Glee’s “Defying Gravity” disappoints
In a nutshell: I heard the Glee Cast’s version of “Defying Gravity” (from “Wicked”) on YouTube and was let down.
As you know, the Fox TV show “Glee” is one of the hottest new properties on television. (At least online.) The cast of relative newcomers, including Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Cris Colfer and my personal fave, BBBW Amber Riley, dish out new songs week after week in this show about a high school glee club. Some particular tracks, including Somebody to Love, Bust Ya Windows, and Can’t Fight This Feeling, were fresh and inspired. So when I heard they would be doing Defying Gravity from the Broadway musical Wicked, well, I just sat up and said this would be interesting.
Then I found a video on YouTube containing the audio of the song. And was disappointed.
I wasn’t expecting much, but I was hoping for some fireworks, knowing Lea Michele’s vocal capabilities. (I was also a bit puzzled as to why Cris Colfer was selected to do the duet with her, when I think a Diana Agron matchup would’ve been more appropriate, you know, the whole Elphaba-Glinda setup.) In the defense of the two, there’s no denying their vocals do mix together beautifully. I’m also tickled by how theatrical Kurt sounds (especially when he belts out “but ’til I try, I’ll never know). but I think the letdown here, at the end of the day, is a saccharine arrangement and too much auto-Tune. I’m curious as to what the full song sounds like – as you know, iTunes won’t let us download songs, and I’m really on the fence with the whole “download somewhere else” setup – but the lack of a bridge also makes it difficult to judge in its entirety.
Having said all that, I still think Lea’s voice is beautiful, and I say “nice try, but meh.” What do you think?
Update: I want to clarify that I am reacting to the duet version of Defying Gravity that is available for purchase on iTunes. I wrote this particular blog entry before seeing Wheels (the episode featuring Defying Gravity), and am making the comments based on this particular song. I am aware of the existence of individual versions by both Colfer and Michele, and while I still stand by my assertion that the song pales in comparison to the original, I admit that my love of the song and my enjoyment of Glee may have helped me warm up to the song. On November 14, Defying Gravity leaped from #4 to #1 on my personal top 10 chart.
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16 Responses to “Glee’s “Defying Gravity” disappoints”
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I haven’t listened to the song yet; I prefer watching it on the show first so I can understand the song choice. I’ve read in episode listings that the next one involves something about Kurt and Rachel. That just might explain the duet. Also, Elphaba and Glinda liked the same guy, and…um…yeah.
To be honest, I’ve always thought that Lea Michele is already too saccharine, automatic, and “nice-try-but-meh”. Like, since day 1. Vocal capabilities, yeah, but I’m…not her fan. Ahahaha.
Last thing to note: they have a really HIGH standard to reach in doing this song (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth! *fangirl screech*) so maybe that also affected your reaction to the Glee kids’ rendition? *shrug*
Hi Sarah, my issue is with the arrangement; it didn’t have the dynamism of the original arrangement. Vocally, I’m okay with both Lea and Cris, but it was sing-by-numbers, as is most of the songs for the first season. Yes, the standards were high, but the powers-that-be knew that when they decided to have the cast do the song. I applaud Michele and Colfer for doing their best, and I think this could be really good live, but in terms of studio performance, it was just a little too safe.
As an aside, yes, you do have a point with seeing an episode to understanding where the singers were coming from when they delivered the song, but I think the quality of the vocal tells me that the circumstances under which they were delivered could not have been at low points in their characters’ plotlines. “Defying Gravity” is a song about courage, a song about “the hell what they think, I’ma do my own thang,” and I think regardless of where Rachel and Kurt are, the song would’ve been delivered under similar circumstances. (I could be wrong, and I don’t mind being wrong.) Would’ve been spectacular if Rachel did the bridge. The harmonies were great. Kurt sounded great. Lea sounded great. So what doesn’t work for me? I reiterate that my issue with the song is the arrangement and not the vocal. There could’ve been live strings! The drums sound like synthesizers! This just didn’t do it much for me. However, I continue to listen to it because it’s one of my favorite songs.
First they used the arrangement Idina Menzel uses for solo spots.
Second – they aren’t going to do a 6 minute song.
Third – Chris does it cause it goes with the storyline.
I think it is beautiful, Chris may be straining a bit and Lea I think is holding back not to over power him yet she still does toward the ends.
The producer of glee is most to blame again.
Thank you for this information, J.
i think the reason why they gave it to kurt and rachel because in the episode, they are both vying the lead…
We’ll find out in a few more days…
I can’t relate on this, but i just read this post.
just dropping by.
Thanks for passing by, Alkapon. :P
maganda ba talaga ire?
btw, yun request mong Twenty Foreplay post is now UP!
tell caths
fave nya yon, diba?
I visited it, and thank you for that somewhat invasive look into your sexual psyche. LOL
Listened to this in my room earlier today (or yesterday pala). It wasn’t bad. Maybe because I don’t have anything to compare it to (first time I heard the song; I don’t watch Glee, but I’ve listened to some of the songs from the show on YouTube, e.g. Somebody to Love, which was awesome!).
:”Somebody to Love” is #1 on my weekly chart. :)
It’s really weird hearing voices with auto tunes right?
And the reason why they gave it to Kurt is for the story line. They were having a “diva-off”, the winner takes the part. Oh btw, the real girl won!
“The real girl won!”
