I'm doing other songs for Wicked and I'm taking notes of y'all whining (not really love ya lol) "xx" singer wasn't here.. Now, the thing is that there are singers whose show perfomances aren't on yb anymore (like Shoshana) so it's ok if I put the off stage version? Also, if you want me to add a few more singers (I kinda have already a list but anyway) leave it below this comment :)
Kindly add Rachelle Ann Go's most recent version. I think the title of her rendition here in youtube is Broadway Medley live at Eastwood City. Thanks so much.
Time Stamps: 0:27 - Idina Menzel 1:01 - Rachel Tucker 1:35 - Pia Dowwes 2:10 - Jonalyn Viray 2:30 - Caleb Hyles 3:07 - Willemijn Verkaik 3:43 - Regine Velasquez 4:08 - Mitch Grassi 4:45 - Morissette Amon 5:27 - Shoshana Bean 6:09 - Samantha Barks 6:28 - Natalie Weiss 7:00 - Rachelle Ann Go 7:41 - Eden Espinosa 8:15 - Danna Paola 8:54 - Alyssa Fox 9:34 - Chris Colfer and Lea Michelle 9:52 - Lea Salonga 10:29 - Jacqueline Hughes 11:06 - Emma Hatton You guys are all amazing people and whatever you’re striving for in 2020, I believe in you! You have worth and you are loved. It gets better. Have a wonderful day!💛
TheMrGothics well, first since she's the og I didn't want to display only audio of her and I didn't heard all of her performances but the ones I did she gets throaty or really raspy. I feel like she's great in here. I like the one in 02 but the editing is weird.
No, it's okay! This one is good but someone below put a link (I think she was in London? Can't remember) and Idina sounded amazing! The best I've heard of her
@@theoperatripleaxel5417 do you know how difficult it is to belt notes like that? I went through years of vocal training and its still difficult for me
Does anybody else hear these amazing singers sing these notes so effortlessly and think “Ah! Of course! These notes seem as though they are simple! I am remembering then to be harder than they are! Maybe my belt has improved and I can now execute them! I shall try!” And then you make an unholy noise.
Nah as soon as they get to "me" you can hear how hard that note is every time. I don't study music so I don't know the technical term but you can just hear how that part is designed it's rough on the voice. That's why there's so many good covers cause this is like THE climax every singer wants to try and hit at one point or another
Idina. It wasn’t written for her voice. I stand corrected! But it feels like She invented it. And you should’ve heard her in the Broadway version. Her voice is so unique! And all props to the amazing singers who have also done the role
No, it was literally written for Stephanie J. Block. It's fine to like Idina best, but Stephanie workshopped the show so no, Idina didn't invent it and it wasn't written for her. Get your facts right at least.
The first person who sang the song publicly was actually Broadway legend Liz Callaway, and Stephanie J. Block workshopped the song before Idina stepped in. So...no. This song was not written with her voice in mind, and with the amount of strain she shows, that's apparent.
If you listen to Willemijn Verkaik's performances of this song, especially her final Broadway performance, she's able to bring something to this song that none of the others could and it's absolutely chilling.
She’s not the best Elphaba. Stop making excuses for her. In every video of her singing this song, she’s off key. It’s a fact. Stop saying she’s sick, or nerves, or emotional. She’s just ok. She’s good in the studio recording but that’s it.
She’s not the best Elphaba. Stop making excuses for her. In every video of her singing this song, she’s off key. It’s a fact. Stop saying she’s sick, or nerves, or emotional. She’s just ok. She’s good in the studio recording but that’s it.
I find it so very notable that Caleb Hyles is the only male rendition of Defying Gravity out there that even comes close to many of the female professionals in this montage! What an amazing voice he has!
@@Ricee_e yeah, but Mitch has a naturally much higher voice than Caleb, if you watch some of Caleb's videos you can see that he has an absolute incredible range, especially when you see he didn't go into his falsetto when singing this note!!
Todd Bergmann-Rogers Mitch Grassi is like 10x times better no offender to Caleb. I'm not saying Caleb has a bad voice cause he doesn't and it's amazing.
It's such a tough call, since they're all so talented. However, I've gotta say, this song leaves a lot less of an impact when the person singing it still has both feet on the ground. :P
@Jordan....you just hit on something very important---CONTEXT. There are singers who can do quite pitch perfect clean notes and it can be good "in concert"...but that is NOT the context of this song and Stephen Schwartz writes musical theatre songs so that they tell the story, often thumbing his nose at songwriting conventions. (somebody deriding Idinal mentioned Popular, wondering why she was....go find a 32 bar cut for that song that you can use in an audition...just sayin) DEFYING GRAVITY is the "money song in WICKED. It is not the best song; it is not the one I remember most and is not the heart within the story. FOR GOOD has the best lyrics in that entire show; Schwartz onetime commented that of the very many songs he'd written, For Good was absolutely the best he'd ever done. Sing that song well, then we'll talk... Musical Theatre requires singing coupled with acting...and even the songs have to be "in character." Are there singers with purer voices than Idina? Yes, certainly. Better techniques, and not the unusual tones (we all know it's Idina from the first few bar or so) that are so very distinctive. But she fits the role. By the time that "money song" lifts Elphaba high above the stage, she is belting out a song mixing courage, hope, defiance, adrenaline-powered energy...it is not a "beautiful" song. I want Elphaba to be screaming all of those things that have lifted her to the sky. And that is where Idina has "the edge"....her voice can be soft and lovely but she builds to an edginess, she commands you to listen to her, not always in a pure and gentle way. Every Elphaba brings some of themselves to the role, that being a marvelous thing about live theatre. I've enjoyed a number of them. Idina, however, best fits my understanding of the character and delivers that IN CHARACTER...and that is the difference in Idina's performing the role. She'll leave room for others....it appears that she is transitioning from full time stage performer into a concert performer (you do get more rest...and wow she works even in concert). Just saw her "in concert" at a wonderful outdoor (under "sails" strung overhead) at the Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica in The Flats along the river in Cleveland OH. She had previously been at Blossom Music Center, the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra and a superlative "outdoor" venue....but no where nearly as magical as what she did in that 5,000 seat amphitheatre under the nighttime lights of the cityscape. Superlative concert and she made the night personal and warm (not withstanding that it was midsummer in Cleveland with her joking about being hot...and sweaty....). And now I've checked off the last of the 3 female singers on my list of Must See LIVE in concert. Idina's singing pleases me; her talent breathed into the character of Elphaba best fits that role for my tastes.
