Defying Gravity (UK)

[killoa2002]

for any actress playing elphaba for the first time...imagine what its like to hear that music beginning.....and then imagine what it feels like to fly.....it must be a scarily awesome feeling

[killoa2002]

i LOOOVE these orchestrations

[TigerLuver2k10]

Just read that she had an asthma attack before performing! wow, that makes her even more amazing! bless her :') xxx

[warjakeboy]

@TigerLuver2k10 she is a good sing to have a asthma attack and sing wow she rocks

[TigerLuver2k10]

Oh Idina you are THE best! Not so keen on Helen's voice, bit of a pitch bend going on there! Rachel and Louise are my favourites :) xxx

[livywoodward]

I have an Engilsh acent but I don't speak the way she does

[thuAy2218]

she recently had an asthma attack before performing this people..

[BAMitsIZZY]

I dont relly like this glinda, alphaba dont really have the visual bond as they do with the other one...

[ThePhoebePennyShow]

So this is the english one then... Does anyone know who plays the cast of Wicked this year? :)

[livywoodward]

@ThePhoebePennyShow I do. I went to see it this January, its Louise Dearman(Glinda) and Rachel Tucker (Elphaba). Fiyero was played by Lee Mead but it has been changed to Mark Evans. Its a truely amazing show and if you go I know you'll enjoy it. It blow me away

[xokatielaughsxo]

aww idina was losing her voice =(

[blissfuldreamer06]

this was really good :) the english glinda is a bit too annoying

i think the Australian cast is better.. but i might be a bit biased :)

[RWMusic90]

This is my favorite idina menzel defying gravity performence

[lubstorymaker2o]

is it live voice? o-o or she's lip singing?

[XODeadlyDianaXO]

@lubstorymaker2o It looks like her live voice :] Thats how good Idina is! :D

[tomheidrich]

i dont think she was sick or getting tired at all. i think everyone is just so used to hearing songs autotuned to be pitch perfect that we forget its nearly impossible for any performer to do it perfect everytime. as far as live renditions go this is pretty damn good

[rondack17]

Even though I love Kerry Ellis' voice, every once in a while I'll watch one of the old vids of Idina and remember why I fell in love with this musical. Yes, Idina is obviously sick here and losing her voice at about the 6 minute mark. But she hung on and pulled it off. Much better acting, more natural acting I guess than Kerry. Idina may not have Kerry's range or power, but she is still a joy to watch and listen to. A true professional. Wish I could have seen her live in NY or London.

[jcwelover]

Even if idina was out of tune, she gives out so much power that the performance is amazing! GO IDINA!

[01wickedboy]

GOSH!! This is a funny DF because Glinda acts like she's gonna have a heart attack when the guards come and get her!! Idina was sick or something. I thought this was a great performance!! Everything was really big!! did anyone like it?

[gUrAcoX463]

Idina ftw! shoulda been Kristen for Glinda

[thishatandyou]

This Wizard...is he just very Southern or Australian? :P

[KerryEllisFannn]

Poor Idina she's so sick here, look a t her face at 6:13 when she sings 'bring' untill the 'mee' , she should not have gone on for this, she is a wonderful woman and this is why some people think she's like this all the time wich is very unfair but she's such a rough model <3

[columbia5052005]

it happened at the tonys too...so far, she's not doing too well on tv...haha...

[bobbie406]

the glinda here just doesnt sound right i dont think.... I think she's still a brillaint actor just not as good as kristin:P

[xXfillyfoalXx]

@bobbie406 I have to agree... great actor and everything, but she just doesnt sound like glinda!

[bobbie406]

@xXfillyfoalXx iv seen it twice with a different glinda so i dont think that helped much lol

[Direcctorhorror456]

I love this video it has such great camera angles, makes it feel so dramatic.. i love it

[thelivesofme1]

she is totally wrong as galinda

[lozzybozzy234]

yea she doesnt sound as gd as she normally does. she cant quite get the strength in the notes

[ShmileyFaces]

Well, you know if you sing the same thing everyday for about 6 months maybe evn more then once a day, your voice does get kinda strained. Lol.

[Selftime2007]

If you sing it right it won't..... But if you sing it wrong you will for sure strain your voice....

[chimpjoubsmoo]

I think I've already lost my voice trying xDD. That's when you know you love Wicked too much!

