Bob really brought the black Sunday mass preacher energy to study the passages of Prophet Stephen Schwartz' bible for Defying Gravity. Space was so held on this day.
It's how I was feeling walking out of the theater. People who have said they left, left because they couldn't handle the message. There were several points in the movie that hit me hard and I almost got out of my seat when she embraced her power in the end.
I LOVE that this film made Elphaba even MORE powerful at the end of Defying Gravity than the stage show. When she causes the blackout by exploding every light bulb/light source in all of Oz...WOW! What an amazing, frightening display of power. *CHILLS*
And you know, foreshadowing! 🌪️ Love so many of the subtle changes they made that are homages AND great for the story/characters/plot. As someone who lived and breathed the hype around this musical as a teen, everything resonated both on a visceral/emotional level and as a writer/theatre studies grad.
Yes, and I had a conversation with a friend the other day and I said you know I don’t think that alphabet was actually allergic to water because she lived her whole life and she was always jumping over puddles and walking across rocks and stuff like that and it wasn’t until she got to she is And Moore told her that she was allergic to water. I think it was just a scare tactic that she used to control her because she controlled the weather and if she thought that alphabet was getting out of line or was gonna do something that she didn’t want her to do, she could make it rain and then alphabet would be scared and not go out into the rain And I think at some point in time she realize that she wasn’t allergic to water and that’s why we get the ending that we get, but I won’t disclose it here in case someone doesn’t know I don’t wanna be a spoiler, but I think they’re just lying manipulative con artist And they use the same tactics that unfortunately they still use today to keep people under their thumb. it’s kinda like when they used to tell people the Earth was flat. There was a time when people believed it was flat, but there was also a time when people realized it was not flat however, they would still tell people it was flat because they did not want people getting in boats and going out exploring. What’s that old saying you go looking for trouble you’re gonna find it and I think there’s a lot of other stories that have the same premise make up lies and use fear to keep people from finding out the truth and I feel like Moore did this with the water.
Firstly, Black folks like musicals when they can see black excellence and Cynthia Erivo is black excellence! Secondly, we’ve always had a soft spot for Oz. The Wiz? Come on now!
The Wiz, yes. But Cynthia Erivo used to clown Black Americans back on Twitter before it wasn’t called Twitter… she was called out for it but never acknowledged it nor apologized 👎🏾
40:43 I promise you, had they done a double feature, I would have sat through both of them. I would have just needed a bathroom/ snack break between the two movies. It was OUTSTANDING!!!
it was SO well paced wasnt it? like i was invigorated 3 hours afterwards and not ready to leave the theatre. i sat through the credits too bec i needed a gentle let down from the high of defying gravity lmao
Chile, Defying Gravity is arguably the BEST movie musical moment ever. I literally couldn’t speak when the credits rolled. I was legitimately shook. I also agree with your top musicals. Chicago is my fav. Dreamgirls, Wicked, then Little Shop. Just fantastic stuff. As of today, Wicked has surpassed Grease to be the highest grossing musical adaptation ever. Legendary!
Sections: 0:04-0:58 Introduction 0:58-1:30 Why do Black people not like musicals: future video idea and theory. 1:30-1:46 Black People are Loving Wicked. 1:46-2:00 Live Viewers shout out and comments. 2:00-4:55 Holding space for Defying Gravity lyrics. 4:55- Elphaba's character breakdown & partial breakdown of the Wizard and I. 6:43-7:07 Avenue Q mention and future video idea. 7:07-39:21 Back to Defying Gravity. 39:21-42:17 Conclusion
I am a black woman who loves musicals not all but i do enjoy a good one lol Wicked was the first broadway show i saw and i fell IN LOVE! Elphaba is me and i am her ❤️❤️ black ppl should listen to the original soundtrack with Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth and i think they’ll love it as well! Idina’s version of defying gravity is still my fave ! I personally prefer her last note on the song better than Cynthia even tho she put some stank on it lol that note needed more power and be straight to the point like Idina’s in my opinion
Bob dissecting the lyrics of Defying Gravity and the given circumstances of the characters is the best thing I’ve seen💚. Literally a Wicked acting class right here. LOVE!!
Pretty sure I’ve listened to this version of Defying Gravity about 100 times since opening day. Chills to this day after she’s flying and says it’s me. Cried again today. Elphaba coming into her power 😭
That scene always kills me even though I’ve seen the movie 3 times and know when it’s coming. I don’t know what this movie has inside it but it has changed me 😂
I took my youngest daughter, and it hit me out of nowhere. I read the book and had the original soundtrack, but it was different in the wake of this election cycle and the sentiment 'your body, my choice' etc. I burst into tears and was trying so hard not to sobb where people could hear and see me. I hope my daughters will never make themselves smaller from the fear of being labled. I hope they see these characters as an inspiration to take back their space. I will keep fighting in the meantime, but damn the release at those lyrics was unreal!
I think Glinda’s third “I hope you’re happy” is so self-soothing too. I think Glinda, in that moment, where she’s so afraid for Elphaba and so sure that she’ll regret it, is reminding herself that this was the choice Elphie was always going to make. That this is what Elphaba wants, and that she (Glinda) does hope she’s happy with this decision, despite how scared Glinda may be for her friend
Moral of the story: Elphaba IS that girl and Cynthia/this production took it to the highest level ever. Thanks for your correct analysis as always barb!