When I hear the song "defying gravity" there are only 4 names running through my head Lea Salonga, Idina Menzel, Colleen Ballinger, and the kid on British Got Talent
...DUDE. I was most impressed by Caleb and Willemijn! But Shoshanna though. And *Natalie!* how can I pick?! ....I was not expecting Mitch and Scott, but okay. XD And *dang* that riff...
It's a pity that broadway's producers are so picky about the final notes, I find the Ab5 that Mitch and Natalie improvised into that last part is far more captivating than wavering between the Db and Eb that's written.
The riff the way Idina started doing it early in her Broadway performances, when she realized that after straining for an entire act she couldn't hit the written F (it's the way she recorded it in the studio and on the recording featured in this video), is maybe singularly the greatest thing to happen in all of musical theater history. All the fancy additions and high notes in the world cannot compare to the musical genius in that one phrase, by far the greatest thing Idina ever did for music. In the context of those two held D-flats that precede it, the ultimate phrase single-handedly suffices as reason to buy an exorbitantly priced ticket.
Yazmarohma42 Yes, she's likely my favorite. Sure, her technique is shockingly poor, and it's a frankly miracle she can still sing after over 20 years on constant vocal self-destruct. But the strain and the edge in her voice, combined with the absolute perfection of that riff, it's something no one else can top for me.
I'm sorry I couldn't understand the comment I haven't slept in 27 hours and english is my second language can anyone simplify it? Sprry that was a stupid request but I really want to learn the thing
I've always been partial to Willemijn. I don't know how many times I've watched the vid of her final performance, but I still get goosebumps at the end.
I agree she is my favorite as well. If you compare the German singers, Pia is good as well but Willemijn can give me goosebumps there is something unique about her tone.
Mitch and Scott put this performance together as part of their Superfruit channel for Scott's birthday. The entire performance is hilarious. It was meant to be funny but Mitch Grassi's vocals are fan-dam-tastic as always. If you want to watch it all, just search Superfruit Wicked. Fair warning though to those who don't know Superfruit ... they can be pretty off the wall.
The amount of rawness and emotion that Shoshana brings to Elphaba will never cease to amaze me. No matter how many times I watch her, I’m always just as blown away as I was the first time. That first “bring me down”. Come onnnn.
waiting for one of these for the fiyero riff in no good deed :) that being said, willemijn to me is the best one by far, followed closely by eden. and i love the lea video you used here - the fact that she was pregnant always hits me. i also recommend you yo check the brazilian elphaba, her name is myra ruiz and her defying gravity (we call it "desafiar a gravidade" here) is BRILLIANT.
Willemijn Verkaik is the best Elphaba ever, and you weren't exactly fair to her by showing one of her few english performances when she was the originator of the role on the German stage.
I can't believe you included Caleb Hyles!!! I'm such a big fan of his! However, that being said, Wilemijn is the best Elphaba, no matter what anyone else says. If any of them could sing it in three languages, they might be able to stand up to her...but I'm too impressed by the trilingual performances, lol
No. Caleb nailed number one, hands down. The fact that a man can even sing that song in that register, with that much power, and that much emotion is testament to how truly incredible it really is. You are impressed because she can sing in 3 languages? Try being a man and singing it in that key. AND he naturally made it his own. When he sings that "Me" at the end.................honestly one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard in my entire life.
Pierre chill bro. She meant for this particular song. Not many guys’ voices can belt that high, it’s just science. Please don’t leave hate until you know what you are talking about.
I think there’s a very different standard for those singing something produced, they’ve rested all day for, verses those that have performed it and have arrived at that point half way through a strenuous 2 hour performance. And it’s also different when it’s stylized in a pop music way. I think it’s hard to judge all the particular performances in one group.
Call me biased, but considering the difficulty of this song, scale jumps, intensity and high notes, Mitch and Caleb for the win. There are actual sopranos that struggle with this song, and those two men added an extra note that tops the highest note.
You can't compare males and females with singing. These guys do it in their head voice and that's a BIG difference from the females who do it in their chest voice. They need to belt that F5 in their freaking chest voice while standing on a platform eight meters in the air. Those guys can't even touch Shoshona, Eden, Idina, Willemijn and ALL these amazing females who played Elphaba on Broadway, West End and the rest of the world.
I certainly have hear him singing and i'm not a fan of his timbre or vocal style (But that's personal) But from a professional standpoint: He can never come close near female vocals. There is a fundamental difference between male and female vocalisation. The shrill nasal singing he does is just a very developed head voice which has a different vocal quality and colour then his chest voice. I understand he has a big group of fans and I get that. It's the same thing with Idina Menzel. You love or hate the voices they have but comparing male and female vocals with each other is just ludicrous. These females have real trained vocals who can hit those 'high' notes that Mitch does with ease. You also need to understand that there's a difference between hitting a note and singing a note. It's all fun and games that you can sing high notes but when they are not clear and inconsistent you can't count them as singing notes. I've seen a lot of clips with him preforming and singing the notes not with the constant vocal quality throughout the performances. That makes his quality as singer very questionable.
