Popular
Lyrics
[Intro: Madonna & The Weeknd]
I've seen the devil
Down Sunset, in every place, in every face
Yeah, uh
Yeah, uh, uh
[Verse 1: The Weeknd]
Tell me, do you see her? (Yeah) 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, 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)
She just want the fame, I know what she fiеnds (Oh)
Give her a little tastе, runnin' back to me (Oh)
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 (Hey)
Kill anyone to be popular
Sell her soul to be popular
Popular, just to be popular (Oh)
Everybody scream 'cause she popular (Hey)
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)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh)
Yuh, shawty fuck with me 'cause she know I'm popular (Uh)
Yuh, shawty fuck with me 'cause she know I'm popular
[Verse 2: Madonna & The Weeknd]
I know that you see me, time's gone by
Spend my whole life runnin' from your flashin' lights
Try to own it (Uh), but I'm alright (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)
She just want the fame, I know what she fiends (Oh)
Give her a little taste, runnin' back to me (Oh)
Put it in her veins, pray her soul to keep, ooh, ooh
Every night (Every night), she prays to the sky (Oh)
Flashin' lights is all she ever wants to see
[Chorus: The Weeknd & Madonna, The Weeknd]
Beggin' on her knees to be popular (Uh)
That's her dream, to be popular (Hey)
Kill anyone to be popular
Sell her soul to be popular
Popular, just to be popular (Uh)
Everybody scream 'cause she popular (Hey)
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)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh)
Yuh, shawty fuck with me 'cause she know I'm popular (Uh)
Yuh, shawty fuck with me 'cause she know I'm popular (Uh)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh)
Money on top of me, money on top of her (Uh)
Yuh, shawty fuck with me 'cause she know I'm popular (Uh)
Yuh, shawty fuck with me 'cause she know I'm popular
[Bridge: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd]
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
Yuh, 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
[Chorus: The Weeknd & Madonna, The Weeknd]
Beggin' on her knees to be popular
That's her dream, to be popular (Hey)
Kill anyone to be popular
Sell her soul to be popular
Popular, just to be popular (Uh)
Everybody scream 'cause she popular (Hey)
She mainstream 'cause she popular
Never be free 'cause she popular
Credits
Written by Abel Tesfaye, John Flippin, Jordan Carter, Leland Wayne, Michael Dean, Michael Walker, Sam Levinson
Produced by Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, The Weeknd
Featuring Madonna and Playboi Carti
Album
The Idol Vol. 1
Single
On June 2, 2023 The Weeknd released the song Popular, as the second single from the soundtrack for the HBO series 'The Idol', in which he also stars as one of the main characters. Originally, the track was going to be a collaboration between The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, but ended up also including Madonna.
In an interview to Apple Music, The Weeknd said of Madonna: "I've always wanted to work with her. She's the ultimate co-sign for this song, for this album, and for this TV show. And you'll hear more of her in the show as well too. She is the ultimate pop star".
Video
At the release of the song, there was only a visualizer for the song, which contains scenes from the series 'The Idol'. Madonna does not appear in it.
Only on February 15, 2024 an official music video was released exclusively on Fortnite. A week later it was added to The Weeknd's official Youtube channel. The video was filmed in August 2023, and features shots between the Weeknd dancing and drinking in Hatfield House, Madonna dancing and rolling around on a sofa in a high-rise apartment, and Playboi Carti dancing around an expensive car.