Wicked: For Good is out in theaters, and the general consensus is that it’s good but not as good as the first movie. That bears out in the soundtrack. The original film had a fantastic soundtrack, but, as is the case with the stage play, the best songs are early on. Still, For Good has some pretty good songs. Here they all are, ranked worst to best.

Ranking the Wicked: For Good Soundtrack

11. “The Wicked Witch of the East”

This one is a decent track that really helps enhance the narrative, especially at a critical moment early on. Unfortunately, it’s just not performed all that well. Marissa Bode just doesn’t have the vocal skills that some other castmates have, and the song suffers a bit. It’s also not all that catchy and doesn’t stand out.

10. “As Long As You’re Mine”

This is supposed to be the crucial love song between Elphaba and Fiyero, but it falls a little flat. It doesn’t help that it comes right before a big moment in the movie, so it’s kind of drowned out. Plus, there’s not a ton of real romantic chemistry between Jonathan Bailey and Cynthia Erivo, so it falls flat.

9. “March of the Witch Hunters”

“March of the Witch Hunters” is not that bad, but it does feel a little out of place tonally. The film shifts to a darker tone pretty briefly, and it’s accentuated by this song, which otherwise does not match the vibe of most of the rest of the soundtrack. It’s also carried by a strong line delivery by Ethan Slater, but as that’s not a lyric in the song so much as a line in the script, the song can’t be ranked much higher.

There’s also no payoff to this one whatsoever, as the final encounter between the “witch hunters” and Elphaba ends with only Dorothy being involved, so the rest of the hunters were left completely out in Wicked: For Good.

8. “Every Day More Wicked”

“Every Day More Wicked” is actually decent, but that’s because it rides the coattails of “No One Mourns the Wicked,” which is a great track. It has the same vocal stylings, much of the same music, and fits in tandem with it. Unfortunately, that only makes it pale in comparison.

7. “Wonderful”

“Wonderful” is Jeff Goldblum’s chance to shine, and while he is not the worst singer in the cast, he’s not very good, either. His personality works really well for the wizard, but he doesn’t have the singing chops to carry his own song. Plus, tossing in Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to help only makes him look worse and doesn’t quite fit the idea of the song.

6. “I Couldn’t Be Happier”

Ariana Grande gets to shine on “I Couldn’t Be Happier.” It’s pretty catchy and works well within the narrative of Wicked: For Good. It’s not a super important moment in the movie, which hurts its case for a higher ranking, but I actually think it works really well in illustrating the emotional depth of Glinda. It’s a happy song, but it has a deeply sad undercurrent while Grande seems to slowly come to a disappointing realization.

5. “I’m Not That Girl”

Erivo gets to really play in this one, bringing back another good song from the first movie. But in doing so, it just serves as a reminder how much stronger the music was than in Wicked: For Good. It does fit narratively with this one and the updated lyrics help, but it’s just a minor change on an existing song from this duology. “Wicked

4. “No Place Like Home”

Sure, it’s a little cliche and borrows from the most iconic line maybe in the history of film, but it’s not a bad song, and it does wonders for Elphaba’s character. There is perhaps no better way to sum her up than with this song. Oz has never been kind to her, but she’s insistent on staying “home” and making it a better place for everyone. This song is later undone by a key and, in my opinion, faulty plot decision, but that’s not the song’s fault.

3. “Girl in the Bubble”

Much like “I Couldn’t Be Happier,” Grande gets to shine, this time in her own solo song in Wicked: For Good, an original for the movie, and delivers. Her singing is perfect for Glinda, and it once again adds a ton of depth to what could otherwise be a one-note character.

2. “No Good Deed”

“No Good Deed” is the emotional climax of the movie. It is a wonderfully dark turn for Elphaba, and Erivo embodies that with her performance. The words are dripping with rage and pain, and the visuals only help the song. Even listening to it on its own, Erivo’s titanic performance carries this song to near the top of the list.

1. “For Good”

Is this a surprise to anyone? The titular track is excellent. The moments leading up to it might be missing a little bit of character development, but both Grande and Erivo shine here. Similar to “Defying Gravity” from the first movie, it is a wonderful duet that totally captures the essence of the movie. Oh, and it’s really catchy and moving.

Conclusion

While not nearly as strong as Wicked, Wicked: For Good is still a good movie, and the same rings true of the soundtrack. Very few songs in this entire duology are better than “For Good” and “No Good Deed,” which helps carry an otherwise weak tracklist.