One Of The Girls (with JENNIE, Lily Rose Depp)

"One Of The Girls" delves into the complex and often disturbing themes of power dynamics, control, submission, and emotional detachment within a relationship. The song, deeply connected to the narrative of the HBO series "The Idol," explores a toxic bond where love is explicitly replaced by a desire for intense, physical, and temporary connection. The lyrics articulate a dynamic of dominance and submission, where one character willingly gives up control ("Lock me up and throw away the key") in the belief that their partner brings out their best qualities. Conversely, the dominant figure expresses a chilling sense of ownership ("I broke you just to own you"). The central message is encapsulated in the chorus, which dismisses the need for love or exclusivity, instead expressing a desire to simply be "one of your girls tonight." This highlights a transactional view of intimacy, where the characters seek fleeting passion and intensity over genuine emotional connection. The song serves as a commentary on the darker aspects of desire, fame, and the search for identity, touching upon concepts like Stockholm syndrome and the internal conflict between external success and a lack of personal freedom.

The narrative of the song unfolds as a complex and unsettling exploration of a relationship defined by power, submission, and a craving for intense, non-committal intimacy. It begins with a declaration of willing surrender, where a character, voiced by JENNIE, expresses a desire to be completely controlled, stating, "Lock me up and throw away the key / He knows how to get the best out of me." This opening sets a tone of relinquishing autonomy, suggesting a belief that this dominant partner is the only one who can unlock her true potential, even if it means being confined. The character acknowledges that this dynamic is a trained behavior, something she has prepared for her whole life, yet it paradoxically leaves her feeling unfulfilled and not truly free, hinting at an internal conflict between her public success and private subjugation.

The Weeknd's verse shifts the perspective to the figure of control. He boasts of his dominance in a cold, possessive manner with lines like, "Tell nobody I control you / I broke you just to own you." This reveals a manipulative dynamic where affection is intertwined with breaking down the partner's will to ensure loyalty. He finds gratification in her submissiveness and her ability to endure pain without complaint, which he interprets as a sign of her devotion. This part of the narrative highlights the transactional and darker aspects of their connection, framing it as a power play rather than a relationship built on mutual love and respect.

Lily-Rose Depp's contribution delves deeper into the physical and psychological aspects of this submission. She explicitly asks for "tough love" and describes disturbing acts: "Force me and choke me 'til I pass out." These provocative lyrics illustrate a desire for an extreme, all-consuming experience that leaves her with nothing once the intensity fades. The repeated chorus, "We don't gotta be in love, no / I don't gotta be the one, no / I just wanna be one of your girls tonight," serves as the core thesis of the song. It’s a plea for temporary intimacy and belonging without the emotional weight or commitment of a traditional relationship. This recurring line underscores a sense of detachment and a willingness to be objectified for a fleeting moment of connection. The song's bridge returns to the initial feeling of being trapped despite achieving success, lamenting, "Top of the world, but I'm still not free / This is a secret that I keep." This brings the narrative full circle, emphasizing the emotional cost of such a dynamic—a perpetual state of unrest and a longing for a peace that remains unattainable within this toxic framework.

"One Of The Girls" was created as part of the soundtrack for the 2023 HBO television series, The Idol, which was co-created by and stars The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye). The song features vocals from his co-stars, actress Lily-Rose Depp and JENNIE of the K-pop group BLACKPINK, who both play central roles in the show. The track was written by The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp, producer Mike Dean, Ramsey, and the show's co-creator Sam Levinson. Initially, the music for the series was planned as a single soundtrack album, but the strategy shifted to releasing EPs corresponding with each episode. "One Of The Girls" was included on The Idol Episode 4 (Music from the HBO Original Series), which was released on June 23, 2023. The song was officially released as a single on December 8, 2023, accompanied by sped-up, slowed, instrumental, and a cappella versions to boost its popularity. It was also later included on the deluxe version of The Weeknd's greatest hits album, The Highlights, in February 2024.

The song's rhythmic structure is built on a slow, steady tempo of around 84-88 BPM, creating a deliberate and hypnotic pace that fits its seductive and heavy atmosphere. The time signature is a standard 4/4, common in pop and R&B music. The rhythm is driven by a trap-style beat with a prominent, pulsing bassline and subtle, atmospheric synths. This creates a down-tempo groove that is more moody than danceable. The lyrical rhythm often features a deliberate, almost spoken-word cadence, particularly in the verses, which enhances the song's narrative and confessional quality. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and direct, often using couplets (AABB) or near rhymes to maintain a straightforward flow that emphasizes the bluntness of the lyrics. For example, in The Weeknd's verse, "control you" is paired with "own you," and "submissive" with "flinchin'" (a slant rhyme). This accessible rhyme structure ensures the provocative lyrical content remains the central focus, while the slow, serpentine rhythm pulls the listener into the song's dark, intimate world.

