Glinda stands there, draped in shimmering white, waving a wand that basically does nothing but look pretty, and tells Elphaba she’s a "project." It’s one of the most recognizable moments in musical theater history. When Kristin Chenoweth first sang "Popular" on Broadway in 2003, nobody could have fully predicted how that specific promise—you're going to be popular—would evolve from a funny stage gag into the literal business model of the 21st century.
It's everywhere.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird how well Stephen Schwartz’s lyrics aged. He wasn’t just writing about a makeover in Oz; he was accidentally drafting a manifesto for the influencer age. If you look at the 2024 film adaptation starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the resonance is even louder. We live in a world where "celebrity" isn't just for movie stars anymore. It's for the person in their bedroom filming a GRWM (Get Ready With Me) video. They want what Glinda promised: the right look, the right friends, and the ultimate social currency.
The Psychology of Being "Popular"
Why does that line stick? It’s because the desire to be noticed is hardwired into our lizard brains. Evolutionary psychologists often point out that in ancestral tribes, being popular wasn't just about ego—it was about survival. If people liked you, they shared their food. If they didn't, you were essentially tiger bait.
Fast forward to today.
We aren't running from tigers, but we are running from the fear of being "unliked." The phrase you're going to be popular acts as a sort of psychological balm. In the context of Wicked, Glinda is offering Elphaba a shortcut to belonging. She’s saying that if you fix the exterior, the interior doesn't have to hurt so much. But as the story progresses, we see the cost. Popularity, at least the kind Glinda sells, is a fragile thing built on performance.
Most people get it wrong. They think popularity is about being loved by everyone. It’s actually just about being known. There is a massive difference between being respected and being popular, and the show—and the book by Gregory Maguire—dives deep into that tension.
The "Popular" Effect on Digital Culture
If you spend five minutes on TikTok, you’ll see the Glinda-fication of society in real-time. The "Clean Girl" aesthetic? That’s Glinda. The obsession with "becoming that girl"? Same thing. When Glinda tells Elphaba she needs to know "which slang word is next," she’s basically describing the rapid-fire trend cycles of 2026.
- Trends move so fast now that by the time you've bought the Stanley cup or the specific shade of pink lipstick, the "popular" crowd has already moved on to something else.
- This creates a perpetual state of catching up.
- It's exhausting.
I remember reading an interview with Marc Platt, the producer of Wicked, where he talked about the universal appeal of the story. It works because everyone has felt like the green girl. Everyone has wanted the blonde girl to pick them. When she says you're going to be popular, she’s handing out a golden ticket to a club that most of us feel locked out of.
What the 2024 Film Changed (And What It Kept)
Jon M. Chu’s direction of the Wicked movie took the "Popular" sequence and turned it into a technicolor fever dream. Ariana Grande’s portrayal leans heavily into the "influencer" persona. She’s not just a popular girl; she’s a brand. She’s manic, she’s polished, and she’s deeply insecure.
The film highlights a nuance the stage show sometimes breezes past: Glinda needs Elphaba to be popular just as much as Elphaba wants to fit in. Popularity is a feedback loop. You aren't popular unless you have followers. By "improving" Elphaba, Glinda is actually just increasing her own status as a leader and a tastemaker.
It’s a transactional relationship.
We see this in modern "collabs" between creators. It’s rarely about friendship; it’s about cross-pollinating audiences. The sentiment of you're going to be popular becomes a business proposition. "If you hang out with me, my glow will rub off on you." It's a bit cynical, sure, but it's the reality of how fame operates in the 2020s.
The Dark Side of the Glinda Promise
There is a reason the song "Popular" is a comedy number and not a ballad. It’s inherently ridiculous. The advice Glinda gives is objectively terrible. She tells Elphaba to "flit and flirt" and "stress less about 'is-ness'." Basically, stop thinking and start performing.
The danger of the you're going to be popular mindset is the erasure of the self. Elphaba’s power comes from her "is-ness"—her raw talent, her convictions, and her refusal to back down from the Wizard’s corruption. When she tries to be popular, she’s mediocre. When she embraces being the "Wicked" Witch, she changes the world.
Think about the people who actually leave a mark on history. They are rarely the ones who followed the Glinda handbook.
- Steve Jobs wasn't trying to be the most liked guy in the room.
- Joan of Arc definitely didn't care about "which slang word was next."
- Even in the world of pop music, the icons—the Bowies, the Gagas—started by being weird, not by being popular.
Actionable Takeaways: Managing the "Popular" Impulse
If you find yourself caught in the loop of wanting to be "popular" (or just wanting more likes on your latest post), it’s worth stepping back and looking at the Glinda/Elphaba dynamic.
Recognize the Performance Start noticing when you are "flitting and flirting" just to fit in. Is the version of you that people like actually you? If it takes 20 minutes of editing to make a "casual" post, you're doing the Glinda work. It’s okay to do it, but be honest about the fact that it’s a costume.
Focus on "Is-ness" Over "Popular-ness" In the long run, being "popular" is a declining asset. Trends change. People get bored. What sticks is substance. If you're a writer, write the weird stuff. If you're an artist, make the thing that scares you. The people who find you through your authentic work are far more valuable than the people who find you because you used the right trending audio.
Understand the Transaction When someone promises that you're going to be popular, ask what they want in return. In Wicked, the Wizard wanted Elphaba’s powers to suppress the Animals. In the real world, "popularity" often comes at the cost of your privacy or your integrity. Know what you're trading before you sign the contract.
Build a "Core" Not a "Crowd" Glinda had a whole school of admirers but almost no real friends until Elphaba. Having a massive audience is not the same as having a community. Focus on the five people who would actually help you move a couch or check on you when you're sick. That’s the real "popular" that matters.
The irony of Wicked is that by the end, Glinda—the one who had everything she ever wanted—is the one left alone in a bubble, while Elphaba, the outcast, finds true connection. Popularity is a great song, but it's a terrible North Star.
Stop trying to be popular. Start trying to be real. The right people will find you eventually, and they won't care about the color of your skin or whether you know how to toss your hair. They'll care that you stayed green when the whole world told you to turn white.
