Popular from Wicked the Musical

Wicked Popular Lyrics, Sheet Music, Karaoke, Song History

Get Wicked Popular sheet music and sing along! Instant download:

Wicked Songbooks | Popular - Wicked Easy piano | Popular - Wicked Piano/vocal

Wicked "Popular" Karaoke: For backup tracks see Wicked tracks

"Popular" Wicked Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Lyrics for Wicked Popular from the Wicked script
Used with permission - protected by copyright.

This song is part of the dorm room scene in the hit musical Wicked. At the time she sings it, the future Glinda the Good is still named "Galinda."

GALINDA
You see Elphie, now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project.

ELPHABA
You really don't have to do that.

GALINDA
(brightly)
I know. That's what makes me so nice!
(sings)
WHENEVER I SEE SOMEONE
LESS FORTUNATE THAN I
(AND LET'S FACE IT -- 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
THO' 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...

POPULAR!
YOU'RE GONNA BE POPULAR!
I'LL TEACH YOU THE PROPER PLOYS
WHEN YOU TALK TO BOYS
LITTLE WAYS TO FLIRT AND FLOUNCE
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 AWF'LLY 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 SIS-
TER 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... ARE...
THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN STOP YOU
FROM BECOMING POPU-
LER... 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
SPECIALLY GREAT COMMUNICATORS
DID THEY HAVE BRAINS OR KNOWLEDGE?
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!

THEY WERE POPULAR! PLEASE--
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!

GALINDA
(Calls after her)
You're welcome!
(sings)
AND THO' YOU PROTEST
YOUR DISINTEREST
I KNOW CLANDESTINEDLY
YOU'RE GONNA GRIN AND BEAR IT
YOUR NEW-FOUND POPULARITY --
LA LA LA LA
YOU'LL BE POPULAR
JUST NOT QUITE AS POPULAR
AS ME!

Lyrics from the script, used with permission - protected by copyright. For lyrics to other Wicked Songs see Wicked Lyrics

Wicked "Popular" Karaoke

For Karaoke sources see Wicked tracks info

Song History for Wicked Popular Song

About the song "Popular" in Wicked the Musical

DID YOU KNOW? Contrary to popular belief, Schwartz wrote Wicked's Popular lyrics and music before Kristin Chenoweth was cast in the role of Galinda/Glinda. However when it came time to cast the role, though he thought of Kristin right away for the part.

"Popular" is a type of musical number called a "list song." In this way it is similar to "You're the Top" by Cole Porter that lists a lot of ways that a person is top notch (You're the Eiffel Tower, etc). In the case of this song from the Broadway musical Wicked, composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz is listing ways that the character like Glinda thinks Elphaba can change to become well-liked and part of the crowd of Oz.

Her ideas don't end up working, but the song provides a fun moment, and an ironic one for those who know the rest of the musical.

MOVIE INSPIRATION: In the book Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked, you can read about how Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman conceived of the Wicked dorm room scene where Glinda decides to give Elphaba a makeover. Winnie got the idea from a movie. Do you know which movie? And then Stephen Schwartz used the concept as the basis of the song. Do you know who he had in mind when he wrote it? Find out about this and the whole fascinating development of Wicked (150 pages with photos just on Wicked) in Defying Gravity the book

Stephen Schwartz songs like Popular

WICKED fans take note. If you love the bouncy comic piece "Popular," sung on Broadway by Kristin Chenoweth, you may like similar songs by Stephen Schwartz.

"Popular" follows a tradition of Schwartz whimsy that began in "All for the Best" from GODSPELL and continued in "No Time at All" and "Extraordinary" from PIPPIN, "Style" and "Two's Company" from THE MAGIC SHOW, and others.

"No Time At All" is like a seniors version of "Popular."

Find out about these other musicals here. Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show

Cast album and clips

Wicked Original Broadway Cast Album Tracks - Read about the CD

• 1. NO ONE MOURNS THE WICKED - Glinda and Citizens of Oz
• 2. DEAR OLD SHIZ - Glinda and Students
• 3. THE WIZARD AND I - Morrible, Elphaba
• 4. WHAT IS THIS FEELING? - Glinda, Elphaba and Students
• 5. SOMETHING BAD - Dr. Dillamond and Elphaba
• 6. DANCING THROUGH LIFE - Fiyero, Glinda, Boq, Nessarose, Elphaba and Students
• 7. POPULAR - Glinda
• 8. I'M NOT THAT GIRL - Elphaba
• 9. ONE SHORT DAY - Glinda, Elphaba and Denizens of the Emerald City
• 10. A SENTIMENTAL MAN - The Wizard
• 11. DEFYING GRAVITY - Elphaba, Glinda, Guards and Citizens of Oz
• 12. THANK GOODNESS - Glinda, Morrible and Citizens of Oz
• 13. WONDERFUL - The Wizard, Elphaba
• 14. I'M NOT THAT GIRL (reprise) - Glinda
• 15. AS LONG AS YOU'RE MINE - Elphaba and Fiyero
• 16. NO GOOD DEED - Elphaba
• 17. MARCH OF THE WITCH HUNTERS - Boq and Citizens of Oz
• 18. FOR GOOD - Glinda and Elphaba
• 19. FINALE - All

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