The Subtle Way the Wicked Movie’s ‘Defying Gravity’ Changed From the Broadway Version
This Wicked song closes out act one of the musical and the first movie out of two of the movies, but now “Defying Gravity” is getting the recognition it deserves. The song will be performed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the opening song for the 96th Annual Academy Awards.
In context, the song is performed after Elphaba meets the Wizard and discovers that he’s behind all the animal cruelty in Oz. She rebels and offers Glinda a hand to help her, but the good witch takes a step back. The song ends with Elphaba’s signature war cry, which was dedicated work for Erivo. “I was always looking forward to that moment, just because everything builds to there,” she told Classic FM. “Your body and your brain and your mind – and your heart, really – are waiting to be able to release that one final note, because it’s the ultimate moment where she can become herself.”
For the hardcore Wicked fans, some might take notice that the movie version is kind of different from the stage version. According to director Jon M. Chu, it was definitely intentional. “In the show, it’s very fast,” he explained to Variety. “[Elphaba] walks [away from] Wizard and goes into ‘I hope you’re happy.’ It goes so fast that it doesn’t feel like the end of the movie and it doesn’t feel earned. Her whole journey leads to this. Doing it live was helpful. I didn’t know how long it would be until they acted those lines. We can’t add more words to ‘Defying Gravity.’ So, what if when she thinks she’s ready to fly, she’s not, and she falls? That changed things for us.”
“Defying Gravity” lyrics
[GLINDA]
Elphaba
Why couldn’t you have stayed calm for once
Instead of flying off the handle?
I hope you’re happy
[GLINDA]
I hope you’re happy now
I hope you’re happy how you’ve hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you’re clever
[ELPHABA]
I hope you’re happy
[ELPHABA]
I hope you’re happy too
I hope you’re proud how you would
Grovel in submission to feed your own ambition
[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
So though I can’t imagine how
I hope you’re happy right now
[GLINDA]
Elphie, listen to me
Just say you’re sorry
[GLINDA]
You can still be with the Wizard
What you’ve worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wantеd
[ELPHABA, spoken]
I know
[ELPHABA]
But I don’t want it
No, I can’t want it anymore
Something has changed within mе
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by
The rules of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap
It’s time to try defying gravity
I think I’ll try defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down
[GLINDA]
Can’t I make you understand
You’re having delusions of grandeur?
[ELPHABA]
I’m through accepting limits
‘Cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But ’til I try, I’ll never know
Too long, I’ve been afraid of
Losing love, I guess I’ve lost
Well, if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost
I’d sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I’m defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Come with me
Think of what we could do together
[ELPHABA]
Unlimited
Together, we’re unlimited
Together, we’ll be the greatest team there’s ever been, Glinda
Dreams the way we planned ’em
[GLINDA]
If we work in tandem
[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
There’s no fight we cannot win
Just you and I defying gravity
With you and I defying gravity
[ELPHABA]
They’ll never bring us down
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Are you coming?
[GLINDA]
I hope you’re happy
Now that you’re choosing this
[ELPHABA, spoken]
You, too
[ELPHABA]
I hope it brings you bliss
[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
I really hope you get it
And you don’t live to regret it
I hope you’re happy in the end
I hope you’re happy, my friend
[ELPHABA, spoken]
No, leave her alone!
She hasn’t done anything wrong
I’m the one you want
I’m the one you want!
It’s me!
[ELPHABA]
It’s me
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately
“Everyone deserves the chance to fly”
And if I’m flying solo
At least, I’m flying free
To those who’d ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I’m defying gravity
I’m flying high, defying gravity
And soon, I’ll match them in renown
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
[ELPHABA, spoken]
And, nobody in all of Oz
[ELPHABA]
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down
[GLINDA]
I hope you’re happy
[CITIZENS OF OZ]
Look at her! She’s wicked!
Kill her!
[CITIZENS OF OZ & ELPHABA]
No one mourns the wicked (Bring me down)
So we’ve got to bring her
[ELPHABA]
Oh
[CITIZENS OF OZ]
Down
Down
Woah
