"Popular" is a collaboration featuring the diverse talents of the Dark Prince of R&B, The Weeknd; the Queen of Pop, Madonna; and the Avant-garde Prince of Hip-Hop, Playboi Carti. The track is part of The Idol, Vol. 1, the official soundtrack of The Weeknd's HBO drama series, The Idol. It stars Lily Depp as Joselyn, who has an intricate connection with The Weeknd's cult leader character, Tedros.
In this complex exploration of the price of fame, the three artists weave a tapestry of perspectives, revealing the struggles, sacrifices, and temptations faced by those seeking to maintain their identity in an industry designed to corrupt. It mirrors the narrative woven throughout The Idol series.
The Weeknd assumes the perspective of his character Tedros as he takes the stage in the first verse. He paints a vivid picture of a girl who yearns for fame, despite feigning indifference and surprise when caught by the paparazzi. Deep down, there's nothing she desires more.
"Do you see her?" The Weeknd questions. She seeks the glamorous life, even if she pretends to shun the limelight. If you truly knew her, you'd realize she lives a lie, summoning the paparazzi and then acting taken aback.
The chorus amplifies the depths to which this woman is willing to go for popularity. She begs on her knees, her dream dependent on fame. The notion of murder even lurks within her, as she would kill or sell her soul for status. Doctor, doctor, the girl has a bad case of starlet fever!
Playboi Carti enters the song with his signature high-pitched "baby voice" rap style, taking over the post-chorus. He adopts the persona of someone who is taking advantage of a young woman, knowing she is drawn to him because of his fame and popularity - the very things she desires.
Madonna graces the second verse, seemingly embodying the character of Jocelyn. She shares a different point of view, recounting her attempts to evade the blinding flashes of fame. She won't surrender her soul without a fight. It's a statement that carries weight, as Madonna herself stands as an iconic figure who has transcended fame's trappings.
On the bridge, The Weeknd alludes to the harsh realities of showbiz, like how artists can run up massive debts despite having successful records. However, he emphasizes the enduring power of social media and the undying support of followers, ensuring that one is never completely adrift.
The song was originally a two-person collaboration between The Weeknd and Playboi Carti. "We had a different version of this song prior," The Weeknd told Zane Lowe of Apple Music. "So I've had these vocals for a while and I've kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time."
The Weeknd and Playboi Carti co-wrote "Popular" with Mike Dean, Metro Boomin, Sam Levinson, Johnny Flippin, and Michael Walker.
The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, and Mike Dean collaborated as producers on the track and the rest of The Idol Vol. 1.
Madonna returned to the UK Top 10 for the first time in 15 years when "Popular" climbed to #10 on the survey dated February 4, 2024. The Queen Of Pop's previous Top 10 single was "
Celebration," which peaked at #3 in 2009.
"Popular was The Weeknd's 16th UK Top 10 single, and Playboi Carti's first.
The Cliqua-directed video shows the Weeknd performing to the camera from inside a massive, gilded mansion. After flashing to Carti dancing around an expensive car, the scene cuts back to Madonna rolling around on a couch in an opulent New York City penthouse.
Regular Weeknd visual collaborator Cliqua also shot the videos for the Canadian star's hit songs "
Take My Breath," "
Sacrifice" and "
Out Of Time."
