpretation of the beloved Broadway musical. It retains the magic and essence of the original while tailoring the sound for the screen. The performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande captivate from the first notes, with both bringing their unique vocal strengths to iconic numbers like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular.” The lush orchestration, reimagined for a film setting, breathes new life into Stephen Schwartz’s compositions, enhancing the grandeur without overshadowing the performers.
Ariana Grande’s playful charm as Glinda shines through her comedic delivery, while Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba carries emotional weight and depth, particularly in her solos. The album exudes an energy that feels both nostalgic and modern, promising to captivate Broadway enthusiasts and new listeners alike.
Critiques
While the soundtrack succeeds in many areas, there are some minor critiques:
Scope of the Tracklist: Covering only the first act of the story leaves an incomplete feeling. Fans of the musical might feel the absence of Act 2’s powerful songs like “As Long As You’re Mine,” "No Good Deed," and “For Good.”
Ensemble Tracks: Songs such as “Dear Old Shiz” and “Something Bad” are effective in advancing the narrative but lack the standalone appeal of more dynamic numbers. These moments may feel less engaging outside the context of the film.
Crowded Arrangements: On tracks like “Dancing Through Life,” the large ensemble cast occasionally overwhelms the lead vocals, making the song feel less focused compared to its Broadway counterpart.
Conclusion
Rating: 9.5/10
The Wicked movie soundtrack is a triumph in adapting the iconic Broadway score for a cinematic audience. It pays homage to the original while offering fresh interpretations through the star-studded cast’s distinct voices and modern arrangements. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performances anchor the album, bringing both emotional depth and sparkling humor to their roles.
Although the tracklist only represents Act 1, the album showcases the core themes of friendship, ambition, and self-discovery, setting the stage for the rest of the story. With its blend of theatricality and cinematic scope, this soundtrack is poised to enchant long-time fans and newcomers alike. For those who experience the movie alongside the album, it becomes an immersive celebration of Wicked’s timeless magic.
PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DONATE TO THIS FAMILY
Mahmoud is a friend of mine, i've been talking to him for a while now, and they have my utmost confidence. Additionally, they're vetted by @90-ghost.
Mahmoud is still weak after donating blood to his niece Eileen, and now his other niece suffers from the same condition.
Please, please donate. If you have a regular income, you KNOW you're gonna get paid at the end of the month. I don't know if my friend is going to be alive by tomorrow, as the bombing never stops. If you CAN'T donate, then just SHARE IT. Make the effort of talking to people, tag your mutuals, be active.
Summary: She’s doesn’t know how it happened but they were calling to her to come closer. Touching it was never suppose to uproot her life and transport her somewhere she never thought she could see and witness. She has to try her best to survive if she wants to get back, right?
Pairing: Aemond Targaryen X Modern!Reader
Characters mentioned: Criston Cole
Word Count: 2.7K
Warnings: Nothing as of now but angst, romance, smut.
A/N: So they just met! Giggling and kicking my feet. There is some symbolism in this chapter if you are able to spot it and some other things. I’m excited to see where this goes.
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He found himself wandering the forest, heading in no particular direction in his mind but it seemed as if his feet were guiding him… No his heart was guiding him somewhere. Kingswood was known for being mystical, all knowing and mysterious. People entered and never came back. Is that what will happen to him? Will he disappear? His feet continued to guide him through the tall grass. The world was silent around him, peaceful for once. Was he dead? He would’ve been okay with that thought. Truly… He would no longer be in pain, he would no longer feel the need to be in competition and he wouldn’t feel the need to fight for his fathers attention.
Though it felt like he was walking for hours, it was only mere minutes. ‘Aemond, stop and look up.’ A voice spoke to him. It was… his voice? Something within him seemed to be guiding him towards a space. His heart felt like it was guiding him. He took a glance up and discovered a stone wall that sat on the top of the hill. Aemond has heard of these stones before but he knew there wasn’t much written about them despite their long history in the forest. It was The Stone of Many a Moon. The reason why there wasn’t much written on them was because well… they would disappear. It seemed as if something didn’t want them to be discovered more than they were known. ‘Go up. She’s scared.’
