00:00And all of Oz has to love you, when by the wizard you reclaim.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most swankified small details,
00:12easter eggs, and clever nods in Wicked's musical numbers. If you haven't seen the film or musical,
00:18we encourage your eyes you to be cautious of spoilers ahead.
00:21Life's more painless for the brainless.
00:2410. Ding Dong and Good News
00:29On stage, Wicked opens with the words,
00:39Oh come on fellow Ozians, don't sugarcoat it now.
00:42In the film though, you might catch a familiar melody before the opening number.
00:55Can't place it? Let us help.
01:01In The Wizard of Oz, it's sung about the Wicked Witch of the East, Nessaros to Wicked fans.
01:06A reprise, Hail Hail the Witch is Dead, sung about the Wicked Witch of the West,
01:10was cut from the movie, but lives on in some stage versions.
01:17Also, you know that stunning shot of Elphaba's hat in the puddle?
01:21According to director Jon M. Chu, it's a nod to the original set piece,
01:25where Ozians would burst out of a giant hat and sing.
01:289. Some Popular References
01:31Ariana Grande has always admired Kristen Chenoweth, Broadway's original Glinda,
01:36who remains a mentor in her life. And as a Wicked superfan, Grande poured love,
01:41dedication, and nuance into her performance, just as she promised.
01:51Take Popular for example, she even mirrors Chenoweth's strong arm pose on the line,
01:57specially Great Communicators. That's a level beyond superfan, right?
02:01Also, how about that brilliant nod to the 1939 film's Ruby Slippers?
02:13During Elphaba's makeover, Glinda picks up a pair of ruby red shoes,
02:16clicks them together three times, and tosses them into Elphaba's lap.
02:20It's little moments like these that show they thought of everything that
02:23really counts for Wicked and Wizard of Oz fans.
02:368. Finding Optimistic Voices in One Short Day
02:40So much happens in one short day that we couldn't possibly cover it all at once,
02:44but we have to start somewhere. Do you recognize this melody as
02:47Elphaba and Glinda make their way through the Emerald City?
02:51It's a sample of Optimistic Voices, which plays as Dorothy and her friends
02:58head to the Emerald City after the whole Poppy fiasco.
03:08In the Whizzomania number, the origins of the Grimmery and the Wizard's rise to power are shown.
03:13A projection of the Wizard repeats Omaha, which might sound mystical to the Ozians,
03:18but fans of the books know that's just where he's from.
03:34Was he pulling a fast one, or maybe just asking for directions?
03:377. What Is This Feeling?
03:40This addresses events from Act 2. Consider yourself warned.
03:43What Is This Feeling is a brilliantly choreographed number that shows Elphaba
03:47and Glinda's rivalry as powerfully as the lyrics.
04:02With the magic of cinema, the sequence gets even bigger,
04:05covering much of the school grounds to show how deep their rivalry runs.
04:08In some shots, Elphaba and Glinda seem to be in combat.
04:12Don't worry, it's probably just a schiz PE class.
04:17If there's a strange exhilaration,
04:20in such total detestation,
04:24it's a you're so strong.
04:27Keen-eyed Wicked fans might notice that their movements mirror a certain Act 2 scene
04:31when the former besties reunite.
04:33Glinda's crushed that Fiyero left her for Elphaba,
04:36while Elphaba pays respects to her sister,
04:38who's been crushed in a totally different way.
04:40Talk about full circle moments.
04:48If Wicked has a central love story, it's the one between Elphaba and Glinda.
04:53Sure, it starts off rocky,
04:54but ultimately they'll always carry each other like a handprint on their hearts.
05:17That's why the melody of For Good, from Act 2,
05:20threads through their most heartfelt moments in Part 1.
05:23Actually, the first time we hear it is between
05:25No One Mourns the Wicked and Dear Old Schiz,
05:28as Glinda starts to reflect on their friendship.
05:30Our paths did cross, at school.
05:34Later, listen for it during the Ozdust duet,
05:37which marks a turning point in their relationship.
05:48It's a beautiful foretelling of their bond that also ties everything together,
05:52reminding us that these moments are ultimately Glinda's memories.
