Defying Gravity (song)

"Defying Gravity"
Song by Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth from the album Wicked (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Released	December 16, 2003
Recorded	November 10, 2003
Genre	Pop, show tunes
Length	5:56
Label	Decca Broadway
Writer	Stephen Schwartz
Composer	Stephen Schwartz

"Defying Gravity" is the signature song from the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz, originally recorded by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on November 10, 2003, and released on December 16, 2003. It is mostly a solo sung by the main character of the show, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West), with two small duets at the beginning and in the middle of the song between Elphaba and her friend Glinda, and a chorus part in the end in which the citizens of Oz sing. It was performed on the BBC television programme I'd Do Anything, and as a result the song charted at no. 60 on the official UK Singles chart.^[1]

Context and analysis

Stephanie J. Block (as Elphaba) performing the song in the original US touring production.

In Wicked, the song is the finale for the show's first act, when Elphaba discovers that The Wizard of Oz is not the heroic figure she had originally believed him to be. Realizing this, and despite Glinda's attempts to dissuade her, Elphaba vows to do everything in her power to fight the Wizard and his sinister plans against the Animals of Oz. She sings of how she wants to live without limits, going against the rules that others have set for her. During the song, Elphaba enchants a broomstick to levitate and, pursued by the Wizard's guards, rises from the stage above the angered citizens of Oz, who try in vain to "bring her down."

The song is heavily cinematic and comes to a climax for the final verse. The staging of this climax features several special effects. The actress playing Elphaba is lifted up into the air by a hydraulic launch system. The sequence relies heavily on around 60 moving lights, smoke, and wind effects.

Idina Menzel single

"Defying Gravity"
Single by Idina Menzel
from the album I Stand
Released	March 1, 2007
Format	CD, digital download
Recorded	2007
Genre	Pop
Length	3:46
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Stephen Schwartz
Producer	Glen Ballard
Idina Menzel singles chronology
"Take Me or Leave Me" (2006) "Defying Gravity" (2007) "Brave" (2007)

Idina Menzel, having reprised her role as Elphaba in the London production of Wicked in 2006, recorded a remixed "pop mainstream" version of the song. It was released as a single on March 1, 2007 and was later included on the UK and iTunes versions of her 2008 album I Stand. The remix of "Defying Gravity" was also the anthem at the 2007 Gay Pride Parade and Festival in Los Angeles, and appears on the official CD from the event.

Formats and track listings

U.S. CD single

1. "Defying Gravity" (Tracy Young's Flying Monkey's Club Mix) – 8:02
2. "Defying Gravity" (Eddie Baez Club Mix) – 8:42
3. "Defying Gravity" (Hani Flying So High Club Mix) – 7:04
4. "Defying Gravity" (Josh Harris Vocal Club Mix) – 7:16
5. "Defying Gravity" (Funky Junction & Antony Reale Club Mix) – 6:22
6. "Defying Gravity" (Single version) – 3:48

Digital single

1. "Defying Gravity" (Album version) – 3:46

Digital maxi single

1. "Defying Gravity" (Tracy Young's Flying Monkey's Radio Edit) – 3:45
2. "Defying Gravity" (Eddie Baez Radio Edit) – 4:54
3. "Defying Gravity" (Funky Junction & Antony Reale Radio Edit) – 4:36
4. "Defying Gravity" (Hani Flying So High Short Mix) – 4:55
5. "Defying Gravity" (Josh Harris Radio Edit) – 3:53

Digital maxi single (DJ version)

1. "Defying Gravity" (Tracy Young's Flying Monkey's Club Mix) – 8:02
2. "Defying Gravity" (Eddie Baez Club Mix) – 8:42
3. "Defying Gravity" (Funky Junction & Antony Reale Club Mix) – 6:22
4. "Defying Gravity" (Hani Flying So High Club Mix) – 7:04
5. "Defying Gravity" (Josh Harris Vocal Club Mix) – 7:16