Scared? Who was scared and why would she be scared. He walked up the small hill, up towards the wall. He heard whimpers and sensed movement coming from along the stones, curled up in the tall, green grass. He went to place a hand on the hilt of his sword but all he was met was open space. Why would he go in the forest without protection? “Hello? I know you’re there.”
At the sound of his voice, a head perched up and he was met with wide, scared eyes. Your wide eyes stared into him and softened for a slight second. He watched at you scrambled up to your feet. You were wearing a black slip dress with a black shall. He thought that your clothing was quite weird, the way you looked was weird. When you finally stood up, you practically stumbled towards him, as if you were a baby deer learning to walk. He quickly grabbed you by your arms as you fell into him. “H-Help me! I… I don’t know where I am or how I got here.” You had tears falling down your cheek.
He had this urge to protect you, shield you from the world. He brought you into his arms and stroked your hair. Why was he doing this. “I got you, don’t worry.”
Aemond woke up in a start, a thin layer of sweat covered his skin despite the crisp morning air from outside his tent. He brought his hands up towards his face and tried rubbing the sleep away before sighing. Who was this woman? Was he suppose to know her? His heart called out for her and broke when he saw her terrified. She was beautiful. No… She was ethereal. His thoughts were cut short with the voice of his mothers sworn protector calling to him. “Good morrow, My Prince. I have been sent to come get you as the hunt will begin soon.”
“Thank you, Ser Criston. I will get ready shortly and meet everyone at the forest line.” He advised the knight. “Please get my horse ready.”
The words ‘Go up, she’s scared’ replayed in his mind. What if she was actually in the forest, surrounded by The Stone of Many a Moon, scared and alone? Just having that thought caused his chest to tighten in sorrow. He shook his head away the thoughts as he decided to get out of his bed and finally get dressed. He made his way to his clothing trunk and took out his gear. He shrugged on his black linen tunic with a matching pair of black linen pants. He grabbed his forest green cotton jacket made with padding to protect him. He grabbed his sword, belt and placed his eyepatch over his scarred eye before he exited his tent.
Upon exiting, he was met with the lady in waiting of his mother bowing to him. “Hello, My Prince. I hope you slept well. I am aware that you are on your way to the hunt but The Queen has requested me to serve you a bowl of fruits and oatmeal before you go. She does not want you to faint.” Her arms stretched out towards Aemond to hand him the bowl.
He stared at it for a quick moment before grabbing it. “Thank you. Please advise my mother that I will visit her once the hunt is over.” He heard the lady in waiting softly speak ‘Yes, My Prince.’ before he made his to the forest like whilst eating the bowl that was provided to him. He felt this pull towards the forest, a yearning to go find her. Perhaps that is why he had agreed to join the hunt. Upon arriving with the other men, he threw the empty bowl onto the floor and made his way towards the Knight. Upon taking the reign from him, he pondered. “Criston, what do you know of The Stones of Many a Moon?”
He gave the prince a look, wondering why he was being asked this question. “Not much, My Prince. In Dorne, it is said to be protected by magic, a gate to something that people are not quite sure. It is known to be on a hill in this forest but it is not quite sure where.” Ser Criston watched as Aemond climbed his horse. “Why are you asking?”
A smirk played on the one eyed princes lips. “We shall leave the hunt for the brutes, Ser Criston, we are on a journey to find this monument.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Mount your damn horse and follow me. If you must need a reason, I shall give you one… away from these damn men.” Aemond clicked, allowing his Black Mare to start the journey towards his dream.
The white cloaked knight followed swiftly behind the silver haired prince. With the prying ears away from their conversations, all formalities were dropped. “Now Aemond, please tell me why we are on this wild search.” An hour into the ride, Criston had finally broken the silence.
