“Over The Rainbow” is hidden in Wicked!

[@winston.sullivan]

I think it's super cool that the melody for what Elphaba "wants," as Steven says at 6:52, is based on the most quintessential "I Want" song of all time.

[@addicted2myxbox]

Crazy how Defying Gravity was inspired by Over the Rainbow and Let It Go was inspired by Defying Gravity

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

That's the whole history of musical composition in microcosm.

[@RealBradMiller]

So then the next hit song like that will be along the lines of chasing the horizon, surpassing limits and boundaries.

[@royalex21]

I’ve listened to Defying Gravity a lot as a kid and I have never noticed Somewhere Over The Rainbow buried within the song before

[@distortiongal]

hello stu mackenzie

[@emilykeeling5873]

Excellent video! Thank you! I always felt like Gregory Maguire probably hid a bit of Somewhere over the Rainbow in the source novel, as well. “But the others said to Elphaba, "Oh, do you sing? well then! sing, sing, you must"....Elphaba made up a little song on the spot, a song of longing and otherness, of far aways and future days. Strangers closed their eyes to listen...Boq did too...He saw the imaginary place she counjured up, a land where injustice and common curelty and despotic rule...didn't work together to hold everyone by the neck. Elphaba a good voice. It was controlled and feeling and not historionic. Nobody would sing again, because she had done so well.“ Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ by Gregory Maguire!

[@marcvillena3707]

There's this video I watched on IG... on One Short Day... the melody of "in the Emerald City" and also in Defying Gravity "can't I make you understand" It also has "Follow the yellow brick road" melody from The Wizard of Oz

[@pravuscruento5441]

And ‘couldn’t be happier’ motif in Thank Goodness matches ‘follow the yellow brick’

[@EstherLhoraAcha-gm7hu]

just noticed somewhere over the rainbow in the new soundtracks' intro of "no one mourns the wicked" i thought i imagined it.

[@zeynepozcan2350]

yes i was going crazy!!! my bf was saying it sounds like defying gravity in no one mourns but i was convinced it was over the rainbow and now it makes sense we were both right!!

[@snooopyland]

It sounded like “Ding Dong the witch is dead”

[@cupidok2768]

The rainbow defines gravity

[@JustaFairyStory]

I think it’s in the beginning because the opening literally goes over the rainbow, which I haven’t seen, just something I heard. “Ding Dong the witch is dead” is definitely in there, but only half the notes, so to me that ads an extra layer of tension, not that the song needed any more tension because, sheesh

[@kiwiparfaits]

i noticed it, too! such a great detail

[@Saturnuria]

Since we're doing fun facts - do you know why she's named "Elphaba?" The author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was L. Frank Baum. Initials LFB. Or El, Fuh, Buh if you say those letters phonetically in English.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Cool!

[@joermnyc]

Yes, they did this because she has no name in the books, she’s just “The Wicked Witch of the West”.

[@thirstfortruth8904]

Actually, if you say it phonetically you will have “LUH Fuh Buh” Not “EL fuh buh”

[@Saturnuria]

@ True enough but I was short-handing the explanation. I’m guessing the 48 people that liked the comment understood.

[@hueriskein]

@@thirstfortruth8904 honest question: what system are you two thinking of? because i'm only used to the ipa phonemes and L F B sounds *exactly* like EL fuh buh

[@JustaFairyStory]

Unlimited ALSO something the movie can do that the musical couldn’t do as much was hint a little more obviously at the original Wizard of Oz music. I haven’t watched the movie yet, but put on “No one mourns the wicked” very briefly and it 100% hints at the Ding Dong the witch is dead song. Maybe the original broadway soundtrack did as well, but I didn’t notice it. Before finally succumbing to this current wicked mania, I’d only heard about 4 of the songs from the musical, so I’m not familiar enough to know, but I would guess there’s probably a lot of little nods like this.

[@brieezy.]

2:12 OMG that's so clever. and it's actually so simple 😳now thats a mindfukk

[@bernhardkrickl3567]

Lol. I recently watched Charles Cornell's video on Somewhere Over The Rainbow and afterwards I went to the piano and played the melody in E major but over a pedal note of A, so effectively I played it in A lydian. Now you tell me that somebody basically already did that. :)

[@theoneandonlyEvanSamuelShapo]

As a current general music major in college I’m so happy you recognized this!!!

[@StuffAndMemes]

lol cringe

[@lupcokotevski2907]

Stephen Schwartz also wrote Godspell and Pippin over 50 years ago. The great Laura Nyro is a big influence on his songwriting.

