Defying Gravity - Wicked - in British Sign Language

This is one of my all-time favourite songs to sign. There's so much emotion in it, such a great song, and so much of it is very easily translated into BSL. Kudos to Flyboy2938 for suggesting I record it!
The one part I'm a little unsure on is the interpretation of the phrase 'defying gravity'. I couldn't decide whether to literally sign 'defying - gravity', use classifiers to show Elpheba physically flying on her broomstick - defying gravity, or use a more metaphorical interpretation i.e. 'breaking boundaries'. After watching a few American Sign Language interpretations of the song I went with the middle ground (the flying broomstick-classifiers) as this seems the most expressive and most accurate translation; if anyone has any thoughts on that, let me know!

As ever, I do take requests if you want to see a song signed :)

No copyright infringement intended.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• defying
• gravity
• song
• from
• wicked
• musical
• not
• glee
• british
• sign
• language
• signed
• singing
• bsl
• asl
• translation
• interpretation
• deaf
• girl
• hard
• of
• hearing
• moose

[YouAreCoolerThanUs]

I've Just started learning BSL, and this is a great way to test what I know, I don't know most, and I definitely can't sign as fast as you, Infact, I just can't sign fast and it takes a lot of thought for me to sign a sentence, I'm not very good at remembering signs :D

But yeah, Thankyou :3

[ithinkmynameismoose]

@YouAreCoolerThanUs Don't worry about it, I've been signing for five years and I still have to think about it! It does get easier with practice though :) best of luck, it's a great language!

[MISTORY2011]

I think your videos are great, I'm learning BSL level 1.

Would you consider signing Ed Sheeran, "A Team?"

[ithinkmynameismoose]

@MISTORY2011 I recorded that a few months ago, should be on my channel.

[suziemars75]

I love this one, especially.  I've looked at some of your other signing videos too but this one's so emotional and you really conveyed that. Our son is deaf and we're trying to teach him sign, but we don't know a lot. I'm always looking for examples to watch and to show him and you have inspried me. Plus - this one is special because our son's name, Austin, we shorten it to Oz, so you signed his name in the song too - which he definitely noticed! He's 4. Thank you :)

[ithinkmynameismoose]

@suziemars75 Aw thank you so much, that's really lovely to hear - and great that you're so encouraging of your son's signing :)

[mellymelmellymel123]

oh my goodness so much love for this!!!

Im learning BSL at university at the moment as it is to do with my course and this is one of my favourite songs :D thankyou so much for this :) xxx

[lovelymelly87]

Wow that's awesome! I'm learning ASL (American Sign Language) so I find this so awesome. I wish one day to learn BSL

[katielou6396]

@YouAreCoolerThanUs Thankyou I have a lot of schoolwork too... Im in year 11 so I am doing my GCSE's at the moment... If you keep at it you will get there in the end.

Goodluck :)

[YouAreCoolerThanUs]

@katielou6396

That's a really sweet thing for you to do, And I do try to set goals but it becomes increasingly difficult with a lot of school work, but nevertheless I will try really hard, And I've been inspired by your story :D

-Plus I'm terrible at Languages, but I guess I've never had decent teachers :')

[YouAreCoolerThanUs]

@ithinkmynameismoose

ThankYou So Much :') I Think it's an amazing language, and Me and my Mum use it all the time when I'm doing sport or when we just can't hear each other, We do practice quite a bit but we're still learning :D

[makailann1]

U r so pretty! Do u talk?? Bcuz most deaf ppl don't speak?

[katielou6396]

@YouAreCoolerThanUs you'll soon learn how to remember signs, i have been signing for three years, since my sister was born deaf, you need to set yourself goals,, i have to be better than her at the moment so i can teach her new things, so i make sure i remember them, it gets easier the more you know though,, just like learning any other language

[afancymudkip]

I'm captivated. :)