“Well if that’s love, it comes at much too high a cost” carried me through estrangement from my family. Because I was tired of working so hard to get what it’s even real love. Something about that lyric sends me to tears. I started crying in the theater every time cynthia teared up.
I think the frase "defying gravity" is such a clever allegory to everything the song says, more than literally meaning she's going to fly, cause you can't run away from gravity, it's something that is set by the rules of the universe, everything that has mass has pulling force to other bodies. To some, most of us actually, the system we live in, the way things are done, works just like that, you can't change it, but Elphaba doesn't believe that, she is defying it, she's defying it, this universe that's locked in its own rules. Ever since I've known Wicked, I've always loved it and loved this song, of course, but the movie really made me think more about its lyrics (hold space for it lol)
hold space for ‘Thank goodness’ too! that message of sometimes getting everything u want isn’t what your dreams coming true looks like. gets me every single time.
I cried so much during defying gravity my head hurt after the damn movie. 🤣 I wish they didn’t do that long pause before the battle cry though, because you can hear an odd swoosh sound and I hated that. But she brutalized that song it was amazing! 😭
I waited a week to see this movie, checked the theater seating chart to make sure I was getting an entire theater room to myself, booked tickets for the latest showing of the night, and literally had one of the best experiences ever. Not one person in the place. I didn't do it to sing along, did't do it so I could talk, I did it so I didn't have to worry about others doing that and it was SO worth it!! I encourage others to do this when you feel like you need to see a movie alone with no chance of being interrupted.
Thank you for doing this, Bob! As someone who never saw the musical, never heard the music, was only mildly curious about the film (and intends to see it), but has not yet seen it, your formal analysis and critique of the text of this song just got me so excited to finally go see it!
I, kindly, request/demand (in a most respectful way) for Bob to do the entire soundtrack lyrics breakdown. Pretty please!!!!! Well, maybe not the entire soundtrack but at least big songs; I’m Not That Girl, The Wizard and I, What is This Felling. I could watch you go lyric by lyric for hours! Please consider it 🙏💚🩷
Truly one of the most incredible movies I've ever had the pleasure to see. I'm shocked at how much it affected me when watching the movie and continues to affect me after seeing it.
I need someone to hold space for “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. Cynthia absolutely kills it and no matter how many times I watch it I am crying by the end of the song. It is so powerful.
As someone who grew up agnostic and has never been to an Abrahamic religious service in my entire life and who has internalized homophobia about musicals…how I feel now is how I imagine born-again Christians feel after seeing god and going to their first sermon.
36:34 I think Morrible threatens Glinda's family and friends when she leans into the side of her face to speak into her ear because it's only after that where Glinda reluctantly puts her hand on Morrible's back in support. Morrible is threatening the families of an entire species, she would absolutely threaten the family of one college girl. This holds especially if contrasts to the beginning of the movie/musical and Glinda has to hide her mourning and act the part in front of the people and someone catches her off guard asking if she was FRIENDS with THE WITCH!
She said something that got her to comply for sure, and it wouldn't have taken much. She was right at the beginning of her deconstruction and barely beginning to understand the true depths of what they would do to dissenters.
Sincere and thoughtful analysis from a lover of the musical and it's story. Great job Bob. -- I've yet to see it but am so looking forward to experiencing the wonderful world of Oz and all its characters.
Bob- what I loved about the 'unlimiteds' in Defying Gravity is: the first time she says it, its abstract about her future with the wizard, the second time, it was how she could be WITH Glinda, but this time? It's just her. Right now. It's truly her stepping into and loving her own power. It was an incredible choice to the point that im surprised it wasnt in the original. Masterful.
I've been holding space for Defying Gravity since I was goddamn 8. Quite literally my first memory of interacting with TH-cam was watching the Tony's performance of that song in the atrocious 240p it was only available in, and I never let go after that. Like I've been re-analyzing the Unlimited stanza recently of like DAMN a moment of realizing we are unbeatable when we have solidarity, but like you both have to be ready to make that jump into revolutionary work and well Glinda literally isn't and how without Solidarity it becomes only a few against and entire institution. God I love this musicallllll!!!!!! Damn also just in this moment of watching, like a slap to the fucking face, Elphaba saying "I hope it brings you bliss" is her saying Hey Glinda this complacency is that state of Ignorance is bliss......STEVEN SERIOUSLY! PUTTING HIS WHOLE LYRUSSY IN THIS 20+ FUCKING YEARS AGO GODDAMN!! Also If Bob is here to breakdown more lyrics, and if we are sticking with Wicked for a while, please please please when Part 2 comes out, "Wonderful" is so goddamn good to sit down an analyze on the basis of the Wizard's Populism and like how its how History remembers you sometimes that can bolster or taint a movement Last thing I promise! You know what other movie musical is as long as or almost as long as the 2 parts of Wicked will be??? Sound of Music! And that with its anti-war, anti- nazi etc. etc stand on its own still today. That gets shown on TV all 4 goddamn hours with an Intermission and its still so fucking good! God thank you for Julie Andrews in her prime, thank you for Christopher Plummer who was like meh when he was doing it but understood its importance later in life. I think Wicked is going to become as iconic of a classic if not more and I'm so goddamn excited, trilled, grab me a thesaurus I will keep going, for that. I'm ready for movie musicals, like the bread and butter of Old Hollywood, to be out here winning awards again. And babes me out here screaming out this passion for Wicked and I haven't even gone to see the movie yet....because i know for a fact, A FACT, I am not hydrated enough! Catch me sobbing the whole way through. I love Wicked so goddamn much, I love everyone loving on Wicked, I love the casting, I need Cynthia wherever she is to know this is a legacy on legacy moment that she beyond deserves and I will go fight the academy myself if she doesn't get that Oscar finishing her EGOT.
