Ariana Grande is clearly lip-synching in first Wicked clip, because that’s how movie musicals work
Multiple set videos (including a snippet that puts Ariana Grande's Glinda front and center) prove we have liftoff on Jon M. Chu's two-part Wicked movie
Film News Wicked
She’s here, and she’s perfect. On Tuesday, Entertainment Tonight did the honors of sharing the first official clip of Ariana Grande performing as Glinda in John M. Chu’s two-part big-screen Wicked adaptation, which is currently filming in England. In the clip, Grande holds court from the elaborate Munchkin-land set, dressed to the Oz nines in a towering tiara fit for a ruler and Glinda’s trademark pink gown.
In the day since it dropped, the roughly two-and-a-half minute clip has sparked some disagreement about Grande’s lip-synced vocals to musical opener “No One Mourns The Wicked.” Barring recent examples like Les Miserables and A Star Is Born, lip-synching is pretty standard practice for a movie musical. However, the video’s YouTube comments reflect some debate about whether Grande is lip-synching to her own track or a recording of Broadway’s original Glinda, Kristen Chenoweth. The song’s higher refrains certainly sound like Chenoweth’s soaring register, but the first installment of the two-part film is also still well over a year away. If Grande is filming using Chenoweth’s vocal, that’s no indication the pop star—who has a legendary high soprano herself—won’t sing her parts.
Although the new clip marks the first time the general public has seen Grande in full Glinda mode, gracefully extending her hands and wielding a glittery scepter in true good witch fashion, this isn’t the first glimpse from the set that’s hit the internet. On April 16, Chu shared two first-look character shots from the film via Twitter, one of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and one of Grande’s Glinda.
For as much excitement as they fostered, the shots also drew some immediate clowning for their on-trend dimly-lit look. But in response to one fan, Chu offered a pretty fair explanation (and one that speaks to the tizzy over Grande’s vocals too): “This is just the first tease. Plenty of time to show more… stay tuned.” Before deciding whether the adaptation should be written off for good, let us all practice some good faith.
29 Comments
Is this what it’s like to get old? Not caring about dumb shit? Do people care about this? Also, first. (Not too old for that!)
Good thing about getting old: the perspective.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
All your base. Amirite?
Why are any of us here* if we don’t care at least a little about dumb shit? I could hardly care less about the film version of the theatrical adaptation of the literary reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, but for some reason I’m mildly interested in the subject of whether people are “really” singing or not. I don’t find it scandalous or anything, just another aspect of pop culture.For instance, Marilyn Monroe sang “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” except for the “No – no – no” intro, which is obviously someone else’s voice, and possibly one line which may have been dubbed by Marni Nixon – who famously** dubbed Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood, Deborah Kerr and others.Okay, I can sense your eyes glazing over from here, but that’s how I feel when other people talk about baseball.*In the patronizing AC Club sense, not the existential sense.**Famously now, anonymously at the time.
Never too old to catch CancerAIDS
I thought it was COVIDbola now.
That sweet Laurel Covid sound.
No. Getting old is not caring about dumb shit, AND taking care to tell everyone around you how much you don’t care about it.
It’s my first time getting old. Still getting the hang of it.
Man, I thought “Twitter Randos Upset at Thing” was the lowest form of online “journalism.” Didn’t realize someone would attempt “Youtube Commenters Upset at Thing.”
I don’t think I ever cared? This is how you make movies, maybe because I grew up in California and occasionally did see filming near me that this is just a non-issue.
Maybe she can go on tour with Motley Crue.
Imma toss (-toss) this into the “non-story story” pile.
Does not sound like the original cast recording. I think it’s her.
We really need to start teaching the basics of media production and how media functions to kids now. They are being inundated with so much more of it than we did, and they really don’t have a clue how it’s actually made.
Okay.
Lip syncing?!? Burn the (Good) Witch (of the North)!
I’m just happily surprised to see them filming in costume with props on a fully realized Munchkinland set. I’d have half expected to see her standing on a green box in front of a green screen holding a green stick wearing a green jumpsuit covered with ping-pong balls.
They’d probably use a blue screen for this movie.
People are deranged. That’s absolutely Ariana Grande’s voice. There is also a contingent of lunatics who believe that Meryl Streep’s vocals in Into the Woods were dubbed by Broadway star Donna Murphy.
they took down the video, so I can’t say whose voice it is but Grande was on Broadway before she got big, so it is going to be her singing eventuallyI was a little suspicious of Meryl Streep in Into the Woods. She has sang in several films (Prairie Home Companion) and I think she even did off-broadway (alice at the palace was it?) but…I don’t think her voice is very good. She has one of those Hollywood voices where they cast her in singing parts again and again for no good reason (see: Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, who are at least better than Russell Frogvoice Crowe). All of a sudden in Into the Woods she sounded great. I didn’t know if it was digital massaging, a stand-in, or a combination.
I saw this mess in previews about 20 years ago. It wasn’t good then. I can’t remember a line from it, let alone a song. Did it get any better?
“I saw this popular thing and didn’t like it. Please someone pay attention to me.”
Is it really popular? I remember songs from The Wizard of Oz, which Wicked is based on. As far as Broadway goes, I know songs from Oklahoma! and many other truly popular shows that have seeped in to popular culture. Not from Wicked. I stand by my statement. As far as you go,“I’m a troubled little troll with an openly hostile user name and avatar desperately trying to pick fights with internet randos”.Not on my thread. You should try analyzing yourself before casting aspersions.
The book was good, it’s just a shame it ended up being a musical.
I’m not enthused if it’s Chenoweth’s vocals. I hate when they do that. Plus just cast Chenoweth she does film too.
Sync is relative. But when in doubt, blame the editor.
I’m still puzzled by this not being an animated film.