The Barbie glitter bomb has exploded, causing pink, sparkly fallout worldwide. Greta Gerwig and Mark Ronson have gathered a highly talented array of artists for the blockbuster’s soundtrack, Barbie: The Album, and came up with a wild, joyful, and sometimes heartwarming collection.
For the soundtrack to work, the contributors had to understand the goal. Mission accomplished! The album is better than it should be, delivering a Barbie Penthouse dancefloor-packed set of songs. It succeeds both as a movie component and as standalone hit singles and is already drawing comparisons to the shake-your-ass classic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack from the late 70s.
On this record, slew of disco, hip-hop, K-pop, and half a dozen other genres merge into an impressively cohesive whole. In an increasingly genre-segregated world, seeing so much come together under the ‘pop music’ banner is refreshing. These are precisely the sounds Barbie and her friends would party to if they were real.
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With “Pink,” Lizzo kicks off the soundtrack’s dance party with a song that might be the most mainstream piece on the album. With its infectious beat and empowering lyrics, it’s the perfect song to get things started (in here!), and she delivers it with her signature smile and exuberance.
Dua Lipa‘s “Dance the Night” blends her megahit “Levitating” with strings reminiscent of 70s-era Bee Gees to create a modern disco classic. The track’s ability to seamlessly blend old and new makes it a timeless hit that generations of music fans will love. Ronson’s razor-sharp production and Lipa’s casual, confident delivery positioned the film’s mood in the early trailers and is one more banger for Lipa’s growing repertoire.
Some of you may remember that Mattel, the maker of Barbie, responded to Aqua‘s hit song “Barbie Girl” with a lawsuit against the band for copyright infringement back in 1997. The case was eventually dismissed, but one can’t help but think Barbie brand strategists must have had nightmares after Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice were tapped for the next track, a reimagining of Aqua’s iconic song. The song is slightly risque, but the two hip-hop queens have a blast with it, and so do we.
Ryan Gosling savors every second of “I’m Just Ken” with his sincere, hysterical over-the-top performance. He channels the archetypal male fantasy of success and romance with aplomb.
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“What Was I Made For?” is a touching piano ballad by Billie Eilish. She and her brother Finneas capture Barbie’s identity angst by keeping it minimal and real. Eilish fans will be pleased.
The album is chocked-full of radio-friendly singles like Charli XCX‘s “Speed Drive,” Dominic Fike‘s “Hey Blondie,” and “Angel” by PinkPantheress.
The Indigo Girls‘ fan-favorite “Closer to Fine,” deftly covered by Brandi Carlile and her wife, Catherine, closes the album. It respects the original release and retains its core sentiment. Carlile and her wife’s vocal harmonies convey a powerful message of hope and optimism. The track is a fitting end to the album, leaving the listener with hope and joy.
It would be remiss not to mention the conservative backlash against the Barbie movie’s messages of inclusion and tolerance. However, as Ariana Grande famously sang, ‘we’re way too fly to partake in all this hate, we out here vibin’. The soundtrack is a vibin’ testament to the dedication and work of all the artists involved, as well as the movie’s impact.