[chimpjoubsmoo]

And I actually said "YES!" a little too loudly when I realised Helen wasn't going to be Glinda when I go. I prefer Dianne Pilkington ALOT more. Helen's a little -too- annoying. I mean, I know Glinda's supposed to be annoying in a good way. Kind of. But, still ;D

[fruitbowl123]

when is the royal variety show on this year?

[Jimsteinman]

why does idina always sing "deserce" instead of "deserves"?

[WickedFan1994]

She says deserves...

[Jimsteinman]

yeah but she kind of swallows the v...

[Shatnerpossum]

Love the Guards! LOL! Now, funny thing about Idina is that she doesn't sound the same each performance, some are better, this was worse. You want consistency in performance? Willemijn Verkaik.

[angelchic1993]

When you watch wicked live in it way more intense...it messes with your emotions one minute your sad then your happy then your sad!

Wicked is such a quality musical!!

***** <---5 stars

[brightside00]

how can you say that was flat?

amazing singers!

[ShmileyFaces]

EXACTLY!!

[SexyAndLush]

this song is mint and they are really good singers

[roobagnall]

buy the cd...or get it off itunes

[clockworkgirl21]

Pfft. Idina's a god. Accept it. No mortal could have that voice.

[sorasafe]

How do you explain the likes of Mariah Carey?

[Caldom123]

brilliant wen she goes meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Galileo1988]

Idina has Astma^^ That's why she's breathing like this!

SHE IS AWESOME

[jeighmicahelwright]

Idina is a rocker chick... which is why I love her... and what makes hwer performance so special. Before Rent, she did not have a traditional musical theeter background... nor was she a trained vocalist like Shoshana. Idina has a grit and realness to her voice that speaks to your soul. Most people without a trained ear... would never noticed most of the things some of you are commenting on.

[XxXDefygravity16XxX]

god bless Idina Mentzel, she rocks my socks! XxX

[MeganHT]

Idina's singing sounds different; she seems more in control of her breathing now than she was before. If you've seen original Broadway ProShots of Defying Gravity, she had a horrible habbit of gasping (but everyone has that on stage; it's hot, the costumes are heavy, she's tried...) but now, her breathing's much, much better.

I do agree that Idina and Kristin sounds much better together, though...

[tmhereford]

Didn't they have to not do a performance so they could use the lift in this? I'm pretty sure it's the lift they use in the show.

[greengoblin200]

the royal variety show is usually on sundays so there wasnt a show that day anyway. not sure if it is the same lift though - miles faster than the one in the victoria apollo

[wjlaund]

in my opinion, after hearing kristen and idina together for so long it doesnt really seem like their voices go together so much

[Iamtheice]

You guys, shes not a god, shes a woman, her voice is shot. Giver her a break. It happens.

[ascharwath]

Wow, the pit had to vamp an extra bar because she didn't get to the lift in time! Crazy!

[titanicwicked]

no they didnt

[mattspurr]

They do use the lift in this performance because if you look whe she does her 'Everyone deserves the chance to fly' you can see the mechanism holding her in!

[clarastacia]

can some1 send me this video??

[adzpearson]

in her defense, prior to this recording she had been quite ill with throat problems. IT is also unbelievably hard to sing while suspened in mid air. The system used in this performance is slightly different to the one she is used to in London (or broadway) as it is not purposely designed for the venue, it would undoubtedly make it harder to sing because she is wearing a different harness to the one she is used to.

[xiloveleonx]

i remember sitting in front of the tv watching this on the royal variety performancein 2006. i was singing along at the top of my voice and my mum finally agreed to take me to see it!! result!! thanks so much indina and helen you guys rock xxxxxxxxxx

[mattspurr]

Its Idina not Indina!!

[xiloveleonx]

soz, people do have typos sometimes you jerk

[esparza3]

Her voice improved so much.

[GoRockITGirl]

i live by these lyrics

[flyingmonkeyTX]

I agree ROCKitGirl! Idina....is simply the best! This song says it all. My fav line is "I'm through accepting limits 'cuz someone says they're so.." Wooooooohoooooo!

[GoRockITGirl]

she has an amazing voice

[GoRockITGirl]

this is so amazing... "well if thats love... it comes at much too higha cost!!!" i love this song so much!!

[welshwonder]

she doesn't sound as good because she had a throat infection before doing that show, jeez give her a break she's still an amazing singer!