Still keeping this eyes forward, he explained what he had dreamed and what it has caused him to feel. “Well Criston, the past two nights I have had this dream which was surrounded by these stones. There is this woman… Her beauty is beyond this world. There is someone who urges me to go to her and save her. That someone may be myself. She is scared and alone.” He paused for a moment, waiting to see if Criston would say something. “Upon meeting each other, she falls into my arms. She is lost. All I want to do, my heart wants to do is hold her and protect her.”
“So you dragging me into a wild goose chase over a dream?” Criston scoffed. “Are you even sure she is real?”
A laugh danced on Aemonds lips. “I am as sure as my dear brother is a drunk.”
As soon as the conversation started, it quickly ended.
He couldn’t get your face out of his mind. He wanted to cradle your face in the palm of his hand and wipe your tears away. He wanted to take your fear away and tuck them away, out of sight.
‘Aemond, continue forward. You are near.’ The voice made him stop his horse and look at his surroundings. It was the first time he has heard the voice outside of his dreams. ‘Help me.’ It was your voice. “Criston, we must make haste. We are near.”
“And did the voices tell you that?”
“My Gods… Will you shut up.” Aemond laughed.
Criston pointed straight ahead. “The voices in my head say that there is a hill up there. Oh wait! They also say that you are slightly crazy!”
Before Aemond could respond with something witty, he felt a shift in the air. His eyes grazed over the land before he spotted it. He spotted the White Hart. The King of the Forest bowed towards the prince before turning around and walking back from where he came from. ‘Time travels back and is protected by the White King.’ A deep voice whispered. It was not his voice or anyone he would know. This was his chance. Before even warning his companion, Aemond sprung out of the saddle and pushed his weight down on the stirrup, applying pressure to get his horse into a full gallop. He heard his name being yelled in the background but he did not care, all he wanted to do was find you. He couldn’t help but feel free for the first time. He was doing something he wanted to do, not something of duty or how it would make his family look.
The Black Mare suddenly slowed down upon nearing a small hill, Aemond tapped his foot on the side of the horse but it refused to move, as if something was not allowing it to continue. He raised his head to look up the hill and his eyes later upon the White King once again. It was beckoning him to follow. The Stones were up there, he knew it. He dismounted his horse and ran up the hill. His heart was pounding in his chest, knocking on his rib cage, feeling like it would rip out at any moment.
Just like in his dream, he felt her presence from behind the stones, he saw the tall grass dance in the wind and he spotted her. She was curled in a ball, the grass covering her from any harm as if it were her safety blanket. He took a moment to take a deep breath before speaking, his voice shaking from anticipation. “Hello? I know you’re there. Please come out.”
At the sound of his voice, he saw a head perch up, eyes wide with fear and confusion. It truly was you. His dream could not depict your true beauty but his eyes could truly see it. You were other worldly. He watch you stumble onto your feet and run towards him, practically falling into his arms. He wrapped his arms around you, one around you waist and the other holding your head. “It’s you.” You whispered, soft as air.
“It’s me.”
Aemond looked over your shoulder to see the White Hart bow down, make a whining noise before running back into the woods.
Kingswood Night Prior
You stumbled back, hands shaking from the shift of energy that exited you “Oh Gods, what did I do?” You couldn’t help the shake in your voice. The world around you was darker, the stars brighter than before.
You backed away from the stones, wondering what your next move would be. You weren’t far from the Hotel, right? Maybe if you screamed loud enough, someone will you hear you and find you. That was the plan… Scream. “Someone! Please! I’m lost a-and I don’t know where I am!” You pulled your shall over you to protect you from the cold wind of the night, reminding you just how lonely you were. “Please! Help!” You had realized you brought your bag with you since you packed the flashlight. You begun to scramble for the bag, having no luck finding it. “Please don’t say I dropped it… Please oh Gods.”
