Ariana Grande has revealed why she pushed back on a hip-hop-inspired rendition of Wicked’s iconic song “Popular” during production for Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation.
“Absolutely Not!”: Grande’s Call to Stay True to Glinda
In a new cover story with Variety (Jan. 2), Grande recounted hearing a rehearsal version of Glinda’s bubbly anthem featuring hip-hop drums early in production. Her reaction? Immediate concern.
“They had hip-hop drums,” Grande said. “I called Jon [Chu] first. I was shaking. ‘Is this something that we can meet in the middle on?’”
The Positions singer clarified that her objection wasn’t about rejecting modernization outright but preserving the essence of Glinda’s character.
“Thinking through the lens of the character — Galinda Upland does not have that bounce to her at all. She’s as vanilla as they come,” she explained.
Stephen Schwartz on Experimentation and Collaboration
The original idea to “refresh” the song came from composer Stephen Schwartz, who worked on both the original Broadway score and the film adaptation. Schwartz had pitched the rhythmic update “in the spirit of being open to new things” but praised Grande for advocating for authenticity.
“Ariana said, ‘Absolutely not, don’t do it. I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda,’” Schwartz told The Los Angeles Times in November.
The Song’s Final Touches
While the hip-hop twist was scrapped, “Popular” did undergo some updates for the movie, including an extended ending featuring three key changes and an operatic note hit by Grande.
“Ariana was a little hesitant,” Schwartz admitted of the new ending, “but once she was reassured that this new bit of music was coming out of character, she was on board.”
The updated Wicked soundtrack, including the refreshed “Popular,” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 following the film’s Nov. 22 release.
What Fans Are Saying
Fans have widely praised Grande’s commitment to staying true to Glinda’s character, calling her decision a “masterclass in respecting source material.”
Source: Billboard
