Popular (with Playboi Carti & Madonna) - From The Idol Vol. 1 (Music from the HBO Original Series)

"Popular" is a multi-layered critique of the modern obsession with fame and celebrity culture. The song explores the allure and the pitfalls of stardom through the perspectives of its three collaborators. At its core, it tells the story of a woman who is so desperate for popularity that she is willing to sacrifice her integrity, and even her soul. The Weeknd's verses describe her duplicitous nature, pretending to shun the limelight while secretly orchestrating photo opportunities and craving attention. The lyrics 'begging on her knees to be popular' and 'sell her soul to be popular' highlight the extreme lengths one might go to for celebrity status. This narrative serves as a direct reflection of the themes present in the HBO series 'The Idol', for which the song was created.

Playboi Carti's contribution adds another layer, representing the perspective of someone who already possesses the fame the woman desires. His lyrics focus on the material wealth and status that come with being popular, and how that attracts others who are desperate for the same. Madonna, an icon who has experienced the highs and lows of fame for decades, offers a contrasting and more jaded perspective. Her verse speaks of resisting the invasive nature of fame ('running from your flashing lights') and fighting to protect one's soul from the industry's corrupting influence. This creates a fascinating dialogue within the song about the different facets of fame: the desperate pursuit, the material spoils, and the fight for self-preservation. Ultimately, "Popular" serves as a cautionary tale about the high price of fame and the potential loss of self in the relentless pursuit of public adoration.

The song delves into the dark and seductive world of fame, centering on a woman who is desperate to achieve celebrity status. The narrative begins by painting a picture of this woman living a double life. Publicly, she feigns indifference to the limelight, acting surprised and caught off guard by the paparazzi she secretly summoned herself. However, beneath this facade lies an insatiable hunger for recognition. She is portrayed as being willing to do anything to become popular, a desire so intense it's described as an addiction she constantly needs to feed. The chorus powerfully reinforces this desperation, depicting her as 'begging on her knees to be popular.' It's her ultimate dream, and she would go to extreme lengths, including metaphorically killing or selling her soul, to make it a reality. The song suggests this pursuit of fame is an all-consuming fire, a constant prayer to the 'flashing lights' that she craves to see every night. The narrative voice, primarily The Weeknd's, understands this craving, seeing it as a fiendish need he can temporarily satisfy, drawing her back to him repeatedly.

Playboi Carti's verse introduces a different perspective, that of someone who has already achieved the popularity the woman desires. He positions himself as an object of her attraction precisely because of his fame. His lines are filled with the trappings of a celebrity lifestyle—money and influence—which he knows she is drawn to. There's a transactional nature to their interaction; she is with him because he embodies the status she covets. His 'baby voice' rap style adds a layer of surrealism to the materialistic and fame-driven world being depicted, where 'money on top of me, money on top of her' becomes a recurring mantra.

Madonna's verse offers a contrasting viewpoint, seemingly from the perspective of an established icon who has navigated the perils of fame for decades. She speaks of spending her life running from the 'flashing lights,' a direct opposition to the woman described in the first verse. There's a sense of defiance in her lyrics; she asserts that her soul cannot be taken without a fight. This can be interpreted as a commentary on the corrosive nature of the industry and her own resilience within it. Her verse adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that while some desperately seek fame, others who have it understand its heavy price and fight to maintain their identity. However, there's an ambiguity tied to her role in 'The Idol' series, where she could be seen as a figure who has both mastered and been shaped by the system, offering a cautionary but also powerful presence. The song concludes by reiterating the central theme of the woman's desperate and unending quest for popularity, a cycle that offers the illusion of freedom but ultimately leads to a state of being 'never free'.

"Popular" was officially released on June 2, 2023, as the second single from 'The Idol Vol. 1', the soundtrack for the HBO series 'The Idol', co-created by The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Sam Levinson. A snippet of the song was first teased during the series premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2023. The track is a collaboration between The Weeknd, American rapper Playboi Carti, and the iconic singer Madonna. The song was primarily written by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, with production handled by the influential producers Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, and The Weeknd himself, along with Tommy Rush. Additional writing credits go to Sam Levinson, Michael Walker, and John Flippin.

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, The Weeknd revealed that the song originally began as a collaboration solely between him and Playboi Carti. He had the vocals for some time and worked around them. The Weeknd expressed that he had always dreamed of working with Madonna, calling her the 'ultimate co-sign' for the song, album, and television show. He views her as a 'visionary' and hoped this collaboration might be an 'appetizer' for a potential future project, where he would co-produce a classic Madonna album. The inclusion of Madonna was a significant addition, bringing a legendary figure's perspective on fame to the track. Following a resurgence in its commercial performance, an EP featuring multiple versions of the single was released on January 26, 2024.

The song's rhythmic and rhyming structure is integral to its sleek, mid-tempo R&B feel. The tempo is a steady 99 BPM in a 4/4 time signature, providing a consistent, head-nodding groove that underpins the entire track. This moderate pace allows the lyrical narrative to unfold clearly while maintaining a compelling rhythmic pulse.

The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, often employing couplets and simple end rhymes which makes the lyrics memorable and impactful. For instance, in The Weeknd's first verse, 'life' rhymes with 'limelight' and 'lie' with 'surprised'. This simple AABB-like structure enhances the storytelling quality of the verses. The pre-chorus and chorus sections use repetition of the key phrase 'to be popular' as a lyrical and rhythmic anchor, emphasizing the central theme of obsession.

