John Powell & Stephen Schwartz - Wicked (2024) & Wicked: For Good (2025)

[MikeH 805]

Just got back. Fantastic! I saw it in Dolby Cinema and all the music (score and songs) was loud and immersive. No complaints about the mix. Powell’s stuff was magical, couldn’t have asked for a better composer to adapt and score this.

[tomsmoviemadness 4,738]

Folks!!! The score is showing on itunes New Zealand with one track releasing officially tomorrow, "Arrival At Shiz University", samples available.

 

Full album is 26 tracks, no runtime yet.

 

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/wicked-the-original-motion-picture-score/1780442290

 

And it does seem like a John Powell & Stephen Schwartz credit on every track.

 

But wooow! That 30 seconds I could here of this are bloody fantastic!!! The way the "Unlimited" theme is used and the brass is brilliant. Now I really can't wait for the full album.

[PrayodiBA 972]

^^
Funny the track is simply titled “All Around Defying Gravity”, because it literally is 🤣

[Tarci4096 153]

 

Full image extracted from Apple Music.

[Tarci4096 153]

3 hours ago, tomsmoviemadness said:

Folks!!! The score is showing on itunes New Zealand with one track releasing officially tomorrow, "Arrival At Shiz University", samples available.

 

Full album is 26 tracks, no runtime yet.

 

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/wicked-the-original-motion-picture-score/1780442290

 

And it does seem like a John Powell & Stephen Schwartz credit on every track.

 

But wooow! That 30 seconds I could here of this are bloody fantastic!!! The way the "Unlimited" theme is used and the brass is brilliant. Now I really can't wait for the full album.

 

HOW TO LOATHE YOUR ROOMATE 🤣🤣🤣

[Tydirium 1,563]

Looks like no credits suites. 

[Jay 45,630]

If a score's soundtrack album is limited to a length that doesn't allow the entire thing to be released, dropping the end credits is actually a good thing because we can always add it ourselves by ripping it from the movie, but we cannot add unreleased cues buried under sound effects and dialogue.

[Tydirium 1,563]

Assuming this is a digital-only album, are digital albums usually limited in length? But I get what you’re saying, and that’s a fair point. I usually just stick to official releases (and don’t mess with rips and stuff), but that’s just me.

[Jay 45,630]

It's possible that there will be a CD version down the line, so he limited himself for that.  But it's also possible he chose the length he wanted that best represented the score, and chose what he considers to be the highlights of it he wanted released, which didn't include end credit material.

[tomsmoviemadness 4,738]

I believe the first part of the end credits is an instrumental of some of the songs and the latter part is part of the score.

[Smeltington 1,878]

1 hour ago, Tarci4096 said:

 

 

 

 

Who did it better??

 

 

 

[PrayodiBA 972]

I have been listening to Alan Menken's new score Spellbound, and the score truly grows on me.

The tunes, may not be really original, as I could easily notice it's basically a rehash of all previous Menken's music, but dang, those orchestration is as wonderful and impactful as ever.

 

Made me wonder, why Schwartz didn't collaborate with him for the score for this movie?

When the first time I read that Wicked would be adapted to movie, my first guess was that someone like Menken will do the music/score.

 

Well, being an avid Powell fan, it's not that I wanted it to happen, duh

but based on Spellbound's score, I dare to say that Menken's orchestration will probably create the same impact as Powell's

[Tydirium 1,563]

1 hour ago, Smeltington said:

 

 

 

Who did it better??

 

 

 

 

I knew it looked familiar!

 

1 hour ago, PrayodiBA said:

I have been listening to Alan Menken's new score Spellbound, and the score truly grows on me.

The tunes, may not be really original, as I could easily notice it's basically a rehash of all previous Menken's music, but dang, those orchestration is as wonderful and impactful as ever.

 

Made me wonder, why Schwartz didn't collaborate with him for the score for this movie?

When the first time I read that Wicked would be adapted to movie, my first guess was that someone like Menken will do the music/score.

 

Well, being an avid Powell fan, it's not that I wanted it to happen, duh

but based on Spellbound's score, I dare to say that Menken's orchestration will probably create the same impact as Powell's

 

Good question, but then again I guess one could also ask why Schwartz didn’t have Menken score The Prince of Egypt? They had already done Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame together, by that point, and Menken was already an accomplished score composer.

