Popular

This article is about the Wicked: The Soundtrack single. For the Yours Truly single, see Popular Song.

Popular
General information
Artist	Ariana Grande
Release Date	November 22, 2024
Recorded	2023
Studio	Sky Studios (London, United Kingdom)
Genre	Musical
Length	4:01 2:53 (edit)
Label	Republic Records
Songwriter(s)	Stephen Schwartz
Producer(s)	Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Oremus, Greg Wells, Jon M. Chu, Mac Platt, Maggie Rodford
Singles chronology
Previous	"The Boy Is Mine Remix"
Current	"Popular"
Next	"Defying Gravity"

"Popular" is the seventh track and the first single from Wicked: The Soundtrack for the movie, Wicked: Part 1. It was released on November 22, 2024, through Republic Records. Ariana Grande performs the song as her character from the movie, Glinda Upland. It was released as the first radio single from the soundtrack upon release.

Background

A snippet of the song was played during the movie's trailer on May 15, 2024. An additional snippet appeared in an advert for the Singing Glinda doll on July 31, 2024.

The song was confirmed to be part of the first part of the Wicked soundtrack on October 9, 2024. It released alongside the rest of the soundtrack on November 22, 2024, and was sent to radio that day, making it the first single from the soundtrack. An edited version of the song without dialogue was released on December 6, 2024.

Lyrics

[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?
Don't make me laugh

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

Merchandise

Physical Releases

Main article: Merchandise - Physical Music § Popular

• Overview

7" Clear, 45RPM

7" Clear, 45RPM

Trivia

• The film composer, who is also the composer of the original musical, Stephen Schwartz, had in mind to change and modify the song to bring a refreshed for the film, to something kinda hip-hop type of genre, however, Ariana said no to the idea because she "wanted to play Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda", meaning she wanted to keep the original vision of the song for her performance in the film.