[Blakey1990]

I love the orchestration on this! I think if this had her cd recording played as her voice, this would be the perfect showing! I love how fast she goes, to me they always go to slow. I think they shouldnt sing till they are fully up.

[scottie0625]

i agree...so u can hear the orchestra better as they shoot up...much more dramatic

[xxElphabaxx]

Its true Idina does not sound her self she is obviously struggling-but remember shes been doing it for a long time and to belt them notes after doing it day after day is incredibe she manages to pull it off in true style even thoguh she doesnt sound as good as she can be.

[SparkleFeatherDust]

Wow, she sounds really good! I mean- DUDE awesome riffs!

[idinamenzel1]

she messed up bad here like in the tony's rofl

[david0616]

for someone with idina menzel as his/her username you sure criticize her for a great job she did. maybe you should change your name to "idinamenzel's#1basher"

[strangeangel08]

Do any of you guys have ANY idea how hard it is to belt those high notes??? And STILL sound good??? Call me when you can sing even HALF as well as Idina Menzel...JERKS

[UnwindingPhantasy]

hahaha I completely agree.

[wickedlover011]

Idina flys up to fast in this one

[Besingers]

its an opinion if you like or dislike galinda(personally i don't--ive seen many), but you cant deny that idina struggled, she doesnt even look like herself here. Twaatyvagitus----you obviously know nothing of theater if you say that were not in t so we cant have a say...well your not either and you deffinantly have something to say...who said you couldnt just post well, like them and be done with it

[itsnoteasybeinggreen]

dont get me wrong-this Helen girl is good- but it kind of bugs me having a galinda with an accent. idk.. it doesnt seem right. i love idina forever.. but she seems like she was struggling that night. so sad. oh and i deff like the regular background better.

[Twaatyvagitus]

For those of you slagging off the actresses and actors - are YOU in the show? Did YOU get the part? No. So shaddappaya face. Like it or not, these guys are in the show because they auditioned and proved worthy. Don't like it, don't watch them. Simple as.

[SparkleFeatherDust]

I agree. Shaddappaya face LOL!

[vl530]

the pit is amazing! breathtaking

[xxElphabaxx]

I personally think that finally having a Britsh Glinda is great...finally a new twist, all the American Glinda's played her pretty much like Kristin did while the Elphies always had an individuality about them.

[StevenDFont]

Dear idiots posting comments on this video please look up the phrase....willing suspension of disbelief....it's a very important thing to learn about theatre...thanks in advance....that galinda is horrid, the accent doens't work...the end

[mysticalskye]

I think she sounds pretty freaking amazing. The higher belty notes sound great.

[hollabigT]

idina is still struggling with the higher belty notes...and that's sad

[Danfan484]

well ya'll, can any of you sing like that? and its a play and its fiction so why the hell are ya'll nit-picking it so hard. It was a fantastic musical and again I ask: can any of you sing like that??

[BlueMizuki]

I always prefered the american accent for Glinda and when I saw Helen on YouTube I thought 'What the hell is with the accent?' But then I went to see her in London and she was AMAZING! Some things you just can't know for sure until you've seen them live. Madame Morrible was also awesome but the Wizard was not so good. And it doesn't have to be said that Idina is the most amazing singer ever!

[rikellehardy]

Or are we supposed to believe that Elpahaba has escaped the palace and is now outside and visible to the citizens of Oz? And if that's the case how the hell did Glinda and the guards get outside?

[rikellehardy]

Okay, the end has always confused me. This scene takes place inside the wizard's palace up in the attic. Now according to the script and other behind the scenes specials, Elpahba is only levitating above the guards but is still in the building. So where the hell does the rest of the crowd come from? If the wizard is so secretive then I would asume he wouldn't let just anyone in the palace.

[nosrejup]

no she's levitating outside. Maybe she destroyed the attic or there's a big window etc.

[RENTlover12345]

OMG idina is a fucking godess and prob this is the first vid that ive hered her sing and she did a little riff it was amazing. I LOVE YOU IDINA!!!

[BLackout77x]

Its a shame she couldnt hit that last riff. Buts shes amazing none the less

[GoodMorningDupa]

i dont see the connection between those two... i mean, idina looks like that helen is like, an unwanted pet lol.. she does better with kristin

[bane226]

I couldn't agree more! lol!

[defying4266]

The band is way too loud in the U.K. Idina could loose her voice like that....thats why she looses her voice alot..

