Ariana Grande’s “The Girl in the Bubble,” written for the new Wicked: For Good film, debuts at No. 2 in the U.K. — who blocks the superstar from a new No. 1? LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – FEBRUARY 16: Ariana Grande attends the EE BAFTA British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, in London, on February 16, 2025. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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In order to make Wicked: For Good, the second half of the filmed adaptation of the Broadway musical, feel just as exciting and full as the first Wicked film — which arrived in 2024 — composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz penned two new songs. One, “The Girl in the Bubble,” is performed by Ariana Grande in the movie, while Cynthia Erivo sings “No Place Like Home.”
As the Wicked: For Good soundtrack debuts on charts all around the world and several songs featured in the latest film become hits, Grande nearly collects a new No. 1 with her special tune.
Ariana Grande’s “The Girl in the Bubble” Debuts – and Just Misses No. 1
“The Girl in the Bubble” is a fast bestseller in the United Kingdom, and it launches on a trio of tallies this frame. The Wicked: For Good song debuts inside the top 10 on the Official Vinyl Singles and Official Physical Singles charts, entering at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. The cut also begins its time just underneath that tier on the Official Singles Sales roster, where it kicks off its run at No. 12.
Who Blocks Ariana Grande From a New No. 1 Hit?
BERLIN, GERMANY – JULY 13: RAYE performs on stage during day two of Lollapalooza Berlin on July 13, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Pedro Becerra/Redferns)
Redferns
Only one smash beats Grande to the summit on the Official Vinyl Singles chart. Homegrown talent Raye sees her current smash “Where Is My Husband!” lift from No. 2 to No. 1 in its tenth frame on the tally.
Five Ariana Grande Songs Have Missed No. 1 By One Space
“The Girl in the Bubble” is Grande’s fifth song to miss running the show on the Official Vinyl Singles chart by just one spot. The Grammy winner and Oscar-nominated actress has seen all of the following tunes peak at No. 2 on the vinyl-only tally:
- “The Boy Is Mine”
- “Santa Tell Me”
- “Popular”
- “Hampstead”
- “The Girl in the Bubble”
How Many No. 1 Hits Has Ariana Grande Charted?
While Grande fails to score a new champion on the Official Vinyl Singles chart this frame, the singer-songwriter has already dominated in the past. Grande only managed to appear on the chart for the first time in January 2024, and since then has seen all of the following run the show:
- “Yes, And?”
- “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”
- “Dandelion”
All of those singles led the charge for just one frame apiece.
How Many Top 10 Smashes Has Ariana Grande Charted?
Throughout her career, Grande has collected 15 top 10 hits on the Official Vinyl Singles chart. That roundup includes three songs from Wicked, as “Popular” and “The Girl in the Bubble” peaked at No. 2 while “Defying Gravity,” the most famous hit from the Wicked franchise and a currently Grammy-nominated collaboration with Erivo, lifted to No. 3 during its initial run.
Ariana Grande’s Early-Career Wins on the Physical Chart
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 18: Recording artists Iggy Azalea (L) and Ariana Grande perform onstage during the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Grande has earned two additional top 10 wins on the Official Physical Singles chart, which is not specific to vinyl. Unlike on the wax-only roster, Grande has been appearing on the physical tally for well over a decade, and early successes “Problem” with Iggy Azalea and “Positions” cracked the top five.
“For Good” Joins “The Girl in the Bubble” on the Charts
Grande scores a pair of new hits in the U.K. this frame, with both tied to the Wicked sequel. “For Good,” a duet with Erivo which shares its name with the film, is easily the bigger smash between the two.
“For Good” debuts at No. 14 on the Official Singles chart, earning Grande her fifty-fifth appearance on that roster, which details the most consumed cuts throughout the U.K.
“For Good” opens inside the top 10 on both the Official Singles Downloads and Official Singles Sales charts, launching at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. The collaboration between the two stars of the blockbuster also makes it to the Official Streaming ranking, becoming a fast top 40 success as it opens at No. 38.
Ariana Grande Dominates the Charts with Multiple Hits from Different Eras
Eight different songs by Grande appear on at least one chart in the U.K. this week. In addition to “For Good” and “The Girl in the Bubble,” “Defying Gravity” surges thanks to all the excitement around Wicked: For Good dominating the box office. Her holiday tune “Santa Tell Me” is also on the rise, while previous favorites “Dandelion,” “Supernatural,” “Hampstead,” and “Twilight Zone” are bestsellers again.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/12/04/ariana-grande-blocked-from-a-new-no-1-hit-as-her-wicked-song-debuts/