It is my personal opinion as a 40 year old with a Bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre and 25+ years singing experience. I am impressed as a Baritone whose range dropped 3 octaves when my voice changed. That's all. This is not a competition in who knows the most about tonal quality, falsetto and diaphragm supported chest voices.
lol; Another fun fact. 3 of these Elphabas have been the voices of Disney Princesses! Danna Paola (from Mexico) was the voice of Rapunzel in Tangled [One more Rapunzel voice who played Elphaba is Maria Ylipää from Finland who isn't here] While Idina Menzel & Willemijn Verkaik have been the voices of Elsa in Frozen! [There are in fact, 2 more Elsa voices that have played Elphaba but aren't here; Hye-Na Park from Korea & Maria Lucia Rosenberg from Denmark]
Did anyone notice the conductor for Emma Hattons part get all into it? Lol I actually laughed a little. It’s always funny to see the conductor get extremely. Of course it’s just him doing his job but damn he was MOVIN
Idina..the Supreme! Pia - Wow, sharp and powerful - just amazing! JONALYN, soulful and controlled - CONSISTENT. Regine V. What a VOICE - Bravo!Mitch, oh yeah - we get it, you can sang!! Morissette, beautifully done. Rachelle, good vocal range - DEFINITELY CAN HOLD THOSE NOTES! Those are my favorites!❤
@@jeremyreynolds672 is the truth funny? Why are all you trying to shit on Idina as if she started this argument? Lacking in talent make some of you sooooo bitter.
Ditto though I am also quite fond of Idina's version as well, she can really do no wrong in my eyes (minus frozen)! She's so freaking talented, I bet her farts even sound amazing!
Anneliese Heggli why are you hating on frozen. I used to work with kids and heard let it go all day but I still love that song because Idina did such a great job.
@@emilyfan505 Because it's not my cup of tea. Different strokes for different folks, am I right? Besides I just am not a fan of kid's movies that I didn't grow up with. I'm much more of a horror fiend...and a musical...fiend.. 😋 haha
I saw Eden Espinoza in person. Phenomenal. Pretty hard to comment on anyone else, despite seeing their performances here, when your jaw is left on the floor. Really wish you'd include an actual recording!
Coming from someone who's unbiased, (I've never seen the musical or know any of these people) I think Pia's was the most impressive. Can't really say one was better then the rest because they can all hit the note. But she changed it up and really showed her range. Very talented.
I never thought I would like someone more than Idina. I truly didn't. But Shoshana, man she is next level incredible. She has an insane range with perfect control of her voice at every moment and makes songs her own and creates beautiful renditions that respect the song origin without it feeling like a copy. She is one of the best performers I have ever seen. ❤
Willemijn Verkaik is my Elphaba, she's absolutely amazing!!!! I recently went to London to see her though it was my second time seeing Wicked. She's greater than words can describe
This choice is truly impossible to make! I almost never saw that much female (& some male) talent in one video!! Everybody's bringing something to this song.. Incredible. I always loved loved loved Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba, she seems born for this (she was also stellar in her acting!), Idina is great, but so are Pia, Morrisette(!) ,Regine, Rachel, Shoshana, and all the names I sadly now forgot and oh the men's voices in this clip...big fat wow.Bravo, I adore you all, you're Wickedly talented!
I'm doing other songs for Wicked and I'm taking notes of y'all whining (not really love ya lol) "xx" singer wasn't here.. Now, the thing is that there are singers whose show perfomances aren't on yb anymore (like Shoshana) so it's ok if I put the off stage version? Also, if you want me to add a few more singers (I kinda have already a list but anyway) leave it below this comment :)
crazycat671 I already had her :)
ruclips.net/video/2t552vT4YDY/видео.html
GEMMA RIX PLEASE!!!!
ruclips.net/video/D1Yl9NXhRSQ/видео.html Climax at 3:10 - she is the longest standing Elphaba in history! :)
Kindly add Rachelle Ann Go's most recent version. I think the title of her rendition here in youtube is Broadway Medley live at Eastwood City. Thanks so much.
I think that elphaba was better than elphaba and elphaba, but that's my opinion
Mo Unicorn what
@@isabelerhart9523 elphaba was better than elphaba
Mo Unicorn I’m gonna have to disagree with you I think Elphaba was the best
That’s pretty controversial but I honestly think Elphaba was actually better
@@chelseajean4823 Are you guys crazy? I mean, based on vocal techniques and just overall power it was d e f i n a t e l y Elphaba
Fun fact! Lea Salonga was pregnant with her daughter when she sang this song in one of her concerts :)
I love her version. So relaxing to the ear. My favorite 😍
Baby was probably like: “jeez mum keep it down out there!”
Abbey DB i love her in miss Saigon
so not bring me down, actually meant bring her out. Now it makes more sense
AgarWorstPlayer LOOOOL
What have we learned from this?? We can sing whatever we want for the cry thing at the end as long as we land on a C#5
Truth
Pretty much yeah
Basically yeah
The only problem is that some of us can't sing C#5s 😭
@@connertheleaf7957 i sing c4s because i would break my vocal cords otherwise
Time Stamps:
0:27 - Idina Menzel
1:01 - Rachel Tucker
1:35 - Pia Dowwes
2:10 - Jonalyn Viray
2:30 - Caleb Hyles
3:07 - Willemijn Verkaik
3:43 - Regine Velasquez
4:08 - Mitch Grassi
4:45 - Morissette Amon
5:27 - Shoshana Bean
6:09 - Samantha Barks
6:28 - Natalie Weiss
7:00 - Rachelle Ann Go
7:41 - Eden Espinosa
8:15 - Danna Paola
8:54 - Alyssa Fox
9:34 - Chris Colfer and Lea Michelle
9:52 - Lea Salonga
10:29 - Jacqueline Hughes
11:06 - Emma Hatton
You guys are all amazing people and whatever you’re striving for in 2020, I believe in you! You have worth and you are loved. It gets better. Have a wonderful day!💛
Rey *Danna Paola
Tysm!
