Willemijn Verkaik - Defying Gravity

[@IUsedToBeAnAdventurerLikeYou]

I know everyone loves Idina, but Willemijn will always be my favorite

[@stellaschuler3586]

S J I do also prefer her :) she always gives me chills

[@justaguy1768]

This one might have turned me. I've liked the German version more than the English for years, but Idina was always my English Elphaba. But this might've changed my mind.

[@Vixxenkiss]

Same. Idina is a close 2nd but sorry Willemijn has really made this role her own in many countries and languages.

[@davidmccarthy4546]

Stand Ready in one version however at the oliver awards in 2014 she kicked indinas ass! i love indina but this gal got some pipes bitch!!!!

[@contranimal]

Well she was also doing it with a full symphony orchestra that was playing a bit slower than it typically is on stage .... also in the stage production the person playing Elphaba dictates the final impact of the song. The pit conductor watches for when she thrusts the broom into the air and the conductor will give the final impact of the song at that time to the orchestra. Also the person in charge of the light board does a full blackout of every light in the house from stage lights to pit orchestra music stand lamps.

[@Ehntu]

The girl at the front shaking her head in awe at 4:05 is literally all of us omg.

[@evhoRoLL]

That's my favorite part of this whole video. Because that girl can probably sing her ass off too.

[@violettbellerose1173]

"You're doing great, sweetie"

[@dacostarik]

did you have to point that out? lol. NOw u got me looking at her

[@andrewth5276]

For real 😂

[@theboyjames3065]

I noticed her too. It's so heartwarming. Watching the master at work 😁

[@IMournTheWicked055]

Those high Fs are squuueeeaaaky frigging clean. How can she still ping them so well after all these years?? Masterclass.

[@carlosalejandroalvarenga4913]

IMournTheWicked055 mixed belting.

[@jodavitow]

Good technique, no yelling your voice into destruction *cough*Idina*cough*

[@andkyrmar]

Menzel asks herself the very same question.

[@Melbern11]

Her vocals are flawless! Her "Bring me down" gives me chills! She's an artist who doesn't need to scream to hit those high notes, it just floats out of her mouth....ugh, she is a goddess!

[@braziliansimon2737]

But she IS screaming. Screaming is talking way too loud. But she knows HOW to scream correctly ;)

[@miguelangelgtz5725]

@@braziliansimon2737 jejejejejejejeje ¿es broma?.

[@braziliansimon2737]

@@miguelangelgtz5725 speak english son of a bitch

[@miguelangelgtz5725]

@@braziliansimon2737 did you understand? bitch your mother.

[@miguelangelgtz5725]

@@braziliansimon2737 🤢 iug! ugly man. 🤮

[@officialdanavanlierop9019]

Willemijn is the only one that can sing this song the way it’s meant to be sung. I had the pleasure to watch her in the musical when I was very young and it will stay with me forever. She is insaaaane

[@darbkavon]

Wait till you see Cynthia in the movie!!!

[@Alexanderhamilton87]

She is the mother of musical voices... I had the luck the see and listen to her in London. God bless u willemijn verkaik!

[@DaneNorris]

The orchestration in this is EPIC! This is the kind of full and rich orchestration and arrangement I'd love to see in the film!

[@theludotheory]

I hoped so too but we have Cynthia Erivo singing and from what I have seen she doesn't look the part at all. Come on, Elphaba is supposed to become more attractive as the story develops but Erivo doesn't work. And before you start, my partner is black!

[@effystonumerrr]

how she whispered "and no body in all of OZ" gave me chills. it's like Miranda Pristley singing Defying Gravity

[@josephpurdue7583]

Bloody hell. You just can't beat this...that was absolute PERFECTION!!! One of the very best singers I've ever heard. Definitely getting tickets to see her perform next month!

[@josephpurdue7583]

No way. I love Rachel, see her live and she was great. But she does struggle with those notes, you can hear it's a lot harder for her to do. Willemijn Verkaik can pull it off cleaner and more consistently, than anyone else that I've heard.

