Songfacts®:

• "Defying Gravity" is a song from the musical Wicked, composed by Stephen Schwartz. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth sang it in the original Broadway show as the explosive climax of the first act when Menzel's Elphaba, soon to be the "Wicked Witch of the West," discovers the Wizard of Oz is, to put it diplomatically, a fraud. In response, she vows to defy both him and, well, gravity, while Chenoweth's Glinda, the perky sorceress-in-training, tries to stop her.
• In 2024, 21 years after the Wicked musical debuted, "Defying Gravity" got another moment to shine in Universal Pictures' two-part film adaptation where British actress Cynthia Erivo takes on the role of Elphaba, joined by Ariana Grande as Glinda. In the film's climax, Elphaba, finally embracing her magical powers, flies on her broomstick out of the Wizard's window while belting out the song, which becomes a literal and metaphorical declaration of independence, punctuated by its famous battle cry as lights blow out across the Emerald City.
• Erivo described singing the song's final, wordless outburst as a cathartic moment of transformation. "Your body and your brain and your mind – and your heart, really – are waiting to be able to release that one final note," she explained to Classic FM's Zeb Soanes, "because it's the ultimate moment where she can become herself."
• Ariana Grande delivers a crucial assist with some spoken dialogue and harmonies midway.
• The song has been reinterpreted several times. Idina Menzel's "pop remix" and the Glee cast's rendition are notable renditions, but Wicked's cinematic revival catapulted it back into the charts. Erivo's version debuted at #7 on the UK's Official Singles Chart and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #44. It marked Erivo's first appearance on either chart, and in the same week, she charted three other Wicked songs in the US: "What Is This Feeling?," "The Wizard and I" and "I'm Not That Girl."
• Symbolically, "Defying Gravity" is as much about personal transformation as it is about political rebellion. It's an anthem for anyone who has ever wanted to soar above the constraints of expectation and forge their own path, even if it means being misunderstood. As Erivo put it, "There's no ceiling - anything is possible, and nothing is impossible. It's a song that reminds us that those dreams of yours that you fear are too far could happen if you just believe in yourself."
• Nearly 21 years after its debut, the original Broadway cast recording of Wicked soared into the top 40 of the Billboard 200 albums chart for the first time. On the chart dated December 7, 2024, the album climbed to new heights, fueled by the renewed excitement surrounding the recently released film adaptation of the stage musical.
• Several of the Wicked songs are popular choices for karaoke enthusiasts, especially "Defying Gravity." Its powerful melody and uplifting lyrics make it a favorite, though it requires a skilled vocalist to do it justice.