At 7:00 her name is Rachel Ann Go
Alyssa Fox* not Toy😂
*Danna paola*
Ok but why put that version of Idina instead of the one she did on broadway
TheMrGothics well, first since she's the og I didn't want to display only audio of her and I didn't heard all of her performances but the ones I did she gets throaty or really raspy. I feel like she's great in here. I like the one in 02 but the editing is weird.
this is no criticism or something but there are way better performances of Idina, although this one is amazing too xx
No, it's okay! This one is good but someone below put a link (I think she was in London? Can't remember) and Idina sounded amazing! The best I've heard of her
Yep I just watched it. Oh god, this woman makes me so gay it's unbelievable haha xx
She makes me straight so we're even LOL! xoxo
omg Mitch holding in his laugh when Scott said "get her!"
Duran Wang isn’t Scott from the penatonix?
@@emikos700 they both are
Norric Coreyan JnoHope oOh
@@emikos700 well that just destroyed anything I liked about Penatonix
Jukka70 OSKCKKAK I MEAN SCOTT AND MITCH ARE FROM A OLD NICKELODEON SHOW YEAH TOTALLY
When the camera panned to Scott, I honestly fucking lost it.
Like, I knew how he looked in that video, but I still lost it
WolfyGrace i always wheeze
First time seeing this and I’m choking
PFFT AHAHHAHA
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life
i love how they're all serious then Mitch and Scott come along with like 2 minute made costumes and legit killed it
Yes
That was terrible...
@@theoperatripleaxel5417 You think you can do it better 🙄
@@theoperatripleaxel5417 do you know how difficult it is to belt notes like that? I went through years of vocal training and its still difficult for me
@@Nik-ny9ue They didn't film it and put it on the internet. So your argument is the height of childishness and stupidity.
I dunno about Elphaba... but Scott Hoying as Glinda is probably the best part of this video.
Elizabeth Ashley omg yes
Yaaaaas. That wig tho
pentaholic21 i cant explain in words how much i love the wig 😂😂😂😂
I agree, wholeheartedly
yeah it was xd
Does anybody else hear these amazing singers sing these notes so effortlessly and think “Ah! Of course! These notes seem as though they are simple! I am remembering then to be harder than they are! Maybe my belt has improved and I can now execute them! I shall try!” And then you make an unholy noise.
Becca Ruth 🤣
I sound like Tarzan while doing it.
Nah as soon as they get to "me" you can hear how hard that note is every time. I don't study music so I don't know the technical term but you can just hear how that part is designed it's rough on the voice. That's why there's so many good covers cause this is like THE climax every singer wants to try and hit at one point or another
Know it’s not easy. My version could summon demons😉
@@marblebongos2794yes! There IS a Tarzan-Ike quality to that finish. I thought it was just me.
This is not a fair rep of Indina... she KILLED the tonys
I was gonna say that!!!
Yessss so agree!
Emily Rose her west end run IMO was her best.
Emily Rose quite literally
Acually.... I mean she was off key on a good bit of it at the tony's and she seemed like she was really straining her voice to hit the notes tbh
Idina. It wasn’t written for her voice. I stand corrected! But it feels like She invented it. And you should’ve heard her in the Broadway version. Her voice is so unique! And all props to the amazing singers who have also done the role
Cotait Circe i completeley agree
No, it was literally written for Stephanie J. Block. It's fine to like Idina best, but Stephanie workshopped the show so no, Idina didn't invent it and it wasn't written for her. Get your facts right at least.
The first person who sang the song publicly was actually Broadway legend Liz Callaway, and Stephanie J. Block workshopped the song before Idina stepped in. So...no. This song was not written with her voice in mind, and with the amount of strain she shows, that's apparent.
If you listen to Willemijn Verkaik's performances of this song, especially her final Broadway performance, she's able to bring something to this song that none of the others could and it's absolutely chilling.
That vocal technique though... yikes.
Is scares me how effortless that note was for pia
Ikr
Same
She was still so poised
6:28 *Natalie Weiss* wins for "Nobody in all of London, no wizard that there is or *wasondon"* 😂😂😂
GarageStudio wasondon😂😂
I love Natalie ❤️❤️
Same ahahahah
I wonder why she said "London"
Katia Romero
She was performing in London.
Caleb’s certainly not the best, but can we just appreciate how well he actually did?
Dark Angel thats how i actually learned the lyrics, I love caleb
Especially considering that was mostly chest voice.
Singing that high using chest is really difficult
TheSaxAppeal that definitely wasn't chest voice. That was mostly a mix for Caleb
using autotune? sure.
No? He doesn’t use auto tune. Guys can sing high notes too
Yall didnt do Idina justice, you couldve definatley found a better video
edit: ouuuu it seems i started an argument ;p
they could try, but she’s bad in every recording so ☕️
Tyler Alexander you’re deaf
Jane i think you meant to say *trained in vocal pedagogy and understand how the voice works
She’s not the best Elphaba. Stop making excuses for her. In every video of her singing this song, she’s off key. It’s a fact. Stop saying she’s sick, or nerves, or emotional. She’s just ok. She’s good in the studio recording but that’s it.
She’s not the best Elphaba. Stop making excuses for her. In every video of her singing this song, she’s off key. It’s a fact. Stop saying she’s sick, or nerves, or emotional. She’s just ok. She’s good in the studio recording but that’s it.
I find it so very notable that Caleb Hyles is the only male rendition of Defying Gravity out there that even comes close to many of the female professionals in this montage! What an amazing voice he has!
Todd Bergmann-Rogers I think Mitch grassi’s rendition was better
@@Ricee_e yeah, but Mitch has a naturally much higher voice than Caleb, if you watch some of Caleb's videos you can see that he has an absolute incredible range, especially when you see he didn't go into his falsetto when singing this note!!