This really gets me emotional. 😭 Just listening to the song, I’ll start to cry. And everything you’re saying as you’re breaking down these lyrics is true. My heart goes out to Elphaba. My heart breaks for her, and soars for her. I want her courage, and her willfulness. I want her compassion for others. Basically, all she represents, I want to be. Thank you for breaking these amazing lyrics right on down for all of us.
Your Majesty, I am late in getting to this but it turns out to be right on time. I just saw the movie yesterday and stumbled on your sharing all this now. a) Thank you. I love you and the intelligence of your humor when in your royal role...it is wonderful to experience you in this realm! b) Thank you also for giving some credence to the "holding space" concept which gets knocked far too often. c) How absolutely righteous to have you reflect upon another artist's portrayal of Elphaba in light of the fierce job you did in Out of Oz! Your insight and heart is in it! Thank you for holding space, for talking it out and bringing light to it and for defying gravity in all you do! Tidings of comfort and joy! DBGF
I had full body chills in the theater watching this ending sequence. And once I saw the visuals, I appreciated the way that the song was reworked and the changes that Cynthia made to those ending notes.
This adaptation couldn’t have come out at a more appropriate and relevant time. The way Elphaba is treated by her family, her classmates, even strangers… is precisely the way anyone who is considered an “other” is treated currently. Glinda is the 53%, the Wizard is Cheetolini, and Madame Morrible is MAGAyn Kelly
25:09 This song is incredibly powerful. The change that Elphaba is going through personally at the same time that she and Glinda are at this significant crossroads in their relationship... just wow!
This song is where they form their plan. Glinda working on the inside and elphaba on the outside. They work together to bring down the wizard. When elphaba asks her to come but glinda knows she can help most from the emerald city. When they say I hope you’re happy they are saying good luck. I think in the second film the plan will be revealed and the ending will feel more satisfying. I also hope they have a point where you could stop wicked and watch the wizard of oz through and then return to wicked and it would change the understanding of the film knowing the other three with Dorothy are also in on the plan
I never knew I needed this… ❤️❤️❤️ I agree with all of your sentiments, I was so moved by the movie and this song specifically, it was such a spectacle … and having someone I adore share the same enthusiasm I’ve been feeling it just feels so good lol ❤️
I read the book years ago and have seen the musical on two occasions. The song "Defying Gravity" is on its own top tier of writing. When I first heard it, the hairs on my arms stood up.
I love hearing and seeing other pov’s and how thoughtful this is! I too (initially) didn’t like the change up of the end of the song… BUT having watched it 3 times, I saw it differently each time and the interpretation’s are endless. I love how “I’m the one you want… it’s me. It’s me…” then falls. She is falling and seeing herself as a child. Inwardly she’s realizing that she’s always saw herself as a problem, her skin color was the problem, she was always falling… BUT she realizes… wait! What she thought was the problem is the actual strength. Who she is, her differences, her color, her, she, she is manifesting to herself that she’s the magic… she’s the power… who has the power? To herself she then sings “it’s meeeeeeeeee!!!” Realizing it’s her that’s the magic! Ugh so so good. Love love the knew ending cinematically. Even adding the “unlimited” 3 times, allowed for my story beats and visuals. Ugh so good. Just my take from the last time I saw it. So good!
This resonated on a whole new level for me. I have never seen the musical and not typically a fan of musicals except lile the one Bob mentioned even though ive always liked this song but recently i had an experience where I found wrong doing at my job and went to stand up for everybody I worked with and got fired. They stayed silent and stayed so I almost broke down in tears listening to it with new life experience.
I am SO GLAD this movie is getting the response it has been! I cried and LOVED how they EMBRACED the MUSIC in this MUSICAL!!! I read a couple reviews after the movie that were basically criticizing the fact that its a FUN, "family-friendly" MUSICAL, and not some overdrawn, nuanced, complex exploration of discrimination in all its forms throughout all of human history! Plus I read one that said that Ariana was miscast WHAT!!! At least those reviews recognized Cynhtia's INCREDIBLE performance, but still they dragged the rest of it. I was SHOCKED! I am SO SO GLAD that audiences are enjoying it and connecting with it! Its a MAGICAL show!
The OG Wizard of Oz still holds up in its own way. Much like Wicked, they were doing practical effects that were WAY ahead of their time. Nobody had seen anything like Wizard of Oz in the 40s just like Wicked is unprecedented now.
i am so curious to see how Wicked Part II expands and improves upon act II of the play. how long does it take between acts? what did Elphaba do to help the animals? where was she hiding? there is so much opportunity to build this world, and i theorize that one of the original songs is gonna happen before "Thank Goodness" with Elphaba exposing her sense of justice and her work for the animal cause.
