Defying Gravity (song)

In ''Wicked'', the song is the finale for the show's first act, when Elphaba discovers that [[Wizard (Oz)|the Wizard of Oz]] is not the heroic figure she had originally believed him to be. Realizing this, and despite Glinda's attempts to dissuade her, Elphaba vows to do everything in her power to fight the Wizard and his sinister plans against the Animals of Oz. She sings of how she wants to live without limits, going against the rules that others have set for her. During the song, Elphaba [[Besom#Cultural associations|enchants a broomstick]] to levitate and, pursued by the Wizard's guards, rises above the angered citizens of Oz, who try in vain to "bring her down." The song is heavily cinematic and comes to a climax for the final verse.

In ''Wicked'', the song is the finale for the show's first act, when Elphaba discovers that [[Wizard (Oz)|the Wizard of Oz]] is not the heroic figure she had originally believed him to be. Realizing this, and despite Glinda's attempts to dissuade her, Elphaba vows to do everything in her power to fight the Wizard and his sinister plans against the Animals of Oz. She sings of how she wants to live without limits, going against the rules that others have set for her. During the song, Elphaba [[Besom#Cultural associations|enchants a broomstick]] to levitate and, pursued by the Wizard's guards, rises above the angered citizens of Oz, who try in vain to "bring her down." The song is heavily cinematic and comes to a climax for the final verse.

The climax of the song features Elphaba flying high above the stage. The staging of the song's in the original production relied heavily on [[special effects]]. The actress playing Elphaba was lifted up into the air by a hydraulic launch system, standing on a small platform with a safety restraint around her waist. Both the platform and restraints were concealed by a long false dress made of the same material as the actress's costume, which gave the illusion that she was not standing on anything. Black curtains (designed to look like Elphaba's cape billowing in the wind) and carefully designed lighting concealed the hydraulic arm lifting the platform. The sequence relied heavily on around 60 moving lights, smoke, and wind effects to give the illusion Elphaba was flying.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEGds1t9928 |title=Wicked: How Elphaba Defies Gravity on CBS Chicago News |date=May 30, 2009 |last=StephJBlockFans |access-date=October 25, 2024 |via=YouTube}}

The climax of the song features Elphaba flying high above the stage. The staging of the song in the original production relied heavily on [[special effects]]. The actress playing Elphaba was lifted up into the air by a hydraulic launch system, standing on a small platform with a safety restraint around her waist. Both the platform and restraints were concealed by a long false dress made of the same material as the actress's costume, which gave the illusion that she was not standing on anything. Black curtains (designed to look like Elphaba's cape billowing in the wind) and carefully designed lighting concealed the hydraulic arm lifting the platform. The sequence relied heavily on around 60 moving lights, smoke, and wind effects to give the illusion Elphaba was flying.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEGds1t9928 |title=Wicked: How Elphaba Defies Gravity on CBS Chicago News |date=May 30, 2009 |last=StephJBlockFans |access-date=October 25, 2024 |via=YouTube}}

The Act One finale is "calibrated to get everyone to stick around for Act Two".{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/10/examining-the-silly-emotional-legacy-of-defying-gravity.html|title=Examining the Silly, Emotional Legacy of 'Defying Gravity'|last=McHenry|first=Jackson|date=October 26, 2017|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=June 22, 2018|language=en}} The song is also used in the finale for the [[Wicked (2024 film)|first film]] adaptation.{{cite web |last1=Puckett-Pope |first1=Lauren |title=Are You ‘Holding Space’ for the Wicked: Part One Finale? |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a63011692/wicked-ending-explained-defying-gravity-lyrics-meme/ |website=Elle |access-date=19 November 2025 |date=November 29, 2024}}

The Act One finale is "calibrated to get everyone to stick around for Act Two".{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/10/examining-the-silly-emotional-legacy-of-defying-gravity.html|title=Examining the Silly, Emotional Legacy of 'Defying Gravity'|last=McHenry|first=Jackson|date=October 26, 2017|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=June 22, 2018|language=en}} The song is also used in the finale for the [[Wicked (2024 film)|first film]] adaptation.{{cite web |last1=Puckett-Pope |first1=Lauren |title=Are You ‘Holding Space’ for the Wicked: Part One Finale? |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a63011692/wicked-ending-explained-defying-gravity-lyrics-meme/ |website=Elle |access-date=19 November 2025 |date=November 29, 2024}}