Todd Bergmann-Rogers Mitch Grassi is like 10x times better no offender to Caleb. I'm not saying Caleb has a bad voice cause he doesn't and it's amazing.
Goofydart86662 2 Is he though?
Marc Weiner who are you talking to
It's such a tough call, since they're all so talented. However, I've gotta say, this song leaves a lot less of an impact when the person singing it still has both feet on the ground. :P
@Jordan....you just hit on something very important---CONTEXT. There are singers who can do quite pitch perfect clean notes and it can be good "in concert"...but that is NOT the context of this song and Stephen Schwartz writes musical theatre songs so that they tell the story, often thumbing his nose at songwriting conventions. (somebody deriding Idinal mentioned Popular, wondering why she was....go find a 32 bar cut for that song that you can use in an audition...just sayin) DEFYING GRAVITY is the "money song in WICKED. It is not the best song; it is not the one I remember most and is not the heart within the story. FOR GOOD has the best lyrics in that entire show; Schwartz onetime commented that of the very many songs he'd written, For Good was absolutely the best he'd ever done. Sing that song well, then we'll talk... Musical Theatre requires singing coupled with acting...and even the songs have to be "in character." Are there singers with purer voices than Idina? Yes, certainly. Better techniques, and not the unusual tones (we all know it's Idina from the first few bar or so) that are so very distinctive. But she fits the role. By the time that "money song" lifts Elphaba high above the stage, she is belting out a song mixing courage, hope, defiance, adrenaline-powered energy...it is not a "beautiful" song. I want Elphaba to be screaming all of those things that have lifted her to the sky. And that is where Idina has "the edge"....her voice can be soft and lovely but she builds to an edginess, she commands you to listen to her, not always in a pure and gentle way. Every Elphaba brings some of themselves to the role, that being a marvelous thing about live theatre. I've enjoyed a number of them. Idina, however, best fits my understanding of the character and delivers that IN CHARACTER...and that is the difference in Idina's performing the role.
She'll leave room for others....it appears that she is transitioning from full time stage performer into a concert performer (you do get more rest...and wow she works even in concert). Just saw her "in concert" at a wonderful outdoor (under "sails" strung overhead) at the Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica in The Flats along the river in Cleveland OH. She had previously been at Blossom Music Center, the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra and a superlative "outdoor" venue....but no where nearly as magical as what she did in that 5,000 seat amphitheatre under the nighttime lights of the cityscape. Superlative concert and she made the night personal and warm (not withstanding that it was midsummer in Cleveland with her joking about being hot...and sweaty....). And now I've checked off the last of the 3 female singers on my list of Must See LIVE in concert. Idina's singing pleases me; her talent breathed into the character of Elphaba best fits that role for my tastes.
Jordan so true😂😂😂😂
When I hear the song "defying gravity" there are only 4 names running through my head
Lea Salonga, Idina Menzel, Colleen Ballinger, and the kid on British Got Talent
beau dermott
Lotus D. Reyes
That kid was amazing!
beu dermott
Omfg sameeeeee
This is Willemijn Verkaik erasure and I won't stand for it
Danna so young and powerfull! i love her voice...
Got chills:
Caleb Hyles
Shoshana Bean
Danna Paola
Emma Hatton
Emily E same
Emily E only Caleb gave me chills
As a Mexican, I'm so proud of Danna Paola. She shut all those who were doubting her. She has an AMAZING voice!
Caleb is sooooo good! Check out more of his stuff, he does covers across lots of genres.
The "caleb" one was clearly edited and tuned so how can you even compare that with the live performances. Also very cringy acting
IS NO ONE GONNA TALK ABOUT SCOTT IN A WIG CAUSE AOEJAOUR MY BBS
She's wickeeeed GETHERHSJSS
Mister Golightly m
YESYESYESYES
JUST THINKING THAT YESS
I died when the camera panned out to him 😂😂😂😂😂
...DUDE.
I was most impressed by Caleb and Willemijn! But Shoshanna though. And *Natalie!* how can I pick?!
....I was not expecting Mitch and Scott, but okay. XD And *dang* that riff...
natalie is literally one of the queens of riffing!!! she’s incredible :)
Lol Caleb’s autotune was what impressed me
Caleb's was awful. The only one i didnt like. So pitchy and tuned.
@@itd6116 yeah :// i agree
R F im gonna have too agree 😬
I remember seeing Alyssa Fox on the Wicked tour and literally sobbing because her voice was so good. I couldn’t get over how AMAZING her voice was.
considering Mitch was doing it as a joke just messing around with his friends i think he did pretty well
It's a pity that broadway's producers are so picky about the final notes, I find the Ab5 that Mitch and Natalie improvised into that last part is far more captivating than wavering between the Db and Eb that's written.
It's not just being picky, it's also trying not to kill an actors voice who has to do the role 8 times a week for months at a time.
This is true.
Was Natalie's an Ab5?
I don't think so
@@cesargarcia5624 Yes it is! Or G#, but whatever.
Well...and that note is covered in the chorus
The riff the way Idina started doing it early in her Broadway performances, when she realized that after straining for an entire act she couldn't hit the written F (it's the way she recorded it in the studio and on the recording featured in this video), is maybe singularly the greatest thing to happen in all of musical theater history. All the fancy additions and high notes in the world cannot compare to the musical genius in that one phrase, by far the greatest thing Idina ever did for music. In the context of those two held D-flats that precede it, the ultimate phrase single-handedly suffices as reason to buy an exorbitantly priced ticket.
So you mean Idina is the best? Because I agree with you.
Yazmarohma42 Yes, she's likely my favorite. Sure, her technique is shockingly poor, and it's a frankly miracle she can still sing after over 20 years on constant vocal self-destruct. But the strain and the edge in her voice, combined with the absolute perfection of that riff, it's something no one else can top for me.
