Defying Gravity ( song ) - wikipedia Defying Gravity ( song ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2009 ) `` Defying Gravity '' Song by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth from the album Wicked ( Original Broadway Cast Recording ) Released December 16, 2003 Recorded May 10, 2003 Genre Pop, show tunes, orchestral, operatic pop Length 5 : 56 Label Decca Broadway Songwriter ( s ) Stephen Schwartz `` Defying Gravity '' is the signature song from the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz, originally recorded by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on May 10, 2003, and released on December 16, 2003. It is mostly a solo sung by the main character of the show, Elphaba ( the Wicked Witch of the West ), with two small duets at the beginning and in the middle of the song between Elphaba and her friend Glinda, and a chorus part at the end in which the citizens of Oz sing. It was performed on the BBC television programme I 'd Do Anything, and as a result the song charted at no. 60 on the official UK Singles chart. Contents 1 Development 2 Context and sequence 3 Lyrics and music analysis 4 Critical reception 4.1 Legacy 5 Idina Menzel single 5.1 Formats and track listings 5.2 Official versions 5.3 Chart performance 6 Other Wicked recordings 7 Cover versions 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Development The song was composed by Stephen Schwartz, and first performed by Liz Callaway in October 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland to a small audience with Schwartz at the piano. Context and sequence This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2016 ) In Wicked, the song is the finale for the show 's first act, when Elphaba discovers that The Wizard of Oz is not the heroic figure she had originally believed him to be. Realizing this, and despite Glinda 's attempts to dissuade her, Elphaba vows to do everything in her power to fight the Wizard and his sinister plans against the Animals of Oz. She sings of how she wants to live without limits, going against the rules that others have set for her. During the song, Elphaba enchants a broomstick to levitate and, pursued by the Wizard 's guards, rises from the stage above the angered citizens of Oz, who try in vain to `` bring her down. '' The song is heavily cinematic and comes to a climax for the final verse. The staging of this climax features several special effects. The actress playing Elphaba is lifted up into the air by a hydraulic launch system. The sequence relies heavily on around 60 moving lights, smoke, and wind effects. The Act One finale is `` calibrated to get everyone to stick around for Act Two ''. Lyrics and Music analysis The lyrics also contain a grammatical goof ( unlike the show 's other fanciful sillification of words ) : in the duet portion `` with you and I defying gravity '' should be `` with you and me defying gravity '' instead. Although that does n't fit the internal rhyme of I with ( de ) fy ( ing gravity ), another construction such as `` It 's you and I defying gravity '' would work just as well and be grammatically correct. The core to the song is that `` Elphaba finds power through her own outsider status '', which has universal appeal due to audiences rooting for outsiders. The piece begins with Elphaba and Glinda talking, then they slips into song, bickering in short sharp phrases that are reminiscent of how girls would argue in real life. At this point, the key signature is constantly shifting, creating a sense of unease. The song is in cut common time, but the duo rarely stick to the bar lines, often jumping in half way in a syncopated style. In the passage `` I 'm through with playing by the rules... '', the song unusually contains an 11th interval. The song builds on leitmotifs established earlier in the show, and then `` raises the stakes '' by lifting her voice up an octave and physically lifting her up on a cherry picker, embodying the first time the audience sees her as The Wicked Witch of the West. The dramatic conclusion of the song features a `` loud, screamy '' climax of `` Bring me dowwwwwwwwwwwwn, '' followed by an `` aHHAAAAAhhh '' riff '' that, according to Vulture, has the potential to destroy the performer 's vocal chords. Due to the song 's difficulty, it is aspirational for a few and impossible for most, thereby making those who pull it off outsiders by default. Critical reception Vulture listed the number as the best song from Wicked, deeming it the `` crown jewel of the score '', though noted it is an easy song to mock due to it being `` ripe for acrid belting and silly embellishment ''. Vulture also described it as the `` big, belt - y centerpiece of the show '', and felt it had since established an `` ambivalent legacy '' the `` silliest, most inspiring, most enduring song in recent Broadway history ''. Legacy Occasionally, the cherry - picker tech does n't work, leading to the fan - favourite meme of `` infamous and hilarious `` no - fly '' shows ``. The song was used to wake up astronauts aboard space shuttle mission STS - 131 in April 2010 for astronaut Dorothy Metcalf - Lindenburger in honor of the day 's planned extra-vehicular activity. Idina Menzel single `` Defying Gravity '' Single by Idina Menzel from the album I Stand