Practice Fast Speech, Pronunciation & Connected Speech | Shadowing the movie WICKED

Hey everyone.

Today, we are going to shadow and practice and learn the vocabulary of

the song Popular from the movie Wicked.

Wicked just recently came out and it is awesome.

If you haven't watched it, go watch it.

I had so much fun.

Popular is performed by Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda.

And she sings this song to her now friend Elphaba, also known as the Wicked

Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.

And she basically tells her how she can help her become more popular.

It's such a great song to practice because we are going to practice

speaking quickly and singing quickly.

We're going to talk about connected speech, pronunciation, rhythm.

And I'm going to share with you the definition of some

words that might be new to you.

So, let's listen to the first sentence.

Let's break down the word 'popular'.

So, technically, when you say the word popular, you start with a P sound,

then the AA as in father - paap.

And then the middle syllable is usually a schwa, yuh.

And then l'r, another reduced vowel, l'r.

paap-yuh-l'r.

When she sings it, she sometimes stretches the middle syllable, and then

she turns it into an uw - paap-yuw-l'r, which is also a valid pronunciation.

So the U is a vowel there that is usually reduced, but in the

song, she actually pronounces it.

Let's listen.

So here it was pronounced as a schwa: "you're gonna be paap-yuh-l'r".

And then the second time: "you're gonna be paap-yuw-l'r".

Right? She stretches it.

And then it's 'you': "I'll teach you the proper ploys".

'I'll teach you the proper ploys'.

Let's say it together: I'll teach you the proper ploys.

Ploys are clever and planned ways to do something, usually to get what you want.

'The proper ploys'.

Now play with your P's here.

Proper ploys.

I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys.

So notice the rhythm: proper ploys, talk to boys.

These are the stressed words in the song.

But also if I were to just say it, these are the words that I would stress.

So usually when we listen to the music of a song, then we see that

it actually reflects the lyrics.

It's never disconnected.

"I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys".

Let's listen.

"I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys".

Let's continue.

"Little ways to flirt and flounce".

'Little ways to flirt and flounce'.

So, we have the flap T: little, little, little.

Try to connect it: little ways, little ways.

And then we have "to flirt and flounce".

So the word 'to' and 'and' are reduced: li-d'l ways t'flirt n'flauns.

You wanna sing it from the beginning?

Let's do it.

"Popular, you're gonna be popular.

I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys.

Little ways to flirt and flounce, ooh".

You don't have to put in the 'ooh' at the end, but you could.

It's a lot of fun.

Let's practice it.

Okay, good.

Let's continue.

"I'll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair."

Okay, so let's pay attention to the rhythm here: I'll show you what

shoes to wear, how to fix your hair.

So 'how to', if she were to stress every single word – how to fix

your hair – that would change the rhythm of the song completely.

So we have to reduce it – 'ha(w)da'.

So notice that this is how it's pronounced when people speak as well.

For example, when I make my videos on how to pronounce words,

that's how I say it – ha(w)da.

Ha(w)da pronounce.

Ha(w)da you know?

Ha(w)da you do?

Ha(w)da fix your hair.

"I'll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair".

Let's continue.

"Everything that really counts to be popular."

Good.

So we have "everything that really counts".

Let's do it together.

Everything that really counts.

Here we don't have to rush, it's fun.

Let's do it from the beginning.

Ready?

"Popular, you are going to be popular.

I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys.

Little ways to flirt and flounce, ooh.

I'll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair.

Everything that really counts to be popular."

Good.

So we go into "to be popular".

To be, to be, to be.

That has to go by quickly – t'be.

'T'be popular'.

Don't forget to open your mouth for the 'paap'.

"Popular.

I'll help you be popular."

I'll help you be popular.

" You'll hang with the right cohorts".

Okay.

You'll hang with the right cohorts.

A cohort is a group of people you spend time with.

And that's how we say it with two long O sounds: kow-hort.

It's a little hard if you don't know this word, so just say it several times.

Cohort.

Cohort.

"You'll hang".

Hang.

Technically, this A is the A as in cat.

But, because there is an NG sound after - heing, it's more of an 'i' or 'ei' sound.

'heing'.

'You'll hang with the right cohorts'.

"You'll be good at sports".

You'll be good at.

You'll be good at.

Just say it, practice connected speech: good, good, good, good.

Not guwd - good.

You'll be good at.

Now, notice what happens to the D here: good at, good at.

It sounds like the T in 'little', because it's pronounced exactly the same.

The T and D between two vowels are pronounced the same, and they're

pronounced as a flap – gu-dat.

Sports.

You'll be good at sports.

"Know the slang you've got to know".

'Know the slang', it's just like 'hang'.

Notice all the rhymes in this song: slang - hang.

Know the slang you've got to know.

So, 'got' is the 'aa' as in 'father'.

Know the slang you've got to know.

And then continue.

"So let's start, 'cause you've got an awfully long way to go".

Okay, I think that's my favorite part of the song.

"So let's start".

"So let's start".

And then we slow down: 'cause you've got an awfully long way to go.

Way to go -> weida go.

So the T here is a flap T - weida go.

Cause you've got an awfully long way to go.

Let's take it again from the second verse.

"Popular.

I'll help you be popular.

You'll hang with the right cohorts, you'll be good at sports, know

the slang you've got to know.

So let's start, cause you've got an awfully long way to go."

Very good.

Okay, now we're getting into the faster part.

Are you ready?

I think you are, but are you ready?