This is amazing! Her best I've heard she sounds PERFECT! I Wish included this version in the video
I'm sorry I couldn't understand the comment I haven't slept in 27 hours and english is my second language can anyone simplify it? Sprry that was a stupid request but I really want to learn the thing
elifnaz sınav yeah I can't understand it either
8:15 Danna Paola, the youngest person that played Elphaba 💛
Truth 18-20
Orgullo Mexicano zi que zi
I'm not counting Idina because I"m biased. I freaking love Caleb Hyles, but Shoshana Bean will always have my heart lol.
And nobody in all of London
No wizard that there is or was-ondon
😂😂😂
Was-onder😂😂😂
Go to bed
Willemijn. I don't think I need to emphasize that she has taken the role in three languages... Her voice itself can explain everything!
leciel lalune saw her life few month ago. She was absolutely astonishing during the performance!
I've always been partial to Willemijn. I don't know how many times I've watched the vid of her final performance, but I still get goosebumps at the end.
I agree she is my favorite as well. If you compare the German singers, Pia is good as well but Willemijn can give me goosebumps there is something unique about her tone.
Also Pia never acted in the musical
*Morisette and Rachel* were unbelievably resonant!
Memyselfandkai :/ Rachel not Rachelle...
Memyselfandkai :/ yes I think
Naomi Dadya Rachel Tucker is Irish.
MrFMcK I know
rachel didn't replace idina haha
You guys got the question incorrectly. It says "Who Sang The "Defying Gravity" Climax The Best?" Not "Who is the most avid FAN of these artists?" LOL
AlwaysTell TheTruth lol yes 😂
Tell em
People confuse celebrity with quality. Not everyone can tell who sings well who doesn't 😅
I'm just pissed Nicole Parker isn't in the list...
I actually can’t choose, they all were completely amazing and so talented!
Julie-Anne AVEC UN ‘E’ *Whispers:Choose Mitch Grassi* lol
“And nobody is all of London,no wizard that there or was-Ondon.” Natalie Weiss-defying gravity
that's cool, but what if she sang: popular! I'm gonna make you popul-er, erhhh, ,I mean -Ondon
IS NO ONE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW FRICKING GOOD CALEB AND MITCH ACTUALLY DID
Caleb was terrible tho???
Meows Red Get your ears checked.
Yes yes those are my main people thank you finally someone else gets me
Mitch and Scott put this performance together as part of their Superfruit channel for Scott's birthday. The entire performance is hilarious. It was meant to be funny but Mitch Grassi's vocals are fan-dam-tastic as always. If you want to watch it all, just search Superfruit Wicked. Fair warning though to those who don't know Superfruit ... they can be pretty off the wall.
But that autotune
Danna Paolo had me shook, that was incredible!!!
and he was only 17 years old when he played Elphaba 😱👏💚
Eduardo Montes you mean she
SHE’S LU ON ELITE (NETFLIX)
@The Pasty British Guy From Wonderwoman No WTF Hahahaha
The Pasty British Guy From Wonderwoman yeah that’s not how it works lol
i think the best part of this video is natalie weiss adding “ondon” to the end of the word was to rhyme it with london lol
HAHHAHAHAHQHHQHQ YESS
Shoshana's first "bring me down" is RIDICULOUS ❤
She ate. Chills, def felt the ominous GRAVITY
that caleb guy killed it Holy crap
he's an awesome singer and does some great covers on youtube
He literally won
The fact it wasn't falsetto voice is crazy that's his mix voice
Yes!!!!!!!!!!
yup
....
obviously its the avocado, Mitch
lmfaooo
🎤🥑
The amount of rawness and emotion that Shoshana brings to Elphaba will never cease to amaze me. No matter how many times I watch her, I’m always just as blown away as I was the first time. That first “bring me down”. Come onnnn.
8:19
I was today years old when I realized that that was Danna. The youngest Elphie to date. Now she’s in ÉLITE. My brain I-
She is a star ! Mexican queen! rumors she is considered for the wicked movie
Lol así es
Obviously Mitch Grassi 'cause she's a QUEEN!
Demigod100: Percy's lil sis Yes yes she is
Demigod100: Percy's lil sis
The Green Queen
Yasssssss
Pickle queen
Demigod100 b
waiting for one of these for the fiyero riff in no good deed :)
that being said, willemijn to me is the best one by far, followed closely by eden. and i love the lea video you used here - the fact that she was pregnant always hits me.
i also recommend you yo check the brazilian elphaba, her name is myra ruiz and her defying gravity (we call it "desafiar a gravidade" here) is BRILLIANT.
Aline Schneider alright, I will! :)
Aline Schneider and the ending of ngd as well there are fierce Elphies who give me chills
tomgallowitz I just did :)
Yessssssssssssssss
Willemijn Verkaik is the best Elphaba ever, and you weren't exactly fair to her by showing one of her few english performances when she was the originator of the role on the German stage.
All the people in this video are amazing, but everytime I hear Willemijn sing this song I'm like "hoooow" :D She is out of this world.
And, she did the Dutch version aswell!!!
She is so amazing, this was a disappointing selection. I smell riggery
Okay. Danna can SANG
Hayden FACTS😮❤️
shes only 18/19 i think
@@avivialarrays985 was*
Wicked México was on 2013-2015 ^^
Holy shit Caleb fucking nailed that😂😂
Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J Block, Donna Vivino and Louise Dearman are some of the best Elphaba's to exist.
I can't believe you included Caleb Hyles!!! I'm such a big fan of his! However, that being said, Wilemijn is the best Elphaba, no matter what anyone else says. If any of them could sing it in three languages, they might be able to stand up to her...but I'm too impressed by the trilingual performances, lol
No. Caleb nailed number one, hands down. The fact that a man can even sing that song in that register, with that much power, and that much emotion is testament to how truly incredible it really is. You are impressed because she can sing in 3 languages? Try being a man and singing it in that key. AND he naturally made it his own.