Tears of frustration began to fall down your cheeks, you were scared and alone and you weren’t sure what your next game plan was. Talia would tell the teacher you were missing right? That’s what you told her to do. Were you stupid and decided to find your way out? Of course you were. The only way you could decide on which way to go was by doing a stupid game; you were going was you closed your eyes, pointed an arm out and spin until you got dizzy and stopped. Once you finished spinning and looked at where your arm was, that was where you were heading. “Stupid Y/N. You just had to go into the stupid forest and get lost. Now you have decided to get more lost in the forest. Fuck me.” You wiped your tears away and started carefully walking. “What if I get mulled by a bear or attacked by a boar… Gods, I’m going to die here.”
‘Y/N, go back.’
You whipped your head back, looking for the voice. “No! You are the reason I’m in this mess.” You seethed. “Maybe Talia was right. Maybe I am crazy. I’m losing it.” You tried ignoring the voice telling you to go back and continued on your route. Every couple of seconds, you would spot the silver haired man, the voices were getting all muddled together. You clutched your ears, crying “Stop!” You tried to running until you collided with a hard being. It was soft to the touch and you could just barely see that it was white under the moonlight. You took a step back and looked up and saw that before you was a beautiful White Hart. His fur was a beautiful silvery white and his eyes were two different colours, the right was a beautiful violet and the left was a deep blue, like a sapphire. It huffed a deep breath and bent down slightly to bump its snout against your shoulder, as if it was trying to push you back. You took a couple of more steps back and tried to walk around the beautiful beast but with each step you took, it blocked you. “Come on! What do you want.”
The Stag did a deep roar before pushing you back with his snout in the direction you came from. You spoke to him, as if he could understand you. “Do you want me to go back? I’m trying to find my way out of this damn forest.” It took a few seconds before the Stag did a movement that could only be described as a nod. Okay so he could understand you. “Okay! Fine I guess.” You turned around and started walking back in the direction of the stones, and you kept looking over your shoulder to see if the Stag was following you and it was. ‘Right choice, go back and wait.’ You groaned. “Oh shut up!”
On the walk back, you felt as if there was this film covering your eyes and a heavy blanket was laid over you. You felt as if you were sleep walking. The only thing allowing you to know that you weren’t yet asleep was the warmth radiating from the Hart standing behind you. The last thing you can remember was laying down in the tall grass and feeling the soft fur envelope you like a hug.
The wind blew was blowing through your hair and a laugh bubbled from between your lips. There was a tight hold around your waist to keep you from falling from the great height you were flying. “I wish I could have experienced this feeling sooner, Aemond!”
Was that the man’s name?
You felt his chin rest on your shoulder and whispered sweetly in your ear. “You can experience this feeling for the rest of your life… As long as I am alive, you shall experience this feeling, ñuha jorrāelagon.” He placed a sweet kiss just below your ear.
All you felt was freedom, peace and love.
The warmth was cradled you all night was gone and you were left feeling the cool morning wind hugging you uncomfortably. Was the whole night just a dream? You tried curling up into a tight ball to try and perverse heat. You were alone… Again? You felt the fear creep back up through your throat and all you wanted to do was cry in the ball you held yourself in. The only thing going through your mind was that you were going to die here but that solemn thoughtwas cut short when you heard the voice you had been hearing since coming to Kings Landing. “Hello? I know you’re there. Please come out.” That voice. It didn’t even take you a split second before you swung your head up from the tall grass. You felt a wave of relief wash over you as your wide eyes met with his beautiful violet eye. He was truly beautiful, as if hand crafted from the Gods above. You stumbled onto your feet, practically tripping over them, before falling into his arms. You’ve only seen this man following you like a ghost but it felt right to hold him. He felt like home. You let out a shaky breath that you didn’t know you were holding. “It’s you.”
