This year has been nothing short of magical for the music industry. From BRAT’s international viral success to Beyoncé’s venture into country music and Shawn Mendes’s long-awaited comeback, 2024 has been a dream for fans everywhere. As we close out this golden year, the industry continues to defy gravity with the release of the Wicked movie soundtrack. A soundtrack that has been on the top five of so many music charts within a week. To celebrate, United By Pop has a fun article matching songs released in 2024 to your favorite Ozians.
If you haven’t had the chance to see Wicked yet, United By Pop highly recommends it. Wishing you Happy Holidays from all of us at UBP and your favorite Ozians!
Elphaba: “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” By Taylor Swift
Miss Elphie must have secretly been a Swiftie growing up, even if her parents forbade her from listening to music. She would have found a way to listen to Taylor’s masterpiece, The Tortured Poet’s Department.
“If you wanted me dead, you should’ve just said/ Nothing makes me feel more alive… So I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street.” – Taylor Swift
Several of the album’s lyrics resonate with Elphaba’s story. Especially in adulthood, she may find herself relating deeply to track 10, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” This confrontational song addresses how people downsize Taylor in the media, similar to how people downsize Elphaba because her skin is green.
Glinda: “Supernatural” By Ariana Grande
Yes, Ariana Grande plays Glinda in the film. Yes, Ariana has several songs about magic and female empowerment. And yes, you should listen to Eternal Sunshine again because we chose a song from it to match her character’s aesthetic for several reasons.
Ariana began writing her latest album after landing the role of Glinda, the song is a standout love anthem surpassing her other romantic tracks, it reflects Glinda’s journey through various relationships and themes of “claiming” someone as her own, and it ties into Glinda’s superstitious nature—fitting for someone living in the magical land of Oz.
Boq: “Somewhere to Go” By Adrian Lyles
Adrian and Boq share many similarities. Adrian is not from California and currently lives there. Boq is from Munchkinland and is currently studying at Shiz University. While both men are reserved, they later on reveal their back story’s and secrets to their new friend groups. They are also searching for for something – be it love or a sense of belonging. As an artist, Adrian pursues his music while Boq explores his creative passion at Shiz “Dancing through life.”
“I wanted to write a song about not trying to find home in a place but home in a person, you know? I wanted it to feel like longing and searching for something. By the end of the song, it makes you feel like you’ve found it.” -Adrian Lyles via Billboard.
“Boq comes to school looking for a community different from the one he has known. He is open to the world and vulnerable and he is working his way in the friend group.” – Ethan Slater via Wicked character introductions.
Adrian, who played Jet in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, mirrors Boq’s journey as a newcomer finding his place despite initial challenges. There’s also some singing and dancing in between scenes that are meant to be emotional.
Nessa Rose: “Roses” by Jenna Raine
Nessa not only carries the name of a flower but also represents a flower’s growth as she transforms from a baby cared for by a nanny into a young woman with a disability navigating a new world independently, much like how Jenna describes herself in the song “Roses,” with a big, naive heart that resonates with Nessa’s experiences, from meeting her first male friend to joyfully singing and dancing with her friends at the Oz Ball or in the comfort of her dorm room.
“But I keep singing/ La-da-da, da-da-di/ Yesterday is dead to me/ I feel the ground beneath my feet”
“When I say, ooh, don’t go killing all my roses/ ‘Cause I’ve only started growing.” – Jenna Raine
The Wizard of Oz: “Can’t Lose This Fight,” By New Hope Club
If you’re unfamiliar with the Wicked Witch of the West’s story, you might not see why this song resonates with the Wizard. It was originally written as a hype song for a boxing match that happened this spring. However, UBP is using it as a song for The Wizard’s song. Mostly to discuss his power, masculinity, and will to fight for what he wants even if it hurts the opponent.
This song’s egotistical lyrics and upbeat vibe make it perfect for a fight scene, wrestling match, or film argument. Knowing part one of the film’s ending reveals why the lyrics resonate with the character and create a vivid image.
Fiyero: “The Magic” by The Aces
Fiyero is a complicated character with a high status and quite a demeanor. He is a new student at Shiz University who is claimed as Elphaba’s love interest. On the contrary, this song isn’t about his relationship with Miss Elphie, it’s about his relationship with Glinda.
“The Magic” is the first song The Aces wrote after they released their debut album, I’ve Loved You for So Long. It is a song about being sexy, attractive and standing out as the “It” couple. The lyrics perfectly resonate with Glinda and Fiyero’s blooming relationship. Specifically in the, “Dancing Through Life” dance number. It can also be seen as a couple’s dance floor song.
Madame Morrible: “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” By Gracie Abrams
Miss Morrible is a difficult character to unpack. She has a huge backstory in the musical and the books that varies from movies. To add onto her complicated story, she also has power like The Wizard. As a professor at Shiz, everyone sees her as a leader and problem solver. We choose this Gracie Abrams song specifically correlate with her teacher student relationship with Elphaba’s lessons and growth.
If you pay close attention to the lyrics, they echo the intensity. Strength, and loss of the relationship portrayed in Act One of the film.
“The way life goes (you were the best but you were the worst)/ (As sick as it sounds, I loved you first)/ I wanna speak in code (I was a dick, it is what it is).” – Gracie Abrams