I adore Stephen Schwartz and I love Defying Gravity and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed and appreciated this video by Bob. Just the way he broke down some of the lyrics almost made me cry. More musical theater deep dives like this, Bob! 🫶
This was a master class! Bob is such a great teacher, his explanations and breakdown were so exciting and informative. I would sign up to any class he taught
As a black person, I love both types of musicals mentioned. I even wrote a college paper about what if life was an actual musical. I would love to go see Wicked in theaters, but the run-time...dear Lord. I don't think I could do it. When I finally got to hear the film version of Defying Gravity...OMG!! Ariana was great. Cynthia bodied it. Those final minutes, I've had on repeat since it dropped. So good.
this was unironically a very incredible and insightful vid, and with Wicked on the brain, incredibly satisfying to watch as a VOD. Wish I caught the live 🤣
I watched it yesterday and it’s my first experience with Wicked. I’m pretty sure Oz is Elphaba’s father. I relistened to the end of no one mourns the wicked and a sentimental man. Same voice, so even more NEFARIOUS, he used Elphaba’s mother too, feeding her green elixir and knocking her up. And when he sang about helping Elphaba ascend “allows him to feel so parental…” that was so suspicious. I had to get the soundtrack afterwards for enjoyment and research. 🤓 Needless to say, can’t wait for part II
My take on the three unlimiteds at the end is that she’s again starting to fall and listen to her inner saboteur, hearing what madam just said about her and she starts to fall and then she SNAPS back with the “AND NOBODY”
Looking at how people are reacting to Part 1 considering the new..... social climate... we find ourselves in, I am super SUPER excited for everyone to react to No Good Deed, I feel like it's really gonna hit home for some people.
The socio-political message of the book is INTENSE. You can't read it and see everything happening in real life, and not understand the dire nature of what we're going through. The musical touched on it, but couldn't fully capture it, except in Defying Gravity. I haven't seen the movie yet, but Bob fully nails the breakdown of the song as written. It's full of betrayal, regret, morality, finding ones innate power, and justice. The lyrics hit every note of the message with a punch in the gut. I was disappointed about it being split into 2 movies, but now I'm excited that it is, because we're going to get the full experience of the book. And I love that for us.
![Most CHAOTIC Round Table YET! - [The Traitors UK S3 E9]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6mnZtxQoOY8/mqdefault.jpg)
Bob really brought the black Sunday mass preacher energy to study the passages of Prophet Stephen Schwartz' bible for Defying Gravity. Space was so held on this day.
It's how I was feeling walking out of the theater. People who have said they left, left because they couldn't handle the message. There were several points in the movie that hit me hard and I almost got out of my seat when she embraced her power in the end.
@@jamesonmagnusI was crying. Seeing myself in Elphaba, as the person who's always been othered and always fought for what's right.
@@jamesonmagnus the "unlimited" mantra is my favourite part of the musical and movie
My right ear is having a severe case of FOMO
genuinely thought my headphones had messed up. i went and checked by testing out the audio on another video and then i saw this comment.🤣
I only had my right ear headphone in and thought there was no audio. Then I saw this comment and chucked the left one in 😂
@@alisham9919omg same!
Was looking for this comment to confirm ahahaha
My left one is broken help
I LOVE that this film made Elphaba even MORE powerful at the end of Defying Gravity than the stage show. When she causes the blackout by exploding every light bulb/light source in all of Oz...WOW! What an amazing, frightening display of power. *CHILLS*
That part was AMAZING! Chills!
also notice how weather is madame Morrible's speciality and makes the sky go green to scare people and spread her propaganda when Elphaba is flying
Oh shoot, I didn’t notice that! I feel got, bc I thought Elphaba was doing it 😂
@@UrLocalEt I thought Elphie was doing it, too! I thought she was just that girl lmao
And you know, foreshadowing! 🌪️
Love so many of the subtle changes they made that are homages AND great for the story/characters/plot. As someone who lived and breathed the hype around this musical as a teen, everything resonated both on a visceral/emotional level and as a writer/theatre studies grad.
Wow!!!! I so thought that was Elphaba 🤯
Yes, and I had a conversation with a friend the other day and I said you know I don’t think that alphabet was actually allergic to water because she lived her whole life and she was always jumping over puddles and walking across rocks and stuff like that and it wasn’t until she got to she is And Moore told her that she was allergic to water. I think it was just a scare tactic that she used to control her because she controlled the weather and if she thought that alphabet was getting out of line or was gonna do something that she didn’t want her to do, she could make it rain and then alphabet would be scared and not go out into the rain And I think at some point in time she realize that she wasn’t allergic to water and that’s why we get the ending that we get, but I won’t disclose it here in case someone doesn’t know I don’t wanna be a spoiler, but I think they’re just lying manipulative con artist And they use the same tactics that unfortunately they still use today to keep people under their thumb. it’s kinda like when they used to tell people the Earth was flat. There was a time when people believed it was flat, but there was also a time when people realized it was not flat however, they would still tell people it was flat because they did not want people getting in boats and going out exploring. What’s that old saying you go looking for trouble you’re gonna find it and I think there’s a lot of other stories that have the same premise make up lies and use fear to keep people from finding out the truth and I feel like Moore did this with the water.
Stephen Schwartz put his lyrussy into Defying Gravity and we need to hold space for it expeditiously.
Oh my God
@@doritodeadly4142 that’s what he said.
@@doritodeadly4142Yup @3:37, I heard it right as I was reading this initial comment!! Not “lyrussy”, Bob knows she can make up some words!! Love it!❤❤
not his lyrussy 😂
When Elphaba says "I know, but I don't want it. No, I CAN'T want it, anymore". I crieeed. So powerful!
Firstly, Black folks like musicals when they can see black excellence and Cynthia Erivo is black excellence! Secondly, we’ve always had a soft spot for Oz. The Wiz? Come on now!
Yes!!
