Ariana Grande refused to sing hip-hop version of ‘Wicked’ hit ‘Popular’: ‘Absolutely not’

nypost.com:

Ariana Grande is not that girl.The Grammy winner, 31, isn’t looking to change the long-beloved song “Popular” from “Wicked” despite being pitched a different and new version of the tune.“In the spirit of being open to new things for the movie, my music team and I thought, let’s refresh the rhythm.

Let’s, maybe, I don’t know, hip-hop it up a little bit,” the film’s composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times on Monday. “Ariana said, ‘Absolutely not, don’t do it.

I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda.’”Grande was adamant that her version of Glinda could not have any similarities to her own pop music career but Schwartz was trying to reimagine “Popular” for the movie.The actress was also not convinced when it came to tweaking the end of “Popular.” The project switched up octaves during the finale of the song to take full advantage of Grande’s vocal range.“I had this idea for a new vocal ending.

Ariana was a little hesitant about it, but I told her that if I had thought of it for the original show, this is how it would have been,” Schwartz added. “Once she was reassured that this new bit of music was coming out of character, she was on board.”“Wicked” director Jon M.