Every song released from HBO Max’s The Idol soundtrack feels like an arm that feeds a general story. On the one hand, we have songs that describe a woman who would throw away everything, including her soul, to be famous, and on the other, we see a woman who enjoys the toxic relationship she finds herself in her pursuit of fame.
We’ve had more than a few hard-hitting lyrics so far from The Idol soundtrack, and don’t get me started on the lyrics for “One of the Girls,” or “Popular,” but the ones on “Dollhouse” may just win the award for being the most provocative. If you thought the series was disturbing, then you might want to think twice before diving into the songs.
Depp and The Weeknd open the song by describing “some other lifetime” where things are better and they have control over their lives. Waking up from the fantasy into a tortured relationship, the lyrics tell us that “You got me in a chokehold, headlock, blindfold, don’t stop / (I don’t need to see, have your way with me) / Keep me in the dollhouse, dressed up, perfect, messed up.”
The second verse continues to tell the story of a masochistic relationship, as they sing, “Dollhouse, dressed up, perfect, messed up / Torture me to sleep, paint the air I breathe / Fishbowl, chokehold, clеar water, I’m cold (Oh woah) / Perfect as can bе, have your way with me.”
The sultry track features in the fifth and final episode of the highly controversial show “The Idol,” starring Abel Tesfaye (better known as The Weeknd), Depp, and Blackpink’s Jennie. Marking the third collaboration between The Weeknd and Depp, the track comes on during a crucial moment in the finale episode and was accompanied by raunchy choreography. It describes Depp’s Jocelyn as someone so smitten with the fame The Weeknd’s Tedros is offering her, she is ready to let him do anything he wants with her.
Throughout its five-episode run, the series received many forms of criticism, mostly for its over-sexualization and its portrayal of Hollywood. Critics also called its plot underdeveloped and bland, as they questioned the wisdom behind many of Jocelyn’s decisions. It was also plagued with rumors of a toxic work environment, which Depp counteracted several times.
But perhaps the show, like its songs, isn’t supposed to showcase a meaningful reason behind the characters’ motivations. Perhaps it’s better for us to admit that it’s possible for some people to make really awful decisions for no reason, good or bad, at all.
