Wicked Parody, Crafted with Love
A lovingly crafted Wicked parody that celebrates the fun of recreating something great, with just the right amount of silliness.
A Parody That Surprised Me in the Best Way
Yesterday, while searching for visual references of Wicked’s “Popular” scene for a blog illustration, I stumbled on something unexpected among the thumbnails of Ariana Grande as Glinda: a bizarre-looking one from a Japanese YouTuber. It turned out to be a parody video of Popular.
Even the original teaser from the film had me puzzled—Glinda crawling backward on her elbows while singing around Elphaba lying on the floor—but the fact that this exact scene was chosen as the parody’s thumbnail? Brilliant. I couldn’t look away. As a little research break, I decided to watch it.
This thumbnail had me hooked before I even hit play!
Beyond a Typical YouTube Parody
Most parody or “I tried it!” videos on YouTube tend to look like home videos, but this one totally blew me away with its quality. The number of camera angles, the cinematic movement, and especially the performer’s full-out dance and acting made it feel like a pro-level production.
A Hilarious Twist on the Details
The scenes echoed the movie’s beats, but with slight differences that made everything even more hilarious. For instance, in the film, there’s a moment when a small pink ball magically pops out of a box and lands in Glinda’s hand. In the parody? The performer picks up a large, clearly cheap vinyl ball from the floor and tosses it into the air. Same energy, way bigger ball.
The closer they got to copying the original with full effort, the funnier the subtle off-ness became. That mix of dedication and comedic improvisation made me laugh, but also made me feel the love and respect they had for the original.
If you’re a fan of creative parody or just need a good laugh—this one is definitely worth watching!