Stephen Schwartz leans in close for this Commentary on Wicked: For Good, like he’s whispering secrets from behind the curtain of Oz itself, dropping just days before the soundtrack hits on November 21, 2025, and man, if his excitement is any clue, this one’s gonna feel like unwrapping a gift you forgot you needed.
You know Schwartz as the wizard who dreamed up Wicked’s words and music back in 2003, turning a green-skinned outcast into Broadway gold, and now he’s co-producing this film sequel’s soundtrack with the same spark. In this spoken intro, he geeks out over the fresh layers: two originals he penned fresh for the screen, Cynthia Erivo’s soaring “No Place Like Home” as Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s bubbly “The Girl in the Bubble” as Glinda.
Then there’s the “Wicked Witch of the East” bit, finally recorded after skipping the original cast album, plus a beefed-up “Wonderful” that ropes in Glinda and an opener, “Every Day More Wicked,” stuffed with new bits. It’s his way of saying half this thing is uncharted territory, even amid the hits like “For Good” and “No Good Deed.” Recorded straight and simple, it plays like a fireside chat, pulling back the veil on how the stage magic warps for the big screen under Jon M. Chu’s lens.
Wicked: For Good isn’t just part two of the movie split; it’s the emotional gut-punch payoff to the musical’s second act, clocking 12 tracks at about 45 minutes of soaring ensemble numbers and solo heart-wrenchers. The full cast—Erivo, Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh—brings it alive, with Republic and Verve handling the polish via Greg Wells and Stephen Oremus. Think expanded lore on Nessarose’s fall and that killer duet closer, all tying into the film’s themes of found family and forgiving the unforgivable. Pre-save’s live on Spotify and Apple Music now, so you can queue the deluxe vinyl too and dive in the second it drops.
Schwartz is buzzing harder than for Part One, and at 77, after decades shaping shows like Pippin and Godspell, this feels like his love letter to a story that’s outgrown him in the best way. The film’s holiday rush has everyone talking redemption arcs, and his voice here grounds it all, reminding us why Wicked sticks.
Dive into the Commentary (Wicked: For Good) lyrics below and unpack its raw narrative. Don’t miss other Wicked: For Good tracks for more of Stephen Schwartz’s timeless wonder.
| Lead Vocals | Stephen Schwartz |
| Songwriter | Stephen Schwartz |
| Music Producer | Greg Wells, Stephen Oremus & Stephen Schwartz |
| Label | Universal Music Group, Verve Records & Republic Records |
| Distributor | Universal Music Group |
| Release Date | November 21, 2025 |
| Song Language | English |
| Copyright © | Universal Music Group, Verve Records & Republic Records |
Lyrics of Commentary (Wicked: For Good) from Wicked: For Good
[Spoken]
Hi, This Is Stephen Schwartz,
The Composer And Lyricist Of Wicked: For Good
And The Co-producer Of This Soundtrack Album
I Think I May Be Even More Excited About This Album
Than I Was About Wicked: Part 1
Because There Is So Much On It That’s New
First Of All, There Are Two Brand New Songs
“No Place Like Home,” Beautifully Sung By Cynthia Erivo As Elphaba
And “The Girl In The Bubble,”
Equally Beautifully Sung By Ariana Grande As Glinda
But There’s Also The “Wicked Witch Of The East” Sequence
Which We Did Not Include On The Broadway Cast Album
There’s A New Version Of “Wonderful” That Includes The Character Of Glinda
And The Opening “Every Day More Wicked” Has Lots Of New Material In It
So Even Though There Are The Songs That People Already Know
Such As “I Couldn’t Be Happier,” “As Long As You’re Mine”
And “No Good Deed,” And Of Course The Title Song “For Good”
I Would Say At Least Half Of This Album Is New
So I’m Very Much Looking Forward To Sharing It With You
