Defying Gravity is a solo with duet sections that ends the first act of the musical Wicked by Stephen Schwartz.
Wicked which opened in 2003, is based on the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. It explores the nature of good and evil and offers up a new perspective on the original film and its characters.
The duet is sung by the two main characters: Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
The musical begins with the death of Elphaba and through flashback we learn from Glinda that the two girls were at university together. Glinda was the popular, spoilt and beautiful one and Elphaba, the green skinned and misunderstood outcast. The two girls get send to help the Wizard of Oz, who Elphaba discovers is a corrupt dictator. She vows to fight his injustices by speaking out against the Wizard and defying his laws. As a result of this, Elphaba is considered 'wicked' and the Wizard turns the people against her, forcing her into hiding. In contrast, Glinda is considered 'good' though she lacks the courage to stand up to him.
In the end, Elphaba escapes the Wizard and Glinda comes to respect her strength and courage in standing up for what she believes to be right, becoming a better person herself through this realisation
Defying Gravity is sung as the two witches barricade themselves into a high tower after the Wizard has threatened to kill them. Elphaba rises on her broomstick to escape and tried to convince Glinda to join her. As the guards burst in, Elphaba rises into the sky promising to fight the Wizard with her power. She is literally 'defying gravity' but the songs refers to Elphaba's vow not to give in and accept the limitations placed on her. Just like defying the law of gravity, Elphaba is going to defy her position in life.