LOL
kurt and rachel are not going to do a duet on this, they had different versions because they were vying for the lead, which rachel won of course. but i think we have yet to judge the whole song and production in the sectionals episode of glee.
Thanks for chiming in, eminess! :)
Um, I think you need to watch the episode to understand why Chris Colfer sang the song. And it was not a duet. Lea and Chris were auditioning for the part and the editors did a mashup of their solos to save time. Their individual performances could be downloaded in Itunes.
Their performances are very heartfelt and emotional. It was very attune to what they were feeling in the series.
Hi, Kate! I did watch the episode; I posted this entry before the episode aired. I do realize that the version I initially heard from YouTube was a mash-up. I actually prefer the mash-up, but that’s just me, not to take away from either Colfer’s or Michele’s individual versions.
Also I just want to add Chris really had a “piyok” or “pitchy” part in the end-because, well, because you have to watch the episode
Ok to flood but last one, regarding the arrangement, how come you were expecting synths and stuff? They were auditioning in a school auditorium! What do you expect?
You’re obviously a Gleek, Kate. That’s so cute. :)
There’s a suspension of belief with “Glee.” Music doesn’t magically come floating in real life to provide a soundtrack for us; likewise, we don’t just burst into song. For instance, when Mercedes sang “Bust Your Windows,” the entire performance was taking place in her head, a dream sequence that came as a result of her thinking that Kurt was in love with Rachel. You can tell when to suspend your belief: the lights dim a little then a spotlight gets cast on the soloist (think: Kirsten Chenoweth’s “Maybe This Time.”).
I imagine the arrangers on “Glee” have a certain element of freedom with regard to rearranging songs they decide to use. While sSomeone posted in an earlier comment on this blog entry that the “Defying Gravity” backing track used by Lea & Chris was actually Idina Menzel’s, I’ve never confirmed that, and so I assume that the show’s arrangers do their own arrangements. So what held them back from arranging “Defying Gravity” in a more imaginative way, since, after all, they were faithful to “Bust Ya Windows,” “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Single Ladies,” and a whole bunch more.
Please understand that I respect your assertion that it is important to look at the Colfer and Michele performances in the context of the show; I just personally felt that a track like “Defying Gravity,” even in the context of the show, deserves a big, bombastic arrangement, something with oomph, and, just to me, a brass section is awesome. (Give a listen to the original “Defying Gravity” and you’ll see what I mean.)
Hey, I said what I said a few weeks ago, but if you look at my personal chart, “Defying Gravity” is #1. ;)
Ok I understand this was posted this before watching the episode. Sorry to flood your blog :)
Hi. Yup I heard the original from before. I guess the difference between Bust your Windows, Single Ladies, etc were daydreaming sequences. Defying Gravity was supposed to be an “actual” performance. Maybe they slowed down the arrangement to match the emotional state of the characters.
Then, I do respect your opinion :)
“Single Ladies” wasn’t a dream sequence; it was actually performed by the football team, with an actual music source (the football stadium audio system). “Somebody to Love” received a full arrangement when performed; “Last Name” also got a full arrangement, as did a host of other songs performed live. Hypothetically, if a band were actually performing while the singers were singing (e.g., “Somebody to Love,” where there was obviously a band), that would justify a sparse arrangement; in the absence of the band performing in the background, we can assume that Kurt and Rachel would’ve gotten their arrangements from elsewhere (making the whole “that’s Idina’s arrangement” theory a little more sound). The whole point of my post was that: limiting the arrangement of “Defying Gravity” to a sparse, acoustic arrangement was a risk. Some felt it was a good idea; others, including myself, disagree. So we can agree to disagree.
BTW, I also realize that the version to which I’ve linked is not a mash-up. It’s a separate recording. Chris sings a harmony here during the chorus. If it were a mash-up of the original, then both Chris and Lea would be singing the same notes (there’s a YouTube example here.
this song has always been one of my favs and for some reason when kurt and rachel sung it on glee it just made me cry. though i have to agree with you that they made better renditions of other songs. i was not really disapointed but there was something missing. :)
Thank you!! I’m so glad someone finally agrees with me. :p
I agree with the fact that they could have done it better. I still love it though but just to answer your question on why there wasn’t a duet with Lea and Dianna (I love the comparison between Elphaba and Glinda, it’s genius) is that the storyline is actually Chris Colfer’s. It’s his true life story – he always wanted to sing ‘Defying Gravity’ in his school talent show but it was always given to a girl. Who could be better at wanting the stardom so much she’d take away a solo from someone who never gets his own solo? Why, Rachel Berry* of course! Just thought you’d like to know.
Thank you!! I’m glad someone finally agreed with me!
Yup, understanding the context of the song really helps to appreciate it. If context were not that important, then everyone would just upload everything to youtube for YOUR appreciation, and out the window with TV series, musicals, etc.
And there were fireworks.
I don’t think Agron will do well in a duet for this though. She simply doesn’t have the range, and because she’s female, people will expect here not to do a falsetto most of the time, unlike Colfer. Again, the context in the original rendition (relationship between Elphaba and Glinda) is also very far from that in the play.
Hmmm. I would not go so far as to compare Glee songs with the originals, especially the Tony award-winning songs. That way I won’t get disappointed with the TV series and just be happy about it the way it was intended.
Thanks for weighing in, Angelo.