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Kelsea Ballerini covered a song from the wildly popular Broadway musical and two-part film adaptation, Wicked, while performing her own vulnerable ballad on stage.
Ballerini, 32, released âEmerald Cityâ on her latest 6-track EP, Mount Pleasant. The project also includes âI Sit In Parks,â âPeople Pleaser,â â587,â âThe Revisionistâ and âCheck On Your Friends.â âEmerald Cityâ is an intimate, emotional track that sees the singer opening up about feelings of insecurity and jealousy, symbolized by the color green. The lyrics share a vulnerable perspective of comparison, and seek support and reassurance: âNever known this shade of envy/ Just tell me Iâm your Emerald City.â
The title, âEmerald City,â is a creative take on the enchanting land in The Wizard of Oz, one of the most beloved and retold stories of all time. Author L. Frank Baum published the childrenâs novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in 1900, and the iconic film starring Judy Garland made its debut in 1939. Since then, there have been countless nods to The Wizard of Oz in popular culture. That includes the Broadway production of Wicked, based on author Gregory Maguireâs novel by the same title, unearthing the story of what happened before Dorothy landed in Oz and sharing new perspectives of well-known characters. The two-part Wicked movie adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. Erivo sings âIâm Not That Girlâ in the first film, and Grande sings a reprise in the second film.
âDon't wish, don't start/ Wishing only wounds the heart/ I wasn't born for the rose and pearl/ There's a girl I know/ He loves her so/ Iâm not that girlâ
Fan account Kelsea Central shared a TikTok posted by a concertgoer in Sydney, Australia, where Ballerini âmashed âIâm Not That Girlâ with âEmerald City,â states the caption on Instagram. Kelsea Central said âthis is everything to us yâall donât even understand.â Watch that moment here: