Popular Song
Ariana Grande Lyrics


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La, la
La, la

You were the popular one, the popular chick
It is what it is, now I'm popular-ish
Standing on the field with your pretty pompons
Now you're working at the movie selling popular corn
I could have been a mess but I never went wrong
'Cause I'm putting down my story in a popular song
Uh, huh
Uh, huh, I said I'm putting down my story in a popular song

My problem, I never was a model
I never was a scholar
But you were always popular
You were singing, all the songs I don't know
Now you're in the front row
'Cause my song is popular

Popular
I know about popular
It's not about who you are or your fancy car
You're only ever who you were
Popular
I know about popular
And all that you have to do, is be true to you
That's all you ever need to know
So catch up, 'cause you got an awful long way to go
So catch up, 'cause you got an awful long way to go

Always was on the lookout for someone to hate
Picking on me like a dinner plate
You hid during classes and in between them
Dunk me in the toilets now it's you that cleans em'




You tried to make me feel bad with the things you do
It ain't so funny when the joke's on you
Ooh, the joke's on you
Got everyone's laughing, got everyone clapping, asking
How come you look so cool?
'Cause that's the only thing that I learnt at school, boy
Uh, huh
I said that's the only thing I learnt at school

My problem, I never was a model
I never was a scholar
And you were always popular
You were singing, all the songs I don't know
Now you're in the front row
'Cause my song is popular

Popular
I know about popular
It's not about who you are or your fancy car
You're only ever who you were
Popular
I know about popular
And all that you have to do, is be true to you
That's all you ever need to know
So catch up, 'cause you got an awful long way to go
So catch up, 'cause you got an awful long way to go

All you ever need to know
You're only ever who you were
All you ever need to know
You're only ever who you were (that's all you ever need to know)

Popular
I know about popular
It's not about who you are or your fancy car
You're only ever who you were

Popular
I know about popular
It's not about who you are or your fancy car
You're only ever who you were
Popular
I know about popular (it's all you ever need to know)
And all that you have to do, is be true to you
That's all you ever need to know (it's all you ever need to know)

Overall Meaning

The song "Popular Song" by Ariana Grande is an upbeat and catchy tune that talks about teenage popularity and the pressure to fit in. The song tells a story of a former popular girl who used to be the envy of her classmates but now works at a movie theatre selling popcorn while the person who used to be picked on is now successful with a popular song. Ariana uses her lyrics to tell her story and offer advice on being true to oneself.


The chorus of the song stresses that popularity is not about one's social status or car, but rather about being true to oneself. Ariana encourages those who have yet to achieve popularity to "catch up" but reminds them to remain true to themselves along the way. The song can be seen as a reminder not to get swept up in the temporary allure of attention and popularity but to be confident in who you are and stay true to that.


One interesting fact about the song is that it is a cover of the song "Popular" from the Broadway musical Wicked. The song was written by Stephen Schwartz and sung by the character Galinda. Another interesting fact is that Mika, the original artist of the song, is featured in Grande's version. The music video for the song features both Ariana and Mika as superheroes fighting off a villain who is trying to steal their popularity. The song was released in 2013 as a single and was part of Ariana's debut studio album, "Yours Truly." It was also featured in the movie "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie" and was remixed by Cole Plante.


Chords: D - A - Bm - G


Line by Line Meaning

You were the popular one, the popular chick
You used to be the popular one, the popular chick


It is what it is, now I'm popular-ish
Now I'm somewhat popular, and I've accepted it


Standing on the field with your pretty pompons
You used to cheerlead with your pretty pompons


Now you're working at the movie selling popular corn
Now you work at the movie theater selling popular refreshments


I could have been a mess but I never went wrong
I could have gone astray, but I never did


'Cause I'm putting down my story in a popular song
I'm sharing my story through a popular song


My problem, I never was a model
I was never a perfect specimen


I never was a scholar, but you were always popular
I was never academically inclined, but you were always well-liked


You were singing, all the songs I don't know
You sang songs that I wasn't familiar with


Now you're in the front row, 'cause my song is popular
Now you're in the front row, because my song is well-liked


I know about popular
I have knowledge of popularity


It's not about who you are or your fancy car
Popularity is not necessarily determined by one's status or possessions


You're only ever who you were
You remain the same person you always were


All you ever need to know
The only thing you need to know


So catch up, 'cause you got an awful long way to go
So hurry up, because you have a lot of catching up to do


Always was on the lookout for someone to hate
You were always searching for someone to hate


Picking on me like a dinner plate
You bullied me persistently


You hid during classes and in between them
You hid during and between classes


Dunk me in the toilets now it's you that cleans em'
You used to bully me by dunking me in the toilets, now you clean them


You tried to make me feel bad with the things you do
You attempted to make me feel bad through your actions


It ain't so funny when the joke's on you
It's not amusing when you're the victim of the same behavior you once exhibited


Ooh, the joke's on you
The situation has turned against you


Got everyone's laughing, got everyone clapping, asking
Everyone is laughing and applauding while questioning


How come you look so cool?
Why do you look so composed?


'Cause that's the only thing that I learned at school, boy
Because that's the only thing I learned at school, boy


That's all you ever need to know
That's all you need to be aware of




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Priscilla Renea Hamilton, Mathieu Jomphe-Lepine, Michael Holbrook Penniman, Stephen Schwartz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@emilynevarez122

she manifested being glinda! remember seeing/hearing this when i was going to 6th grade it holds a special place in my heart ❤

@forest1605

i always mixed this song up with wicked popular as a kid and now shes in wicked

@jessierocks12

I had a dream Wicked went flop at the box office.

@bakuoogo_0001

Anyone in nov 2024

@zyreneveluya1768

I was about to say the same thing. <3

@XoXoStorm555

She did and it’s such a full circle moment listening to her sing the wicked songs and now be the face of the movie. She was a lover of broadway , singing, acting, always loved wicked and made this video and now her face is everywhere as Glinda. It’s so dope to see her reach the goals she made over 12 years ago. I was only 11🥲

46 More Replies...

@rhythmpointless9885

This was the only "Popular" song I knew never thought it came from Wicked, and now Ariana sings the og Popular from the said movie. Full circle moment indeed

@jani_lia

Same lol, I had no idea about the broadway Wicked (it's not a thing in my country) so I only knew about Mika's Popular Song first

@KaralistaNFS

Same ahah!!! Im shocked

@LouisRosales

😭

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