You felt him hold onto you for dear life, as if he had the same feeling as you. “It’s me.”
Hey stayblr, I've been thinking of ways we can unite to help Palestine in the current genocide. With Israel closing borders again, no aid is allowed in and local organizations on the ground urgently need our help. So, i thought of rallying to raise donations for Palestine, big or small, as every dollar counts and can truly make a difference.
Initial target : 2500 dollars ✅
‼️ Next Target : 3000 dollars.
To be split between Care for Gaza and UNRWA.
We’ll raise the target goal according to our progress!
update as of 06/06/2024- [12:45 a.m.] : 2533,65 !!
For transparency, donations will be received through my Kofi, with daily updates on our progress. Here are the links to UNRWA’s and Careforgaza’s work in Gaza!
Palestinians are saying that this is the worst phase of the genocide yet. They need as much of our help as we can give them, so please, let’s all stand together for this.
If you cannot donate
- please reblog and share around!
- stream hind’s hall (all proceeds will be donated to unrwa!
here are the receipts of our first 700$ donations to UNRWA & Careforgaza (to their paypal acc)
i’m waiting for paypal to release the money on hold to send an additional 300$ to each organization!
Let's keep in mind the horrifying reality that way more than 35,000 Palestinians have been murdered by Israel. That's just a total of deaths directly from bombs, etc. There's deaths from intentional starvation, succumbing to injuries and other medical emergencies because of destruction of hospitals, and so on and so forth.
Hey stayblr, I've been thinking of ways we can unite to help Palestine in the current genocide. With Israel closing borders again, no aid is allowed in and local organizations on the ground urgently need our help. So, i thought of rallying to raise donations for Palestine, big or small, as every dollar counts and can truly make a difference. Our initial target is to raise 1500 dollars, to be split between Care for Gaza and UNRWA. We’ll raise the target goal according to our progress!
For transparency, donations will be received through my Kofi, with daily updates on our progress. Here are the links to UNRWA’s and Careforgaza’s work in Gaza!
Palestinians are saying that this is the worst phase of the genocide yet. They need as much of our help as we can give them, so please, let’s all stand together for this.
If you cannot donate
- please reblog and share around!
- stream hind’s hall (all proceeds will be donated to unrwa!
platforming palestinian joy is just as important as sharing the suffering they're enduring during this genocide. despite continued displacement and bombardment, you cannot steal their joy and spirit. happy birthday to this sweet baby 🖤🇵🇸 may they grow up to see a free palestine
edit: @saffronlesbian made a video description for this post!!
[vd: a screen recording of a tweet from the 20th of April 2024 with 2.5 million views, from Ruhi @/ruhi_hi. the caption reads, "This video of this little Palestinian angel celebrating his bday in a refugee camp" followed by three emoji of a smiling face with teary eyes. the video clip is 11 seconds long and shows a one-year-old baby seated on the sandy ground, smiling hugely and clapping his hands while people sing to him from offscreen and a large cake is placed in front of him. stuck into the top of the cake is a decoration that reads "happy birthday" in english. the video has the tiktok handle @/ibrahim.jamal99 visible in it. /end vd.]
IDF HAS REQUESTED PALESTINIANS IN RAFAH TO EVACUATE BECAUSE THEY ARE STARTING TO ATTACK THE SUPPOSEDLY “SAFE ZONE” IN GAZA. PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES ON RAFAH
Master doc that contains different resources and support for many countries including Palestine, Congo, Haiti, Hawai’i, etc ((op is underneath the link))
[ID: Tweet by Nanu's eyebrows 🇹🇹❤️🔱… @ Seaweedlagoon which reads: "I'd appreciate if you guys would spread around my master document that not only contains support for Palestine but other countries as well, I'm updating it with resources for Puerto Rico, Lebanon and Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow!" With a link to the above doc/End ID]
romaincrisis
blakekathryn
origamiaround
titsay
yousharknotpass
