Ariana Grande had no intention of releasing the original Bad song “Popular” turns into a hip-hop version.

Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist of the original Broadway show — which debuted in 2003 and is now a hit feature film from Universal — wanted to change Glinda’s big song for the movie version. On stage, “Popular” is performed with two beds and features Glinda’s high-pitched voice and bubbly personality as she fixes Elphaba’s hair and shows her how to flirt. But Schwartz wanted to try something new for the film, which stars Ariana Grande as Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.

“In the spirit of being open to new things for the film, my music team and I thought, let’s freshen up the rhythm. Let’s, maybe, I don’t know, make a little hip-hop,” Schwartz told the station Los Angeles Times. However, he recalled Grande rejecting the idea, saying, “Absolutely not, don’t do it.” I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda. ”

Schwartz previously added Time that Grande was adamant that they would stay true to the original, adding that changes to “Popular” had to come from Glinda’s motivations. “She doesn’t do a lot of inventive things in them, but I think they’re very character-based,” Schwartz said. “That was something she really insisted on.”

Schwartz remembered that too Bad‘s extended ending to the song, something Grande was initially hesitant to perform. However, when he explained to Grande that it was something Glinda would do, she “wholeheartedly” agreed.

Christopher Scott, the choreographer, told the Los Angeles Times about the little nods Grande wanted to incorporate into her performance to show respect for Broadway’s original Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth.

“This whole ‘communicators’ (move where Grande raises her arms), that physicality was in a way her tribute to Kristin Chenoweth,” Scott said. “I was so grateful for that, to have an actor who has so much love and care for not just the character she plays, but for the whole thing. Bad legacy.”

Grande has said that playing Glinda was her lifelong dream. Director Jon M. Chu narrated it The Hollywood Reporter that he was initially hesitant to cast Grande because he thought Bad was “too big” to have a huge pop star on top of it. “There was no way Ariana Grande, who had never directed a movie, could do this,” Chu said.

Chu admitted that Grande “didn’t win the role the first time” she auditioned. However, as she kept coming back for more auditions, Grande Chu continued to surprise with her understanding of the role and comedic ability. Chu recalled saying, “She’s so funny. She’s the most interesting person in the room.’ We kept bringing her back.”

Chu continued to explain how Grande showed up one day and fully embodied the character. “Her voice was different. The way she walked was different. I’ve never seen anyone change so much. She deserved this like no other.”

Bad was released in theaters on November 22 and has already defied gravity at the box office. From its opening weekend, the film grossed $114 million domestically, the biggest box office launch of all time for a Broadway adaptation.