[@guitarnuccio]

He also wrote Children of Eden. Some of the songs in that musical are unbelievably good and very moving. Apparently that is one of his personal favorites from his vast catalogue.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

​@@guitarnuccio Not to mention the songs from the animated film, PRINCE OF EGYPT (1998).

[@dustybuffalo9973]

Fun fact: If you play the original vinyl album Meddle by Pink Floyd over the top of Wicked, you’ll hear the hidden melody of Phantom of the Opera.

[@zbr76]

Not hidden, but stolen. Lloyd-Webber straight up stole the motif for Phantom of the Opera directly from Echoes.

[@fartcannon-wg5ol]

​@@zbr76I wouldn't call it stealing. chromatic runs are basic and there's not endless possibilities on which chords to use. I don't know if he was inspired but if he was, it is still a very different song. Is it a known fact that Echoes was inspiration or is it your assumption?

[@markp1549]

If you listen to Sgt Pepper at the same time as The Shining you go into an acid overdose.

[@kimmurphy6813]

@@markp1549can confirm

[@JoalTaylor]

@@fartcannon-wg5ol It's not a "known fact", but Waters believed it was, and wasn't happy about it. It certainly seems plausible to me.

[@shaneomac8289]

1:30 in wicked they’re f sharps, wizard of oz they’re a flats, the melody is similar but the notes are different

[@michaeltimpanaro5622]

Thank you for doing something on musicals.

[@shireads2954]

I was so blown away when I watched the movie and heard that. I'd never seen Wicked before and hadn't heard that part of Defying Gravity. It was such a great tribute to The Wizard of Oz.

[@СергейЛовцов-ъ2э]

Well, some time ago I found that Over The Rainbow's melody is hidden in Dvorak's "Song To The Moon" from his opera Rusalka 😉 the same chords in the chorus, similar notes, etc

[@philiphumphries4625]

I totally agree that the song somewhere over the rainbow 🌈. Was cut out in this movie. But i do think what should've happened when Dorothy and her friends arrive at oz she could've said we must be over the rainbow to refer of the song in the first movie

[@feliciteacup]

when i heard they were the same song i thought they meant like the notes were jumbled up in a different order, i didn't realize it was the same order

[@oldcowbb]

this video gives really strong sideways vide

[@oldcowbb]

omg, its completed with leitmotif

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I’ll take that as a compliment!

[@oldcowbb]

@DavidBennettPiano it is

[@jonadol]

That is absolutely remarkable 😭

[@mpdpmgawgww2]

FGとover the rainbowの繋がりをこの動画でようやく理解する事ができました🙇‍♂️💚感謝です❗️👏✨

[@clairem730]

This was fascinating - thanks!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

☺️☺️☺️

[@RockNRecipes]

Composers are just such creative geniuses.

[@officialmichaelcarrasco]

Yup! Been there for 20+ years! Such fun!

[@susanseifert4472]

Clever, but seems more artistic choice than avoiding copyright. I mean if they really wanted to use Over the Rainbow they could have paid for the rights imo

[@mixofreak]

Yeah, Stephen Schwartz is wrong about copyright law, but he is right that with fewer notes it would be less likely to be noticed and sued about it. There is no minimum, the originality of the original versus how substantially similar the infringing work was. Considering that he hasn't been sued, either it wasn't noticed by the rights holder, or they were fine with it, since it was recontextualized and still used in a a show that was related to the same setting. As others have pointed out, it wasn't the only melody copied from the original movie, but there were all transformed in a way that didn't take away from the original tracks, and helped keep the related media-including the original film-in people's minds.

[@GabeStanton]

The “Un-lim-i-ted” bit is also in Michelle Branch’s Everywhere - “youre ev-ry-where” chorus

[@tenzillionfilms620]

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who noticed this the first time I watched the show.

[@EzJaye]

Woah!! Never noticed. Thanks!

[@kristyns1640]

stephen schwartz sounds like a wonderful person to work with

[@palpytine]

Don't forget cartoons! The original "Inspector Gadget" had arguably the single ever strongest use of leitmotifs. So much so that you could listen to just the soundtrack of an episode and still have a pretty good idea of the storyline.

[@sp00ky_guy]

Did Sideways talk about this once or am I tripping?

[@thegothaunt]

I already knew this cool fact but I can't resist hearing your thoughts and explanation!

[@bbp2936]

Follow the yellow brick road is also buried in Def. Grv.

[@philiphumphries4625]

Then they could've showed a cameo of judy garland in the end of the credits shows her and hearing her sing somewhere over the rainbow.

[@rutha1464]

If you read the awesome Gregory Maguire novel, you learn the play (and I assume the movie) Wicked demonstrate little accuracy to his story. It is none the less good, but the book was great. The idea and metaphors alone are profound. The Wizard of Oz in the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy was only an incidental mention.

