From the second the beat from Britney Spears’ post-breakdown comeback hit “Gimme More” dropped in the trailer, it was clear The Idol was going to pay homage to the pop princess. However Spears is only one of many musical icons the controversial HBO drama nods to. The present, created by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Euphoria’s Sam Levinson, is rife with references to real-life pop stars. (Levinson has specifically said the present shouldn’t be all about Spears.)
The collection follows mega-pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) as she makes an attempt to restore her picture following a nervous breakdown and her mom’s demise, whereas getting into a sophisticated relationship with creepy, nightclub impresario and cult chief Tedros (Tesfaye) within the course of. It’s sleazy, horny and makes an attempt to wrestle with the exploitation of feminine pop stars. That The Weeknd is among the masterminds behind the undertaking is smart: In any case, he’s a pop star himself.
Because the present dives deeper into Jocelyn’s world, we’re breaking down the entire pop star references and Easter Eggs the present has to supply.
Episode 1 – “Pop Tarts and Rat Tales”
Selena Gomez
Through the opening scenes of The Idol, Jocelyn is seen posing for a photoshoot at her mansion. Whereas she oscillates from pouting her lips to ripping up on digital camera in a nearly-nude in a silk gown, she straddles a desk coated in empty bottles of booze, drugs, and a hospital bracelet—a nod to Jocelyn’s “psychological breakdown.” Whereas the merchandise could seem a bit curious, it’s all part of advertising the pop star. In any case, as file label exec Nikki (Jane Adams) declares: “Psychological sickness is horny.” However fans have speculated that the hospital bracelet is definitely a reference to Selena Gomez and her single art work and music video for her 2017 single “Bad Liar.” In each, Gomez kept on her hospital bandage after receiving treatment for her lupus that week. She additionally allegedly happened to be dating The Weeknd that yr. Coincidence?
Britney Spears
After Jocelyn finishes her photoshoot, she practices the choreography for her new single together with her dancers. As Self-importance Truthful journalist Talia (Hari Nef) notes, it’s “referential” to Spears. Particularly, the pop star’s 2001 hit “I’m A Slave 4 U” the place a sweat-drenched Spears intoxicatingly stomach dances amongst a grindfest of dancers. Throughout that point, Spears went from girl-next-door to intercourse image in a single day, so it’s no shock the present pays homage to that period.
Madonna
When Jocelyn approaches the dancefloor at Tedros’s nightclub, the grand entrance is soundtracked by Madonna’s 1989 hit “Like a Prayer.” Contemplating Jocelyn is embracing her sexuality—masturbating with ice cubes and entering into some BDSM play with Tedros—the once-controversial observe is becoming. Additionally, Madonna additionally occurs to be part of the present’s soundtrack—alongside The Weeknd and Playboi Cart—together with her new single “Well-liked.”
Prince
Within the midst of their makeout session on the nightclub, Jocelyn and Tedros start debating the superficiality of pop. Whereas Jocelyn takes intention at pop music, Tedros defends the style, referencing Prince’s Purple Rain hit “When Doves Cry”: “You’re gonna name ‘When Doves Cry’ fucking superficial? If that music got here out at the moment, it might be a smash tomorrow.” Later we see Jocelyn has an enormous portrait of Prince on her staircase.
Donna Summer season
When Jocelyn invitations Tedros to her home, she performs her new single within the studio for him. Tedros notes that the music isn’t working as a result of he doesn’t “imagine” her. He cites Donna Summer season’s 1975 disco anthem “Love to Love You Baby” as what she ought to be doing together with her vocals. “When she sings, there’s little question that she is aware of the right way to fuck,” Tedros explains.
The Weeknd
Episode 1 concludes with erotic asphyxiation as Tedros ties a pink silk gown round Jocelyn’s face and neck earlier than piercing the material round her mouth with a knife and telling her to sing. This appears to take cues from The Weeknd’s personal music—his 2021 observe “Take My Breath” is all about that exact kink.
Episode 2 – “Double Fantasy”
Britney Spears and Donna Summer season
Each pop stars once more change into reference factors for The Idol in episode 2. Jocelyn decides to share a remixed model of her bubblegum pop music “World Class Sinner / I’m a Freak” together with her group, which options a number of moaning a la “I’m A Slave 4 U”—the type of music that makes it clear Jocelyn is aware of “the right way to fuck.” Clearly, Tedros’s remark about Summer season labored. The tip credit for episode 2 are even soundtracked by “Like to Love You Child,” making a transparent callback to the pilot.
Ariana Grande and Halsey
Regardless of being a nightmare, Jocelyn’s music video shoot is harking back to another real-life pop stars’ music movies. Maybe it delivered to thoughts the video for Halsey’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom single “Alone” ft. Big Sean and Stefflon Don or Ariana Grande’s self-empowerment anthem “7 Rings.” The identical director behind these movies is Hannah Lux Davis, who has labored with everybody from the aforementioned pop stars to Charli XCX, Demi Lovato and Avril Lavigne. The moody, neon lighting is a trademark of her work.
Episode 3 – “Dawn”
Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Sky Ferreira
Since episode 1, it’s been clear Jocelyn’s inventive director Xander (Troye Sivan) has change into a “sure man” in Jocelyn’s world. However Tedros, who thinks “the inventive route sucks,” offers Xander the chance to share his one nice concept: utilizing Jocelyn’s leaked picture as her album cowl. Pop stars have typically used an album or single cowl as a response to tabloid protection and public criticism. The concept offered by Xander appears to allude to the influence of creative statements like Taylor Swift’s Status and Rihanna’s Unapologetic. The picture itself recollects the intimacy of Sky Ferreira’s Evening Time, My Time, which infamously reveals her breast.
Mike Dean
The pop references in episode 3 aren’t too deep. However Mike Dean’s title turns into the subject of dialog when Tedros reveals the mega-producer is about to work on Jocelyn’s forthcoming EP. Dean has been working intently with The Weeknd since 2015 and helmed a few of the tracks on The Idol soundtrack together with the primary theme music.
Episode 4 – “Stars Belong to the World”
Mike Dean
Mike Dean goes from name-drop in episode 3 to precise visitor star in episode 4. Arriving at Jocelyn’s mansion with a large bong in tow, he helps produce her subsequent single, testing every room’s acoustics and finally establishing store in one in all Jocelyn’s gathering rooms. There, he witnesses Tedros basically sexually assault Jocelyn in entrance of a room full of individuals to get a grittier sound out of her.
Prince
When Jocelyn and Tedros first met they bonded over their shared love for Prince. After Jocelyn discovers Tedros has had a duplicitous relationship with Dyanne, who reveals to Jocelyn her file label has provided her a deal the place she’d launch World Class Sinner, Jocelyn goes scorched earth She booty calls her ex Rob, and a drunken Tedros tries to pressure himself into his locked bed room as soon as he realizes that she’s determined to sleep with him. Ultimately uninterested in pounding the door and realizing he’s not as in management as he thinks he’s, he seems again at a portrait of Prince behind him crying—signaling a fracture of their complicated relationship.
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