The Wiz, yes. But Cynthia Erivo used to clown Black Americans back on Twitter before it wasn’t called Twitter… she was called out for it but never acknowledged it nor apologized 👎🏾
@@ambriaashley3383are these the remarks that she made in response to her playing Harriet or are there others?
who is Black skin people? She is British of African Descent not Black American. Skin color is not a shared culture.
remember the tweet where she said African Americans sound "ghetto" smh
You never heard "all skin folk ain't kin folk"
40:43 I promise you, had they done a double feature, I would have sat through both of them. I would have just needed a bathroom/ snack break between the two movies. It was OUTSTANDING!!!
it was SO well paced wasnt it? like i was invigorated 3 hours afterwards and not ready to leave the theatre. i sat through the credits too bec i needed a gentle let down from the high of defying gravity lmao
Chile, Defying Gravity is arguably the BEST movie musical moment ever. I literally couldn’t speak when the credits rolled. I was legitimately shook. I also agree with your top musicals. Chicago is my fav. Dreamgirls, Wicked, then Little Shop. Just fantastic stuff. As of today, Wicked has surpassed Grease to be the highest grossing musical adaptation ever. Legendary!
Defying Gravity hit me hard when I saw it live. Seeing it in the film was next level. I wept...
There’s so much power in the way Cynthia sings “something has changed within me”
Immediate tears every time for me 😭
Specifically when she says “changed” full body chills…!!!!
Sections:
0:04-0:58 Introduction
0:58-1:30 Why do Black people not like musicals: future video idea and theory.
1:30-1:46 Black People are Loving Wicked.
1:46-2:00 Live Viewers shout out and comments.
2:00-4:55 Holding space for Defying Gravity lyrics.
4:55- Elphaba's character breakdown & partial breakdown of the Wizard and I.
6:43-7:07 Avenue Q mention and future video idea.
7:07-39:21 Back to Defying Gravity.
39:21-42:17 Conclusion
I am a black woman who loves musicals not all but i do enjoy a good one lol Wicked was the first broadway show i saw and i fell IN LOVE! Elphaba is me and i am her ❤️❤️ black ppl should listen to the original soundtrack with Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth and i think they’ll love it as well! Idina’s version of defying gravity is still my fave ! I personally prefer her last note on the song better than Cynthia even tho she put some stank on it lol that note needed more power and be straight to the point like Idina’s in my opinion
Bob you would really be an incredible English professor
and theatre teacher
I second this!
Professor feels like a reach, but I could definitely see him getting middle schoolers in high schoolers involved😂
This video could be his PhD dissertation, really
Space was held. Thank you for sharing, for spilling.
kudos mama, for holding
Bob dissecting the lyrics of Defying Gravity and the given circumstances of the characters is the best thing I’ve seen💚. Literally a Wicked acting class right here. LOVE!!
not me crying while bob the drag queen is holding space for the lyrics of defying gravity
Pretty sure I’ve listened to this version of Defying Gravity about 100 times since opening day. Chills to this day after she’s flying and says it’s me. Cried again today. Elphaba coming into her power 😭
SAME
That scene always kills me even though I’ve seen the movie 3 times and know when it’s coming. I don’t know what this movie has inside it but it has changed me 😂
@ Something has changed within you. Something is not the same! 😂
@@JeremyMYG no seriously 🥹🤣
I took my youngest daughter, and it hit me out of nowhere. I read the book and had the original soundtrack, but it was different in the wake of this election cycle and the sentiment 'your body, my choice' etc. I burst into tears and was trying so hard not to sobb where people could hear and see me. I hope my daughters will never make themselves smaller from the fear of being labled. I hope they see these characters as an inspiration to take back their space. I will keep fighting in the meantime, but damn the release at those lyrics was unreal!
22:44 The notes in "unlimited" are the same as "somewhere over the rainbow" but in a different rhythm
My theory is she can fly without the broom; she just enchanted it for Glinda to ride.
Yes, Jon M Chu said it’s not the broom that is making her fly. The power comes from Elphaba. That’s why “It’s Me” is so powerful.
Yes! Love this detail. Love the foreshadowing during The Wizard and I
You're right this was necessary. I don't think i was appreciating the song enough until now. I appreciate your holding space for it❤
I cannot tell you how much I loved this conversation. It's a feeling. I'm glad this popped up on my feed. All of this
I think Glinda’s third “I hope you’re happy” is so self-soothing too. I think Glinda, in that moment, where she’s so afraid for Elphaba and so sure that she’ll regret it, is reminding herself that this was the choice Elphie was always going to make. That this is what Elphaba wants, and that she (Glinda) does hope she’s happy with this decision, despite how scared Glinda may be for her friend
Moral of the story: Elphaba IS that girl and Cynthia/this production took it to the highest level ever. Thanks for your correct analysis as always barb!
hearing you speak so passionately about this gives me so much!! love you Bob
Bob can never have a live without something going wrong 😂
“Well if that’s love, it comes at much too high a cost” carried me through estrangement from my family. Because I was tired of working so hard to get what it’s even real love. Something about that lyric sends me to tears.
I started crying in the theater every time cynthia teared up.
I think the frase "defying gravity" is such a clever allegory to everything the song says, more than literally meaning she's going to fly, cause you can't run away from gravity, it's something that is set by the rules of the universe, everything that has mass has pulling force to other bodies. To some, most of us actually, the system we live in, the way things are done, works just like that, you can't change it, but Elphaba doesn't believe that, she is defying it, she's defying it, this universe that's locked in its own rules. Ever since I've known Wicked, I've always loved it and loved this song, of course, but the movie really made me think more about its lyrics (hold space for it lol)
🤍🤍🤍
hold space for ‘Thank goodness’ too!
that message of sometimes getting everything u want
isn’t what your dreams coming true looks like.
gets me every single time.