[@HauntedCJ]

Where is the best place to weigh a pie?. . . Somewhere over the rainbow. 🥧🌈

[@artisans8521]

Rey's theme came up before you mentioned John Williams (great documentary on Disney BTW).

[@caity613]

Stephen Schwartz should've just thrown in a bit of "Ratcliffe's Dream" from the opera Guglielmo Ratcliffe. Not copyrighted, I don't believe, and Somewhere Over the Rainbow was directly (very likely accidentally) ripped from that intermezzo. (I'm sure I'm repeating widely known information, I just think it's funny when a song that is obviously a repeat gets to sue for copyright, lol).

[@nebakanezer13]

Just rewatched Sam Rami’s Oz the Great and Powerful. So underrated. Such a good movie. I haven’t seen Wicked (play or movie) Honestly I think I’d rather see Menzel and Chenowith’s version. Is there a performance of that recorded available?

[@joshbensonmerron]

The movie is INCREDIBLE definitely don’t miss out on it

[@TJUC123]

No. The Broadway version with Idina and Kristin isn’t available.

[@thealextrifier]

The melody seems to have a similar progression but just from hearing it it doesn't sound identical, at least regarding vocal melody. Even 'You Are Not Alone' by Michael Jackson and 'Give Me Everything Tonight' by Pitbull and other artists sound more similar than that.

[@clarekuehn4372]

Giving the bad witch a beautiful-demon theme is the ultimate trickery, as if true evil is merely about trauma damage, rather than arrogant pride.

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Thank you again David or another great video

[@DavidBennettPiano]

@@jeremiahlyleseditor437 thanks 😊

[@klaxoncow]

@@DavidBennettPiano So which is it? Thank you OR another great video. One or the other. But not both. Choose wisely.

[@Maderlololohio]

Well. Its far more beautiful than somewhere over the rainbow 😊

[@ahhwangwang]

Now I know the reason why Lady Gaga sang over the rainbow before applause during AMA as playing Dorothy.

[@andreideregla8218]

IVE HEARD IT COUNTLESS TIMES

[@andersjjensen]

8 notes... where you have 12 options (of which some are not even viable) for each is only 96 possible combinations. So there can only be 96 unique "two bars"... and people are allowed to sue over that?

[@zzzaphod8507]

More like 12^8 = 12*12*12*12*12*12*12*12 options, or 12*11*11*11*11*11*11*11 if you don't want the same note to repeat twice in a row. If you stick to a seven-note scale with no note repeating twice in a row, it will be 7*6*6*6*6*6*6*6, which is still a big number. Note that some melodies have octave jumps in them, so these numbers will be higher.

[@pacorka9943]

This is a Combination calculation. Taking n as 12 and r as 8 you get (12)!/(8!(12-8)!)=12!/(8!*4!)=495 possible combinations

[@pacorka9943]

but yes. 495 combinations is VERY small and copyright law is stupid af

[@zzzaphod8507]

@@pacorka9943 You are assuming that once you use a note in a melody, you can never use that note again, which is not how most melodies work (unless you are in the 12-tone school from the 20th century).

[@andersjjensen]

@@zzzaphod8507 Indeed. I was sleepy when I did the "math".

[@OGSiX33]

Also, her glasses are in the shape of the Infinity symbol.

[@donaldbutcher1260]

He stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum and said what a clever boy am I! 😊

[@AstroSully]

I knew it it sounded so familiar

[@tachikoma-gg]

Your transcription of the second phrase of the Unlimited theme should be an octave, not a major 6th. It's a bit jarring to hear the wrong pitch in the piano midi playback.

[@tachikoma-gg]

Along the same lines, in the Force motif, the first 16th note in the measure should be a C, not G.

[@RareguyUk]

‘Weigh a pie’

[@coyotix]

I thought I'd heard Dorothy in there! Took me until the movie release for it to click.

[@jonathanthompson5900]

Why does unlimited sound similar to the burning bush theme from the Prince of Egypt

[@Efemral]

I would so love to watch these videos but light sensitivity stops me because of all the straight white backgrounds.

[@adrianhepton9362]

I suggest that David draws on his experience to do some videos about how to earn money as a pianist doing events such as weddings, and it could be sponsored by the manufacturer of a light weight touch sensitive piano that is easy to transport ( I would add to this that it's not just about the weight of the piano is also it's shape and whether it is easy to grip when you're moving it), that doesn't have built-in speakers. Possibly a Nord model? Related to this topic my experience is that it's difficult to make money with tuition because there are so many online resources, and my question is is there an oversupply of pianists to do background music in bars? Is it also better to have some proficiency in playing the guitar? I can sing to a basic level but it's definitely not my forte. There is also a kind of role that's some people take where they work as a community musician where you are working in Healthcare settings but you have to be careful that you do not market yourself as a music therapist. Anyway just some thoughts which would fit in with the channel title of David Bennett piano

[@bombosef8779]

It's not a prequel

[@hobbybugs1286]

I noticed

[@scottmatznick3140]

Rumour has it, a movie hides in there somewhere as well!

