Popular (Wicked song)
| "Popular" | |
|---|---|
Stephen Schwartz |
"Popular" is a song from the
Composition
"It's [the song] meant to be as shallow as possible. And I think that's why people enjoy it, because it's real funny in that way. But it's also political. Glinda refers to the fact that politicians and heads of state get by not because they're particularly smart, but because people like to hang out with them."[1]
—Stephen Schwartz talking about "Popular"
"Popular" was written by the composer
In "Popular", Glinda attempts to get Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, to conform to the accepted ideas of beauty and popularity. Schwartz described the lyrics as "empty calories" and shallow. The composition of the song is a more
On stage
Stage performances of "Popular" are often accompanied with outlandish physical comedy and improv add-ons by Glinda that highlight her bubbly character and enthusiasm. Examples include exaggerated "hair toss", humorous dance routines, and the hysterical "pillow scream" popularized by Alli Mauzey. Occasionally, Glinda's antics may cause the actress playing Elphaba to lose composure and break character to the amusement of the audience and on-stage performers alike.
On film
The song is set to appear in the upcoming first part of the two-part film adaptation of the musical, set for release on November 27, 2024, sung by Ariana Grande as Glinda.[2]
Critical reception
Laura Reineke of the blog Vulture ranked "Popular" as the second-best song from Wicked, calling it "bubbly and refreshingly self-aware" and praising it for showcasing Kristin Chenoweth's singing and comedic talent.[3]
Covers, samples, and alternate versions
"Popular" was sampled in "
On July 31, 2013, Kristin Chenoweth performed a lyrically modified version of "Popular" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, about New York politician Anthony Weiner. In it, she tells Weiner how to be "the right kind of popular," and also his wife to "take a page from Hillary and become independent of her hubby, while [Weiner sports] a chat room chubby." Some of the original lyrics are also present.[4]
In late 2014, Chenoweth included a multilingual version of the song in her live album Coming Home. This new rendition includes lyrics from the Japanese and German versions of the song.
In 2015, the song was covered in the
Satirical singer Randy Rainbow made a version called "Unpopular", critical of US Pres. Donald Trump.[5]
References
- ^ ISBN 1-4013-0820-1.
- ^ https://ew.com/movies/wicked-ariana-grande-cynyhia-erivo-cinemacon-footage/
- ^ Reineke, Laura (October 30, 2013). "Wicked at 10: Ranking the Broadway Hit's Songs". Vulture. New York. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (July 31, 2013). "Kristin Chenoweth Sings Anthony Weiner-Inspired 'Popular' Parody (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "UNPOPULAR! - 🎶 Randy Rainbow Song Parody 💄". YouTube.
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