Released March 1, 2007 Format CD, digital download Recorded 2007 Genre Pop, orchestral Length 3 : 46 Label Warner Bros. Songwriter ( s ) Stephen Schwartz Producer ( s ) Glen Ballard Idina Menzel singles chronology `` Take Me or Leave Me '' ( 2006 ) `` Defying Gravity '' ( 2007 ) `` Brave '' ( 2007 ) `` Take Me or Leave Me '' ( 2006 ) `` Defying Gravity '' ( 2007 ) `` Brave '' ( 2007 ) Idina Menzel, having reprised her role as Elphaba in the London production of Wicked in 2006, recorded a remixed `` pop mainstream '' version of the song. It was released as a single on March 1, 2007, and was later included on the UK and iTunes versions of her 2008 album I Stand. The remix of `` Defying Gravity '' was also the anthem at the 2007 Gay Pride Parade and Festival in Los Angeles, and appears on the official CD from the event. She released the song as a single a second time in 2012 from her album Live : Barefoot at the Symphony. Formats and track listings US CD single `` Defying Gravity '' ( Tracy Young 's Flying Monkey 's Club Mix ) -- 8 : 02 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Eddie Baez Club Mix ) -- 8 : 42 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Hani Flying So High Club Mix ) -- 7 : 04 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Josh Harris Vocal Club Mix ) -- 7 : 16 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Funky Junction & Antony Reale Club Mix ) -- 6 : 22 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Single version ) -- 3 : 48 Digital single `` Defying Gravity '' ( Album version ) -- 3 : 46 Digital maxi single `` Defying Gravity '' ( Tracy Young 's Flying Monkey 's Radio Edit ) -- 3 : 45 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Eddie Baez Radio Edit ) -- 4 : 54 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Funky Junction & Antony Reale Radio Edit ) -- 4 : 36 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Hani Flying So High Short Mix ) -- 4 : 55 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Josh Harris Radio Edit ) -- 3 : 53 Digital maxi single ( DJ version ) `` Defying Gravity '' ( Tracy Young 's Flying Monkey 's Club Mix ) -- 8 : 02 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Eddie Baez Club Mix ) -- 8 : 42 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Funky Junction & Antony Reale Club Mix ) -- 6 : 22 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Hani Flying So High Club Mix ) -- 7 : 04 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Josh Harris Vocal Club Mix ) -- 7 : 16 Official versions `` Defying Gravity '' ( Album version ) -- 3 : 46 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Single version ) -- 3 : 48 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Eddie Baez Club Mix ) -- 8 : 42 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Eddie Baez Radio Edit ) -- 4 : 54 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Funky Junction & Antony Reale Club Mix ) -- 6 : 22 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Funky Junction & Antony Reale Radio Edit ) -- 4 : 36 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Hani Flying So High Club Mix ) -- 7 : 04 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Hani Flying So High Short Mix ) -- 4 : 55 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Josh Harris Vocal Club Mix ) -- 7 : 16 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Josh Harris Radio Edit ) -- 3 : 53 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Tracy Young 's Flying Monkey 's Club Mix ) -- 8 : 02 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Tracy Young 's Flying Monkey 's Radio Edit ) -- 3 : 45 `` Defying Gravity '' ( Live from Soundstage ) -- 3 : 56 Chart performance Chart ( 2007 - 2008 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 72 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) 5 Other Wicked recordings hide All official versions of `` Defying Gravity '' Language Original cast Title Translation Glinda Elphaba Danish Annette Heick Maria Lucia Rosenberg `` Mine vinger bær '' `` My wings carry '' Dutch Chantal Janzen Willemijn Verkaik `` Ik lach om zwaartekracht '' `` I laugh at gravity '' English Kristin Chenoweth Idina Menzel `` Defying gravity '' Finnish Anna - Maija Tuokko ( fi ) Maria Ylipää `` Painovoimaa murtamaan '' `` Break gravity '' German Lucy Scherer Willemijn Verkaik `` Frei und schwerelos '' `` Free and weightless '' Japanese 沼尾 みゆき ( Miyuki Numao ) ( ja ) 濱田 めぐみ ( Megumi Hamada ) ( ja ) `` 自由 を 求め て '' ( `` Jiyū o motomete '' ) `` Looking for freedom '' Korean 정선아 ( Cheong Seon - a ) 김보경 ( Kim Bo - gyeong ) ( ko ) 김소현 ( Kim So - hyun ) 옥주현 ( Ock Joo - hyun ) 박혜 나 ( Park Hyena ) ( ko ) 김선영 ( Kim Seon - yeong ) ( ko ) `` 디 파잉 그래 비티 '' ( `` Tip'aing kŭraebit'i '' ) `` Defying gravity '' Portuguese Fabi Bang ( pt ) Myra Ruiz ( pt ) `` Desafiar a gravidade '' `` Defy gravity '' Spanish Cecilia de la Cueva ( es ) Danna Paola `` En contra de la gravedad '' `` Against gravity '' Cover versions See also Wicked Wicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West Broadway theatre West End theatre Stephen Schwartz References Jump up ^ `` Celebrity - Yahoo News UK ''. uk.launch.yahoo.com. Jump up ^ Steve Okoniewski ( 2016 - 12 - 15 ), Defying Gravity - Earliest Recording Oct 2001 - Liz Callaway - Wicked Musical, retrieved 2018 - 06 - 22 ^ Jump up to : McHenry, Jackson. `` Examining the Silly, Emotional Legacy of ' Defying Gravity ' ''. Vulture. Retrieved 2018 - 06 - 22. ^ Jump up to : `` Here 's why Defying Gravity makes your heart race every single time ''. Classic FM. Retrieved 2018 - 06 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Here 's why Defying Gravity makes your heart race every single time ''. Classic FM. Retrieved 2018 - 06 - 22. ^ Jump up to : `` Wicked at 10 : Ranking the Broadway Hit 's Songs ''. Vulture. 