I’m A Wicked Act 2 Apologist, And Even I Couldn’t Enjoy The New Additions To For Good

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Look, musicals can win Best Picture, and this year, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good is definitely aiming for that spot. The first film, currently available on Amazon Prime, only covers the first half of the stage show, and this sequel promises to finish the story. I’ve always been a fan of the second act of Wicked, but honestly? I can’t get behind some of the new songs they’ve added. They just don’t quite hit the mark.

Before its release, details about the movie Wicked: For Good were scarce. However, the soundtrack listing showed that two new songs had been added: Ariana Grande performs “The Girl in The Bubble,” and Cynthia Erivo sings “No Place Like Home.” Sadly, despite being written by the talented Stephen Schwartz, these new additions don’t quite live up to the beloved songs from the original Broadway show. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect.

Wicked: For Good’s New Songs And Other Additions Couldn’t Compare To The Originals

When I first heard they were splitting the Wicked musical into two films, I was a little worried, but honestly, it’s a brilliant move. It means they didn’t have to cut any of the songs we all love, and more importantly, it gives the complex friendship between Glinda and Elphaba the time and space it deserves. Plus, because the second act is typically shorter, they were even able to add two brand new songs specifically for the movie – which I’m guessing is also a smart play for awards season and hopefully some Best Original Song nominations!

The new songs just weren’t as catchy or memorable as their older ones. I was surprised by how little melody they had, particularly when compared to how much we enjoyed listening to the entire original Broadway cast recording without skipping any tracks. While “The Girl In The Bubble” did help us understand Glinda’s perspective, we’d already experienced that feeling during the song “Thank Goodness.”

Okay, so I got to see For Good at a private screening—it was packed with theater people, basically the perfect crowd to appreciate new music from Wicked. But honestly? Everyone pretty much agreed that the two new songs weren’t as good as the rest of the show’s amazing score. They just didn’t quite measure up, you know?

The negative reaction wasn’t limited to the two new songs. Both “Wonderful” and “The Wicked Witch of The East” also had new, non-melodic introductions. I was especially bothered by the change to “The Wicked Witch of The East” because this was the first time the full version of Nessa’s Act 2 song had been officially recorded. While I would have been okay with lyric changes to address potentially harmful language, this new intro just didn’t fit.

The song’s distinctive melody, first heard when introducing the Wicked Witch of the East, wasn’t played early enough. Plus, a portion of this great, but often overlooked, track was spoken instead of sung by actress Marissa Bode. It felt like the song wasn’t given the attention it deserved, again.

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2025-11-21 17:38