New ‘Wicked’ Featurette Offers A Look Behind the Scenes

As a seasoned gamer and musical enthusiast who has weathered the storm of auto-tuned pop stars and lackluster movie adaptations, I can confidently say that my heart skipped a beat upon hearing the news about the live-singing phenomenon in the upcoming Wicked movie. Having spent countless hours belting out show tunes in virtual karaoke sessions and attending live Broadway performances, I’ve grown to appreciate the raw power and emotional depth that comes from live vocals.

In the eagerly awaited Wicked movie, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are showcasing their exceptional vocal talents in an artistic risk by performing all their songs live on set instead of lip-synching to previously recorded tracks. A recent behind-the-scenes featurette offers a peek at the process, revealing both stars singing genuinely during filming.

The hidden video clips give fans a sneak peek into the making of the production, showing aspects such as vocal exercises and rehearsals of iconic songs such as “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.” Director Jon M. Chu discloses that although lip-syncing and pre-recording are usual for movie musicals, the choice to record live vocals was not hasty. He states in a preview that these performers are among the best in the world, which significantly influenced their decision to record live singing throughout the entire film. Erivo further comments that performing live heightened their emotional bond with the lyrics.

Watch the featurette above. Wicked is set to hit theaters on November 22.

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