Official versions

• "Defying Gravity" (Album version) – 3:46
• "Defying Gravity" (Single version) – 3:48
• "Defying Gravity" (Eddie Baez Club Mix) – 8:42
• "Defying Gravity" (Eddie Baez Radio Edit) – 4:54
• "Defying Gravity" (Funky Junction & Antony Reale Club Mix) – 6:22
• "Defying Gravity" (Funky Junction & Antony Reale Radio Edit) – 4:36
• "Defying Gravity" (Hani Flying So High Club Mix) – 7:04
• "Defying Gravity" (Hani Flying So High Short Mix) – 4:55
• "Defying Gravity" (Josh Harris Vocal Club Mix) – 7:16
• "Defying Gravity" (Josh Harris Radio Edit) – 3:53
• "Defying Gravity" (Tracy Young's Flying Monkey's Club Mix) – 8:02
• "Defying Gravity" (Tracy Young's Flying Monkey's Radio Edit) – 3:45
• "Defying Gravity" (Live from Soundstage) – 3:56

Chart performance

Chart (2007-2008)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[2]	72
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[3]	5

Other recordings

A German-language version of "Defying Gravity" (called "Frei und schwerelos," which translates to "free and weightless") was recorded on November 21, 2007 by the Stuttgart, Germany cast of Wicked featuring Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba and Lucy Scherer as Glinda.

The Tokyo cast of Wicked also recorded a version of the song, the title of which translates to "For Freedom." Featuring Megumi Hamada as Elphaba and Miyuki Numao as Glinda.

Kerry Ellis, who played Elphaba in the West End and Broadway productions of Wicked, released a rock version of the song arranged by Brian May in 2008 as part of her extended play Wicked in Rock. She performed this version at the 2008 Royal Variety Performance alongside May on guitar. This version of the song is also included on her debut album Anthems. Ellis also released a remixed version of her rock version of "Defying Gravity in March 2011.

Philos, a Nashville based band arranged a pop rock version of the song, and released the single on iTunes on October 26, 2008.

The song was performed by Lea Michele and Chris Colfer on the FOX show, Glee, on November 11, 2009. In the episode "Wheels", Kurt and Rachel audition to perform this song, with Rachel ultimately winning, after Kurt purposely misses the high F out of concern for his father being harassed about his son's sexual orientation. Kurt tells his father, "I love you more than I love being a star." Two versions were featured in the episode: solo versions by Michele and Colfer, and was re-recorded as a duet by both to be on one of the soundtracks. Those versions cut out the bridge and climax from the original recording. Both versions are available to listen to on Glee The Music.com Curiously, Idina Menzel plays the role of Rachel Berry's mother in the series. Kristin Chenoweth also has a role on the show.

Andi Kitten & Madeline Powell of "The Cactus Cuties" performed this track at "Cactus Cuties Live at the Cactus" in 2009. This was recorded at the Cactus Theater in Lubbock, Texas & released via iTunes & CD available at their website. It also appears on their live DVD of the same concerts."

The song was used to wake up astronauts aboard space shuttle mission STS-131 in April 2010 for astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger in honor of the day's planned extra-vehicular activity.^[4]

Tony-award winning Broadway actor and singer Lea Salonga included this song in her 2005 benefit concert at the Carnegie Hall in New York City for the Diverse City Theater Company. She also sang Popular from the same musical but was sung by the character Glinda.

See also

• Wicked (musical)
• Broadway Theatre
• West End Theatre
• Stephen Schwartz
• Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

References

1. ^ UK Music Charts | The Official UK Top 75 Singles: Week of Mon 26 May - Yahoo! Music UK
2. ^ "Idina Menzel – Defying Gravity – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
3. ^ "Idina Menzel Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play for Idina Menzel. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
4. ^ "STS-131 wakeup calls". NASA. http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-131/html/ndxpage1.html. 

External links

• Wicked Lyrics - "Defying Gravity" and composer's comments
• Secret to Flying [1]