Okay.

Listen.

"Don't be offended by my frank analysis.

Think of it as personality dialysis".

Okay. Let's take these two sentences.

Don't be offended by my frank analysis.

Frank is honest and direct.

Okay.

So, she doesn't want her to get offended because she basically...

she doesn't make fun of her, but she kind of makes fun of her, right?

'Don't be offended by my frank analysis'.

So, 'frank' also has that A as in 'cat' that turns into an

'ei' sound before an NG: freink.

uh-NA-luh-sis.

frein-kuh-NA-luh-sis.

So when we connect the words together, it actually sounds like frein-kuh-NA-luh-sis.

kuh-NA-luh-sis.

frein-kuh-NA-luh-sis.

Don't be offended = don't be hurt.

'Don't be offended by my frank analysis'.

Now the next sentence: "Think of it as personality dialysis".

Think of it as personality dialysis.

So, 'dialysis' is a medical procedure to clean up the blood.

And she uses that here to make a joke as if she's trying to fix her personality.

Personality dialysis.

Now, I really like the rhythm here.

You know, the words were chosen deliberately, or the music was composed

deliberately to fit the rhythm of the words 'personality dialysis', right?

Stressed - unstressed, stressed - unstressed, stressed - unstressed.

Okay, let's continue.

Now, pay attention here.

So, this sounds a little confusing because the word 'sister' at the end

of the first sentence breaks into two.

It's the end of the first sentence and the beginning of the next sentence.

So let's listen to how it's broken down in the song.

"Now that I've chosen to become a pal, a sister and adviser".

'Now that I've chosen to become a pal, a sis',

that's the first sentence in a way - 'a sis-'.

And they did that so that it rhymes with a previous line that ends

with 'is': dialysis - a pal, a sis.

dialysis - a pal, a sis.

dialysis - a pal, a sis.

If I were to say 'dialysis - a pal, a sister', that doesn't work.

"-ter and advisor, there's nobody wiser."

'ter and advisor', okay?

So this is like the beginning of the next line.

'ter and advisor, there's nobody wiser'.

Okay?

Let's just do the second part from the beginning.

"Don't be offended by my frank analysis.

Think of it as personality analysis.

Now that I've chosen to become a pal, a sister and advisor, there's nobody wiser.

Not when it comes to popular."

Good.

"Not when it comes to popular".

Okay, listen to the rhythm shift here.

'Not when it comes to popular'.

'Not' - 'aa' as in 'father'.

'when it' - that's quick.

'comes' - that's a 'cup' sound.

'to popular'.

Okay?

Let's just speak that part together.

Again, focus on connected speech, focus on pronunciation.

Don't be offended by my frank analysis.

Think of it as personality dialysis.

Good.

Now that I have chosen to become a pal, a sis-, -ter and

advisor, there's nobody wiser

when it comes to popular.

Good.

Let's continue.

"I know about popular".

That's easy.

I know about – no-wuh-baut.

'I know about everything'.

'I know about what happened last night'.

'I know about popular'.

I know about.

I know about.

"And with an assist from me" 'And with an assist from me'.

'And with an assist from me'.

Assist..

"to be who you'll be."

'To be who you'll be'.

So we have a high 'ee' and a tense 'uw' here.

To be who you'll be.

To be who you'll be.

"Instead of dreary who-you-were, well, are".

Okay.

'Instead of dreary who-you-were, well, are'.

So let's break it down.

' Instead of dreary'.

'dreary' is boring, sad, not interesting.

So here's what she says: Instead of dreary who-you-were.

Round your lips: who-you-were, TA da da.

who-you-were.

'Instead of dreary who-you-were'.

If you struggle with Ws and Rs, this is a really good tongue twister for

you: Instead of dreary who-you-were.

Instead of dreary who-you-were.

'well, are' - because she's talking about her in the present

because she hasn't changed yet.

Okay?

And then:

"There's nothing that can stop you from becoming popu-ler...

lar."

'There's nothing that can stop you', that's easy, right?

Just don't forget the 'th'.

'There's nothing that can stop you from becoming popu-ler'.

And then she changes to 'lar' 'cause everything rhymes except for this line.

And the previous line said 'are'- 'well, are', so this is why

she changed the 'ler' to 'lar'.

And that's always the part that makes people laugh.

"There's nothing that can stop you from becoming popu-ler...

lar."

So now, one last time, from beginning till the end.

Are you ready?

Don't forget to connect the words together, to speak fast, and

when you get stuck, just move on.

Don't pause the video, don't start over, just move on.

Sing along and then try it again next time.

Let's go.

"Popular, you're gonna be popular.

I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys,

little ways to flirt and flounce.

I'll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair,

everything that really counts to be popular.

I'll help you be popular.

You'll hang with the right cohorts, you'll be good at sports, know

the slang you've got to know.

So let's start, cause you've got an awfully long way to go.

Don't be offended by my frank analysis.

Think of it as personality dialysis.

Now that I've chosen to become a pal, a sister and advisor, there's nobody wiser.

Not when it comes to popular.

I know about popular.

And with an assist from me to be who you'll be,

instead of dreary who-you-were, well, are,

there's nothing that can stop you from becoming popu-ler...

lar."

Well done, my friends.

That was incredible.

Now it's time to pump up the volume and sing along, but this time on your own.

You did great.

Thank you so much for joining me.

And I hope you were able to tap into your inner musical theater actor.

Have a beautiful day and I'll see you next week in the next video.

Bye.