"One Of The Girls" employs a blend of musical and literary techniques to create its seductive and unsettling atmosphere. Musically, it's a down-tempo, synth-driven R&B track with a "serpentine beat." The production by Mike Dean features a plush, hypnotic blend of soft synths, a deep, pulsing bassline, and trap-influenced rhythms that create a dark, alluring soundscape. The vocal arrangement is a key stylistic element, weaving together the distinct vocal tones of the three artists: The Weeknd's signature emotive falsetto, JENNIE's soft, "breathy" delivery, and Lily-Rose Depp's sultry, raspy voice. This interplay creates a dynamic and textured vocal braid. Lyrically, the song utilizes a narrative structure with shifting perspectives, allowing each artist to embody a different role within the power dynamic. The use of direct, provocative, and often shocking declarative statements (e.g., "Spit in my mouth while you turn me out") is a deliberate technique to convey the raw and explicit nature of the themes without filter. This unflinching lyrical style enhances the song's controversial and emotionally harrowing feel, directly tying into the provocative nature of "The Idol" series it originates from.

"One Of The Girls" achieved significant cultural impact primarily through its association with the controversial HBO series The Idol and its viral success on TikTok. Despite a mixed critical reception that praised the production and vocals but criticized the explicit lyrics, the song became a sleeper hit. Its popularity surged on TikTok, where fans, particularly supporters of BLACKPINK's JENNIE, praised her "enchanting vocals," leading to a significant increase in streams. The song performed well on global charts, peaking at number ten on the Billboard Global 200 and reaching the top ten in numerous countries. It marked Lily-Rose Depp's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the highest-charting song by a K-pop female soloist on that chart at the time. The collaboration itself was notable, bringing together major figures from Western pop, K-pop, and Hollywood. For JENNIE, it marked a significant foray into a more mature, R&B-oriented sound outside of her work with BLACKPINK. The song's provocative themes fueled public discussion, aligning with the broader controversy and discourse surrounding The Idol.

The song is rich with symbolism and metaphors that explore its central themes of power and submission.

• Imprisonment as Devotion: The opening line, "Lock me up and throw away the key," is a powerful metaphor for complete surrender. It symbolizes a desire to be willingly controlled, framing captivity not as a punishment, but as the ultimate form of devotion and trust in a dominant partner.
• Being "Broken" as a Form of Ownership: The Weeknd's lyric, "I broke you just to own you," uses the metaphor of breaking something to represent the process of psychological manipulation. It suggests that ownership and control are achieved by dismantling a person's identity and rebuilding it in the controller's image.
• "Tough Love": The request for "tough love" and the explicit descriptions of physical dominance ("Force me and choke me 'til I pass out") symbolize a craving for intensity and sensation over genuine affection. This kind of "love" is a metaphor for a relationship that thrives on a painful, addictive cycle rather than emotional nurturing.
• The "Girl" as a Transient Role: The title and recurring phrase "one of your girls" symbolizes a rejection of individuality and a desire for a temporary, interchangeable role. It represents a detachment from emotional commitment, where being an object of fleeting desire is preferable to the complexities of a real relationship.

The most significant recurring motif in "One Of The Girls" is the titular phrase itself, "I just wanna be one of your girls tonight." This line, repeated in the chorus by both Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd, functions as the song's central thesis. It encapsulates the desire for a detached, non-committal, and transactional form of intimacy, stripping away the expectations of love and uniqueness. Its repetition emphasizes that this is not a momentary lapse but a fundamental tenet of the relationship being described. Another key recurring phrase is JENNIE's intro and bridge, "Lock me up and throw away the key." This phrase opens the song and returns later, acting as a thematic bookend that frames the narrative. Its recurrence reinforces the central theme of willing submission and the equation of control with care. The phrase "Give me tough love" is also a crucial recurring element, appearing in the pre-chorus sung first by Depp and then by The Weeknd, symbolizing their shared understanding and embrace of a painful, intense form of affection that defines their connection.