A Celebration of Soul and Freedom
"A Brand New Day" (also known as "Everybody Rejoice") is the pivotal liberation anthem from The Wiz. Written by R&B legend Luther Vandross, this song marks the moment the characters are freed from the Wicked Witch of the West. It is pure, unadulterated joy packaged in a Funk/Soul arrangement.
Unlike a standard pop ballad, this song relies heavily on ensemble energy. It’s not just about hitting the notes; it’s about capturing the feeling of a massive weight being lifted. The challenge lies in maintaining vocal stamina through the repetitive, building choruses and rhythmic modulations.
AI Coach Tip: Bright Placement
To get that authentic "Broadway Soul" sound, visualize smiling while you sing the vowels. This lifts your soft palate and brightens the tone, helping your voice cut through the heavy brass instrumentation.
Phase 1: The Groove and Diction
The song starts with a funky, syncopated rhythm. The lyrics "Everybody look around" must be delivered with percussive clarity. Don't drag the tempo.
The Trap: Singers often get too relaxed because of the groovy bassline. Stay on top of the beat. The AI Coach monitors your rhythmic precision closely in this section.
Phase 2: The Gospel Belt
As the song builds to "Can't you feel a brand new day," you need to engage your chest-mix. This isn't a breathy falsetto moment; it requires power.
- Support: Engage your core muscles. The repetition of the chorus can fatigue your voice quickly if you are singing from your throat.
- Vowels: Modify your vowels to be more open (e.g., singing "Day" closer to "Deh") to maintain a healthy belt without straining on the E Major scale.
- Texture: Feel free to add a little "growl" or vocal fry at the onset of phrases to mimic the soul style of the original cast.
Phase 3: The Celebration (Vamp)
The final section is a high-energy vamp. This is where you can ad-lib and show off your range. The background vocals provide a thick harmonic texture, so if you are singing lead, you need to float above them.
Keep your energy high until the very last cutoff. The song represents total liberation, so physical movement (even while recording in the app) can actually help your vocal delivery feel more authentic and energized.
Frequently Asked Questions
The melody frequently hits C#5 in a strong belt mix, but ad-libs in the finale can go much higher depending on the arrangement and singer.
It is traditionally an ensemble piece. In the Singing Coach AI app, you can choose to sing the lead melody or practice the harmony parts individually.
The song was written by Luther Vandross, which explains its distinct R&B/Soul flavor compared to the rest of the score by Charlie Smalls.
