Totally obsessed

I have a few shows that are near and dear to my heart for a variety of reasons. Jekyll & Hyde, 42nd Street, Cats, Cabaret, Lion King, and Wicked all top my list. Of all the shows I absolutely love, these instantly come first to mind, each for it's own reason.

From the first time I saw "Wicked" on Broadway, right after it won the Tony, I totally fell in love with the show. Sterotypes of the gay connection to all things Wizard of Oz aside, this is an absolutely phenomenal show. It packs such a punch, a la "Pleasantville" (the not-so-subtle social commentary). It has brought me to tears each time I've seen it.

Many musicals have their signature song. Cats has "Memory," A Little Night Music has "Bring in the Clowns." Wicked has "Defying Gravity." My dear friend JM sums it up well: "This is an anthem for anyone who has struggled to be themselves while staring in the face of people willing them to be different." This song literally brings me to tears damn near every time I hear it, no matter what language I hear it in (I have the OBC Soundtrack, the 5th Anniversary Album, the German and Japanese soundtracks...like the title of this post says, totally obsessed.) Usually when I play it in my car, I play it at top volume, totally disappointed that I can't play it any louder.

Here are a few clips of this incredible signature song, as performed by THE Idina Menzel. She inaugurated the role, won the Tony, and owns this song in a way that is ethereal, powerful, and incredibly moving. Kerry Ellis has a rendition that is respectable as well, but I'm sorry: I saw Idina, fell in love, and everyone else is second best.

Joel Grey introducing my girl Idina; you can see the pride in Kristin Chenowith's eyes at about 3:14 (Idina had just won the Tony.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRUeEJQSKbs

I don't know how someone got this footage, but it's stunning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nbz-VhJzko

And Idina from England:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHOBHM935co

This one actually has a few details of the performance that I particular like.

Kerry Ellis totally rockin' it up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtN6_N7Hoe0

And now for something completely different:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3056063924982534070

It's some weird Japanese condensed teaser version, part in English and part in Japanese.

And so, my obsession continues.... What I hope for is that a complete soundtrack will be released (much like what was done with the International version of Les Mis) and/or a movie of the stageplay will be released (like the Angela Landsbury version Sweeney Todd).