Wicked: 5th Anniversary Special Edition

Various Artists | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: October 28, 2008
• Release Date: October 28, 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca Broadway
• Copyright: (C) 2008 Decca Label Group
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 1:45:10
• Genres: Broadway & Vocalists/Musicals
• ASIN: B001KQGEEE
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (995 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,786 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
  • #8 in MP3 Downloads > MP3 Albums > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

310 of 326 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern musical masterpiece with two powerhouse leads., October 27, 2004

By 

M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Having just seen this a few weeks ago, "Wicked" blew me away. I wasn't expecting such a spectacular staging. Like any good Broadway musical, it taps into every emotion in the book, and with two masterful performances in the leads, the material is given every chance to shine. Even when the material is a tad weak.
The story, as the other 293 reviewers have stated, needs not to be reiterated. However, I was continually surprised at how clever and funny the whole thing was. It's ingenious, and like, oh, probably a million other persons, went out and bought the novel right away.
This recording is an excellent souvenir of the show. Like most excerpted cast albums, you're gonna miss a lot. Quite a bit happens between songs...
...nevertheless...
...the songs that floored me initially are all here. Idina Menzel is simply amazing. Having followed her career since "Rent" and her solo album, it's a joy to see other people finally discovering what the rest of us have known for quite some time.
Kristin Chenoweth is absolutely hysterical. Her phrasing and timing are impeccable. The two together are formidable...the closing "For Good" tugs at the heart strings both the first and the fiftieth time you hear it.
And yes, "The Wizard and I" and "Defying Gravity" are the two standouts, and rightly so. Yet I find the humor of "Popular" and "What is This Feeling" just as memorable.
I agree with one previous reviewer that the supposedly "weak" songs are only so out of context. Trust me...during the show, they're essential.
When you're dipping into this album for songs, yes you will skip to the big ones. But I implore you from time to time to "put the needle" at the beginning, and let it run. For this and many other musicals, it's an exhilarating experience.

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, February 3, 2004

By 

Sarah M (CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Although I've been a huge admirer of both Kristin Chenowith and idina Menzel for a few years now, I was not sure what to expect upon first hearing this soundtrack. Actually, I ended up seeing the show on broadway, and buying the CD the day after because i couldn't get enough of this music! Stephen Schwartz has made a brilliant creation, and couldn't have gotten better voices to sing it. The vocal harmonies are beautiful throughout. Defying Gravity, the real showstopper (much thanks to Ms. Menzel's UNBELIEVABLE voice), gave me almost as big of a chill when hearing it on the soundtrack as it did in live performance. Ms. Chenowith's lovely voice carries songs as well, and the song Popular is cute and funny, while showing off her vocal talent. Aside from Defying Gravity, my favorite songs are I'm Not That Girl (sung by Ms. Menzel), and the love ballad As Long as You're Mine. It's a fun, entertaining musical more full of emotion than I had expected it would be. Between Norman Leo Butz, and the two leading women, I can hardly put into words the feeling that their voices produce- you have to hear it to know! This is definitely one of the best new broadway shows to come about since RENT, and I hope it has a long, successful run.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD is positiveley.....emerald!, October 28, 2008

By 

Ari Magen (elkins park PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wicked: 5th Anniversary Special Edition (Audio CD)

This contains 2 discs. The first disc is the Original Broadway Cast,which won a Grammy Award. The music and lyrics were composed by Stephen Schwartz. The cd features Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristen Chenoweth as Galinda, Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero, and the rest of the Wicked Cast.

The second disk has 8 tracks. LeAnn Rimes, Delta Goodrem, Kerry Ellis, Stephanie J. Block, and Idina Menzel; lend their voices to 3 remixed Wicked songs. One recording, "Making Good", featuring Stephanie J. Block, is a never before heard original audio of her singing a song while working with Stephen Schwartz. Idina Menzel sings a fantastic remixed version of Defying Gravity that will give you chills.

The rest of the songs are from the German cast recording (As Long As Youre Mine, No Good Deed) and the Japanese cast recording (Dancing Through Life, Popular). Hearing these beloved songs translated is quite entertaining.

The case is beautifully redesigned with new pictures and a new booklet in addition to the original booklet. It also has a Wicked timeline on the case chronicling the musicals last 5 years.

This is A MUST for any die hard wicked fan!!!