Popular (with Playboi Carti & Madonna)

"Popular" is a dark and critical meditation on the nature of fame, celebrity culture, and the desperate lengths people will go to achieve it. The song explores the seductive allure and the inherent pitfalls of the limelight, contrasting the desire for genuine artistry with the relentless pursuit of being known and worshipped. It tells the story of a woman who is obsessed with becoming famous, suggesting she would "kill anyone" or "sell her soul" for popularity. This desire is depicted as an enslaving force; while she may achieve material success, she loses her freedom and true self in the process. The lyrics touch upon themes of moral and financial debt incurred while maintaining a façade for public consumption. The song functions as a cautionary tale, critiquing a culture that values likes, clicks, and superficial adoration over authenticity and soul.

The narrative of "Popular" delves into the dark and obsessive nature of chasing fame. It paints a picture of a woman who is utterly consumed by the desire for celebrity status. She feigns indifference to the limelight, even acting surprised when the paparazzi find her, yet secretly, she orchestrates this attention herself. Her prayers are not for salvation but for the flash of cameras, which have become her new religion. This pursuit is portrayed as an all-consuming addiction; a single taste of fame only leaves her craving more. The lyrics suggest she is willing to sacrifice anything—her integrity, her soul—to climb the social ladder and hear everyone scream her name. Despite accumulating wealth, she remains spiritually empty and unfree, trapped in a cycle of maintaining a public facade.

The song introduces different perspectives on this theme. The Weeknd acts as an observer and participant, acknowledging the corrupting influence of Hollywood, where the "devil" roams freely. He understands the woman's desperate need for validation and the transactional nature of her relationships. Playboi Carti's verse injects a dose of braggadocio, positioning himself as someone who has already achieved the popularity the woman so desperately craves, highlighting the intertwined desires within the celebrity ecosystem. Madonna's contribution offers a contrasting viewpoint of a seasoned veteran of fame. She speaks of resisting its corrupting influence, asserting that she won't give up her soul without a fight. Her lyrics can be interpreted as a struggle against the industry's vampiric nature or, in the context of the TV show "The Idol," a direct defiance against The Weeknd's manipulative character. The song concludes by reinforcing the central theme: the immense and often corrosive price of popularity in a culture that equates visibility with self-worth.

"Popular" was released on June 2, 2023, as the second single from the soundtrack for The Weeknd's HBO series, The Idol. The track is a collaboration between The Weeknd, American rapper Playboi Carti, and pop icon Madonna. The song was written by The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), Playboi Carti (Jordan Carter), and producers Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, and Tommy Rush, with additional writing credits for Sam Levinson, Michael Walker, and John Flippin. In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1, The Weeknd revealed that the song initially existed as a different version with just himself and Playboi Carti. He had held onto Carti's vocals for a while, waiting for the right moment to release it. The decision to add Madonna was a significant one. The Weeknd expressed a long-held desire to work with her, calling her the "ultimate co-sign" for the song, the album, and the TV show, and labeling her "the ultimate pop star." A snippet of the song was first teased at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival during the premiere of The Idol on May 22, 2023, before its official release. The official music video premiered on February 15, 2024, and was filmed in August 2023 at various luxurious locations, including the Hatfield House and Dundas Castle in Scotland, with Madonna's scenes shot in a high-rise apartment and Playboi Carti's around a Maybach.

The song uses the concept of "popularity" as a central metaphor for a modern-day Faustian bargain, where a person's soul is the currency for fame and public adoration. The lyric "sell her soul to be popular" makes this explicit. The "flashing lights" of the paparazzi are symbolized as a new form of religion, with the protagonist "begging on her knees" not for spiritual salvation but for media attention, highlighting a shift in modern values. Hollywood, specifically Sunset Boulevard, is depicted as a place where "the devil" resides, a metaphor for the pervasive corruption and moral decay within the entertainment industry. Money is portrayed as a deceptive symbol of success; it's piled "on top of her" but fails to bring true freedom or happiness, symbolizing the emptiness of materialism when disconnected from genuine fulfillment. Playboi Carti's verse, with lines like "Money on top of me, money on top of her," reinforces this idea of a transactional, objectified existence within the fame game.

The emotional atmosphere of "Popular" is predominantly dark, cynical, and seductive. It creates a feeling of observing a tragedy unfold, a sense of detached yet critical fascination with the protagonist's self-destruction. The Weeknd's smooth, almost sinister vocal delivery, combined with the minor-key synth melodies, evokes a world of hollow glamour and moral compromise. There's a palpable tension between the alluring, slick production and the bleakness of the lyrical content. Madonna's verse introduces a feeling of defiance and resilience, a brief shift from cynicism to a struggle for self-preservation. Playboi Carti's contribution adds an element of detached, materialistic swagger. Overall, the song maintains a cool, observational tone, creating an emotional landscape that is more critical than empathetic, reflecting the cold and transactional world it portrays.

"Popular" achieved significant commercial success globally, charting in the top 10 in countries like 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 gave Madonna her 58th entry on the Hot 100, making her one of the few artists to have a chart entry across five consecutive decades. The track received positive reviews, with Rolling Stone naming it one of the best songs of 2023 at its midpoint. As a key single from the soundtrack of the controversial HBO series The Idol, the song is intrinsically linked to the show's themes of fame, exploitation, and celebrity culture, which were widely discussed and debated. The collaboration itself was a major cultural moment, bringing together three distinct and influential artists from different generations and genres: The Weeknd, a defining R&B/pop star of his era; Madonna, the iconic "Queen of Pop"; and Playboi Carti, a leader in modern experimental rap. The song has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, cementing its place as a major hit in the discographies of all three artists.

"Popular" is built on a steady, mid-tempo R&B rhythm that creates a seductive and somewhat hypnotic feel. The drum programming features crisp hi-hats and a solid backbeat, characteristic of producers Metro Boomin and Mike Dean. The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, often relying on couplets and simple end rhymes (e.g., "life"/"lie"/"surprise", "fame"/"thinks"). This simplicity makes the lyrics direct and memorable. The Weeknd's vocal rhythm is fluid, moving smoothly with the beat and often stretching syllables to enhance the song's slinky, atmospheric quality. Playboi Carti's bridge introduces a rhythmic shift; his delivery is more staccato and rhythmically complex, with his ad-libs adding another percussive layer. The recurring chorus, with its repetitive chant of "popular," acts as a rhythmic and lyrical hook, driving the song's central theme home with an almost mantra-like insistence that mirrors the protagonist's obsession.

Musically, "Popular" is a midtempo R&B track with a slinky groove reminiscent of early 2000s urban pop. The production, handled by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and Mike Dean, features booming synth instrumentals and crisp, plinking percussion. The Weeknd employs his signature smooth, often haunting vocal delivery, which glides over the atmospheric production. His vocal style conveys a sense of both allure and sinister observation. Madonna's feature provides a contrasting vocal texture, adding a layer of seasoned defiance. Playboi Carti contributes a bridge with his distinct high-pitched, ad-lib heavy "baby voice" flow, creating a unique textural shift in the song. Lyrically, the song uses a direct narrative voice to tell the story of the fame-obsessed woman. Repetition is a key literary device, with the word "popular" hammered home in the chorus to emphasize the obsessive and relentless nature of the protagonist's ambition. This recurring motif serves as the song's central hook and thematic anchor. The contrast between The Weeknd's descriptive verses and Madonna's more defiant and personal-sounding bridge creates a compelling narrative dialogue about the nature of fame from different perspectives.