Reverend Bob The Drag Queen giving us a pertinent word this evening.
I cried so much during defying gravity my head hurt after the damn movie. 🤣 I wish they didn’t do that long pause before the battle cry though, because you can hear an odd swoosh sound and I hated that. But she brutalized that song it was amazing! 😭
I waited a week to see this movie, checked the theater seating chart to make sure I was getting an entire theater room to myself, booked tickets for the latest showing of the night, and literally had one of the best experiences ever. Not one person in the place. I didn't do it to sing along, did't do it so I could talk, I did it so I didn't have to worry about others doing that and it was SO worth it!! I encourage others to do this when you feel like you need to see a movie alone with no chance of being interrupted.
Thank you for doing this, Bob! As someone who never saw the musical, never heard the music, was only mildly curious about the film (and intends to see it), but has not yet seen it, your formal analysis and critique of the text of this song just got me so excited to finally go see it!
I, kindly, request/demand (in a most respectful way) for Bob to do the entire soundtrack lyrics breakdown. Pretty please!!!!! Well, maybe not the entire soundtrack but at least big songs; I’m Not That Girl, The Wizard and I, What is This Felling. I could watch you go lyric by lyric for hours! Please consider it 🙏💚🩷
I would live for this.
yessss we want more! need!!!
I feel like a lot of movie theaters will do a lot of double features. I would absolutely see Part 1 again, and then see part 2.
dreamgirls was huge, i remember the energy of opening night, xmas 2006 (but mostly in black spaces)
having staples like beyonce, jennifer hudson, jamie foxx, and the eddie murphy certainly helped
Yes the applause in the theater after Jhud sang And I am telling you ❤
Truly one of the most incredible movies I've ever had the pleasure to see. I'm shocked at how much it affected me when watching the movie and continues to affect me after seeing it.
I went again and liked it even more the second time! so powerful and profound- the acting, directing, writing, tech all of it!
I need someone to hold space for “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. Cynthia absolutely kills it and no matter how many times I watch it I am crying by the end of the song. It is so powerful.
LOL 38:37 "this b*tch is HOMELANDER!!" is hysterical! I would LOVE to see an Avenue Q video!!! Love u bob!
As someone who grew up agnostic and has never been to an Abrahamic religious service in my entire life and who has internalized homophobia about musicals…how I feel now is how I imagine born-again Christians feel after seeing god and going to their first sermon.
❤
36:34 I think Morrible threatens Glinda's family and friends when she leans into the side of her face to speak into her ear because it's only after that where Glinda reluctantly puts her hand on Morrible's back in support. Morrible is threatening the families of an entire species, she would absolutely threaten the family of one college girl. This holds especially if contrasts to the beginning of the movie/musical and Glinda has to hide her mourning and act the part in front of the people and someone catches her off guard asking if she was FRIENDS with THE WITCH!
She said something that got her to comply for sure, and it wouldn't have taken much. She was right at the beginning of her deconstruction and barely beginning to understand the true depths of what they would do to dissenters.
Sincere and thoughtful analysis from a lover of the musical and it's story. Great job Bob. -- I've yet to see it but am so looking forward to experiencing the wonderful world of Oz and all its characters.
Bob- what I loved about the 'unlimiteds' in Defying Gravity is: the first time she says it, its abstract about her future with the wizard, the second time, it was how she could be WITH Glinda, but this time? It's just her. Right now. It's truly her stepping into and loving her own power. It was an incredible choice to the point that im surprised it wasnt in the original. Masterful.
Season eight Bob ...breaking down, "And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going!" Give us more musical theater breakdowns! We love it!
I've been holding space for Defying Gravity since I was goddamn 8. Quite literally my first memory of interacting with TH-cam was watching the Tony's performance of that song in the atrocious 240p it was only available in, and I never let go after that. Like I've been re-analyzing the Unlimited stanza recently of like DAMN a moment of realizing we are unbeatable when we have solidarity, but like you both have to be ready to make that jump into revolutionary work and well Glinda literally isn't and how without Solidarity it becomes only a few against and entire institution. God I love this musicallllll!!!!!!
Damn also just in this moment of watching, like a slap to the fucking face, Elphaba saying "I hope it brings you bliss" is her saying Hey Glinda this complacency is that state of Ignorance is bliss......STEVEN SERIOUSLY! PUTTING HIS WHOLE LYRUSSY IN THIS 20+ FUCKING YEARS AGO GODDAMN!!
Also If Bob is here to breakdown more lyrics, and if we are sticking with Wicked for a while, please please please when Part 2 comes out, "Wonderful" is so goddamn good to sit down an analyze on the basis of the Wizard's Populism and like how its how History remembers you sometimes that can bolster or taint a movement
Last thing I promise! You know what other movie musical is as long as or almost as long as the 2 parts of Wicked will be??? Sound of Music! And that with its anti-war, anti- nazi etc. etc stand on its own still today. That gets shown on TV all 4 goddamn hours with an Intermission and its still so fucking good! God thank you for Julie Andrews in her prime, thank you for Christopher Plummer who was like meh when he was doing it but understood its importance later in life. I think Wicked is going to become as iconic of a classic if not more and I'm so goddamn excited, trilled, grab me a thesaurus I will keep going, for that. I'm ready for movie musicals, like the bread and butter of Old Hollywood, to be out here winning awards again.
