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When you think of Barbie, what comes to mind? For me, it’s the cassette single that came with the 1996 Workin’ Out Barbie. I remember wearing it out in the first grade. Workin’ Out Barbie donned neon-pink spandex and “suction cup shoes”, which supposedly made it easier to strike Jazzercise poses. Interestingly, the “Workin’ Out” song is still available on SoundCloud and surprisingly sounds pretty good even today.
But enough about my childhood memories. Let’s dive into the discussion of the soundtrack for the new “Barbie” movie, which will be released on Friday. To provide expert insight, I spoke with The Post’s esteemed pop music critic, Chris Richards. During our conversation, we delved into the hits and misses of the soundtrack, as well as the fascinating legal battle between Mattel and Aqua over their hit song “Barbie Girl”. (Spoiler alert: Aqua won the lawsuit).
Mark Ronson, the producer of the soundtrack, drew inspiration from disco for this project. He compared the disco era to Barbie waking up and realizing that people don’t like her anymore. What are your thoughts on the disco elements in the soundtrack, particularly the Dua Lipa track “Dance the Night”?
That parallel is intriguing, I hadn’t considered it before. Dua Lipa is an ideal artist for this project because her disco style resembles that of Kylie Minogue or Madonna. She seems to have studied the imitators of disco more closely than disco itself. This connection resonates well within the Barbie universe, as Barbie is a character that spans across various decades of American culture. The blurred line between what’s real and fake, a central theme in Barbie’s world, also aligns neatly with the fakeness and realness in pop music, which owes a great deal to disco’s propulsive beat. Overall, it’s a well-thought-out combination.
Speaking of music styles, the Haim sisters have mentioned being inspired by an old Barbie VHS tape with “cheesy songs” while working on their unreleased track for the soundtrack. Barbie has always had a certain inherent cheesiness. How do you think the artists and Ronson have approached this element in the soundtrack?
Pop music often aims to be direct and sincere, which some might perceive as cheesy. Playing with Barbie dolls is an imaginative activity that offers an intimate experience within a fantasy world. This aligns well with the way we engage with popular music. It offers us a fabulous otherworldly experience that feels just a bit out of reach, yet incredibly close. The artists and Ronson are tapping into this rich vein by embracing the inherent cheesiness of Barbie.
Now, let’s discuss “Barbie World,” a single from Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice that samples Aqua’s “Barbie Girl.” It’s interesting how Mattel went from claiming the lyrics were damaging to Barbie’s reputation to fully embracing this song in 2023. What are your thoughts on this evolution?
In the age of social media, brands are finally realizing the importance of aligning themselves with the people. It has been 25 years since Aqua released “Barbie Girl”. The song has become a classic, or at least a camp classic, and it’s easy to argue that it has done more to strengthen the Barbie brand than harm it. I’m personally delighted that Nicki Minaj is part of the new song, as she has incorporated Barbie imagery in her music for years. However, I feel a bit sad for Ice Spice, as her magnificent and nuanced voice gets slightly overshadowed by the maximalism of the Aqua sample. It’s a learning experience for a new artist, but in this moment, Barbie needs her more than she needs Barbie.
Are there any other surprises on the soundtrack that have caught your attention?
From what I’ve heard, the most captivating track is Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” It’s a ballad that can be interpreted as a commentary on the commodification of pop stars or even as an existential plea to a higher power. I love when pop songs manage to feel both small and immense at the same time, and this track achieves that beautifully. Mark Ronson has even called it one of his favorite vocals in the past decade of pop music.
Lastly, I must mention the Indigo Girls’ “Closer to Fine”, which isn’t officially on the soundtrack but appears in the film as Barbie embarks on a journey out of Barbieland. Do you think this song could make a chart comeback with the movie’s release?
It’s definitely a possibility! We’ve seen older songs resurface as contemporary hits recently, such as Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” thanks to its use in “Stranger Things”. The release of the movie could reignite interest in “Closer to Fine” and potentially lead to a chart resurgence.
Please note that this conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
In other news, Margot Robbie has spoken about the impact of the Spice Girls on her personal version of second-wave feminism, while Ryan Gosling as Ken in the movie plays an Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell signature Gibson Fire Devil Songwriter acoustic guitar, according to Guitar World. Interestingly, Gosling offered the guitar to BTS’s Jimin after accidentally dressing in a similar outfit.
With all these fascinating insights, it seems “Barbie” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” might have more in common than meets the eye. However, let’s clarify that “Barbie” is not “Chinese Communist propaganda,” despite Ted Cruz’s claims.
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