05:55Number 5. Defying Gravity on the Yellow Brick Road
05:59In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's journey begins on the Yellow Brick Road,
06:02while Elphaba's takes her to the western skies as she defies gravity.
06:12But did you know there's an intersection where these paths meet?
06:15Listen closely and try singing Follow the Yellow Brick Road in tandem with this.
06:32Perfect fit, huh?
06:33Honestly, Stephen Schwartz's attention to detail in every note of this song
06:37is truly awe-inspiring,
06:38and the film's creators brought a little extra magic to the movie version as well.
06:42The number has been extended to fully capture its drama and intensity.
06:46It all builds to that breathtaking shot of Elphaba in the sky,
06:49a stunning homage to the most iconic moment of the stage show.
06:53No wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down
07:09Number 4. A Celebration Throughout Oz
07:13The Wizard and I is Elphaba's I Want song, but with a twist and plenty of clever details.
07:23Did you spot the rainbow behind her as she takes that leap to make the bluebirds fly?
07:34You see where this is headed, right?
07:47Plus, science fans might appreciate this one particularly smart lyric.
07:53But the real brilliance lies in the moments that foreshadow what's to come.
08:02As Elphaba dreams of joining the wizard, her vision is almost a little too on the nose.
08:14Whether it's a premonition or gut feeling,
08:16she's certain she'll leave a mark on Oz worth celebrating.
08:19So who wants to break it to her?
08:21Not it.
08:23Number 3. Life's More Painless For The Brainless
08:38It's truly astounding how much brains,
08:40heart and courage went into creating this spectacular number.
08:53Some fans have noticed a hint of the scarecrow in Fiyero's dance moves.
08:57Yet the foreshadowing goes even deeper, starting with Schwartz's clever lyrics.
09:01The first part of the song is about how life is easier when you don't give a twink about anything
09:05and just focus on having fun and dancing through life.
09:16The irony and brilliant foreshadowing of that line becomes clear in part two,
09:20if you haven't seen the show yet.
09:22Although you don't need to be a doctor of thinkology to figure it out.
09:29Number 2. Whizzamania
09:32A lot can happen in one not-so-short song,
09:34and this one perhaps deviates the most from the original musical.
09:48We've already mentioned Whizzamania,
09:50but who better to share Oz's history than the two women who were there from the start.
10:07We basically melted with happiness when Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth appeared.
10:11And again when Menzel recreated her iconic battle cry.
10:20They also share a sweet moment with Grande and Erivo,
10:28practically offering their blessings on screen.
10:31Plus there are cameos from former Fiyero understudy Michael McCrory Rose,
10:35book and screenwriter Winnie Holtzman,
10:37and composer Stephen Schwartz, who delivers the famous line.
10:41The wizard will see you now.
10:43As Grande revealed, that line was changed, but she and Erivo insisted it be put back in.
10:49We know, what in Oz were they thinking?
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11:15Number 1. The Unlimited Theme
11:18The Unlimited Theme is the melody that plays every time the word Unlimited is sung.
11:22Unlimited.
11:27You're green.
11:29I am.
11:31Together we're unlimited.
11:36It's woven throughout Part 1 and continues in Part 2.
11:39But did you know that Schwartz cleverly included an Easter egg
11:42that connects it to The Wizard of Oz?
11:43The melody is made up of the first seven notes of Over the Rainbow.
11:47Why seven? Well, hit eight and copyright issues arise.
11:50It's completely different rhythmically and harmonically.
11:53It goes somewhere over the rainbow.
12:01And the Unlimited Theme is...
12:08And so on.
12:09Schwartz then tweaked the rhythm, tempo, and chords to make it even more his own.
12:13Unlimited.
12:17Together we're unlimited.
12:22Right now, it's played in a minor key, but that's set to change too.
12:26Although let's not get ahead of ourselves.
12:28What we're trying to say is that the genius behind Stephen Schwartz's soundtrack
12:31is truly unlimited.
12:36My future is unlimited.
12:41Which musical detail defied your expectations?
12:44Let us know in the comments.
12:53Think of what we could do together.
12:56Do you agree with our picks?
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