What is this Feeling?

"What is this Feeling?" is a musical number from the hit musical Wicked. It is sung between Elphaba, Galinda (later Glinda), and students at Shiz University expressing loathing for each other's contrasting features as newly assigned roommates.

Context

The song is performed towards beginning of the first act. It opens with the two girls writing letters to their parents, in order to complain about their new rooming situation at Shiz, brought about by Madame Morrible. During the song, Galinda and Elphaba tell each other of their mutual, and "unadulterated loathing" for each other. During the song, the students at Shiz side with Galinda, calling her a martyr, admiring the fact that she puts up with Elphaba.

The students and Galinda all ally against Elphaba, whom they all despise, which they claim they will for their whole lives, and that every little trait of Elphaba's makes their skin crawl. Elphaba expresses that these feelings are mutual, though she doesn't say whether she hates the students or just Glinda.

During "Dancing Through Life", Galinda's loathing of Elphaba is manifested yet again when she presents her with a pointed black hat from her grandmother, in order to embarrass her in front of everyone at the Ozdust Ballroom. However, Galinda soon feels remorse, and decides to begin dancing with Elphaba, and eventually becomes her friend in "Popular".

Lyrics

Stephen Schwartz meant the song's title and lyrics to be an ironic parody on love songs ("What is this feeling so sudden and new?/I felt the moment I laid eyes on you/My pulse is rushing/My head is reeling/My face is flushing/What is this feeling?/Fervid as a flame/Does it have a name?"). The irony comes in when phrases traditionally used for love songs are revealed to be expressing hate. When Galinda and Elphaba describe each other, Galinda complains about Elphaba being impossible to describe, while Elphaba simply calls Galinda "blonde."

At the end of the song, Elphaba scares Galinda, by saying "Boo," with Galinda letting out a high-pitched squeal.