When he sings that "Me" at the end.................honestly one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard in my entire life.
8:15 didn't thought that Danna Paola (Lu from Elite© Netflix) was such a great singer!!!
That's how she started in the entertainment industry
I love the Fact that Indiana Menzel and Willmÿn Verkaik both sang this and Let it go...so amazing✨
DAMN CALEB HYLES!!!! FOR A GUY, HE CAN DEFINITELY SING
linza AGREE
Why “for a guy?” Guys can sing just as well as girls can.
GUYS CAN SING AS WELL AS GIRLS SHUT THE FUCK UP
Pierre chill bro. She meant for this particular song. Not many guys’ voices can belt that high, it’s just science. Please don’t leave hate until you know what you are talking about.
Caleb's vocal range must be a gift from the gods.
I think there’s a very different standard for those singing something produced, they’ve rested all day for, verses those that have performed it and have arrived at that point half way through a strenuous 2 hour performance. And it’s also different when it’s stylized in a pop music way. I think it’s hard to judge all the particular performances in one group.
That is a fair statement to make.
Season 1 Kurt Hummel
Victoria Justice Sings YES
Yass girl you get me
ehhh, he’s good but I’m pretty sure he botched the note on purpose right?
Mewing Manda yes he did
Not a frickin chance!
4:45, aren't they the guys from Pentatonix???
Yeah! Scott and Mitch
Caleb sings with passion, and all his actions just wowww llz....and Mitch with the whistle note at the end♥♥
was that a whistle? not just him going *extremely* high? doesn't really sound/look like a whistle to me...
Idina definitely. The video of her did not do her justice at all.
she is adelle dazeem for life.
Yea and she now has permanent voice damage bc of singing that note repeatedly and can’t hit it anymore
No one's saying anything about Pia, so I'm ma do it, we'll done, and Caleb
imagine having a FRAcTIOn of the talent of any of these girls I’m QUAKING
Caleb: *mad face*
Rachel Tucker was the best! She was a powerhouse on that song!! I loved the rendition by Mitch Gross, especially that high "A". Great touch!
*Grassi, autocorrect? Sorry for being a teacher, but I cannot see his name like that uncorrected... (bit of a fangirl, sorry again...)
Holy crap, every single one of them is stunning
My absolute number one is definitely Wilemijn. Her Voice is such amazing!
Many people don’t know that she has played the role in three different countries in three different languages
Sheldon Gannon yeah i knew that thats why she is so specail
Call me biased, but considering the difficulty of this song, scale jumps, intensity and high notes, Mitch and Caleb for the win. There are actual sopranos that struggle with this song, and those two men added an extra note that tops the highest note.
You can't compare males and females with singing. These guys do it in their head voice and that's a BIG difference from the females who do it in their chest voice. They need to belt that F5 in their freaking chest voice while standing on a platform eight meters in the air. Those guys can't even touch Shoshona, Eden, Idina, Willemijn and ALL these amazing females who played Elphaba on Broadway, West End and the rest of the world.
Ikbeneennestel you clearly have not heard Mitch grassi sing he could touch them :)
I certainly have hear him singing and i'm not a fan of his timbre or vocal style (But that's personal)
But from a professional standpoint: He can never come close near female vocals. There is a fundamental difference between male and female vocalisation. The shrill nasal singing he does is just a very developed head voice which has a different vocal quality and colour then his chest voice.
I understand he has a big group of fans and I get that. It's the same thing with Idina Menzel. You love or hate the voices they have but comparing male and female vocals with each other is just ludicrous. These females have real trained vocals who can hit those 'high' notes that Mitch does with ease. You also need to understand that there's a difference between hitting a note and singing a note. It's all fun and games that you can sing high notes but when they are not clear and inconsistent you can't count them as singing notes. I've seen a lot of clips with him preforming and singing the notes not with the constant vocal quality throughout the performances. That makes his quality as singer very questionable.
It is my personal opinion as a 40 year old with a Bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre and 25+ years singing experience. I am impressed as a Baritone whose range dropped 3 octaves when my voice changed. That's all. This is not a competition in who knows the most about tonal quality, falsetto and diaphragm supported chest voices.
Ikbeneennestel excellent points!
I really enjoyed Willemijn. She was so clear
She's my favorite Elephaba!
I LOST it when I saw you included Mitch grassi lmaooo
Donna Vivino’s defying gravity gives me goosebumps every time!!!!
lol; Another fun fact.
3 of these Elphabas have been the voices of Disney Princesses!
Danna Paola (from Mexico) was the voice of Rapunzel in Tangled
[One more Rapunzel voice who played Elphaba is Maria Ylipää from Finland who isn't here]
While Idina Menzel & Willemijn Verkaik have been the voices of Elsa in Frozen!
[There are in fact, 2 more Elsa voices that have played Elphaba but aren't here; Hye-Na Park from Korea & Maria Lucia Rosenberg from Denmark]
Lea Solanga was also the singing voice for Jasmine and Mulan
Ryan Edgell
She never played Elphaba though, she only sang this song at concerts.
Also, in the Frozen musical Elsa is played by former Elphaba Caissie Levy, and her standby is Alyssa Fox!
Another fun fact Danna Paola is consider by Broadway.com the third best Elphaba in the World
Jesus Noe Cota Quintero she is amazing!
Seeing this song live during the actual production is super emotional. Brought tears to my eyes.
Idina will always be #1 in my book
She is awesome
She's the best!
Rachel is my ultimate favorite but Shoshanna was great and I loved the "no wizard that there is or was" from the two last ones.