[@josephpurdue7583]

From the videos I've seen of her, and the one you sent, it doesn't sound100% comfortable for her in Defying Gravity. Also there are a lot of great riffs out there from Elphaba's, but it gets soooooo over done. The power in Willemijn's voice is unquestionably good. Her voice bigger and more epic, that's what people love about her. Composer's writer great melodies for these shows and when people riff the shit out of them, a lot of the time they ruin it! We all have our own tastes, but to try and fault this video and performance from Willemijn is ridiculous. It's a masterclass.

[@josephpurdue7583]

No actually I did look at all of them and too be honest Alice did sounds amazing. I'll check out more of her. But to me, this is still the best performance of it.

[@zalua]

nobody blew Willemijn away, just accept the fact that Willemijn was voted as world wide best Elphaba for a reason

[@zalua]

Sarah Louise because they asked her for the 10th anniversary in London and then she had to stop because of backproblems. She came back, but after a few months she had to rehearse for another musical she’s currently playing. And by the way, that has nothing to do with her amazing vocals.

[@krystalmorrison6679]

She also does Elsa in German and Dutch versions of Frozen

[@Shinji0708]

In german shes just singing :( thats why i will watch the Dutch version of frozen 2 on blueray

[@braziliansimon2737]

Yesss

[@GamingWithMoonLight]

Also the Dutch Erika in barbie princess and the pauper

[@thatrandomgirl4574]

Trust me we know

[@Hessed3712]

Krystal Morrison Whoa! Really!?

[@rebecca8836]

After being obsessed with Wicked for two years before I actually got to see it, watching Willemijn sing in Wicked live in London is easily up there with one of the best moments of my whole life. Just before she started to fly, I began crying uncontrollably and was sobbing so hard by the end that I thought I wouldn't have any tears left. Trying to explain to my sister why it was so emotional, I told her it was like watching a major historical eventtake place knowing exactly what will happen and how amazing it will be.

[@japhun79]

My favorite Elphaba ever! Just saw her last month in London againnnn!

[@graceisadisgrace8625]

Jonathan Arrowood I'm jealous!!

[@drix1020041]

love this version, the orchestra sound so lovely

[@Suzycat1000]

Her face at 5.07 just says 'Yeah nailed it again didn't I?'

[@GuadalupeGuacamole]

Suzycat1000 Every performance is so flawless it’s like she looks out and says to the crowd: “This is what you came to hear isn’t it...I got you fam.” 🤣🤣🤣🖤🖤🖤💚💚💚

[@dingdongslick9344]

"That's right, you got what you damn paid for!"

[@TheGalWithTheBlueCat]

I know everybody is complimenting on Willemijn being a musical godess, but thats obvious to me. What I’d like to point out is that I’m overwhelmed hearing that song with an actual, huge, ingcredible live orchestra! This is how the song is supposed to sound, not like they‘re doing it here in Austria and Germany. I watched Wicked once in germany with only 6( or 8?) people playing in the band, nope, it wasn‘t in a small school theatre but in a theatre runned by one of the biggest companies in Europe who sell their tickets for 150€ or more. I don‘t want to give you further details in what that sounded like, all I want to say is that it‘s just so sad that the first people suffering from money cuts are always the musicians even though they play a major part in creating this whole atmosphere, volume and power to every song who gets interpreted by an artist.

[@kieran96johnson]

Dude, how you expecting to fit a 60 piece symphony orchestra in an pit in a theatre? This is a specific arrangement for an orchestra of this size, don’t deep it so much.

[@TheGalWithTheBlueCat]

@@kieran96johnson I‘m not expecting a 60 piece symphony orchestra in the theatres. But still more than 6 people with synthesizers instead of strings. Especially in big houses.

[@kieran96johnson]

@@TheGalWithTheBlueCat the Broadway production of wicked has an orchestra in excess of 20 people...

[@TheGalWithTheBlueCat]

@@kieran96johnson Well. That‘s nice. Usually in Germany and Austria there are between 10 and 35 musicians in an orchestra. The production of Wicked had as I said, between 6-9.

