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You are reading the page dedicated to the song. You may have been wanting to read about the EP or the remix EP with a similar name.

I was sick of writing on guitar and I was looking for something different, I immediately came up with lyrics and melodies when I heard the toy sounds. ‘Dollhouse’ was the first song that I was really excited about. It was like magic. It helped create this world and I wanted to keep writing songs that were inside that world.

Melanie Martinez about "Dollhouse"

"Dollhouse" is the debut single by Melanie Martinez, featured as the first track on her namesake debut extended play, Dollhouse. It is also included as the second track on her debut album, Cry Baby and her extended play, Pity Party. Multiple remixes of the song were released on Dollhouse (The Remixes).

The song was released on February 9, 2014 and the music video was released on February 10, 2014.

Background[]

On February 5, 2014, Melanie posted a promotional trailer for the music video on YouTube to announce the song's release date. There was also a link to pre-order the song on iTunes.[1][2] Some time later, the video was taken down.

Theme[]

"Dollhouse" is about the family of Cry Baby. Cry Baby's mother is revealed to be an alcoholic due to her husband's infidelity and the brother smoking cannabis. Cry Baby is the only one that recognizes how horrible her situation is and she wishes people would understand her reality. In the music video, Cry Baby and her family are visualized as dolls as a metaphor for Cry Baby's family trying to seem perfect in public.

This song can also be used to describe how people view celebrities. In an interview, Melanie said, "People put them in glass boxes and think they are perfect, and when something happens that shows when they are humans, people don't like that."

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
Hey girl, open the walls
Play with your dolls
We'll be a perfect family
When you walk away is when we really play
You don't hear me when I say
"Mom, please wake up
Dad's with a slut
And your son is smoking cannabis"

[Pre-chorus 1]
No one ever listens
This wallpaper glistens
Don't let them see what goes down in the kitchen

[Chorus]
Places, places, get in your places
Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains
Picture, picture, smile for the picture
Pose with your brother, won't you be a good sister?
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains

[Post-chorus]
D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees
(D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E)
(I see things that nobody else sees)

[Verse 2]
Hey girl, look at my mom
She's got it going on
Ha! You're blinded by her jewelry
When you turn your back
She pulls out a flask
And forgets his infidelity
Uh oh, she's coming to the attic
Plastic, go back to being plastic

[Pre-chorus 2]
No one ever listens
This wallpaper glistens
One day they'll see what goes down in the kitchen

[Chorus]
Places, places, get in your places
Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains
Picture, picture, smile for the picture
Pose with your brother, won't you be a good sister?
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains

[Post-chorus]
D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees
(D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E)
(I see things that nobody else sees)

[Breakdown]
Hey girl (Hey girl X7)
Hey girl, open your walls
Play with your dolls
We'll be a perfect family

[Chorus]
Places, places, get in your places
Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains
Picture, picture, smile for the picture
Pose with your brother, won't you be a good sister?
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains

[Post-chorus]
D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees
(D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E)
(I see things that nobody else sees)

[Verse 1]
Hey girl, open the walls
Play with your dolls
We'll be a perfect family
When you walk away is when we really play
You don't hear me when I say
"Mom, please wake up
Dad's with a slut
And your son is smoking cannabis"

[Pre-chorus 1]
No one ever listens
This wallpaper glistens
Don't let them see what goes down in the kitchen

[Chorus]
Places, places, get in your places
Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains
Picture, picture, smile for the picture
Pose with your brother, won't you be a good sister?
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains

[Post-chorus]
D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees
(D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E)
(I see things that nobody else sees)

[Verse 2]
Hey girl, look at my mom
She's got it going on
Ha! You're blinded by her jewelry
When you turn your back
She pulls out a flask
And forgets his infidelity
Uh oh, she's coming to the attic
Plastic, go back to being plastic

[Pre-chorus 2]
No one ever listens
This wallpaper glistens
One day they'll see what goes down in the kitchen

[Chorus]
Places, places, get in your places
Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains
Picture, picture, smile for the picture
Pose with your brother, won't you be a good sister?
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains

[Post-chorus]
D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees
(D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E)
(I see things that nobody else sees)

[Breakdown]
Hey girl (Hey girl X7)
Hey girl, open your walls
Play with your dolls
We'll be a perfect family

[Chorus]
Places, places, get in your places
Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains
Picture, picture, smile for the picture
Pose with your brother, won't you be a good sister?
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains

[Post-chorus]
D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees
(D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E)
(I see things that nobody else sees)

Official versions[]

It is confirmed that the song does not seem to have one, but rather two additional unleaked demos. In addition, many remixes signed under Atlantic Records were leaked on April 2, 2024.

