Splitting Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Wicked into two movies means double the cinematic experience for fans of the Broadway musical—along with twice the press tours, global premieres, merchandise collaborations, and, of course, twice the cast recordings. Have you spent the past year eagerly anticipating Cynthia Erivo’s riff at the end of “No Good Deed” or imagining Jonathan Bailey’s take on “As Long as You’re Mine”? I certainly have, and I’ve got some thoughts on the Wicked: For Good cast album. Let’s start from the beginning.
“Every Day More Wicked”
Unlike the stage musical, Wicked: For Good had to re-immerse audiences in the world of Oz after a year-long break rather than a 15-minute intermission. Instead of launching straight into “Thank Goodness,” as the musical does, we’re welcomed back with a more formal introduction: “Every Day More Wicked.” This song is a semi-reprise of “No One Mourns the Wicked” (the opening track of Wicked: Part I), but with an even grander and more ominous opening—suggesting that the Oz we’re returning to is much darker than when we left it.
New lyrics also bring us up to speed with the characters. To the melody of “Wizard and I”—Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) “I want” song from the first part of the story—she sings, “If I can just make them believe in the truth, that all that he says is a lie, that’s when they’ll finally bid the Wizard goodbye.” With that, the tone for Part II is firmly established.
“Thank Goodness / I Couldn’t Be Happier”
I’ve always judged an actor’s portrayal of Glinda (Ariana Grande) by how they handle this song, especially the bridge. Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role on Broadway, set the standard, and Grande proves a worthy successor. You can hear Glinda’s inner turmoil as she questions what is truly good and what is wicked, and the strain of hiding her true feelings to please the public. From the start, it’s clear this movie belongs as much to Grande as it does to Erivo.
“No Place Like Home”
Adding a new song to Wicked’s repertoire was no small decision, but “No Place Like Home,” Elphaba’s first full solo, feels essential. She sings this ballad to a group of animals as they plan their escape from Oz to avoid being caged by the Wizard. The song not only explains Elphaba’s motivations but also reinforces one of Wicked’s central themes. “Oz is more than just a place. It’s a promise, an idea, and I want to help make it come true,” she sings. Through this, Chu seems to urge the audience to reflect on their own society’s promises and possibilities—and not to abandon them.
“The Wicked Witch of the East”
The next track introduces another addition to the Wicked soundtrack, though not to the story itself. “The Wicked Witch of the East,” a pivotal moment for Nessarose (Marissa Bode) and Boq (Ethan Slater), is actually part of the stage production but was omitted from the Broadway recording. If you haven’t seen the film or aren’t familiar with the second half of the story, you might want to skip this one for now. Still, I’m glad it was included. Slater’s Boq is perfectly portrayed, and Bode manages to convey her character’s entire arc in just three minutes and 23 seconds.
“Wonderful”
One of the most significant changes to the film’s soundtrack is the inclusion of Glinda in “Wonderful,” which is usually a duet between Elphaba and the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Composer Stephen Schwartz has explained this as a storytelling choice, noting that he and the creative team felt it necessary to bring Elphaba and Glinda together at this point in the narrative.In the film, Elphaba and Glinda meet earlier than they do in the stage show. Grande’s singing adds a welcome lightness to the otherwise dark material.
Her performance of “I’m Not That Girl (Reprise)” is deeply moving. On the original Broadway recording, the transition from this song into “As Long As You’re Mine” is seamless, moving directly from Glinda’s heartbreak to Elphaba and Fiyero’s reunion. In the film, however, there’s about a minute of instrumental music between them.
Any longing for the Broadway version of “As Long As You’re Mine” faded when Bailey—People’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive—sang, “Somehow I’ve fallen under your spell. And somehow I’m feeling so glad I fell.” (Move over “Dancing Through Life,” there’s a new Fiyero song to swoon over.) Though the intro is a bit slow, the song quickly builds into one of my favorites on the album. Erivo delivers the final line, “For the first time, I feel wicked,” perfectly.
As excited as fans were for Erivo and Bailey’s “As Long As You’re Mine,” Erivo’s big number, “No Good Deed,” was undoubtedly the most anticipated song among Wicked fans. The film executes this sequence masterfully. Erivo secures her place in movie-musical history with her powerful delivery of “Fiyero, where are you?” followed by the chilling line, “One more disaster I can add to my generous supply.” As she approaches the bridge, she screams Fiyero’s name in a battle cry reminiscent of “Defying Gravity.” The bridge has been subtly but effectively adjusted—the tempo slows, allowing us to feel Elphaba grappling with the idea of a good deed—before building to an ending that will surely bring the audience to applause (as it did mine!).
If you listen closely to the first few seconds of “March of the Witch Hunters,” you might recognize a familiar chant—could it be a version of the Winkie Guards’ chant from The Wizard of Oz? The song then continues as expected, though Slater’s Boq sounds more sinister, and it ends with a line not on the musical album: a faint cry from the chorus yelling, “Melt her”—a hint of what’s to come.
“The Girl in the Bubble,” the second of the two new songs, is an introspective solo ballad for Glinda. It also seems to nod to Grande’s own career, as Glinda reflects on the costs of being a public figure.
Unlike the original Broadway album, the film soundtrack ends with “For Good,” which feels appropriate. Wicked: For Good emphasizes Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship more than the stage musical does. Their dynamic is the heart of this cinematic adaptation, so it’s fitting to close the album with the Erivo/Grande duet. Their voices blend beautifully, staying true to the original song. Some things are just too good to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful FAQs about the Wicked For Good cast recording
General Beginner Questions
Q What exactly is the Wicked For Good cast recording
A Its a special charity album featuring stars from various productions of Wicked singing For Good to raise money for the charity Broadway CaresEquity Fights AIDS
Q Who sings on this recording
A It features over 100 past and present Elphabas and Glindas from Wicked productions all over the world including Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth from the original Broadway cast
Q Is it the same as the original Broadway cast recording
A No its completely different The original cast recording has the full shows soundtrack This is a single unique version of the song For Good created for a charitable cause
Q Where can I listen to or buy it
A Its available on major music streaming platforms like Spotify Apple Music and YouTube You can also purchase it digitally from stores like iTunes or Amazon Music
Q What is the money from this recording used for
A All net proceeds benefit Broadway CaresEquity Fights AIDS an organization that helps people with HIVAIDS and other critical illnesses
Deeper Advanced Questions
Q How was it recorded with so many singers in different places
A Each singer recorded their vocal part separately and a production team expertly mixed all the tracks together to create one cohesive and powerful song
Q Why was For Good chosen for this project
A The songs lyrics about friendship change and lasting impact perfectly reflect the spirit of the Wicked community and the charitable mission of the recording
Q Are there any notable differences in this arrangement compared to the original
A Yes the arrangement builds dramatically as more and more voices join in creating a much grander and more emotional finale than the original duet
Q Im a huge fan Are there any hidden gems or lesserknown performers on this track
A Absolutely For superfans its a treasure trove You can hear voices from international productions and from different eras of the shows history