What Is This Feeling?

What Is This Feeling?Song by Cynthia Erivo
General information
Artists	Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande
Released	November 22, 2024
Recorded	2023
Studio	Sky Studios (London, United Kingdom)
Genre	Musical
Length	3:48
Label	Republic Records
Album	Wicked: The Soundtrack
Songwriter(s)	Stephen Schwartz
Producer(s)	Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Oremus, Greg Wells, Jon M. Chu, Mac Platt, Maggie Rodford
Audio
Music Video

"What Is This Feeling?" is the fourth track on Wicked: The Soundtrack for the movie, Wicked: Part 1. It was released on November 22, 2024 through Republic Records. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande perform the song as their respective characters from the movie, Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland.

Background

The song was confirmed to be part of the first part of the Wicked soundtrack on October 9, 2024.

Music Video

The music video opens with the two witches preparing for bed, with Glinda turning on her pink lamp that visibly disturbs Elphaba. Elphaba pushes some of Glinda's baggage to the ground as she pulls Glinda's lamp plug out of an outlet. The next morning, Elphaba wakes up with Glinda's baggage surrounding her bed. After Glinda returns to her dorm alongside Pfannee and ShenShen, she walks into her baggage being cluttered into the corner of her dorm.

Glinda and her friend group walk into the cafeteria as they sing about how much they pity Glinda for having to share a room with Elphaba. The video also cuts to scenes of Glinda and Elphaba fighting for a desk in class and the two girls stick-fighting. Glinda then catches sight of Elphaba and Madame Morrible speaking joyfully to one another, which makes Glinda jealous and stomp back to her dorm. The video ends with Elphaba spooking Glinda.

Lyrics

• Wicked Soundtrack
• Cover

[GALINDA, spoken]
Dearest, darlingest Momsie and Popsicle

[ELPHABA]
My dear father

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
There's been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz

[ELPHABA]
But of course, I'll care for Nessa

[GALINDA]
But of course, I'll rise above it

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
For I know that's how you'd want me to respond

[GALINDA & ELPHABA, spoken]
Yes

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
There's been some confusion for, you see, my roommate is

[GALINDA]
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar
And altogether quite impossible to describe

[ELPHABA, spoken]
Blonde

[GALINDA]
What is this feeling, so sudden, and new?

[ELPHABA]
I felt the moment I laid eyes on you

[GALINDA]
My pulsе is rushing

[ELPHABA]
My head is reeling

[GALINDA]
Yeah, well, my facе is flushing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
What is this feeling?
Fervid as a flame
Does it have a name?
Yes
Loathing
Unadulterated loathing

[GALINDA]
For your face

[ELPHABA]
Your voice

[GALINDA]
Your clothing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
Let's just say
I loathe it all
Every little trait, however small
Makes my very flesh begin to crawl
With simple, utter loathing
There's a strange exhilaration
In such total detestation
It's so pure, so strong
Though I do admit, it came on fast
Still, I do believe that it can last
And I will be loathing
Loathing you my whole life long

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Dear Galinda, you are just too good
How do you stand it? I don't think I could
She's a terror, she's a tartar, we don't mean to show a bias
But, Galinda, you're a martyr

[GALINDA]
Well, these things are sent to try us

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Poor Galinda, forced to reside
With someone so disgusticified
We just want to tell you, we're all on your side
We share your loathing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
What is this feeling, so sudden and new?

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Unadulterated loathing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
I felt the moment I laid eyes on you

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
For her face, her voice, her clothing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA, SHIZ STUDENTS]
My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling (Let's just say)

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
We loathe it all

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
Oh, what is this feeling?

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Every little trait, however small

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
Does it have a name?

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Makes our very flesh begin to crawl

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
Yes

[ALL]
Ahh

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
Loathing

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Loathing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
There's a strange exhilaration

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Loathing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
In such total detestation

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Loathing

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
It's so pure, so strong

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
So strong

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
Though I do admit, it came on fast
Still, I do believe that it can last

[GALINDA & ELPHABA, ALL, SHIZ STUDENTS]
And I will be loathing for forever
Loathing truly deeply
Loathing you (Loathing you)

[GALINDA & ELPHABA]
My whole life long

[SHIZ STUDENTS]
Loathing
Unadulterated loathing

[ELPHABA, spoken]
Boo!

[GALINDA, spoken]
Ah!

[ELPHABA laughs.]

[Ariana Grande]
What is this feeling, so sudden, and new?

[Seth MacFarlane]
I felt the moment I laid eyes on you

[Ariana Grande]
My pulse is rushing

[Seth MacFarlane]
My head is reeling

[Ariana Grande]
My face is flushing

[Both]
What is this feeling?
Fervid as a flame, does it have a name?
Yes. Loathing!
Unadulterated loathing!

For your face
Your voice
Your clothing!

Let's just say—I loathe it all!
Every little trait however small
Makes my very flesh begin to crawl
With simple utter loathing!
There's a strange exhilaration

In such total detestation
It's so pure, so strong!
Though I do admit, it came on fast
Still I do believe that it can last
And I will be loathing, loathing you my whole life long

Though I do admit, it came on fast
Still I do believe that it can last!

And I will be loathing (Loathing)
For forever, loathing (Loathing)
Truly deeply, loathing you (Loathing, loathing you)
My whole life long (Loathing, unadulterated loathing)

Trivia

• Grande covered this song in 2017, alongside Seth Macfarlane.