 

I definitely don’t think that Zimmer or Powell scoring Schwartz’ films where he is the song composer, indicates any sort of strained relationship between him and Menken, anyways. I guess it’s possible that Menken doesn’t really enjoy adapting others’ tunes?

[Anthony 895]

The end credits definitely reprises some of the score cues - I believe the Train To Emerald City cue was in there somewhere. But I'm pretty certain there was some kind of overture and then at least 1 or 2 original credit pieces.

 

But as Jay says, that's fine - as we can rip them!

[Tydirium 1,563]

Part of the credits seemed to be an arrangement of a new Powell theme that is only heard for maybe 20 seconds in the film itself (as far as I recall). It’s the one that sounds like “If I Only Had a Brain,” lol, and it plays right before/while Elphaba boards the train. Seems like he maybe followed Schwartz’s lead and decided to have a little fun with more of the old 1939 themes!

[andreaz 11]

 

[Leia Sees Ghosts 340]

I can't help but think to myself that if Michael Giacchino scored this movie, there would be track titles liked "Shiz Just Got Real", "Every Nessarose Has Its Thorns", "Hate To Burst Your Pink Bubble", "I Need a Fiyero", "Glinda's Such a Witch", "Boq to the Future" "Elphaba & Omega" "World's Worst Wonderful Wizard, and "Morrible Bosses". 😭

[PrayodiBA 972]

Total runtime revealed: 78 minutes 45 seconds!

 

1. Arrival at Shiz University (2:08)
2. Our Heroes Meet (1:54)
3. Nessarose (1:10)
4. Meet the Faculty (3:34)
5. Elphaba’s Power (3:35)
6. How to Loathe Your Roommate (3:43)
7. History Lesson (3:46)
8. Levitate the Coin (2:17)
9. All Around Something Bad (2:17)
10. Prince Fiyero of Winkie Country (3:16)
11. The Book Place (2:00)
12. Elphaba at Ozdust (3:02)
13. Sharing Secrets (2:00)
14. Look at You (1:19)
15. Replacement Teacher (3:49)
16. Cub Rescue (1:45)
17. Forest Feelings (2:02)
18. Ozian Invitation (2:30)
19. Galinda Becomes Glinda (3:36)
20. Train to Emerald City (2:18)
21. Hall of Grandiosity (2:40)
22. A Wizard’s Plan (4:23)
23. The Grimmerie (2:06)
24. Transformations (8:10)
25. Monkey Mayhem (3:40)
26. All Around Defying Gravity (5:45)

 

https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/11/26/wicked-movie-score-album-details/

[Knight of Ren 1,505]

That's a big release indeed! The first track can already be listened to if it's already Wednesday in your country:

Not really familiar with the melodies from the musical, and as I have read the score heavily borrows from that. But it's a really magical cue! I really like the melody that enters at 0:42! And the playful bits in the second half are classic Powell.

[DangerMotif 1,303]

42 minutes ago, PrayodiBA said:

20. Train to Emerald City (2:18)
21. Hall of Grandiosity (2:40)
22. A Wizard’s Plan (4:23)
23. The Grimmerie (2:06)
24. Transformations (8:10)
25. Monkey Mayhem (3:40)

This is going to be a wild stretch

[Drawgoon 130]

Looks like having one (comparatively) lengthy cue towards the end of album assembly is becoming a tradition with JP.

[Tydirium 1,563]

Theme identification can officially begin, with the release of track 1!

 

0:07 “For Good”

0:25 “For Good”

0:42 “Unlimited” theme

0:49 “Dear Old Shiz”

 

(Btw, does anyone hear some sort of weird clicking instrument/sound several times from 0:50-0:59? Any ideas what that might be?)

[Luka 307]

10 hours ago, Tydirium said:

(Btw, does anyone hear some sort of weird clicking instrument/sound several times from 0:50-0:59? Any ideas what that might be?)

 

To me it kind of sounds like guitar strum picking. Which I guess is kind of weird that we hear more of the picking than the notes themselves haha. But that's probably due to the fact that there are many instruments playing that take up the sound spectrum of those guitar notes, and so the only thing we can pick up are the high-pitched string picking sounds that are not hidden by other instruments in the same range. I think I've heard this kind of stuff in other Powell scores before. And I kind of like it! It's almost as if it was another percussion instrument. Just like he often uses trumpets as a kind of percussion rhythm.