[spectator23]

I like this defying gravity because Helen screams and runs when the guards break in. Kristin just stands there.

[ImitationOfChrist]

I think helen plays Glinda to English and it sounds better in an american acent. BUT i think she has more pasion than Christin did (from clips iv seen on you tube)

[Blakey1990]

I'm sorry to all her following, btu I really don't like Helen. I think Glinda sounds better with an American accent, my fav is Cheno. But I do like the wizard and madam morrible

[Quetzacoatl2]

AMAZING SONG!

[joshbyfield]

i think idina did amazingly well in this performance seein as she had just come from doin a show!

[Cam1129]

i'd pee myself if i had to perform in front of THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND...way to go Idina!!!

[ThePhantomChandelier]

London Cast Is Da Best!!

[KeferSage]

A crappy oh-oh-oh-oh-oh at the end.. but her bring me downs make it still an amazing performance. I<3Idina.

[hyperjackz]

well i like her ha.

[wackywicked2201]

Idina is my hero she is so amazing her voice w0w you got to admit she has done rehearsals like 8 times a week you got to give her credit for it she still sounds so amazing

[CoasterDude101]

AND she doesn't over sing at all compared to Kristy Kates. She is just a disaster.  If you consider riffing over singing your seriously mistaken. Shoshana and Saycon are the 2 big talents on this show right now. When Eden comes back in LA she wil be too. Kirsty, Dee, Idina, I actually do like Ana Gastayer, though they have great talent and deserve the role do not bring to the table what Shoshana and Saycon do. Talk about train wrecks, Brandi Chavonne Massey...now THAT is over singing!!!

[CoasterDude101]

Dude...Idina is horrible. If you could not tell, her voice completely goes out when she tries to riff at the end. She can sing well within her range, but she is a hardcore alto. She struggles so much going into the soprano range and this show completely showed that...I love her and credit her so much, BUT all the Idina maniacs need to take a musical apporoach to why idina is their favorite besides the fact that Idina IS Idina Menzel...seriously...

[phantom38]

Exactly. Kristy is my favorite ^_^

[kissandtellx]

i think kristy cates is absolutely amazing..but you cant deny that she oversings it.

[airinkincaid]

First things first, Elphaba is one hard role to sing 8 times a week. How anyone manages it at all (Kristy Cates is my favourite by far ... sounded perfect every night) is a mystery to me. But if you wanna hear someone oversin the part, just listen to Shoshana Bean. Man ... it's no good.

[kissandtellx]

uhh idina menzel can sing soprano. i know shes an alto, but ive seen her live and her her plenty of times and she can hit extremely high notes. she didnt hit it here because she didnt breathe in enough. i dont care what anyone says, shes the best. and its not just her singing. if youve ever seen her you'd understand the magic that her performance creates.

[CoasterDude101]

She didn't breath in enough?? Thats the most elementary answer i have ever heard. However, you are right, she did not have the breath support and her technique is bad. She tries to belt from her chest a lot, especially here and she is usually flat, nor can sustain the pitch without it going from sharp to flat. Shoshana Bean is the most consistent and best vocally trained Elphaba out there.

[Renthead97]

I agree I like Kristy and Idina but when I think about Kristy is kind of more soulfull and she can sing Defying Gravity and so can Idina Menzel

[alightinthedarkness]

So true. She's a great Maureen and she was alright in Aida. But she is not good as Elphaba. I know I'm gonna get a lot of hate mail due to this, but she sounds awful. Her breathe support is non-existant, her voice cracks a few times during the song, and she can't hit the notes at the end of the song. Get the key of the song changed at least lady, we can't take it anymore. I so sick of her getting roles she's under-qualified for because she'sa big name.

[CoasterDude101]

thank you!  Finally someone that agrees with me! People on here have NO idea what they are talking about

[kissandtellx]

idina menzel did not have a big known name when she was casted as elphaba at the gershwin. she had only done rent in 96. and think about it, maybe 50 different performances of her's have been on youtube, compared to the 8 times a week for over a year. you dont know how she sounds most of the time. and idina almost ALWAYS tries to sing the songs a different way, when shoshana has always sang them the same with maybe minor changes so ofcourse shes going to have consistency.