[@CovenantQuarter]

Fun fact. Wicked is not canon to the original story or movie

[@MITTEL.PUNKT_13]

This was awesome ❤ germany loves

[@charleselmore4707]

Wow. Who’da thunk it!

[@frankieknows1]

On the theme of movies, if you watch Creature of the Black Lagoon at 0: 38 :38 you’ll hear the Jaws chase (John Williams) And The Wolf Man (1941) at 0: 58: 28 and at 0: 59: 00 you will hear the 1989 Batman theme by Danny Elfman. 🦇

[@trickshotbrosthetrickshotpros]

Learnt this in Edexcel GCSE music

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Cool!!

[@Whatyoulookingatno]

Same😂

[@frankfrank7921]

He wanted to but couldn't use Over The Rainbow"? Hmm, I have an idea, he could have used it and just paid the Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg estates their due royalties. It was a big Broadway production after all. Oh, and and DAVID, when you credit a song's composer don't forget the lyricist. EDIT: I believe Paul McCartney currently owns the rights to Harold Arlen's catalog. Doesn't detract from my original point though.

[@Random-gk3gk]

Judy garland would have loved wicked

[@trapez77]

Let’s be honest SOTR is a way better song than defying gravity

[@toritori5835]

I guess I thought it was pretty obvious. Lol.

[@Jacktors]

That heavy Hawaiian guy had the best version of Somewhere over the rainbow.

[@diegoaaldana]

Iz! Or by his full name Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Amazing singer. Love his song Hawaii '78 as well.

[@tylerbreisacher5841]

Also! Sing this little bit to yourself and see if it sounds familiar too 😉 "How can I make you understand, you're having delusions of grandeur"

[@emalaw1329]

The "having delusions of grandeur" part to me sounds like that one famous theme from a Wii Sports game. If it's not what you're referring to, I don't know what it is

[@TaraLeeGee]

Help what are you referring to? It's gonna drive me crazy 😂

[@richardrichard9631]

No its not. One is a classic film that stands in its own merrits. The other is a bastardized version presented by people with no ability to be creative in their own right.

[@kristoff_silva]

Not so hidden

[@shinjung3290]

First of all, please, and I'm not trying to be rude...the song is called "Over the Rainbow" only, "somewhere" is not part of the name. And second, the melody is also in the score "No one Mournes the Wicked" and some hints in many of the other songs if you take a veryyy close listen to it. It can turn our very surprising when you find it.

[@dominicelek9394]

Is this the Shrek live action movie??

[@johncenter4858]

It's different, and it sucks.

[@jam732]

Are you tone deaf?

[@tbird-z1r]

Shrek 5 looks like one to skip.

[@Jockstrap61]

For the 1000th time.... the name of the song is just... "Over The Rainbow." That's it! It's not, "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow! Which is the 1st phase of the song, not, its name. And I believe L. Frank Baum would be rolling over in his grave if he knew about this crappy prequel. He wrote many plays and many books about OZ. None of them required a prequel. Wicked is pure garbage! Just like other misquoted lines and song titles. Mae West never said, "come up and see me sometime." Cary Grant never said, "Judy, Judy, Judy." Baum's OZ books... 1. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) 2. The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904) 3. Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz (1905) 4. The Woggle-Bug Book (1905) 5. Ozma of Oz (1907) 6. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908) 7. The Road to Oz (1909) 8. The Emerald City of Oz (1910) 9. The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1913) 10. Little Wizard Stories of Oz (1913) 11. Tik-Tok of Oz (1914) 12. The Scarecrow of Oz (1915) 13. Rinkitink in Oz (1916) 14. The Lost Princess of Oz (1917) 15. The Tin Woodman of Oz (1918) 16. The Magic of Oz (1919) 17. Glinda of Oz (1920) Wicked is a piece of trash. Broadway & Hollywood, are completely are out of ideas! So let's reuse, reuse and reuse material from 1900 and 1939, so we can make money out of a cash cow from a book from over 100 years ago, and a film 85 years old. Sick, greedy, and disgusting. Period!

[@heyjude6680]

ok Grandpa let's get u to bed

[@andyfischer3439]

Great demo of why musicals are unlistenable garbage

[@UkeofCarl]

That isn't what I took away from this video!