And babes me out here screaming out this passion for Wicked and I haven't even gone to see the movie yet....because i know for a fact, A FACT, I am not hydrated enough! Catch me sobbing the whole way through. I love Wicked so goddamn much, I love everyone loving on Wicked, I love the casting, I need Cynthia wherever she is to know this is a legacy on legacy moment that she beyond deserves and I will go fight the academy myself if she doesn't get that Oscar finishing her EGOT.
Loved it loved your description of the song, the movie the details, very uplifting and inspiring! Thank you, Bob!💖💚💖💚
I could listen to Bob talk for days, I love the way his mind works and his passion. Also, this fit EATS!
I've never seen the play but I saw the movie twice opening week. The dance scene and defying gravity made me cry both times.
This really gets me emotional. 😭 Just listening to the song, I’ll start to cry. And everything you’re saying as you’re breaking down these lyrics is true. My heart goes out to Elphaba. My heart breaks for her, and soars for her. I want her courage, and her willfulness. I want her compassion for others. Basically, all she represents, I want to be. Thank you for breaking these amazing lyrics right on down for all of us.
Your Majesty, I am late in getting to this but it turns out to be right on time. I just saw the movie yesterday and stumbled on your sharing all this now. a) Thank you. I love you and the intelligence of your humor when in your royal role...it is wonderful to experience you in this realm! b) Thank you also for giving some credence to the "holding space" concept which gets knocked far too often. c) How absolutely righteous to have you reflect upon another artist's portrayal of Elphaba in light of the fierce job you did in Out of Oz!
Your insight and heart is in it! Thank you for holding space, for talking it out and bringing light to it and for defying gravity in all you do! Tidings of comfort and joy! DBGF
thank you Bob, this was the passionate response I've been feeling myself and looking for amongst my trash non-musical loving friends
Bob defied gravity to hold space for this stream
Stop this instant. I’m screaming
I fucking love this song. Actually got chills even when you spoke the last few lyrics
The ending notes from Cynthia I tear up cause she makes you feel it! Every emotion!
I had full body chills in the theater watching this ending sequence. And once I saw the visuals, I appreciated the way that the song was reworked and the changes that Cynthia made to those ending notes.
I neeeeed a series of Bob holding space for his favourite musical theatre numbers
This adaptation couldn’t have come out at a more appropriate and relevant time. The way Elphaba is treated by her family, her classmates, even strangers… is precisely the way anyone who is considered an “other” is treated currently. Glinda is the 53%, the Wizard is Cheetolini, and Madame Morrible is MAGAyn Kelly
Very true, but sadly it would have felt relevant in every time period.
25:09 This song is incredibly powerful. The change that Elphaba is going through personally at the same time that she and Glinda are at this significant crossroads in their relationship... just wow!
I love listening to your voice bob ❤ i can listen to it for hours
She knocked out the “electrical power” So they all had to look UP at the REAL & true power!
This song is where they form their plan. Glinda working on the inside and elphaba on the outside. They work together to bring down the wizard. When elphaba asks her to come but glinda knows she can help most from the emerald city. When they say I hope you’re happy they are saying good luck. I think in the second film the plan will be revealed and the ending will feel more satisfying. I also hope they have a point where you could stop wicked and watch the wizard of oz through and then return to wicked and it would change the understanding of the film knowing the other three with Dorothy are also in on the plan
Also it explains why glinda doesn’t tell Dorothy about the slippers until the end. She doesn’t know until after when elphaba tells her
I never knew I needed this… ❤️❤️❤️ I agree with all of your sentiments, I was so moved by the movie and this song specifically, it was such a spectacle … and having someone I adore share the same enthusiasm I’ve been feeling it just feels so good lol ❤️
I read the book years ago and have seen the musical on two occasions. The song "Defying Gravity" is on its own top tier of writing. When I first heard it, the hairs on my arms stood up.
I love hearing and seeing other pov’s and how thoughtful this is! I too (initially) didn’t like the change up of the end of the song… BUT having watched it 3 times, I saw it differently each time and the interpretation’s are endless.
I love how “I’m the one you want… it’s me. It’s me…” then falls. She is falling and seeing herself as a child. Inwardly she’s realizing that she’s always saw herself as a problem, her skin color was the problem, she was always falling… BUT she realizes… wait! What she thought was the problem is the actual strength. Who she is, her differences, her color, her, she, she is manifesting to herself that she’s the magic… she’s the power… who has the power? To herself she then sings “it’s meeeeeeeeee!!!” Realizing it’s her that’s the magic! Ugh so so good.
Love love the knew ending cinematically. Even adding the “unlimited” 3 times, allowed for my story beats and visuals. Ugh so good. Just my take from the last time I saw it. So good!
This resonated on a whole new level for me. I have never seen the musical and not typically a fan of musicals except lile the one Bob mentioned even though ive always liked this song but recently i had an experience where I found wrong doing at my job and went to stand up for everybody I worked with and got fired. They stayed silent and stayed so I almost broke down in tears listening to it with new life experience.
0:16 it’s so good. So glad u did this stream. Love u Bob
15:47 chills 😭 i cant want it anymore. Something has changed within me. These lyrics move me every time.
