In the popular story and movie adaptation, The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West is one of the main antagonists. Throughout the story, she is portrayed as a wicked and cunning character, with her dark and sinister presence adding to the overall suspense and mystery. One of the most memorable scenes involving the Wicked Witch of the West is when she sings a chilling and haunting song. This song, known as "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead," is a jubilant celebration of her demise. It is sung by the Munchkins, the inhabitants of the land of Oz, after Dorothy accidentally drops a house on the witch, causing her death. While the song is not directly sung by the Wicked Witch of the West herself, it represents her ultimate defeat and the triumph of good over evil.
While the song is not directly sung by the Wicked Witch of the West herself, it represents her ultimate defeat and the triumph of good over evil. The lyrics of the song express the joy and relief felt by the Munchkins and other characters in the story upon learning of the witch's demise. The song's lyrics are simple and repetitive, with the phrases "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead" and "Wake up, sleepyhead, rub your eyes, get out of bed" being repeated throughout.
The Wizard of Oz: Remixed
The remixed text that I chose to cover is Todrick Hall’s video The Wizard of Ahhs. The texts that have been sampled are: The movie The Wizard of Oz, classic music videos, and many popular pop songs – such as Blown Away by Carrie Underwood, Damaged by Danity Kane, Can’t be Tamed by Miley Cyrus and I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift.
In the video, Todrick and the band Pentatonix re-tell the story of The Wizard of Oz through an extended music video. The name of the video is basically a remix in itself and plays off of the word “oz” and changing it to “ahhs,” alluding to the fact that it is musical. Usually, a music video has one song that is the basis of the video, but this video has a medley of songs that flow from one to the next. The popular music featured throughout the video are songs that fit the expedition of the film. For example, when Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, he is singing “Thinking Bout You” by Frank Ocean because the one thing that the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz wants is a brain. Likewise, the Tinman sings “Damaged” because he wants a heart and the lyrics are “I thought that I should let you know / that my heart is damaged.” Additionally, some of the original lyrics to songs are transformed. For example, when the wizard is shown, the song “Power” by Kanye West plays. The original lyrics are: “I’m living in the 21st century doin’ something mean to it” (West). However, Todrick sings: “I’m living in the Emerald City, please doin’ something mean to it.” Likewise, the lyrics to Lady Gaga’s song “Teeth” change from “show me your teeth” to “show me your feet” (Gaga) from the perspective of the wicked witch. All the music is also being transformed because Pentatonix is an acapella band, so many – if not all – of the songs sung in the video are done by acapella, which is not how the original songs were recorded.
The rhetorical situation for a remix deals with audience and purpose. In Edward’s article, in the table labeled typology of transformative work, he defines the terms: assemblage, reappropriation, redistribution and genre play. Todrick’s video fits redistribution. Redistribution “refers to sharing or adding to an already existing text for the purpose of reaching a new audience, offering an updated message, and/or spreading a text further” (Edwards). The Wizard of Ahhs adds to an existing text (The Wizard of Oz and music videos) and offers an updated/modern version to the film. Also, it could be spreading the text further considering the bulk of Todrick’s fanbase are millennials and younger. The Wizard of Oz came out in 1939, so it could be reaching people who haven’t seen the movie.
Remixing helps digital publishing because it keeps information relevant. Using the four terms above that Edwards talks about, it keeps information fresh and reaches a broad spectrum of audience. It can build an argument, help prove a point in an argument, express an opinion or just to simply challenge the way that we view a specific genre in general.
Edwards, Dustin W. “Framing Remix Rhetorically: Toward a Typology of Transformative Work.” Computers and Composition 39 (2016): 41-54. 24 Dec. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2018.
Gaga, Lady. “Teeth.” Interscope Records, 2014. CD.
The Wizard of Ahhhs. Dir. Todrick Hall. Perf. Todrick Hall and Pentatonix. Youtube. N.p., 2013. Web. .
West, Kanye. “Power.” Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC, 2010. CD.
There’s a time jump between Acts I and II, so we return to find that lots has changed in Oz. Elphaba is now a public enemy, while her former bestie has been christened “Glinda the Good” – and she’s engaged to Fiyero. In this fraught propaganda song, which is meant to celebrate their engagement, Glinda tries to reassure everyone that it’s all fine, even though she doesn’t believe it herself.
These lyrics add to the sing-song quality of the song, making it catchy and easy to remember. The choice of having the Munchkins sing this song instead of the Wicked Witch of the West herself is an interesting creative decision. By having the characters who suffered under her rule sing the song, it highlights the impact she had on their lives and emphasizes the significance of her defeat. Overall, the song sung by the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz encapsulates her demise and the overall theme of good triumphing over evil. Its jubilant and repetitive lyrics make it a memorable moment in the story and a highlight of the movie adaptation..
Reviews for "The Dark Side of Oz: The Wicked Witch's Song as a Reflection of Good and Evil"
1. John - 2 stars
I found the song sung by the wicked witch of the west in "The Wizard of Oz" to be quite underwhelming. The lyrics were uninspiring and the melody failed to captivate me. It lacked the charm and magic that are usually associated with musical numbers in this iconic film. The performance itself also felt lackluster, with the witch's voice sounding forced and unimpressive. Overall, this song was a disappointing element in an otherwise wonderful movie.
2. Emily - 1 star
I strongly disliked the song sung by the wicked witch of the west in "The Wizard of Oz". It was not only unpleasant to listen to, but also felt unnecessary and out of place. The lyrics were repetitive and the melody was grating. Furthermore, the witch's voice was harsh and annoying, making it difficult to enjoy the song or the scene in which it was featured. I believe that this particular song could have been left out of the film without sacrificing anything of value.
3. Amanda - 2.5 stars
The song sung by the wicked witch of the west in "The Wizard of Oz" left me unimpressed. While I appreciate the efforts put into the performance, the song itself lacked the catchiness and memorability that I associate with the classic musical numbers in this film. The composition felt disjointed and the lyrics failed to add any depth or emotion to the character or the storyline. Overall, I found this song to be forgettable and it did not leave a lasting impression on me.
4. Michael - 1 star
I couldn't stand the song sung by the wicked witch of the west in "The Wizard of Oz". It was obnoxious and seemed out of place in the overall flow of the movie. The lyrics were repetitive and the melody was grating. Additionally, the witch's performance was over-the-top and irritating. I found myself cringing every time this song came on, and it significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the film. I believe that it could have been omitted without affecting the plot or the characters in any significant way.