With the new 'Wicked' films bringing the Land of Oz back to the big screen, a whole new generation is getting songs like 'Defying Gravity' and 'Popular' stuck in their heads. But why is this music so relentlessly catchy?
The Power of the 'Unlimited' Motif
One of the score's biggest secrets
is composer Stephen Schwartz's masterful use of leitmotifs—short, recurring musical phrases that represent a character, place, or idea. The most significant of these is what Schwartz calls the 'Unlimited' theme, a seven-note phrase that first appears in 'The Wizard and I' when Elphaba dreams of her limitless potential. This theme is woven throughout the entire musical, changing keys and tempos to match the story's emotional beats. You hear it when Elphaba first does something good with her powers, and you hear echoes of it in Glinda's songs. This repetition creates a cohesive musical language that the brain latches onto. By hearing the same melodic DNA in different contexts, the listener's brain recognizes the pattern, making the entire score feel familiar and deeply memorable.
The Psychology of a Perfect Pop Hook
Beyond its theatrical complexity, Wicked's music is built on the foundations of great pop songwriting. Songs like 'Popular' and 'Defying Gravity' feature simple, predictable melodic shapes that are easy for our brains to process and sing back. Many catchy melodies move in simple steps with an occasional, surprising leap—think of the octave jump in 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'. 'Defying Gravity' uses this perfectly; the melody climbs steadily before Elphaba makes her iconic leap into the high notes, creating an unforgettable musical and emotional climax. This combination of repetition and surprise is a classic recipe for an earworm. It creates what psychologists call a 'cognitive itch'—the brain gets hooked on the pattern and feels compelled to replay it.
When Lyrics Tell the Story
The songs in Wicked aren't just breaks in the dialogue; they are the engine of the story. Schwartz designed the score to be deeply dramatic, using breaks in rhythm and tempo to accommodate spoken dialogue and advance the plot within the songs themselves. Because the lyrics carry so much narrative weight—revealing character motivations, fears, and transformations—they become more meaningful to the listener. A song like 'For Good' isn't just a sad goodbye; it's a profound statement on how friendship changes people forever, with a title that carries a powerful double meaning. This strong connection between music and emotion is a key factor in why songs become earworms. When a melody is tied to a powerful feeling or story beat, it embeds itself more deeply in our memory.
A Masterclass in Emotional Build-Up
Wicked's score is a masterclass in tension and release. Schwartz frequently uses musical underscoring to create dramatic irony and emotional subtext. For instance, when Glinda gives Elphaba the black hat in 'Dancing Through Life,' the seemingly kind gesture is underscored by the theme from 'What Is This Feeling?'—the song about how much they loathe each other. This layering gives the music a depth that rewards repeat listening. The songs build from quiet, intimate moments to massive, soaring crescendos that are designed to have a powerful physical and emotional effect. The release of dopamine in the brain when we hear these moving parts makes us feel good, creating a positive feedback loop that makes us want to hear the songs again and again. It's a journey of sound that mirrors the characters' own emotional transformations, making the payoff incredibly satisfying.
