Song
Popular
The Weeknd
Album:
Song Meaning of Popular by The Weeknd
Featuring vocals by American singer Madonna and rapper Playboi Carti. The lyrics give allusion to the "allure and pitfalls of fame and fortune" referring to a woman that “will do anything to achieve celebrity status".
In an Apple Music 1 interview with Zane Lowe, The Weeknd stated that the song was originally a collaboration between only him and Playboi Carti and had a different version before Madonna.
The Weeknd said "I've always wanted to work with her" He continued saying: "She's the ultimate co-sign for this song."
Commercially, "Popular" peaked in the top 10 in Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand—the Weeknd's native country—and went on to become a top 20 hit in the UK, Switzerland, Belgium and India.
Lyrics of Popular by The Weeknd
I've seen the devil
Down Sunset
In every place
In every face
Yeah, uh, uh
Yeah, uh, uh
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
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I know what she needs (Oh-oh)
She just want the fame, I know what she fiends (Oh-oh)
Give her a little taste, runnin' back to me (Oh-oh)
Put it in her veins, pray her soul to keep, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, every night (Every night; uh)
She prays to the sky
Flashin' lights is all she ever wants to see
Beggin' on her knees to be popular
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 (Hey)
She mainstream 'cause she popular
Never be free 'cause she popular
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
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 (Yeah)
You can't take my soul without a fuckin' fight (Uh)
Oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, I know what she needs (Oh-oh)
She just want the fame, I know what she fiends (Oh-oh)
Give her a little taste, runnin' back to me (Oh-oh)
Put it in her veins, pray her soul to keep, ooh-ooh (Uh)
Ooh-ooh, every night (Every night)
She prays to the sky (Huh)
Flashin' lights is all she ever wants to see
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 (Hey)
She mainstream 'cause she popular
Never be free 'cause she popular
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
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)
Beggin' on her knees to be popular
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 (Hey)
She mainstream 'cause she popular
Never be free 'cause she popular
Release Date
2023
Songwriter/s
Abel Tesfaye, Jordan Carter, Leland Wayne, Michael Dean, Tommy Rush, Sam Levinson, Michael Walker, John Flippin
Producer/s
The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, Mike Dean, Rush
Label/s
XO, Republic