[@lilyl3470]

Happily I wasn't in that room. I would have broken my two hands clapping ToT Willemijn really is among the most talented singers I've ever heard, whatever her golden vocal cors touch instantly becomes a masterpiece

[@lilyevans2442]

I'm shaking my head since 5 minutes because I can't believe how good she is 😂😍

[@davesmith1803]

She needs David Foster to represent her. She is wayyyyyyy too amazing. I just discovered her on here. I am thinking OMGGGGG she is amazing. Just a good a Celine!!!! She needs to get to Vegas.

[@uncoolartist358]

@@davesmith1803 I thought the same thing!!! The richness and resonance of their voices.. not to mention the consistency as well...

[@msfuegoyluz]

I knew the Wicked cast recording backwards and forwards before I saw the show and was worried I wouldn’t like Elphaba. Well she was Elphaba and OH MY GOD!! Blew me away!! I consider myself very lucky to have seen her as Elphaba on Broadway!

[@Bandaid_Brigade]

Wellemijn will forever be in my heart for her role. She brought so much POWER to this song. Just chills

[@simonbrooksstoryteller]

Watching the chorus watching Willemijin with total awe and admiration is amazing.

[@jvpolkim]

she can voice a warrior princess on disney !

[@bijan8088]

pol kim she actually voiced The Dutch and German Elsa

[@tanchuzhen9057]

Bijan so she is tied with idina, isn’t she

[@katrinanye8115]

I'm performing this for my school's annual 'On Broadway' show, where each student chooses a piece from a Broadway musical to showcase their talent and skill, and the way she makes it sound so effortless is so impressive. This is such a difficult piece, but you'd never know listening to her. There's not a single hint of fear, raspiness(is that a word?), strain, or any insecurity. Mama Idina will always have a place in my heart, but really Willemjin is my favorite Elphaba.

[@robynrob4867]

I'm sitting here, applauding in front of my computer screen. I love love love Willemijn. She's my favorite Elphaba.

[@celiar1726]

She is perfect but I gotta say that the orchestra is awesome too 👏🏻

[@caton_andrew]

that’s what I was thinking!

[@liesewies.9895]

De dag dat ik dit fragment op tv zag, woonde ik net 1 dag op mezelf. Ik ben al jaren lang een fan van Wicked en kende dit lied al langer. Maar op dat moment kwam dit lied echt binnen. Het gaf mij het gevoel dat ik onoverwinnelijk was en dat ik alles aan kon. Dat is wat dit lied met je doet, dat is wat Wicked met je doet, dat is wat Musical met je doet dat Is wat Willemijn met je doet.

[@stuartcarden5402]

Will always be my favourite - Particularly in No Good Deed and As Long As You're Mine when she really gets to show off her gorgeous, rich low register. I know everyone likes to talk about the high stuff but with Willemijn it's all about the insane support and power she has in the lows. I was blown away when I got to see her in London.

[@dacostarik]

everyone deserves a chance to FLY!! my fav part!

[@cosmiclegalist717]

Ikr omg beautiful

[@shellstars]

Simply blows everyone else out of the game. Beautiful!

[@Seiferboi]

Powerful performance! The notes are spot on and the tone is crisp. She doesn't have to yell her high notes because she has a lot of control and uses it to perfection.

[@Minya2009]

Willemijn.... BEST Elphaba ever ♥

[@blueeminems]

I saw her on Broadway... blew my mind.

[@evoandy]

It is so sad to me that Shoshanna Bean was not cast as elphaba in the movie. She understudied for Idina Menzel and I git to perform with her in Dallas for a couple weeks shortly after I got my bachelors degree. She was mind blowing and deserves to be a huge star.

[@biancavoorman2328]

Idina was my favorite Elphaba untill i heard Willemijn sing. She is wonderfull.

[@GabeGOG]

That conductor doing the right thing and following her to finish the song. That orchestra was pure insanity. 🔥

[@missprincesscarina]

When she sand "FLY!" My heart literally defied gravity!!! Yes, girl!!!

[@sola6964]

I had the chance to see her live last month #WickedUK and I must say that I've never been so amazed during any kind of live show in my life. It was a top level singing perfomance !

[@danielmitchell451]

Wow!!!!!! Those final notes were everything and more! I have always been an Idina fan but I am now a fan of hers also.. That was a great performance!

