Cynthia Erivo’s Wicked: For Good song almost sounded like an '80s rock anthem, composer reveals

One of the new songs featured in Wicked: For Good, performed by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, nearly had a very different sound during its early development.

According to composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, the song initially leaned toward an energetic 1980s rock style before ultimately being reshaped to better suit the film’s emotional tone.

Schwartz explained that early demos of the song carried a strong rock influence, complete with a big, anthemic feel reminiscent of classic ’80s movie soundtracks.

While he found the version exciting, director Jon M. Chu felt the style didn’t fully align with the character moment it was meant to underscore. Together, the creative team decided to rework the music, dialing back the rock elements while keeping its emotional power intact.

The decision to include new songs in Wicked: For Good came as the filmmakers expanded the story beyond the original Broadway musical.

With the second film exploring new emotional territory and character development, Schwartz composed two original songs, one for Elphaba and another for Ariana Grande’s Glinda, to support the film’s broader narrative.

Schwartz noted that Erivo’s song went through multiple revisions, including changes to its structure and placement in the story. Early versions featured longer introductions and additional lyrical sections that were eventually removed to sharpen the focus on Elphaba’s emotional journey.

The final version centers on themes of belonging, protection, and identity, reinforcing key aspects of the character’s arc.

The composer emphasised that Erivo’s performance played a major role in shaping the song’s final form. Her vocal power and emotional nuance helped guide the song away from a purely stylistic experiment and toward something more intimate and character-driven.

The evolution of the song reflects the filmmakers’ careful approach to balancing the legacy of Wicked with the opportunity to create something new for the big screen. While the song may have once flirted with an ’80s rock sound, its final version is designed to serve the story, and Elphaba, first.

Wicked: For Good continues the story introduced in the first film and is set to further explore the emotional consequences of the choices made by Elphaba and Glinda, with music that honors the original while expanding its world for a new audience.