 

For example here at 3:23

 

Although we can really hear the guitar notes better compared to that Wicked track.

 

 

Or Joining the Team which is full of guitar strums: 

 

[MikeH 805]

Damn. Listening to Arrival at Shiz University just further solidifies for me that Powell is the absolute successor to Horner, Goldsmith, Williams, etc. His stuff simply floats and soars around the orchestra effortlessly. 

[Will 2,393]

I've probably re-listened to "Arrival at Shiz University" 15 times today. It's that good. Powell knocked it out of the park here. This cadence is classic Powell and so satisfying:

 

 

Can't wait for the rest of the score!

[Marian Schedenig 11,525]

18 hours ago, Leia Sees Ghosts said:

"Glinda's Such a Witch"

 

That pun at least was already made by Gregory Maguire himself: The sequel to the original Wicked novel is called Son of a Witch.

[Jay 45,630]

That track is nice, can't wait to hear the whole album!

[Leia Sees Ghosts 340]

Interview with Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Oremus, and John Powell! Featuring some previews of Powell's score!

Powell starts speaking at 24:02!

 

 

[Tydirium 1,563]

Great interview! My gosh, the score previews all sound amazing.

 

EDIT: My brother just pointed out to me that the Madame Morrible theme is actually derived from her singing part at the beginning of “The Wizard and I”! Not a new theme after all!

[Tydirium 1,563]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DC4KWDtOgm9/

[Bat1989 172]

49 minutes ago, Tydirium said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DC4KWDtOgm9/

Ok, this is very interesting, it’s not usual to Powell use piano and put it in the focus in action cues.

[Tarci4096 153]

New BTS post from Holly Sedillos

https://www.instagram.com/p/DC4gRb2SoiI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[Luka 307]

5 hours ago, CT-7567 said:

Ok, this is very interesting, it’s not usual to Powell use piano and put it in the focus in action cues.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that bit is actually from Stephen Schwartz. And then the action bit that seems to start at the end of that clip maybe is Powell. 

[Tydirium 1,563]

20 minutes ago, Luka said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if that bit is actually from Stephen Schwartz. And then the action bit that seems to start at the end of that clip maybe is Powell. 

 

I was going to say the same. That’s definitely from “All Around Defying Gravity,” right after she gets her cape.

[MikeH 805]

13 hours ago, Luka said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if that bit is actually from Stephen Schwartz. And then the action bit that seems to start at the end of that clip maybe is Powell. 

Yup. That call and response variation is very much a part of the Broadway score. It occurs a couple of times in the first minute of Defying Gravity on the cast album. 
 

Speaking of Defying Gravity, there are bits of the Broadway orchestration that I miss since they’ve been stuck in my head for 20 years lol. Bill Brohn, who did the original orchestration, created some fantastic horn writing when Elphaba takes flight in Defying Gravity (“Look to the Western Sky!”) 
 

But that’s so minor considering this film and the music/score is such an overwhelming success. They absolutely nailed it. 

[PrayodiBA 972]

Recording session footage of the Train To Emerald City track

From:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC-0lYUJh6L/?igsh=MTdna3Z3MmY2bmwwbg==
 

^^
Is it the trend nowadays for movie score to be recorded separately by instruments? 😄

 

[Rachael Foley 9,835]

Yes, it's called striping.

[Dr. Know 486]

Counting the days until the score release!

[Knight of Ren 1,505]

Was just listening to the soundtrack album, and I think the statement of the For Good motif that appears at the beginning of "Dear Old Shiz" might be the same as the one heard at the opening of the Arrival at Shiz track. Each track then continues on its own but I think those first few seconds might be shared.

 

I haven't seen the movie yet but I wonder if perhaps those two tracks sort of overlap in the film in some way?

[PrayodiBA 972]

6 hours ago, Doo_liss said:

Yes, it's called striping.

This has been the trend for Powell. I guess this makes the composer work easier, for the final mix and such. But I wonder, will the orchestra sound better if it’s recorded altogether? There are certain non-technical factors that will make that’s the case, such as the ‘connection’ between the orchestra player, etc.

[tomsmoviemadness 4,738]

2 hours ago, Knight of Ren said:

Was just listening to the soundtrack album, and I think the statement of the For Good motif that appears at the beginning of "Dear Old Shiz" might be the same as the one heard at the opening of the Arrival at Shiz track. Each track then continues on its own but I think those first few seconds might be shared.