Willemijn, she gives me the goosebumps, just perfect
Translation of Pia Douwes: And no one here, in land of Oz, even if it is the wizard boss, reaches me or catches me, catches me, whoa
My vote goes to Willemijn Verkaik. I also love her song from Frozen, "Lass jetzt los" (german version of Let it Go)
Did anyone notice the conductor for Emma Hattons part get all into it? Lol I actually laughed a little. It’s always funny to see the conductor get extremely. Of course it’s just him doing his job but damn he was MOVIN
Idina..the Supreme! Pia - Wow, sharp and powerful - just amazing! JONALYN, soulful and controlled - CONSISTENT. Regine V. What a VOICE - Bravo!Mitch, oh yeah - we get it, you can sang!! Morissette, beautifully done. Rachelle, good vocal range - DEFINITELY CAN HOLD THOSE NOTES! Those are my favorites!❤
Wow morissette Amon
Sho steamrolled over everyone with that first INSANE "bring me down" 🤯
Idina has done significantly better renditions than this. That said, shouts to Caleb, Shoshana, EDEN, etc.
JahairasMission Eden is amazing and very overlooked as a fantastic Elphaba.
They could have at least chosen a better performance for Indina👌🏼
this song was written for stephanie j block thank you for coming to my ted talk
soph phelan yeah well Idina did a better job than she would have.
emilyfan505 HAHAHAHAHAHAHA yeah try again
emilyfan505 well at least Stephanie had training while starting her career
Hepa-hepa-*hepatitis* hepatitis?
@@jeremyreynolds672 is the truth funny? Why are all you trying to shit on Idina as if she started this argument? Lacking in talent make some of you sooooo bitter.
Having never heard any of them before, I'd say I'm quiet unbiased. That said, I think Pia Douwes was absolutely brilliant, as well as Caleb Hyles
Ditto though I am also quite fond of Idina's version as well, she can really do no wrong in my eyes (minus frozen)! She's so freaking talented, I bet her farts even sound amazing!
Anneliese Heggli why are you hating on frozen. I used to work with kids and heard let it go all day but I still love that song because Idina did such a great job.
@@emilyfan505 Because it's not my cup of tea. Different strokes for different folks, am I right? Besides I just am not a fan of kid's movies that I didn't grow up with. I'm much more of a horror fiend...and a musical...fiend.. 😋 haha
Calebs was terrible. Is was so produced and tuned. I love the live performances so much more since you cant hide your short comings.
Anneliese Heggli i love your reference that was my childhood meaning form 10 to 13
Ya'll I just can't believe my fellow filipinos aren't commenting about how much Filipinos are in this video
Rachel Tucker!! I’ve seen her in person twice. Her voice has more depth than the original casting of Elphaba.
Mitch's high note sold it for me 😱 but they're all fabulous!
Willemijn will always be my favourite
Claudia Bronte i saw her live at the victoria Apollo theatre she was even better
Joshua Garner Me too! She's the best ❤
gives me goosebumps remembering
Claudia Bronte i've seen her in Wicked in holland
She was so flat
... :/
I saw Eden Espinoza in person. Phenomenal. Pretty hard to comment on anyone else, despite seeing their performances here, when your jaw is left on the floor. Really wish you'd include an actual recording!
Idina, Willemyn, Morissette, Shoshana, Rachelle,
For men Caleb and Mitch NAIL IT!!!
Where is Miranda Sings? Haha 😏😏
SoImSeth lol!! You know what? I was searching for a part where only Colleen sang it and the only audio cuts near the end :(
SoImSeth Colleen would kill
it but miranda would kill it twice cuz she's better😉
Mister Golightly she sings it in her Netflix series first episode😂
Yeah, sure, make it even harder for me!! Pia as my all time idol, Willemijn as my ultimate Elphaba and I don't even have to explain Miranda XD
SoImSeth ikr
Jessica Vosk. She wasn’t in this video, but she was my first Elphaba and I there isn’t anyone who could out-belt her. She is my favorite Elphaba
Anna Rhoda I saw Jessica last month as Elphaba and she was AMAZING
Willemijn Verkaik’s last performance is truly amazing
She is the best.
Idina, RACHEL, Willemijn, Morisette, Shoshana, Samantha, Eden, Danna, Alyssa, Emma, I CANT PICK
Choose. The word is choose. Good grief.
DANNA SHE IS SUPER TALENTED
HOW ABOUT CALBE HYLES!??!??
Gayle Millner pick also works
Love Superfruits version, thanks for adding them :)
Coming from someone who's unbiased, (I've never seen the musical or know any of these people) I think Pia's was the most impressive. Can't really say one was better then the rest because they can all hit the note. But she changed it up and really showed her range. Very talented.
8:16 México 🇲🇽❤
Why is nobody discussing Shoshana Bean woah
Jane Eger riiiight
I never thought I would like someone more than Idina. I truly didn't. But Shoshana, man she is next level incredible. She has an insane range with perfect control of her voice at every moment and makes songs her own and creates beautiful renditions that respect the song origin without it feeling like a copy. She is one of the best performers I have ever seen. ❤
She was the best for me, if I had to pick one. I mean that run she did was amazing
I am partial to Shoshana as well, I think she and Ock are tied for my favorite Elphaba.
Willemijn Verkaik is my Elphaba, she's absolutely amazing!!!! I recently went to London to see her though it was my second time seeing Wicked. She's greater than words can describe
definitely Willemijn! she is amazing! And singing it in three languages that's amazing!
This choice is truly impossible to make! I almost never saw that much female (& some male) talent in one video!! Everybody's bringing something to this song.. Incredible. I always loved loved loved Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba, she seems born for this (she was also stellar in her acting!), Idina is great, but so are Pia, Morrisette(!) ,Regine, Rachel, Shoshana, and all the names I sadly now forgot and oh the men's voices in this clip...big fat wow.Bravo, I adore you all, you're Wickedly talented!