Popular by the Wicked Cast
[GALINDA, spoken]
Elphie
Now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Oh, you really don't have to do that
[GALINDA, spoken]
I know!
That's what makes me so nice
[GALINDA]
Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I
And let's face it, right? Who isn't less fortunate than I?
My tender heart tends to start to bleed
And when someone needs a makeover, I simply have to take over
I know, I know exactly what they need
And even in your case
Though it's the toughest case I've yet to face
Don't worry, I'm determined to succeed
Follow my lead
And yes, indeed
You will be, ah
Popular
You're gonna be popular
I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys
Little ways to flirt and flounce, ooh!
I'll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair
Everything that really counts to be popular
I'll help you be popular
You'll hang with the right cohorts, you'll be good at sports
Know the slang you've got to know
So let's start 'cause you've got an awfully long way to go
Don't be offended by my frank analysis
Think of it as personality dialysis
Now that I've chosen to become a pal
A sister and adviser, there's nobody wiser
Not when it comes to
Popular
I know about popular
And with an assist from me to be who you'll be
Instead of dreary who-you-were
[GALINDA, spoken]
Well, are!
[GALINDA]
There's nothing that can stop you from becoming populer… —lar!
La-la, la-la
We're gonna make you popular
When I see depressing creatures
With unprepossessing features
I remind them on their own behalf to think of
Celebrated heads of state
Or especially great communicators
Did they have brains or knowledge?
[GALINDA, spoken]
Don't make me laugh
[GALINDA]
They were
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Popular
[GALINDA, spoken]
Right!
[GALINDA]
It's all about popular
It's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed
So it's very shrewd to be
Very, very popular like me, me
And though you protest
Your disinterest
I know clandestinely
You're gonna grin and bear it, your newfound popularity (Woo!)
La-la, la-la
La-la, la-la
La-la, ooh
You'll be popular
Just not quite as popular as me
About the Song: Popular by the Wicked Cast
Popular was originally recorded by actress Kristin Chenoweth, who was the original cast of Glinda from the Broadway musical Wicked. Ariana Grande, who played Glinda in the movie, also recorded the song. The song is the only one in the musical that has a bubblegum pop style. It was also listed as the second-best song from the musical by Vulture, next to Defying Gravity. Billboard ranked Popular as the third-best song from the movie with The Wizard and I as the second and Defying Gravity as the first.
A Deeper Dive Into the Song Popular
Popular signifies the start of a friendship between Glinda (then still Galinda) and Elphaba. Glinda, feeling a mix of guilt (because Elphaba was ridiculed because of the witch’s hat that Glinda gave as a “gift”) and gratitude (because she was allowed to join Madame Morrible’s class as per Elphaba’s request), decided to give Elphaba a makeover to make her fit in with the crowd.
The song highlights Glinda’s personality: bubbly and a bit self-centered but her heart is in the right place. She insists on teaching Elphaba how to properly look and act so she can be popular like Glinda, just not as popular.
Fun Facts About Popular
- The song Popular Song (2012) by Lebanese-British singer-songwriter sampled Popular from Wicked. The song also features Ariana Grande, who would later play Glinda in the movie.
- During the part in Popular where Glinda sings “La-la, la-la, La-la, la-la, La-la, ooh”, there was a note change in the movie that was not in the original Broadway play. Ariana Grande sang this part higher.
- Glinda still uses her original name, Galinda, in this song.