[@missannicherry]

This woman...such an icon and such an inspiration 💚 I can't watch this version without some happy tears 🙈 just wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow 💚💚💚💚💚

[@Matser038]

Idina is always struggeling to catch the high notes. Willemijn is just flawless, pouring it out effortlessly.!

[@FrankjoshuaBandilla-xb3nt]

No other Elphaba can beat this Godly performance. And as much as I like Idina Menzel's Defying Gravity barefoot at the symphony, this performance of Willemijn is vocally and instrumentally rich. The real UNDERRATED.

[@rebeccahillerud2303]

Willemijn is completely sensational! But can we also take a moment to appreciate the orchestration??? 🥹

[@NinaC]

Omg she is so beautiful!! This might be my favorite rendition ever! 😍

[@ClaudiaBronte]

OMG! It's all so beautiful

[@catlove1494]

Claudia Bronte IO

[@KJBigBelter]

It's been LONG TIME, since a performance of THIS song brought tears to my eyes and gave me goosebumps at the same time. Not since my old friend Patti Murin sang it in my home recording studio in 2004! You are a GIFT to music! xoxo

[@wintergirl1223]

Good gravy! She's fantastic! Yeah..Idina's cool and all, but her voice is VERY hit or miss for me. This is the best version I've ever heard. Easily.

[@rosanaortiznunez]

This is timeless, I love her 😭

[@connormccoy6836]

Oh my god, this is stunning. I adore Idina and her original will always be my go to, but this is absolutely gorgeous in execution. She deserves so much more praise and recognition than what she's getting

[@hannalindbladofficial]

Totally perfection!!!! Wow!!!! What an inspiration! You are amazing!

[@dixin0ator]

I had the joy hearing and seeing her performence in wicked live. It was realy great, and the song live... i have no words for describing that!

[@alexb.6186]

I am crying everytime i am listening to this. Because it is perfection!

[@seansmithronsen9645]

She sounded beautiful just beautiful ❤😊

[@jacobzelmore6080]

This. This is the greatest performance of this song. EVER.

[@mensch2757]

Jacob Zelmore watch her Last defiying Gravity the riffs are amazing

[@nicolasbdl8369]

agree

[@world_of_wicked]

This is why she’s my favourite Elphaba for the eternity! 💚 Beyond words to express the feelings I have when I listen her beautiful voice! 💚

[@mariana96ssantos]

Her voice is perfection! Stunning! 💕

[@fayel1043]

I cried, again. I love her so so much. Her voice could touch people's heart.

[@chevydude658]

Idina is the first Elphaba and did a treme dous job. This phenomenon right here is majestic! What a tremendous artist. She is one of my favorites. It's so hard to choose a favorite because there are so many wonderfully gifted actresses. She truly is one of my favorites!!

[@randelrevilla5453]

Wow I’m blown away, my high tenor is obsessed with her voice! Applaus to her incredible vocals.

[@marieklenke2916]

Outstanding performance! She is the best!!

[@AtuyChannel30]

3:08 - 3:15 her face is really cute . Im done . Amazing voice

[@patrickdean282]

You were my first elphaba and that’s why I am obsessed with wicked you Are elphaba simply amazing 😉

[@robotvilla8244]

Chills from beginning to end. Amazing... truly amazing...

[@Jukka70]

This really is pure perfection, the more I listen to it

[@andreakohler5747]

Ich liebe diesen Auftritt von ihr mit diesem super Orchester. Ich freue mich sie endlich demnächst live in der Premiere von " Ghost" in Berlin zu sehen. Grossartige Künstlerin!

[@queengueniverletigio8376]

She looks like a Queen to me, dropping her crown and come to stage to sing an iconic song.❤

[@originalequi6043]

she always gives me the chills......amazing! Glad I could see her live!

[@LuisCornejo.]

¡No hay nadie que se acerque a esta versión! Es perfecta vocal e interpretativamente. De verdad hay versiones bastante buenas de otras cantantes, pero esta versión es perfecta.

[@catalina6024]

This is it. I've died and gone to heaven. This is it.