I am SO GLAD this movie is getting the response it has been! I cried and LOVED how they EMBRACED the MUSIC in this MUSICAL!!! I read a couple reviews after the movie that were basically criticizing the fact that its a FUN, "family-friendly" MUSICAL, and not some overdrawn, nuanced, complex exploration of discrimination in all its forms throughout all of human history! Plus I read one that said that Ariana was miscast WHAT!!! At least those reviews recognized Cynhtia's INCREDIBLE performance, but still they dragged the rest of it. I was SHOCKED! I am SO SO GLAD that audiences are enjoying it and connecting with it! Its a MAGICAL show!
I've never seen any oz related movie or musical anything, this movie was my first experience with the wizard of Oz and It was amazing, great movie.
The OG Wizard of Oz still holds up in its own way. Much like Wicked, they were doing practical effects that were WAY ahead of their time. Nobody had seen anything like Wizard of Oz in the 40s just like Wicked is unprecedented now.
i am so curious to see how Wicked Part II expands and improves upon act II of the play. how long does it take between acts? what did Elphaba do to help the animals? where was she hiding? there is so much opportunity to build this world, and i theorize that one of the original songs is gonna happen before "Thank Goodness" with Elphaba exposing her sense of justice and her work for the animal cause.
Such a great video I'm so glad you did this! I cried my eyes out during that movie and almost did when you spoke about the child scene 😢❤
the literal *chime* in her voice when she says ‘something has changed within me..’
I adore Stephen Schwartz and I love Defying Gravity and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed and appreciated this video by Bob. Just the way he broke down some of the lyrics almost made me cry.
More musical theater deep dives like this, Bob! 🫶
This was a master class! Bob is such a great teacher, his explanations and breakdown were so exciting and informative. I would sign up to any class he taught
My top 4 are so similar.
1. Sweet Charity
2. Chicago
3. Little Shop of Horrors
4. Wicked
And I'm black😂 musicals are the best.
I love this, Bob! You brought up so many great insights that I never thought about. Thank you!
This truly video needed to be even longer somehow 😭 I loved your explanation of these lyrics pls do more musical videos
Loved the holding of the space; it really made me dive into the lyrics with a new understanding and a different perspective 💚 thank u Buu
Wicked was a fun movie. there have not been “fun” movies in SUCH a long time. that’s the best thing about it
As a black person, I love both types of musicals mentioned. I even wrote a college paper about what if life was an actual musical. I would love to go see Wicked in theaters, but the run-time...dear Lord. I don't think I could do it. When I finally got to hear the film version of Defying Gravity...OMG!! Ariana was great. Cynthia bodied it. Those final minutes, I've had on repeat since it dropped. So good.
Thank you Bob! I loved hearing you break this song down!
this was unironically a very incredible and insightful vid, and with Wicked on the brain, incredibly satisfying to watch as a VOD. Wish I caught the live 🤣
I watched it yesterday and it’s my first experience with Wicked. I’m pretty sure Oz is Elphaba’s father. I relistened to the end of no one mourns the wicked and a sentimental man. Same voice, so even more NEFARIOUS, he used Elphaba’s mother too, feeding her green elixir and knocking her up. And when he sang about helping Elphaba ascend “allows him to feel so parental…” that was so suspicious. I had to get the soundtrack afterwards for enjoyment and research. 🤓 Needless to say, can’t wait for part II
yes ms. bob!!! go off with the literary analysis
Forget about the musical, has anyone read the book the play is based on? Try reading the book, you might like it!
My take on the three unlimiteds at the end is that she’s again starting to fall and listen to her inner saboteur, hearing what madam just said about her and she starts to fall and then she SNAPS back with the “AND NOBODY”
The rearranging was chefs kiss. It’s beautiful. It gives me chills
Can we hold space for the lyrics of No One Mourns the Wicked?
PLs BE NEXT
Elphie said: "Think I won't drop the location? I still got PTSD."
in your audio settings plz change from mono audio to stero on ur mic input so we get audio on the left and right side...
I’m black and I love musicals ☺️ I very much enjoyed Wicked.
SAAAAAAME! IT STARTED WITH GREASE AS A MOVIE AND THEN HAIRSPRAY. THAT MADE ME WANNA GO TO THE THEATRE TO SEE IT LIVE
Id show up for more of these musical lyrics analyses because this was amazing!
You look so gorgeous Bob!!
I have seen this movie 4 times but now I gotta see it again after this video!!!!!!
It's giving Bible study 😂
Looking at how people are reacting to Part 1 considering the new..... social climate... we find ourselves in, I am super SUPER excited for everyone to react to No Good Deed, I feel like it's really gonna hit home for some people.
The socio-political message of the book is INTENSE. You can't read it and see everything happening in real life, and not understand the dire nature of what we're going through.
The musical touched on it, but couldn't fully capture it, except in Defying Gravity.
I haven't seen the movie yet, but Bob fully nails the breakdown of the song as written. It's full of betrayal, regret, morality, finding ones innate power, and justice. The lyrics hit every note of the message with a punch in the gut.
I was disappointed about it being split into 2 movies, but now I'm excited that it is, because we're going to get the full experience of the book. And I love that for us.
'This bitch is Homelander!' Took me OUT LMAO
Thank you bob!!!!! Made my morning. Seeing it for thr 7th time later today!!
Damn bob, all up in my left ear
U did a phenomenal job with dissecting this.
imagine being 20 and in a _single day_ declining a vice-presidency proposal and becoming the most wanted ecoterrorist
we have to STAN, we have to!