A release date for “Wicked: For Good — The Soundtrack” was announced Wednesday morning, and with it, intriguing news of not just one but two songs that were written especially for the forthcoming film by Stephen Schwartz. Leading ladies Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both get new solo numbers with these additions.
The two songs written by Schwartz for the second film are “No Place Like Home,” performed by Erivo as Elphaba, and “The Girl in the Bubble,” performed by Grande as Glinda.
“No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” are expected to be Oscar-eligible, unlike any of the songs from the first movie, which had added verses but did not feature any completely new songs.
Don’t expect to necessarily hear these new songs before viewers nationwide get their first crack at hearing them within the context of the film. The “Wicked: for Good” soundtrack album will be out Nov. 21, which is also the opening date for the movie.
On top of the two freshly penned songs, Schwartz is promising additional material that has been incorporated into the more familiar songs that have been carried over from Act II of the stage musical.
“I’m especially happy that the soundtrack album for ‘Wicked: For Good’ has so much new music on it,” Schwartz said in a statement. “In addition to two brand new songs, there is a lot that’s new in several other existing songs. So not only listeners coming to the score for the first time, but long-time fans of the original Broadway cast album, will have a great deal to discover.”
Schwartz had previously revealed that he was writing a brand new song for the second movie, but fans should still be surprised that they’re getting two. The composer-songwriter had also mentioned in interviews for the first movie that the second would have him bringing back some material that was cut during development of the stage version, due to not wanting to slow down the accelerating dramatic momentum of the second act.
Another song included on the new album is “The Wicked Witch of the East,” sung by Marissa Bode, Erivo and Ethan Slater. This song was included in the stage musical but not included on the original cast album at the time.
“Every Day More Wicked,” which opens the soundtrack album, is a title not found in the stage version of “Wicked,” although that phrase occurs in the lyrics of “Thank Goodness,” so producers may be considering it an outgrowth of that number, as opposed to an all-new song.
Scroll down to see the full 11-song track list for the soundtrack.
Act II of “Wicked” always had fewer signature standout numbers for the cast than Act I, as well as just fewer songs in general — although, obviously, the climactic “For Good” is up there in the repertoire right alongside “Defying Gravity,” enough so to have been added as a subtitle for the film. New solo numbers for Grande and Erivo will go some way in adding not just heft to the score but, presumably, additional balladic gravity.
The album will be released as a CD, two-LP vinyl set and a double picture-disc LP package as well as digitally. Target stores will carry an exclusive version with lenticular cover packaging, and Amazon, Walmart and Barnes & Noble will also have their own exclusive variants. The different editions of the soundtrack can be pre-ordered here.
“Wicked: For Good – The Soundtrack” track list:
Every Day More Wicked – Wicked Movie Cast, Cynthia Erivo ft. Michelle Yeoh, Ariana Grande
Thank Goodness / I Couldn’t Be Happier – Ariana Grande, Wicked Movie Cast ft. Michelle Yeoh
No Place Like Home – Cynthia Erivo
The Wicked Witch of the East – Marissa Bode, Cynthia Erivo, Ethan Slater
Wonderful – Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo
I’m Not That Girl (Reprise) – Ariana Grande
As Long As You’re Mine – Cynthia Erivo & Jonathan Bailey
No Good Deed – Cynthia Erivo
March of the Witch Hunters – Wicked Movie Cast, Ethan Slater
The Girl in the Bubble – Ariana Grande
For Good – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source variety.com ’
