"Popular" is the seventh track and the first single from Wicked: The Soundtrack for the movie, Wicked: Part 1.[3] 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 on November 26, 2024.[1][4]
Background[]
A snippet of the song was played during the movie's trailer on May 15, 2024.[5] An additional snippet appeared in an advert for the Singing Glinda doll on July 31, 2024.[6]
The song was confirmed to be part of the first part of the Wicked soundtrack on October 9, 2024.[7][8] 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.[1][4] An edited version of the song without dialogue was released on December 6, 2024.
Live Perfomence[]
On November 6, 2025, Grande appeared as the musical guest on Wicked: One Wonderful Night. She performed with British singer and actress Cynthia Erivo with "Defying Gravity" and "What Is This Feeling?" live for the first time, alongside "For Good", also from Wicked: The Soundtrack and Wicked: For Good - The Soundtrack.
Track listing[]
7” vinyl[]
- Popular
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
[Chorus: GALINDA]
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
[Verse 1: GALINDA]
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
[Chorus: GALINDA]
Popular
I know about popular
[Post-Chorus: GALINDA]
And with an assist from me to be who you'll be
Instead of drearing who-you-were
[GALINDA, spoken]
Well, are!
[Interlude: GALINDA]
There's nothing that can stop you from becoming popular… —lar!
[Verse 2: GALINDA]
La-la, la-la
We're gonna make you popular
[Bridge: GALINDA]
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!
[Chorus: 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
[Outro: GALINDA]
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[]
Gallery[]
Behind the Scenes with musical "Wicked"[]
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.[9]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 iHeart Radio - Taylor Fields: "Ariana Grande's 'Popular' Gets Nationwide Radio Debut"
- ↑ Ariana Grande - Popular (Clear Vinyl) 7"
- ↑ Billboard - Hannah Dailey: "Ariana Grande Celebrates Her Birthday on Set of ‘Wicked’: ‘Ozian 30th’"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Twitter - @popcrave: "“Popular” by Ariana Grande from ‘Wicked’ will impact US Pop Radio on November 26th, @HITSDD reports."
- ↑ Twitter - @wicked_update: "Ariana Grande sounds wonderful in the first clips of “Popular” from the new trailer for ‘Wicked’"
- ↑ Twitter - @popbase: "Extended audio of Ariana Grande's rendition of 'Popular' for 'Wicked'."
- ↑ Twitter - @teamariana: "GOOD NEWS! 🎶 @wickedmovie the soundtrack coming November 22nd is available for pre-order now 🫧🧹 ..."
- ↑ Republic Records - "Wicked: The Soundtrack (Picture Disc Vinyl)"
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-11-25/wicked-ariana-grande-popular-oscar
[]
| Wicked: The Soundtrack • Wicked: For Good - The Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
| Wicked (2024) | A Sentimental Man Dancing Through Life Dear Old Shiz Defying Gravity I'm Not That Girl No One Mourns the Wicked One Short Day Ozdust Duet Popular Something Bad The Wizard And I What is this Feeling? |
| Wicked: For Good | A Wicked Good Finale As Long As You're Mine Every Day More Wicked For Good I'm Not That Girl (Reprise) March of the Witch Hunters No Good Deed No Place Like Home Thank Goodness / I Couldn't Be Happier The Girl in the Bubble The Wicked Witch of the East Wonderful |
| Artists | Ariana Grande Courtney Mae-Briggs Cynthia Erivo Ethan Slater Idina Menzel Jeff Goldblum Jenna Boyd Jonathan Bailey Kristin Chenoweth Marissa Bode Micheal McCorry Rose Michelle Yeoh Peter Dinklage Sharon D. Clarke Shiz University Choir |
| November 22, 2024 • November 21, 2025 • Republic Records | |
