Wicked: For Good is the much-anticipated second part of Jon M. Chu’s cinematic Broadway adaptation, and it features a whole new soundtrack of exciting songs. The first trailer for Wicked: For Good has already teased some of these iconic musical numbers, but audiences will have to wait and see how they play out on the big screen.
The sequel is said to detail the second act of the Broadway production, picking up straight after Elphaba’s departure from the Emerald City. Wicked 2 will have some of the musical’s most important songs, matching (and even surpᴀssing) the storytelling grandeur and musical power of numbers like “Defying Gravity” and “The Wizard and I”.
10
Thank Goodness
“Thank Goodness” is the opening song of the second act in the Broadway production, and while it’s often sidelined in discussions of Wicked’s best songs, there’s a lot to enjoy about this number. Sung primarily by Glinda and Madame Morrible, the song explores the aftermath of Glinda’s decision to stay in the Emerald City following Elphaba’s departure.
Much of the second act centers around Glinda’s attempts to rationalize her decision at the end of Wicked: Part One, before ultimately realizing that she’s allowed herself to remain a cog in the Wizard’s authoritarian regime. “Thank Goodness” helps clarify why she made that decision, and foreshadows her eventual character development at the end of the story.
9
I’m Not That Girl (Reprise)
“I’m Not That Girl” featured in Wicked: Part One, and the Broadway production includes a reprisal of this musical number in its second act. However, what makes this song interesting is that it’s sung by Glinda the second time around, as she experiences the exact same hatred and self-loathing that Elphaba went through during the song’s initial appearance.
In both forms, “I’m Not That Girl” is sung by Elphaba and Glinda as they realize they’re not the kind of person that Fiyero wants to be with. The way their perspectives shift throughout the story is a clear display of Wicked’s brilliant character work, which sees the two female protagonists slowly morph into reflections of one another.
8
Wicked Witch Of The East
The only song from the Broadway production of Wicked that wasn’t included on the official soundtrack, “The Wicked Witch of the East” is one of the most dialogue-heavy numbers in the show, and details Nessarose’s transformation into the тιтular witch. After making a grave mistake against someone she loves, Nessarose is horrified by her actions and accepts her status as the Wicked Witch of the East.
The dynamic between Elphaba and Nessarose was a major part of Wicked: Part One, so this scene is surely going to play a huge role in For Good. While the world perceives Elphaba as the “evil” sister and Nessa as the “good” one, this emotional climax affirms that labels cannot be so easily given to such complex figures.
7
March Of The Witch Hunters
“March of the Witch Hunters” is one of Wicked’s lesser-known songs, but it marks a crucial turning point in the story that can’t be avoided in For Good. This intense ensemble number follows several key figures from the Emerald City as they set out for Elphaba’s hiding place, displaying just how effective the Wizard’s political attack on her reputation has been.
While the most memorable songs in Wicked are typically the ones sung between Elphaba and Glinda, this musical number deserves recognition for the sheer scale of the ensemble and the emotional impact of seeing characters like Boq and the Cowardly Lion join the hunt for Elphaba. Watching this scene play out in Wicked: For Good will surely be one of the sequel’s most cinematic moments.
6
Wonderful
Although Elphaba and the Wizard are essentially at war throughout Wicked: For Good, the pair aren’t in the same room very often. The only time they come together in the Broadway production is during “Wonderful”, making it a highly anticipated song. A duet between the two conflicting parties, “Wonderful” is the perfect demonstration of the Wizard’s manipulative and exploitative nature.
The song essentially serves as a backstory for the Wizard, as he explains from his own perspective exactly how he came to be known as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The song serves as a very effective contrast to the background we were given in Wicked: Part One, showing how strongly the Wizard’s propaganda has molded the public’s perception of him.
5
Elphaba’s New Song
It’s already been announced that two original songs will appear in Wicked: For Good: one for Elphaba and one for Glinda. While very few details have been revealed about these upcoming musical numbers, the man behind the Broadway production, Stephen Schwarz, has been confirmed as the writer. They will reportedly be solo numbers performed by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande alone.
Elphaba’s new song could bring a hugely exciting new dimension to the story, as she’s often sidelined in the show’s second act despite being the main character. This song could offer more insight into Elphaba’s thoughts as the entire realm of Oz seemingly turns against her, reaffirming the idea that she was never the villain of the story.
Additionally, Erivo helped write the song, which should give it an extra personal touch. It’ll likely be a very insightful look into this fascinating character.
4
As Long As You’re Mine
The love triangle between Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero is one of Wicked’s most compelling subplots, and Fiyero’s decision to go with Elphaba at the end of the play is a very satisfying one that rewards Elphaba’s sacrifice and condemns Glinda’s acquiescence. “As Long as You’re Mine” is the romantic heart of Wicked’s second act, and does an excellent job of building towards Fiyero’s final decision.
Fiyero is one of Wicked’s most noble characters, and one of the few people who doesn’t turn against Elphaba when the Wizard informs the realm that she’s become a fugitive. Their romance is a clear representation of resistance and unity in the face of oppression, and it will be fascinating to see how Erivo and Bailey approach this key moment.
3
Glinda’s New Song
Glinda’s new song is arguably the more exciting of the two original additions to Wicked: For Good’s soundtrack, mainly because of just how complex her character arc is in the second act of the show. After choosing to leave her friend behind in Wicked’s conclusion, Glinda is overcome by conflicted morals as she realizes her complicity in the Wizard’s personal attacks against her old friend.
Glinda’s role in Wicked is often diluted down to “good” or “bad,” but her character is far less binary than that. This new song will hopefully give audiences an insight into her thoughts after refusing to stand beside Elphaba in resistance to the Wizard, revealing that her choice wasn’t as simple as it seems to viewers.
2
No Good Deed
“No Good Deed” serves as a perfect companion piece to “Defying Gravity,” marking the climax of Elphaba’s character arc in Wicked: For Good. The two songs are essentially the anтιтhesis of one another; where “Defying Gravity” saw Elphaba filled with hope and determination to bring down the Wizard, “No Good Deed” comes from a place of rage and disappointment.
The song details Elphaba’s failed attempts at being good. She sings about how those who go along with the Wizard’s lies are the ones who are rewarded, whereas her attempts to make the world a better place result in nothing but torment and suffering. It’s a very powerful piece of music that succinctly demonstrates exactly why Elphaba is such a complex and empathetic character.
1
For Good
As the song after which Wicked: For Good is named, it’s hard to disagree that this duet between Elphaba and Glinda is going to be a huge scene in the sequel. The first movie really leaned into the friendship between these characters, and while their relationship certainly turns sour in For Good, that admiration between them still exists, and it comes out during this song.
There will definitely be some musical changes in Wicked: For Good, but there are also certain moments that the sequel has to get right. Erivo and Grande are exceptional as Elphaba and Glinda, and this scene needs to encapsulate everything that’s so charming and endearing about their on-screen dynamic in Wicked: For Good.