 

I haven't seen the movie yet but I wonder if perhaps those two tracks sort of overlap in the film in some way?

 

Dear Old Shiz plays after Arrival At Shiz, but I'm not sure how connected they are.

[Muad'Dib 2,028]

1 hour ago, PrayodiBA said:

This has been the trend for Powell. I guess this makes the composer work easier, for the final mix and such. But I wonder, will the orchestra sound better if it’s recorded altogether? There are certain non-technical factors that will make that’s the case, such as the ‘connection’ between the orchestra player, etc.

 

I remember the first HTTYD was recorded like this, but I believe in the sequels most of the orchestra was recorded in the traditional fashion with all the musicians together in one room.

[jjstarA113 60]

6 hours ago, Knight of Ren said:

Was just listening to the soundtrack album, and I think the statement of the For Good motif that appears at the beginning of "Dear Old Shiz" might be the same as the one heard at the opening of the Arrival at Shiz track. Each track then continues on its own but I think those first few seconds might be shared.

 

I haven't seen the movie yet but I wonder if perhaps those two tracks sort of overlap in the film in some way?

 

First of all, hello everyone, this is my first time posting on JWFan! Anyway, so in the movie that chunk of dialogue - "Is it true you were your friend?"/"Our paths did cross at school..." - is followed by a whole sequence of Glinda arriving at Shiz University (since the whole film is a flashback after the opening song), and the scene is scored with, naturally, "Arrival at Shiz University"; when Glinda gets there the school choir then sings "Dear Old Shiz". For the soundtrack edit of "Dear Old Shiz", they clearly wanted to mimic the original musical/cast recording as closely as possible in its presentation, so they have that dialogue at the start with just a snippet of Powell's "Arrival at Shiz" cue playing over it, and then it skips ahead to the school choir singing. So yeah, they do overlap in that way, and Powell is even credited in the metadata of "Dear Old Shiz", the only song on the OST he's credited for besides "Something Bad".

[Knight of Ren 1,505]

Welcome to the forum! Yeah, that's kind of what I gathered was happening, but thanks for the confirmation. I think I'll finally watch the movie tomorrow so really looking forward to hear Powell's score in context and then in a couple of days, listen to the score on its own!

[Edmilson 12,032]

4 minutes ago, jjstarA113 said:

 

First of all, hello everyone, this is my first time posting on JWFan! Anyway, so in the movie that chunk of dialogue - "Is it true you were your friend?"/"Our paths did cross at school..." - is followed by a whole sequence of Glinda arriving at Shiz University (since the whole film is a flashback after the opening song), and the scene is scored with, naturally, "Arrival at Shiz University"; when Glinda gets there the school choir then sings "Dear Old Shiz". For the soundtrack edit of "Dear Old Shiz", they clearly wanted to mimic the original musical/cast recording as closely as possible in its presentation, so they have that dialogue at the start with just a snippet of Powell's "Arrival at Shiz" cue playing over it, and then it skips ahead to the school choir singing. So yeah, they do overlap in that way, and Powell is even credited in the metadata of "Dear Old Shiz", the only song on the OST he's credited for besides "Something Bad".

Welcome to JWFan! And thanks for the nice and informative post!

[Tydirium 1,563]

13 hours ago, PrayodiBA said:

Recording session footage of the Train To Emerald City track

From:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC-0lYUJh6L/?igsh=MTdna3Z3MmY2bmwwbg==
 

^^
Is it the trend nowadays for movie score to be recorded separately by instruments? 😄

 

 

Rather than “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” you can really hear the “Thank Goodness” theme for Glinda in this clip!

[Stark 946]

Did Schwartz write any of the score, or is he credited because Powell uses his themes? And am I right to assume that the original musical doesn't have any instrumental portions?

[Rachael Foley 9,835]

There was an Xfinity ad on YouTube that sounded like it used Powell score. Though it could have been Schwartz, or stock Music in the same vein

[Tydirium 1,563]

39 minutes ago, Stark said:

Did Schwartz write any of the score, or is he credited because Powell uses his themes? And am I right to assume that the original musical doesn't have any instrumental portions?

 

According to Schwartz, he wrote some.

[PrayodiBA 972]

As @Knight of Ren first found out,

 

the WICKED FULL FYC SCORE IS NOW AVAILABLE!

https://awards.universalpictures.com/wicked/score