[@nicolafrancescutto537]

I'm spreechless, such a powerful and beautiful voice, definitely should be famous worldwide

[@louisercilla]

she has the best version, no one can top that.

[@davesmith1803]

You should hear her sing it in German, English and Danish in the same song. Indina can't do that.

[@MvGLeentje]

The best Elphaba for a reason. Willemijn is an absolute incredible singer with an amazing range. ❤

[@Macrogue65]

I hardly hear her take a breath, I'm astounded, FANTASTIC!

[@끼룩-p4s]

아.. 이언니 ㄹㅇ 짱이야... 넘 좋다 또 들어도 좋다.

[@andrewsmith5451]

Can we take a moment to appreciate a few things. 1) she is singing this in a language that is not her native language 2) her timing and intonation are mesmerising 3) she performs this, she doesn’t just sing it 4) she feels every word, every emotion 5) the light and shade is exemplary 6) it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it She is simply amazing ❤

[@KLK1618]

Absolutely beautiful! I love her so much!

[@iplumzer]

OMG she hit ALL those notes! I’m in awe

[@anni.ka310]

After 5 years still one of my favorite versions of defying gravity!

[@alexvintage4483]

I saw her on Friday and she's so perfect I want to cry her singing is so awesome 😭❤️

[@fraupoppy]

I love love love this song, but now the movie is out I MUST insist, there is only one Elphaba. Fun song, whenever I hear it, but only Willemijn makes me all choked up and gives me goose bumps

[@alvinmedina7121]

if only there was more original work on broadway. I would love to see her in a piece. she is incredible

[@chaoticgeorgie722]

Idina is incredibly talented but Willemijn is not only a powerhouse but can also sing in different languages.

[@michaelbaxter1755]

What a performance, Stunned by this at her west end performance

[@eveningstar1982]

She's brilliant and she sings this difficult song so effortlessly. I've never been too crazy about Idina, as I often felt the song didn't match her vocals and it often sounds like she's forcing it. This is how it should be! Bravo!!

[@viniciusmachado8791]

this version made me cry A LOT! Wow!!!

[@rfrolicarts]

She has beautiful eyes on top of a beautiful voice 🤩

[@sonamchoeying1762]

wow what a voice really looks like true angel I love her vice and attitude

[@moow950]

Best ever performance of this great song, written by Stephen Schwartz, by Willemijn Verkaik and a great full orchestra!

[@Alexanderhamilton87]

Just her presents in the room is epic. Every gesture every tone, perfect my willyyyy❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@tomasharras7582]

Perfect voice and a perfect witch face...

[@jotasier7098]

Exactly!! Perfect appearance for a witch. She's redhead and has blue eyes - Which is pretty rare. Back then, redheads were in fact considered witches. She fits with splendor the role.

[@pedrocaldas896]

Wonderful singer and actress!

[@lexbrand7504]

Best Defying Gravity ever😍

[@sean13]

Miss hearing this 6 nights a week side stage. Impeccable voice from a wonderful person. Hope you’re well! ❤

[@itsabbycadabby]

the orchestra was phenomenal!!!!

[@LinCMA]

I always cry. So beautiful 💚

[@confidenciahl]

Best performance EVER!

[@ayjm2876]

Vocally, Willemijn is the greatest to ever sung this song no doubt

[@SMAnthonyW]

absolutely divine. i love her so much!

[@ばーばはると]

この方のウィキッドがいちばん好きです🤩

[@jonga.menchavez1968]

❤ 👍👍 🎼🎵🎶 I love Lea Salonga and Idina Menzel, but I love this version of this roller coaster of a song by Willemijn Verkaik. Bravo!!!

[@alexanderzamora5930]

Hope she does a CD of English songs! She is amazing!

[@LTMusicals]

that girl at the front of the backing singers literally beaming and shaking her head in pure like wtf willemijn is queen at 4:04 is me

[@ayeliberty28]

god i love that lip tilt sooo much

[@WanderFeetChronicles]

Wow. What a talent this woman is. Amazing.

[@PieterPolman]

I have seen and heard many versions but have to admit this is by far the best.