Decoding The Success Of The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, And Madonnas Hit, Popular

26th February, 2024

When The Weeknd teams up with legends like Madonna and a trendsetter like Playboi Carti, you know the track is going to slap harder than an internet meme on a Monday. Popular, their joint banger, is a deep dive into the glittery, and sometimes dingy, world of fame. Weaving criticism of celebrity culture and the thirst for attention into a tapestry of infectious beats, it’s no wonder this popular song is doing rounds in everyone’s playlist, turning heads and twisting hips.

The article delves into the success of Popular, highlighting its ascent on music charts and its embodiment of celebrity culture. It offers an engaging analysis of the lyrics, the song’s impressive performance on the charts, and the captivating visuals of its music video that have viewers constantly pressing play. It reveals how The Weeknd, Madonna, and Playboi Carti transformed an experimental sound into a cultural phenomenon, all while keeping an eye on its reverberations within pop culture.

The Genesis of Popular

The genesis of Popular marked a remarkable moment in music, with The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, and Madonna joining forces to create this R&B hit, officially released on June 2, 2023.

The Weeknd and Playboi Carti originally came up with the song, but Madonna added an electrifying enhancement that gave it a layer of legendary depth. Together, they wove a compelling narrative centred around the allure and perils of fame, encapsulated in the story of a woman’s unwavering quest for stardom, even at great personal cost.

The synergy among the trio was undeniable, sparking excitement for potential future projects that promise to further innovate and captivate the music industry.

The Rise and Impact of Popular

Upon its release, Popular quickly climbed to number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured a spot in the UK’s top ten, showcasing its widespread appeal. The collaboration between The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, and Madonna resonated across the globe, with the song climbing charts in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Beyond its chart success, Popular featured prominently on the soundtrack of the HBO drama series The Idol. This association deepened its cultural impact, aligning the song with the series’ exploration of fame and identity. The Weeknd’s live performances during his After Hours til Dawn Tour and the innovative Fortnite music video premiere on, February 15, 2024, further solidified Popular as more than just a hit song. It became a moment, a movement, a shiny jewel in the crown of the 2024 deluxe edition of the Weeknd’s greatest hits album The Highlights (2021).

Popular is soaring up the charts with The Weeknd snagging his 16th Top 10 single, Playboi Carti breaking into the Top 10 for the first time, and Madonna making a grand re-entry with her 64th Top 10 single, her first in 15 years.

Musical Composition and Lyrics Analysis

Diving headfirst into the sonic landscape of Popular, we’re met with a track that’s as much an earworm as it is a stark narrative on fame’s double-edged sword. The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, and Madonna serve up a concoction that’s equal parts hypnotic and haunting, with a beat that’s bound to get bodies moving and minds pondering.

Lyrical Deep-Dive

At the heart of the song, Popular, lies a protagonist whose hunger for fame knows no bounds. She’s down on her knees, not in worship but in a desperate plea for the spotlight. It’s a chilling portrayal of fame’s seductive power, with lyrics that don’t shy away from the dark side of the limelight. The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, and Madonna’s lyrics weave a tale that’s as old as time yet as fresh as the latest tweet, and it’s this blend of timelessness and trendiness that gives the track its edge.

The production credits on Popular are by Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, and The Weeknd himself. They’ve spun a web of beats that capture the frantic energy of chasing clout while also laying down a vibe that’s undeniably cool. The production sets the stage for the lyrics and amplifies them, making every confession of fame’s cost hit that much harder.

Visuals That Thrill

The visualiser for Popular is features clips and photos from the Cannes premiere of the HBO series The Idol that echo the song’s themes. It’s a smart move, using the series’ visuals to deepen the song’s narrative, and with the HBO drama series The Idol debuting just two days after the track’s release, it’s a one-two punch of promotion that’s as strategic as it is slick.

Music Video: The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, and Madonna’s Popular

Released on February 22, the music video for Popular quickly became a sensation, captivating audiences with its stunning visual narrative. Directed by a trio of music and style icons, the video is a feast for the senses, blending vibrant neon aesthetics with cutting-edge fashion. It doesn’t just accompany the song but enhances it, transforming Popular into an immersive experience.

The video’s storytelling is cinematic in scope, with scenes that artfully captures the song’s themes, presenting a compelling story and cultural nods from the glamour of celebrity life to a pulsating vibe.