2013 - 10 - 30. Retrieved 2018 - 06 - 22. Jump up ^ `` STS - 131 wake calls ''. NASA. Archived from the original on 2016 - 01 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Idina Menzel -- Defying Gravity '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 14, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Idina Menzel Chart History ( Dance Club Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2011. Jump up ^ Charmedbalthazar ( 2011 - 04 - 02 ), Wicked Interview with Maria Lucia and Annette Heick, retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26 Jump up ^ `` Annette Heick ''. www.danskefilm.dk. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Chantal Janzen in musical Wicked '' ( in Dutch ). Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Biography Willemijn Verkaik Fansite ''. www.willemijnverkaikfansite.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri - Ohjelmisto - Wicked ''. www.hkt.fi. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` '' Wicked - Die Hexen von Oz ( Originalversion des Deutschen Musicals ) '' von Ensemble Palladium Theater Stuttgart auf Apple Music ``. iTunes. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ ミュージカル 「 ウィキッド 」 劇団 四季 版, UNIVERSAL CLASSICS ( P ) ( M ), retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26 Jump up ^ `` * Betty 's secret garden * : 네이버 블로그 ''. blog.naver.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ Danna Paola ( 2014 - 01 - 06 ), Danna Paola - Defying Gravity / En Contra de la Gravedad ( Audio ), retrieved 2016 - 09 - 26 External links Official YouTube videos : Kerry Ellis performing Brian May arrangement, Brian May and Kerry Ellis ( live ) Wicked Lyrics - `` Defying Gravity '' and composer 's comments Secret to Flying Video on YouTube The Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire Books Wicked Son of a Witch A Lion Among Men Out of Oz Characters Elphaba Glinda Wizard of Oz Boq Nessarose Cowardly Lion Dorothy Gale Stage adaptation Wicked awards and nominations album Wannabe Wicked Songs `` The Wizard and I '' `` What is this Feeling ? '' `` Dancing Through Life '' `` Popular '' `` I 'm Not that Girl '' `` Defying Gravity '' `` No Good Deed '' `` For Good '' Idina Menzel Discography Studio albums Still I Ca n't Be Still Here I Stand Holiday Wishes Idina Live albums Live : Barefoot at the Symphony Singles `` Defying Gravity '' `` Brave '' `` I Dreamed a Dream '' `` Let It Go '' `` Making Today a Perfect Day '' Other songs `` The Wizard and I '' `` What is this Feeling ? '' `` I 'm Not that Girl '' `` Dancing Through Life '' `` No Good Deed '' `` For Good '' `` For the First Time in Forever '' Concert tours Still I Ca n't Be Still Tour I Stand tour Barefoot at the Symphony Tour Idina Menzel : Live at Radio City Idina Menzel : World Tour Idina 2017 world tour Related articles Taye Diggs Book Kristin Chenoweth Credits Studio albums Let Yourself Go As I Am A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas Some Lessons Learned The Art of Elegance Live albums Coming Home Songs `` What is this Feeling ? '' `` Dancing Through Life '' `` Popular '' `` I 'm Not that Girl '' `` Defying Gravity '' `` For Good '' `` I Want Somebody ( Bitch About ) '' Concerts Kristin Chenoweth in Concert Coming Home Tour Kristin Chenoweth : My Love Letter to Broadway Books A Little Bit Wicked Kerry Ellis Solo recordings Wicked in Rock ( 2008 ) Anthems ( 2010 ) Acoustic by Candlelight ( with Brian May ) ( 2013 ) Kerry Ellis ( 2014 ) Golden Days ( with Brian May ) ( 2017 ) Singles `` No - One but You ( Only the Good Die Young ) '' `` I 'm Not that Girl '' `` Anthem '' `` Defying Gravity '' ( G-A-Y remix ) `` Born Free '' Concert tours Anthems : The Tour ( 2011 ) The Born Free Tour ( 2012 -- 13 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Defying_Gravity_(song)&oldid=866399785 '' Categories : Ballads 2003 songs 2007 singles 2000s ballads Pop ballads Idina Menzel songs Kristin Chenoweth songs Kerry Ellis songs Songs from Wicked ( musical ) Songs written by Stephen Schwartz ( composer ) Hidden categories : CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) Articles needing additional references from January 2009 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats Articles needing additional references from July 2016 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018 Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Billboarddanceclubplay Singlechart called without song Interlanguage link template link number Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Português Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 30 October 2018, at 02 : 39 ( UTC ). 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Question: what film is the song defying gravity from
Answer: the musical Wicked