Every song on the Wicked movie soundtrack, definitively ranked from worst to best

Wicked has one of the greatest musical soundtracks of the 21st century, and we finally get to see them showcased in a new light on the big screen. The film honestly did such a great job of bringing these songs to life in this way, and as a lifelong fan of the musical I was thrilled with the new interpretations and added sections. With the cast absolutely smashing it vocally and really showing off – here’s a definitive ranked rundown of the entire Wicked part one movie soundtrack.

My ranking of songs on the Wicked soundtrack from the movie is completely different than how I’d rank the musical, too. Wild!

11. A Sentimental Man

No shade to Jeff Goldblum here, who does a decent performance in a role he was born to play. A Sentimental Man is just dull. We want the girlies (including Jonathan Bailey in that).

10. Something Bad

Famously the worst song in the entire musical – and it’s not much better in the film. The only thing it has going for it is it tells essential plot lore and brings more information to the story about the discrimination against animals in Oz.

9. Dear Old Shiz

Gorgeously sang, love the choir, but it’s more of an interlude than a fully fledged song – it only runs at just over one minute in length.

8. I’m Not That Girl

The least great Elphaba solo song is still great. Cynthia Erivo sells the hell out of it, but it’s getting ranked at the tail end of the Wicked movie soundtrack ranked purely because I like Elphaba best when she’s full of fire and passion and not dwindling over a fella. Plus, she literally IS that girl. So! Believe in yourself, diva.

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theres two surprises during one short day that brought out the very buried deep musical theater nerd in me pic.twitter.com/pBC5IjVA1w

— vanilla sweet cream cold brew (@bagsynotinn3t) November 24, 2024

7. One Short Day

Okay, now we’re getting into very great, splitting hairs territory. Every song from here on in is top tier. The fact One Short Day is in the bottom half of the Wicked movie soundtrack ranked should be evidence enough that these songs are all outstanding. One Short Day is majorly extended for the film, and the added bits are incredible. This song is filled with so much joy and excitement, and the fact that Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth made cameos and brought so much to the table is honestly bliss. Fan service done perfectly. Pure joy.

6. The Wizard and I

Cynthia Erivo’s performance on this song is her best in the entire film. It is faultless – the best this song has ever sounded. All the choices she makes with it are perfect. I love the way she glides the “I” into the next verse. I cried in the cinema to it. Her joy and her hope are so bittersweet when you know the plot. Beautiful.

5. Defying Gravity

Feels utterly criminal not having Defying Gravity at one. It is objectively the best song in the show, but I was slightly let down with it in the film version. The extensions to the song take out the drama a bit for me and it feels too drawn out – and whilst Cynthia Erivo is spectacular as always I think her performance here is a bit too confident. You don’t get the sense of adrenaline and fear from Elphaba like you do in other more raw performances. I hated the bit where she sees her younger self in the reflection – too corny. Still, though – it’s DEFYING GRAVITY. And her addition to the Elphaba “battle cry” repertoire is one of the best ever.

4. No One Mourns The Wicked

The dramatics of Wicked’s spectacular opening hit heights they never have before in the film version. It is next level good. Ariana Grande said she would take any singing lessons, even opera ones, to make sure she did Glinda justice – and she lets you know how serious she was about that in this song. Her vocals here are from the gods, honestly. The way she takes it up a final note in the climax is beyond belief. The chorus bits are as impactful as ever, and the film has a trick up its sleeve with the visual spectacle it’s able to offer thanks to the huge, burning effigy of Elphaba the munchkins light up – Wicker Man style. I had shivers.

3. Dancing Through Life

Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey performing “Dancing Through Life” in ‘WICKED’
pic.twitter.com/yjjSOwoPhC

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 28, 2024

An utter joyous masterpiece. Jonathan Bailey was born for this role, and the staging and choreography are outrageous – the library moments with the rotating book shelf like it’s a funhouse tunnel is just impeccable. Then the visuals of the Ozdust Ballroom are a blissful explosion of Oz hedonism. Dancing Through Life is even longer than the musical’s version, but never feels it – so many moving parts and moving emotions and the film pulls it off with such aplomb. The one you’ll be humming when you leave the cinema.

2. What Is This Feeling?

The Wicked movie is at its best when we’re just relishing in Glinda and Elphaba and their relationship, and ranked in the silver medal spot of the soundtrack is What Is This Feeling – a montage of loathing that is both a joy to watch and listen to. The harmonies are slick, the choreography is perfect. The moment where the chorus do the “Poor Galinda forced to reside” moment is so sharp and satisfying you feel like they’re smacking you around the chops with the Shiz books. The film gets to take the montage to new heights with all its visual gags and budget. Spectacular.

1. Popular

Official audio of Ariana Grande singing ‘Popular’ in ‘WICKED.’ pic.twitter.com/vNLAK5Eo1S

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 13, 2024

The best this song has ever been, and that’s down to Ariana Grande. My concern with Ariana being cast as Glinda is I was worried that she would have forgotten her theatre roots and picked up too many bad habits – considering she famously has dreadful diction. And yet, she shut everyone up – the crispness to every lyric and syllable in Popular is beyond brilliant. She steals the show across this entire film, with her vocals and her comic acting skills – and Popular is not just the standout song from the musical but the film too. Full on Sharpay Evans bliss and Ariana Grande has truly never been better. It’s going to be a huge chart hit. All we can do is thank her.

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