Popular (Commentary)

[Spoken: Ariana Grande]
Oh my gosh, well, "Popular" was so much fun. I think it was really fun to kind of just play and find new beats in different ways. And I think it's a very important moment on so many levels. Some of my favorite things about Wicked is that one scene or one song contains so many multitudes of truths and of emotion. It could be so funny, over-the-top hilarious, and also really emotional all at once. And I think "Popular" is a turning point where I think they both realize they've found their first true friend.

[Spoken: Stephen Schwartz]
Glinda is extremely pleased with herself because she has taken on Elphaba as a project and now feels that she, Glinda, has transformed Elphaba into a new creature that everybody will love and accept. And so she's feeling quite self-congratulatory. And therefore, musically, the end just expanded into a more sort of "self-congratulatory moment" that I find very amusing and that I just feel Ariana does brilliantly.