The Glinda Medley (Featuring Wicked, The Wizard of Oz, and The Wiz)

[@rachelle_banks]

This is a cool concept. Beautiful voice and an interesting medley. Did you arrange it yourself?

[@CarlyAugenstein]

Thank you! It was actually arranged by the super talented Jonathan Brenner who is on piano in this video!

[@rachelle_banks]

@@CarlyAugenstein "If You Believe" is one of my favorite songs to sing randomly. And in the film version with Lena Horne it said that it was really something on the set. Right after she finishes, you know there's the reprise with Diana Ross and all the characters being so emotional with tears in their eyes. She had pretty much come out of a bit of a retirement and... Lena Horne present on the set of a film with so many stars for whom she had paved the way is just so rich. I am emotional now thinking about the sort of thing she went through to star in Blockbuster musicals that made so much money for the studios but she had to come in the servants entrance. Can you imagine? And add to that of course we know that her films were only shown certain places because she was White passing. Then people found out that she was Black and all of a sudden they were backtracking on how talented they thought she was. I brought that up to say that there's a reason that what she brought to that song had that gospel feel that I know you all were trying to insert here. It's a stunning, moving piece. I also dig the nostalgia of the first number and what the freshness of the song Popular really meant to Broadway and the shift in how songs were written for modern musicals. Good stuff.

[@CarlyAugenstein]

@@rachelle_banks Such kind words! And I love Lena Horne's story so much.