[CoasterDude101]

you're a fucking idiot. Idina did Godspeed, A Wild Party, Aida, Hair...IDINA was a HUGE star before Wicked. And by the way, Idina was up for a Tony for Maureen in the original Rent. You have no fricked clue what your talking about it.

[CoasterDude101]

AND to make you look even stupider. Idina does not sing songs from wicked as technically as Shoshana does. Shoshana riffs and is constantly running up and down her register using her voice constantly. Sho puts WAY MORE stress on her voice than Idina does, BUT Sho has better technique and support than Idina does and thats why Sho does not ware out like Idina does and can hit notes consistently. Next time, use your brain before you comment making unjustified comments.

[AdventChild]

Wow CoasterDude101. Harsh but all true

[CoasterDude101]

NOT TO MENTION that Idina has a TON of off-broadway credits, like Vagina Monologues, Enchanted, which is going to be a Disney movie. I know this makes me look like a dick and thats fine. I would rather prove you wrong that care about what everyone else thinks.

[kissandtellx]

AND another thing. a person doenst have to riff to be a good singer. shoshana bean is amazing and i never said she wasnt so fuck you

[kissandtellx]

Oh you'd rather prove me wrong? too bad you dont even know what you're talking about idiot. Have you ever seen any of her shows? Ive seen her in Wicked, and in the Wild Party and ive seen her perform live in a concert, and if i had enough money i would go see her in London too. You act like im not a fan. I never said she did nothing, i said she didnt do anything to get her known well enough for people to say she only gets roles for her name between Rent and Wicked.

[CoasterDude101]

"idina menzel did not have a big known name when she was casted as elphaba at the gershwin" I have seen her in Wicked, AIDA, AND Hair actually. AND i never said that you have to riff to be a good singer. I was just saying that technically Sho puts more stress on her voice than Idina does, yet Sho has the technique and support to sing it every night...unlike Idina. If you told a true Idina fan that she wasn't a big star before she got Elphaba, they would probably slap you in the face...

[kissandtellx]

okay buddy whatever, i dont care. i was a fan before wicked was even showing previews in san fransisco and everytime i mentioned her people would be like oh..whos that. now, people say "oh my god i love her, or oh shes so good".

[CoasterDude101]

yea...when you ask random people who Idina Menzel is they will say who is that? When you ask a true broadway fan who she is, EVERYONE will know...

[kissandtellx]

uhh obviously a true broadway fan will know who she is. but if every true broadway fan knows your name it doesnt make it a "big name". now, i could ask someone whos never seen a show and hates musicals and they would at the very least say "oh thats the lady from rent right?".

[AdventChild]

I don't think that's because of Wicked. I think it's because Rent became a movie

[adzpearson]

I find myself agreeing with you. I have worked on the London production of wicked on several occasions and don't get me wrong Idina has a great voice, but i do believe Kerry is better. Idina is brilliant in No good deed and for good, but Kerry is phenomenal in the wizard and I and Defying gravity

[CoasterDude101]

Have you really worked on the show? In my opinion, they should use the lift they do here. Boradway lifts are TOO SLOW and it is kinda boring. But honestly, Idina has never been consistantly good...even on broadway. Regardless of whether or not she had throat problems or if she is singing 15 ft off the stage, she is still standing in a tiny platform and she has never been able to belt out the end well...

[CoasterDude101]

And honeslty, this lift does not look too much different that what they used for the Tony Awards. And you can't blame the lift on her performance because everything during the belt IN HER RANGE sounds fantastic!! But when she gets out of her range, she strains and does not support well at all! She got SO MUCH BETTER towards the end of her run in London. She never found the ground in her upper range to belt out this part as good as a Shoshana Bean of Eden Espinosa

[adzpearson]

thats my point exctly, she's not stood on a platform! the mechanism used in London is slightly different to Broadway, but esentially the same idea. In this performance a completely different system is used, which envolved her being lifted by the ahrness which can feel very uncomfortable, restrict movement significantly and can decrease lung capacity because of the position and pressure. i totally agree that she is not consistant, but in general she usually does much better than this.

[ThePhantomChandelier]

I love this song. Idina is great, so glad she's in London cast. I also love the Glinda and how she flies

[xLetsGetAway]

It sounds much more glamourous with American Glinda.

Indina [not sure of her name] has an amazing voice.

<3

[Renthead97]

Idina Menzel and yes I definatley agree

[animlluver8]

kristins her name! she is sooo much better w/ kristin!