In November 2024, the Wicked movie debuted to resounding success, becoming the #1 movie worldwide. As a musical, its accompanying soundtrack was highly anticipated, especially given the legacy of the original Wicked cast album. However, while the film itself has been praised for its storytelling and performances, the movie's soundtrack has left many fans at least a bit disappointed due to noticeable audio issues that detract from its full enjoyment.

During filming, the leads, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, chose to perform their vocals live, delivering raw, beautiful and authentic performances. While this decision showcased their immense talent and dedication, it seems to have introduced some unintended technical and vocal inconsistencies in the final album mix, affecting both their own performances and those of other cast members, and also, the overall quality of the mix.

The following sound quality concerns have been noted by fans:

• In the song "Popular", a vocal glitch or crack can be heard at the 1:09 mark.
• In the song "What Is This Feeling" on the line "For your face" at 1:20 there is a strange cut between the words "for" and "your", as if two separate cuts were used and stitched together.
• In "Dancing Through Life," the transition from speaking at the beginning to singing feels abrupt and could be more seamlessly blended. If that isn't feasible, then the speaking part might be better omitted, as it isn't essential to the song's flow.
• In "Dancing Through Life", a strange echo occurs during the line “slough it off as I do” at the 1:14 mark.
• In the same song, the delivery of the line “blows are glancing” at the 1:59 mark appears to have been recorded with a less-than-optimal take.
• In "Defying Gravity," the transition between live and studio vocals, or between speaking and singing, is especially jarring on the phrase "it's me (speaking)" followed by "it's meeeee (singing)" at the 5:03 mark.
• A significant issue occurs during Cynthia Erivo's final note in "Defying Gravity," arguably the most pivotal moment of the movie. The note appears to have been spliced together from two separate takes, resulting in a noticeable and distracting inconsistency at the 7:08 mark.
• There are noticeable volume inconsistencies between songs, and even within certain songs, requiring listeners to adjust the volume frequently for a comfortable experience.
• The overall mixing of the album could benefit from refinement as well. At times, the instrumental arrangements overpower the vocals, while in other moments, certain vocal parts are noticeably louder than others, creating an uneven listening experience.

As dedicated fans of Wicked, we deeply appreciate the immense effort and care and love poured into both the film and its music. The new musical arrangements, bonus tracks, and the attention to detail in bringing this beloved story to the screen have been widely celebrated. However, we believe that the soundtrack deserves the same level of polish.

We kindly request that the production team consider revisiting the soundtrack and addressing these issues, allowing fans to fully immerse themselves in this iconic music without distractions, and to make sure that for part 2 of the story, this issues are taken care of.

For the soundtrack of part 1, a remastered or revised release would not only satisfy loyal supporters but also uphold the legacy of Wicked as a standard of excellence in musical theater and film.

Thank you for your time, dedication, and understanding. Together, we can ensure that this extraordinary work continues to shine in every aspect.

Sincerely,
The Wicked fandom