Cross-Generational Collab

The Weeknd, Playboi Carti and Madonna Popular song cover

This song feels like a bridge between generations. With Popular, we’ve got the timeless Madonna, the ever-evolving Weeknd, and the fresh vibes of Playboi Carti all in one mix. This track is uniting fanbases like a pop culture peace treaty.

With every play, Popular isn’t just rising up the charts; it’s cementing The Weeknd, Madonna, and Playboi Carti as icons. And the fans are here for it, with Popular grabbing a whopping 52% of the votes in a Billboard poll for favourite new music release.

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The Weeknd, Playboi Carti and Madonna Popular Lyrics

Intro: Madonna & The Weeknd
I’ve seen the devil
Down Sunset
In every place
In every face
Yeah (Uh, uh)
Yeah (Uh, uh)

Verse 1: The Weeknd
Tell me, do you see her? (Yeah; uh) She’s livin’ her life (Uh)
Even if she acts like she don’t want the limelight (Uh, yeah; uh, uh)
But if you knew her (Yeah-yeah; uh), she lives a lie
She calls the paparazzi, then she acts surprised
Oh

Pre-Chorus: The Weeknd
Oh, I know what she needs (Oh-oh; uh)
She just want the fame, I know what shе fiends (Oh-oh; uh, yeah)
Give hеr a little taste, runnin’ back to me (Oh-oh; uh)
Put it in her veins, pray her soul to keep, ooh
Ooh, every night (Every night; uh), she prays to the sky
Flashin’ lights is all she ever wants to see

Chorus: The Weeknd
Beggin’ on her knees to be popular
That’s her dream, to be popular (Ha)
Kill anyone to be popular (Hm)
Sell her soul to be popular (Popular)
Just to be popular (Uh-huh)
Everybody scream ’cause she popular (Ha)
She mainstream ’cause she popular
Never be free ’cause she popular

Post-Chorus: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh-huh)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh-huh)
Yeah, shawty fuck with me ’cause she know I’m popular (Uh-huh)
Yeah, shawty fuck with me ’cause she know I’m popular

Verse 2: Madonna & The Weeknd
I know that you see me (Huh), time’s gone by (Uh, uh)
Spent my whole life runnin’ from your flashin’ lights
Try to own it (Uh), but I’m alright (Uh, yeah)
You can’t take my soul without a fuckin’ fight (Uh)
Oh

Pre-Chorus: The Weeknd, The Weeknd & Madonna
Oh, I know what she needs (Oh-oh; uh, yeah)
She just want the fame, I know what she fiends (Oh-oh; uh, yeah)
Give her a little taste, runnin’ back to me (Oh-oh; uh, yeah)
Put it in her veins, pray her soul to keep, ooh (Uh)
Ooh, every night (Every night), she prays to the sky (Ha)
Flashin’ lights is all she ever wants to see

Chorus: The Weeknd & Madonna, The Weeknd
Beggin’ on her knees to be popular (Huh)
That’s her dream, to be popular (Hey)
Kill anyone to be popular (Hm)
Sell her soul to be popular (Popular)
Just to be popular (Uh-huh)
Everybody scream ’cause she popular (Ha)
She mainstream ’cause she popular
Never be free ’cause she popular

Post-Chorus: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh-huh)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh-huh)
Yeah, shawty fuck with me ’cause she know I’m popular (Uh)
Yeah, shawty fuck with me ’cause she know I’m popular (Uh)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh-huh)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh-huh)
Yeah, shawty fuck with me ’cause she know I’m popular (Uh-huh)
Yeah, shawty fuck with me ’cause she know I’m popular

Bridge: Playboi Carti, The Weeknd & Madonna
I’m gettin’ money and I’m keepin’ it
I’m gettin’ cash and I’m keepin’ it
Money on top of me, money on top of her
Yeah, shawty fuck with me ’cause she know I’m popular
Pop-popular, born to be popular
She in debt, twenty mill’, but she run it up
She can never be broke ’cause she popular
Turn the webcam on for the followers (Hahahahaha)

Chorus: The Weeknd & Madonna, The Weeknd
Beggin’ on her knees to be popular
That’s her dream, to be popular (Ha)
Kill anyone to be popular (Hm)
Sell her soul to be popular (Popular)
Just to be popular (Uh-huh)
Everybody scream ’cause she popular (Ha)
She mainstream ’cause she popular
Never be free ’cause she popular