Topenga Ataata
Kupu Tūpato
Elphie, now that we’re friends
– Elphie, ināianei he hoa mātou
I’ve decided to make you my new project
– Kua whakatau ahau ki te hanga i a koe hei kaupapa hou
You really don’t have to do that
– E kore koe e whai ki te mahi i taua
I know!
– E mohio ana ahau!
That’s what makes me so nice
– Koina te mea e tino pai ai ahau
Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I
– I nga wa katoa ka kite ahau i tetahi tangata iti ake te waimarie i ahau
And let’s face it, who isn’t less fortunate than I?
– A kia anga atu tatou ki a ia, ko wai e kore e iti iho te waimarie i ahau?
My tender heart tends to start to bleed
– Ko taku ngakau ngawari ka tiimata ki te toto
And when someone needs a makeover, I simply have to take over
– A, ina hiahia tētahi ki te whakarerekē, me tango noa e au
I know, I know exactly what they need
– E mohio ana ahau, e mohio ana ahau ki ta ratou e hiahia ana
And even in your case
– A ara i roto i to koutou take
Though it’s the toughest case I’ve yet to face
– Ahakoa ko te take uaua rawa atu kāore anō au kia tūtaki
Don’t worry, I’m determined to succeed
– Kaua e manukanuka, kua whakatauhia e au kia angitu
Follow my lead
– Whaia taku arahi
And yes, indeed
– Ae, pono
You will be
– Ka waiho koe
Popular
– He rongonui
You’re gonna be popular
– Ka rongonui koe
I’ll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys
– Ka whakaako ahau ki a koe i nga mahi tika ina korero koe ki nga tama
Little ways to flirt and flounce, ooh
– He iti noa iho ngā huarahi hei whakawai, hei whakawai, ooh
I’ll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair
– Ka whakaatu atu ahau ki a koe he aha nga hu hei kakahu, me pehea te whakatika i o makawe
Everything that really counts to be popular
– Ko nga mea katoa e tino kiia ana he rongonui
I’ll help you be popular
– Ka awhina ahau ki a koe kia rongonui
You’ll hang with the right cohorts, you’ll be good at sports
– Ka whakairi koe ki nga kohinga tika, ka pai koe ki nga hākinakina
Know the slang you’ve got to know
– Kia mōhio ki te kupu kōaro me mōhio koe
So let’s start ’cause you’ve got an awfully long way to go
– Na kia tīmata ‘ no te mea kua ka koe he ara whakamataku roa ki te haere
Don’t be offended by my frank analysis
– Kaua e whakahawea ki taku tātaritanga tūtohu
Think of it as personality dialysis
– Whakaarohia he dialysis tuakiri
Now that I’ve chosen to become a pal
– Na kua whiriwhiria e ahau ki te riro i te pal
A sister and adviser, there’s nobody wiser
– He tuahine me te kaitohutohu, kaore he tangata whakaaro nui
Not when it comes to
– Kāore i te wā e pā ana ki
Popular
– He rongonui
I know about popular
– E mōhio ana ahau ki te popular
And with an assist from me to be who you’ll be
– Me te āwhina mai i ahau kia noho ko wai koe
Instead of dreary who-you-were
– Hei utu mo te hunga pouri ko wai koe
Well, are
– Well, ko
There’s nothing that can stop you from becoming populer… lar
– Kaore he mea e aukati i a koe kia kore e rongonui… lar
La-la, la-la
– Ko La-la, ko la-la
We’re gonna make you popular
– Ka meinga koe e mātou kia rongonui
When I see depressing creatures
– Ka kite ahau i ngā mea pouri
With unprepossessing features
– Ki ngā āhuatanga unprepossessing
I remind them on their own behalf to think of
– Ka whakamahara ahau ki a ratou i runga i to ratou ake whakaaro
Celebrated heads of state or
– Ngā rangatira o te kāwanatanga, o te kāwanatanga rānei
Especially great communicators
– Rawa communicators nui
Did they have brains or knowledge?
– He roro, he mātauranga rānei ō rātau?
Don’t make me laugh
– Kaua ahau e kata
They were popular
– He rongonui rātau
Please, it’s all about popular
– Tena, te reira katoa e pā ana ki te rongonui
It’s not about aptitude, it’s the way you’re viewed
– Ehara i te mea e pā ana ki te pūkenga, ko te huarahi e tirohia ai koe
So it’s very shrewd to be
– Na te mea tino mohio ki te kia
Very, very popular like me
– Tino, tino rongonui rite ahau
Why, Miss Elphaba, look at you
– He aha, E Miss Elphaba, titiro ki a koe
You’re beautiful
– He ataahua koe
I— I have to go
– I-i have to go
You’re welcome
– Kei te manakohia koe
And though you protest
– Ahakoa e whakahe ana koe
Your disinterest
– Ko tō kore hiahia
I know clandestinely
– E mōhio ana ahau i te huna
You’re gonna grin and bear it, your newfound popularity
– Ka kata koe, ka mau ki a ia, ko tōu rongonui hou
La-la, la-la
– Ko La-la, ko la-la
You’ll be popular
– Ka rongonui koe
Just not quite as popular as me
– Just e kore e tino rite rongonui rite ahau
