The Depraved film compelled me to do one thing I by no means thought I’d do: actively select to take heed to the movie-musical variations of sure songs over the unique Broadway forged recording. Whereas film musicals generally have one or two songs that stand out, like Reneé Rapp’s sultry cowl of “World Burn” within the Imply Women musical film, they often pale compared to the Broadway variations. Typically it’s a case of the originals being so iconic in folks’s minds. Typically it’s as a result of musicals often forged well-known actors as a substitute of excellent singers.
However in 2024’s Depraved, nearly all of the songs, largely sung by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, are simply pretty much as good as the unique recordings that includes Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Among the film tracks, dare I say, are even higher than their stage equivalents.
I do know, I do know — it’s musical theater blasphemy. However I’ve causes!
Depraved is now out there on VOD for residence viewing, so now we have excuse to match all of them once more. Right here’s a track-by-track comparability of all of the songs within the film and Broadway variations of Depraved, with my picks for (and defenses of) which of them ought to be extra… widespread.
[Ed. note: General spoilers ahead for the plot of Wicked, as told through these songs.]
‘No One Mourns the Depraved’
On the Broadway soundtrack, Glinda (Chenoweth) appears like she’s processing the information of Elphaba’s loss of life in actual time and placing on a face because the PR department of the Ozian authorities. However Ariana Grande sings it like she’s mourning an occasion she already is aware of about. She brings a depth to this music that kicks me proper within the intestine. She sings it like she’s grieving the lack of an awesome love. (And contemplating every thing she’s mentioned about Glinda and Elphaba’s relationship, I’m inclined to imagine that was deliberate!)
A good friend of mine identified one particular distinction in line supply that haunts me. It’s towards the top, when Glinda begins to echo the ensemble. When the ensemble sings “She died alone!”, Glinda repeats it. Chenoweth delivers the road with equal emphasis on every phrase, however Grande lingers on the “alone,” drawing it out. It comes at roughly 6:34 on the Spotify observe above. It’s completely heartbreaking!
Winner: Broadway OST model
At simply over a minute lengthy, this is among the shorter, much less enjoyable, much less significant songs. Each variations are strong, however there’s slightly extra oomph to the harmonies within the unique.
Winner: Broadway OST model
I respect Cynthia Erivo’s tackle Elphaba, which is extra reserved and shy than Idina Menzel’s strategy. It’s an awesome tackle the character! As such, her model of “The Wizard and I” is extra subdued. It’s a becoming selection for this model of the character. However Menzel’s triumphant tackle the music is so foundational! It soars! It’s an “I Need” music, however with an added layer of dramatic irony, as a result of we all know how this story ends for Elphaba.
‘What Is This Feeling?’
Winner: Broadway OST model
The film model is actually rattling good — I like the preliminary back-and-forth banter on this one a lot, particularly with the additional emphasis on sure line deliveries to suit the precise state of affairs of the 2 women attempting and failing to go to sleep in the identical room.
However the unique has an nearly tactile viciousness, particularly towards the top, when Elphaba and Glinda are singing alongside collectively. Erivo’s and Grande’s voices work slightly too properly right here, mixing collectively seamlessly, whereas Chenoweth’s and Menzel’s vocals conflict in a manner that provides the music a scrumptious layered texture.
Winner: Broadway OST model
It comes all the way down to the supply of “Baaaaaaaaaad,” and the unique simply does it higher.
‘Dancing By Life’
Winner: film model — however simply barely
Greater than another music on this competitors, this was a actually rattling shut name. The unique is filled with enjoyable, snappy moments between characters, and Norbert Leo Butz (the unique Fiyero) has a gorgeously wealthy high quality to his voice. However man, Jonathan Bailey within the film cranks up Fiyero’s sensuality, placing a enjoyable, jazzy spin on the music. The synths within the background additionally add a splendidly bubbly high quality that actually sells the entire “brainless, painless” power. It feels extra like a celebration music!
“Dancing By Life” can be heavy on the dialogue change, with Boq asking Glinda on a date, and Nessarose telling Elphaba about her thrilling plans for the long run. The film permits these interactions to return by extra, with heightened concentrate on how the characters ship the traces. It really works in a subtler manner than Broadway theater, the place the forged has to undertaking to hit all these balcony seats.
Winner: Broadway OST model
Pay attention, Ari got here by! It’s a improbable cowl! However whereas her model is fluffy and candy like cotton sweet, Chenoweth’s is the excited sugar rush of a can of Pink Bull at 3 a.m. — which is precisely what Glinda is experiencing in that scene.
‘I’m Not That Lady’
Now with this Elphaba music, Erivo’s model shines over Menzel’s. In a film, the music may be softer and extra intimate, and due to this fact extra heartbreaking as Elphaba appears to be like on at Fiyero and Glinda, crooning concerning the ache she feels, realizing she isn’t ever going to be what she thinks he’s on the lookout for.
The OST model at all times fell in the course of the highway for me. The film model, nonetheless, soars close to the highest of my listing. It has a improbable buildup that actually looks like we’re seeing the fantastic Emerald Metropolis unfold in actual time. Additionally! The percussion is simply so rattling catchy. I can’t take heed to this one with out nodding alongside to the drums and cymbals. The film model additionally contains Menzel and Chenoweth’s cameo on the expanded Wizomania part, which provides much more enjoyable.
It’s very laborious to make this music fascinating, however a minimum of Jeff Goldblum’s model didn’t put me to sleep!
Winner: Broadway OST model
It’s not that the film model is unhealthy. Removed from it, truly! Even with the uneven breaks and the additional fluff (which provides inexperienced singers a while to catch their breath throughout sing-alongs, however actually cramps the pacing), it’s nonetheless improbable. I like Erivo’s tackle the top riff, and the way determined Grande sounds.
However the unique is simply pure magic. The back-and-forth between Glinda and Elphaba is tight and tense, and all of it escalates with excellent timing, constructing increasingly more till that remaining huge be aware. It’s iconic for a cause, and there’s in all probability no probability of any cowl ever bringing the unique down.
We received’t get an opportunity to judge the musical’s second act till Depraved: For Good hits theaters this November, but when half one of many film is any indication, I simply may be swapping out a few of the OST variations in my listen-through.