The rhythmic interplay between the vocal deliveries is a key feature. The Weeknd's smooth, melodic flow contrasts with Playboi Carti's more staccato, ad-lib heavy rap verse, which in turn is different from Madonna's more spoken-word, assertive delivery. This variation in lyrical rhythm keeps the track engaging and reflects the different personas of the artists. The 'plinking percussion' and synth-heavy instrumental create a rhythm that is both laid-back and subtly tense, mirroring the song's themes of the seductive yet dangerous nature of fame.

"Popular" employs a blend of musical and literary techniques to create its distinct atmosphere and narrative.

Musical Techniques:

• Production: The song is built on a 'slinky' and 'moody' production by Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, and The Weeknd. It features 'booming synth instrumentals and plinking percussion' that are reminiscent of early 2000s R&B and urban pop. This creates a soundscape that is both sleek and haunting.
• Vocal Delivery: The Weeknd utilizes his signature smooth, falsetto vocals, which contrast with the darker themes of the lyrics. Playboi Carti contributes his 'signature high-pitched "baby voice" rap style', adding a unique and somewhat surreal texture to the track. Madonna's vocal delivery is more measured and assertive, reflecting her role as a seasoned icon.
• Arrangement: The song structure strategically juxtaposes the three artists' perspectives. The Weeknd sets the scene, Playboi Carti provides a materialistic interlude, and Madonna offers a reflective and defiant counterpoint. This creates a dynamic narrative arc within the song.

Literary Techniques:

• Narrative Voice: The song uses multiple narrative perspectives to explore its theme. The Weeknd acts as an omniscient observer and perhaps a tempter, Carti embodies the spoils of fame, and Madonna speaks from a position of experience and resistance.
• Irony: There is a strong sense of irony in the lyrics, particularly in the line 'She calls the paparazzi, then she acts surprised'. This highlights the manufactured and disingenuous nature of celebrity culture.
• Repetition: The chorus heavily repeats the word 'popular', hammering home the obsessive and all-consuming nature of the protagonist's desire. This repetition mimics the relentless pursuit of fame itself.

"Popular" made a significant cultural and commercial impact upon its release. Commercially, the song performed well globally, charting within the top 10 in several countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Platinum in June 2024. The song's success was notable for Madonna, giving her a Hot 100 entry across five consecutive decades and her first Platinum-certified song since 2008's "4 Minutes".

The song was created for the HBO series 'The Idol' and its themes are deeply intertwined with the show's critique of celebrity culture. The collaboration itself was a major talking point, bringing together three artists from different generations and musical spheres: The Weeknd, a defining voice of modern R&B and pop; Playboi Carti, a key figure in contemporary rap; and Madonna, the legendary 'Queen of Pop'. This cross-generational appeal was praised by critics and contributed to the song's widespread discussion.

Critically, the song was well-received, with publications like Billboard and Rolling Stone naming it one of the best songs of the year upon its release. Critics praised the way the three artists' styles complemented each other and hailed it as a 'new anthem for clout chasers'. An official music video, directed by Cliqua, was released in February 2024, further boosting the song's profile. The video was filmed at locations including the Hatfield House and Dundas Castle, adding to the song's opulent and decadent aesthetic.

The lyrics of "Popular" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that critique the nature of fame.

• Flashing Lights: The 'flashing lights' of paparazzi cameras are a recurring motif symbolizing the public's invasive gaze and the object of the protagonist's desire. She 'prays to the sky' for them, indicating that fame has become her religion and salvation. For Madonna's persona in the song, these same lights are something to run from, symbolizing the loss of privacy and peace.
• Selling Her Soul: The explicit line 'Sell her soul to be popular' is a direct and powerful metaphor for the moral and ethical compromises one might make to achieve stardom. It invokes a Faustian bargain, where eternal, essential parts of the self are traded for transient, worldly success.
• The Devil on Sunset: The song opens with Madonna's haunting line, 'I've seen the devil / Down Sunset / In every place / In every face'. Sunset Boulevard is an iconic symbol of Hollywood and the dream of fame. By placing 'the devil' there, the song immediately frames the pursuit of fame as a corrupting, almost demonic force that permeates the entire culture of celebrity.
• Begging on Her Knees: This image portrays a state of utter desperation and submission. It strips the pursuit of fame of any glamour, revealing it as a raw, almost primal need that brings the protagonist to a position of debasement. It's a plea not for love or salvation, but for public visibility.

The most prominent recurring motif in "Popular" is the desperate, all-consuming desire for fame, encapsulated by the repeated word "popular."

• "Popular": The word itself is repeated relentlessly throughout the chorus and outro, functioning as a powerful hook. Its constant repetition emphasizes the obsessive, singular focus of the song's subject. The word is tied to actions of desperation: 'begging on her knees to be popular', 'kill anyone to be popular', 'sell her soul to be popular'. This repetition transforms the word from a simple adjective into a mantra of destructive ambition.
• "Flashing Lights": This phrase represents the allure of the camera and public attention. The line 'Flashin' lights is all she ever wants to see' appears in the pre-chorus, symbolizing that this artificial illumination has replaced genuine sources of light or guidance in her life. Madonna's verse inverts this, portraying the 'flashing lights' as something to escape from, highlighting the duality of fame.
• "Money on top of me, money on top of her": This line, repeated by Playboi Carti, serves as a motif for the materialistic and transactional nature of the fame being depicted. It suggests a world where value is measured in wealth and influence, and relationships are built on this foundation.
• "Sell her soul": This powerful phrase recurs in the chorus, acting as a stark reminder of the ultimate price of the fame the woman seeks. It's a recurring motif that underscores the song's cautionary message about losing one's identity and integrity.