by Megan Buff

Created on: June 08, 2008   Last Updated: May 26, 2012

"That's wicked, dude": A soundtrack that lives up to slang

A Broadway soundtrack is a different animal from a normal studio recording. The cast must, in the recording studio, maintain a sense of the stage production; its energy, storyline, and character development add a new dimension to the whole process. Soundtracks are in some ways more like a radio production than an album. Wicked's soundtrack has even another problem to tackle: the spoiler. The stage production (based on Gregory Maguire's book of the same name), set in Oz, hinges on a few key plot twists which are directly addressed in songs. In order to avoid revealing the entire plot, the producers decided to omit several songs. Omission is not unusual in soundtracks, as putting everything on a recording would make it the length of the show, but should be noted nonetheless.

Wicked brings together much talent. Stephen Schwartz, the composer, is known for his work on the musicals Pippin and Grammy-winning Godspell and the movies Pocahontas (which won both Grammy and Academy awards), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Prince of Egypt (which garnered him another Academy award). Tony Award winner Idina Menzel stars as Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West. Menzel's previous work includes the stage and film versions of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent, as well as several solo records. Kristin Chenoweth supports her as Glinda the Good Witch, in a role earning her a Tony nomination. Chenoweth already had a Tony under her belt from You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, in addition to acting in the television show The West Wing and movies including Bewitched and The Pink Panther.

With all this and more experience and qualifications, Wicked sets up to be an amazing soundtrack. Thankfully, it delivers. Idina Menzel's powerhouse voice develops a perfect counterpoint to Kristin Chenoweth's soaring soprano. They are supported by an equally strong cast, who lend even more emotion to the chorus numbers. The soundtrack's only drawback is the difficulty in decoding the story from the songs. Much of the plotline happens between songs, in the unrecorded parts of the stage production. As a result, prior knowledge of the story-line is helpful but not essential for an appreciation of the album. Even without this understanding, however, the songs still carry enormous power and convey overwhelming emotion. Wicked will quickly find its way into your head and your heart, leaving you humming its tunes long after the recording has been put away.

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