Version Released on Release date Producer(s) Creation date Length
Final Single • DollhouseCry BabyPity Party February 9, 2014 One Love 2013-2014 3:51
Instrumental Unreleased June 15, 2016 (leaked) One Love 2013-2014 3:51
Remixes
Kiely Rich Remix Dollhouse (The Remixes) July 24, 2014 One Love, Kiely Rich 2014 6:20
One Love Remix Dollhouse (The Remixes) July 24, 2014 One Love 2014 4:27
Jai Wolf Remix Dollhouse (The Remixes) July 24, 2014 One Love, Jai Wolf 2014 4:08
Treasure Fingers H.O.U.S.E Remix Dollhouse (The Remixes) • Single July 24, 2014 One Love, Treasure Fingers H.O.U.S.E 2014 4:46
Hippie Sabotage Remix Dollhouse (The Remixes) July 24, 2014 One Love, Hippie Sabotage 2014 4:58
Chocolate Puma Remix Single July 28, 2014 One Love, Chocolate Puma 2014 6:50
Belarbi Remix Unreleased April 2, 2024 (leaked) One Love, Belarbi 2014 3:54
Remix instrumentals
Treasure Fingers H.O.U.S.E Remix Unreleased April 2, 2024 (leaked) One Love, Treasure Fingers H.O.U.S.E 2014 4:46
Hippie Sabotage Remix Unreleased April 2, 2024 (leaked) One Love, Hippie Sabotage 2014 4:58
Chocolate Puma Remix Unreleased April 2, 2024 (leaked) One Love, Chocolate Puma 2014 6:50
Demos
"dollhouse 01" (demo 1) Unreleased May 10, 2021 (leaked) One Love September 19, 2013[3] 3:52
"dollhouse 02" (demo 2) Unreleased Unleaked One Love 2013-2014 Unknown
"dollhouse 03" (demo 3) Unreleased Unleaked One Love 2013-2014 Unknown

Live performances[]

"Dollhouse" was performed at:

Tours[]

Gallery[]

Trilogy tour houston 7
To view the gallery of Dollhouse (song), click here.

Music video[]

The music video takes place inside a dollhouse that a little girl plays with. It shows Cry Baby's family in their various roles. The dad is off having an affair, the son is smoking cannabis, and the mom is passed out on the couch. During the line, "Picture, picture, smile for the picture," the family poses for a picture, and then they return to their activities. After the second chorus, the little girl appears inside the dollhouse, and Cry Baby sings to the girl while she is cornered by the family. Soon after, she appears back outside the dollhouse and runs away scared.

Cast[]

Trivia[]

  • On January 13, 2017, the music video reached 100 million views on YouTube. It reached 200 million on October 24, 2018 and reached 300 million on March 13, 2021. It is Melanie's first music video to reach these milestones.
  • Melanie began shooting the video on December 6, 2013.
    • The music video was shot in three days.[4]
    • Fans funded the music video for "Dollhouse".
      • In late 2013, Melanie crowdfunded more than $10,000 for the music video.
      • Melanie also crowdfunded "Carousel"'s music video.
    • The music video has never left the overall top 200 music videos on iTunes since its release.
  • During the Dollhouse Tour, the rhythm of the song in some cases was changed to a faster one, or changed as the song progressed, during interludes instrumentals talking to the musicians.
  • "Dollhouse" is Melanie's song that is featured the most on albums and EPs, as it is on Cry Baby, Dollhouse, and Pity Party.
  • "Sippy Cup" references the line, "One day they'll see what goes down in the kitchen," as it talks about what "went down in the kitchen."
    • "Don't let them see what goes down in the kitchen" is a direct reference to "Sippy Cup" being a sequel.
  • The live performance was recorded at the same location as the "Carousel" live video.
  • The bear next to the doll heads was Melanie's phone case.
  • Melanie's pet rabbit Whinnie makes an appearance in the song's music video.
    • Melanie said during a Q&A on Tumblr on July 27, 2015, that there was no real reason for Whinnie to be featured, he "just wanted to be on camera".[5]
  • The skirt next to Cry Baby when she is strapped into the box is the same skirt she wears in the music video for "Carousel."
  • This is Melanie's first song to be certified gold. It was certified on December 16, 2015.
    • "Dollhouse" is Melanie's first platinum-certified song. It was certified on December 1, 2016.
    • It was later certified 2x multi-platinum on February 28, 2020.
  • This is Melanie's first song produced by One Love and was created on the first day that they met.[6]
  • At the beginning of the music video, a tune can be heard. If the tune is sped up, an instrumental remake of the chorus can be heard.
  • The rough cut version of the music video is available on YouTube.
    • This version includes some deleted scenes and raw footage.
  • This was the first song recorded for Cry Baby.
    • It is also Melanie's first released song as a whole that is still up.
  • This song, along with "VOID", was officially added to the official Barbie movie soundtrack playlist on Spotify, consisting of songs from and inspired by the movie.
  • Both "Zzzz", and "Coloring Book" reference this song through a "perfect lawn."

References[]

Navigation[]

ve
Dollhouse EP logo
Featured tracks DollhouseCarouselDead to MeBittersweet Tragedy
Characters Cry BabyMomDadBrotherLittle GirlAlphabet Boy
Producers One LoveRobopop
Extras MerchandiseInfomercialPity Party (EP)
Locations Cry Baby's house
Tour Dollhouse Tour
ve
Pity logo
Featured tracks Pity PartyDollhouseDead to MeBittersweet Tragedy
Characters Cry BabyMomDadBrotherLittle Girl
Producers One LoveCJ BaranRobopop
Related Dollhouse (EP)
ve Remix EPs
EPs Dollhouse (The Remixes)Carousel (The Remixes)Pity Party (Remixes)Soap (Remixes)
Remixed songs DollhouseCarouselPity PartySoap
Producers One LoveCJ BaranKyle ShearerDaniel WeberHippie SabotageKiely RichJai WolfTreasure Fingers H.O.U.S.EBobby GreenBleep BloopEric SharpSNBRNHoxton WhoresLarseXVIIK TheoryThe FeelsMyles TravitzKassianoMadison MarsKaylioxSteve JamesGladiatorStooki SoundLuxxurySailorsJerome Price
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