So I was reading "The Grimmerie" and I was looking over what Stephen Schwartz had to say about each of the songs he wrote, and I particulary loved what he said about "Defying Gravity". It's not something that I'd run and tell my friends cuz it's really not that awesome, but I just think it's cool to hear where the songwriter was coming from.

He said, for one, that at first, Glinda and Elphaba are sarcastically saying to each other "I hope you're happy" like 'good job, you screwed up' and then later in the song they really mean it to each other "I really hope you're happy and you always will be". I loved that and never actually heard the song and thought about it that way.

I also love how he descibed this song as The Point of No Return. In like 30 seconds we go from having these two women join forces and defy all that they have come to know, but at the last minute Glinda can't do it. And that one decision is somehow what makes them later be known as Glinda The Good Witch and The Wicked Witch of the West.

This could just be me, but after reading what he wrote, I looked at the song so differently. It means so much for the show. I just thought it was "oh, wow, elphaba is going to go against the wizard." But now I could write a book about this song. Okay, I'm sure this is coming off really weird, but I just thought it was cool. Okay enough rambling for me.

~ADAM~~

there are a lot of stuff in those songs, that really go deeper than just how cool they sound.... it's a neat musical.

Yeah, I also never realized that March of the Witch Hunters and No Good Deed are like the same song. They're the same tune...well not exactly...but I didn't know that was what was goin on there. I never would have heard the similarites if it wasn't for The Grimmerie. That book is like my new favorite book. Except I can't read it during Study Hall because I'd def get some stares carrying around a large green book with pictures of green people in it.
~ADAM~~

:ha:
Seriously though, I carry it around all the time and look at it. And I'm also on this website in my Multimedia, and a lot of people do kinda look at me strangely, but it only gives me an opportunity to talk more about wicked!!! :rock:

I think one of the most profound things in the lyrics is the double meaning of "For Good." Schwartz, IMO, finally hit gold with this show, and he got the Tony STOLEN from him. (I actually refuse to see Ave Q, part b/c of that, and part b/c I have minor issues with it.) Either way, the lyrics are truly amazing, and thought provoking.

When he talks about the songs is one of my favorite parts of the Grimmerie! I love what he says about popular I never thought about it being Beatle-esqe until I read that, but I see where he's coming from.

Yes, yes, yes!! I completely agree!! I saw Avenue Q over the summer and saw Wicked in October. I didn't see one aspect of Avenue Q that made is a better musical than Wicked. I'm still so upset that it only won 3 Tony's. And one of them was for the actress, Idina Menzel. BLERGH! I'll never understand the Tony's. lol
~ADAM~~

Wicked has such Amazing Music, I think they were robbed for the Tony. I'm very happy Idina won for actress though, she is AMAZING!

someone with lots of money who didnt get a Wicked ticket becuase they were sold out threw a fit and rigged the tony's so that Wicked only got three cause they were mad that they didnt get to see it

wow...i need to stop thinking... :whoa:

and The Grimmerie rocks my socks too by the way :mrgreen:

okay you all prolly think i'm insane now haha

I agree...the lyrics ARE amazing!!! :rock: They're so powerful...I can't stop listening and I can't get them out of my head. Not that I want to...I love going through my day with Elphie stuck in my head! haha

Seriously though, I've never heard music that hit me like this

-Katie :wicked:

I think the music and lyrics to Wicked is nothing short of brilliant and Stephen Schwartz does not get the credit he deserves. But he got the Grammy. I'm still peeved about Avenue Q, yes I can hold a grudge and I want no part of it. It's just not Tony material. I wish I had taped the Tonys live that year but since I'm on the west coast I didn't get to see it live. Anyway, I heard that when the winner was announced for best musical that it was Wicked's name shown not Avenue Q and then they had to change it really quick. I smell a rat. I smell a lot of rats. At least they had the sense to give Idina Menzel her Tony. I think there would have been riots in the street had they not.

when i heard about the story of "for good" ... that was just too sweet.

Wicked is still AMAZING even w/out the Tony, so why did they need it? I know more people that have heard about Wicked than I do that have heard about Ave. Q.

:heart:

i love wicked! i never saw Avenue Q though. Wicked is making a ton of $ without advertising and it doesn't have a Tony! Wicked Rocks!

I saw Avenue Q in October and have seen Wicked 3 times. Avenue Q is a great show and the reason it got the Tony is probably because of the creativity and wittiness with the puppets. It was totally different than anything else on Broadway. That being said, I personally feel that Wicked was a better show. Stephen will be laughing all the way to the bank then Avenue Q closes and his show runs for years. I would say that is much better than a Tony.

I haven't seen too many musicals, but none have affected me like Wicked has, that's for sure! :humpy:

-Katie :wicked:

Like everyone says wicked is life changing. But for me if i hadent seen it when i did, I would still be in a bad place in my life. Wicked gave me the strenth to keeping puching folward in life. I can't thank it enough.

Well I've never seen either, but at least there are bootlegs of Wicked. Havent found any of Avenue Q. Havent seen any fan websites about it either. (or wonderful forums like this) From the little bits i saw at the tonys... Even with Idina's awful singing (i usually love her btw) i felt that Wicked was more powerful and just plain better. I don't mean to be a prude but Avenue Q seems to be a little bit too rude for me. There's far and then there's too far. I mean look at their song list. Is there any song that is not offensive to somone or something in someway? I liked what i saw of Avenue Q at the tonys but as soon as i looked at it on the net i was like Woah... right ok....
anyway just my 2c
~Bubbles~

I believe that, as shows, both WICKED and AVENUE Q are enjoyable, and each has merits and faults. They are my two favourite musicals from that particular Broadway season. The latter may have edged WICKED out for the big prizes thanks largely to its creativity and wit. The music in AVENUE Q, while not as grand and memorable as WICKED, is actually quite cleverly written, especially some of the harmony lines.

Something WICKED had going against it was the misconception that it was a show championing spectacle over substance. We all know that is not true, but the selection of AVENUE Q as Best Musical may have been a message from the Tony voters that smaller, lower-budgeted shows can still have life on Broadway.

And DEFYING GRAVITY is a wonderful song, but one which I fear will tear out the vocal cords of many young Elphaba wannabes in years to come. I love the journey both Elphaba and Glinda travel in that song...there is so much emotion there that sometimes gets forgotten underneath the vocal acrobatics.

Perfectly put. I agree!!!!!!

:agree:
Even Idina who the songs were originated by was getting vocally exhuasted by the amount of belting and tearing as you say to her voice! By the end of all the elphaa's so far have shown vocal exhuastion!