On July 21, the highly anticipated film Barbie, featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, made its debut in theaters. Audiences and fans alike have praised it as an empowering and must-see movie, enhanced by its incredible soundtrack. However, one popular song, Barbie Girl by Aqua, won’t be heard in its full version during the film. There’s a specific reason for this, and it adds an interesting twist to the movie’s musical choices.
In Greta Gerwig’s movie, Margot Robbie breathes life into the iconic doll, Barbie. As arguably the most renowned and recognized toy globally, Barbie has experienced remarkable growth over the years. Just like her ever-evolving fashion choices, this Mattel doll never lost its appeal and remains a timeless classic. On the contrary, Barbie continues to evolve, resonating with children worldwide and leaving an enduring impact across generations.
Why Is The Popular Song Not Included In The Film
Greta Gerwig’s film carries a compelling and empowering message, especially resonating with women and young girls worldwide. The movie’s powerful impact and timely themes make it a significant cinematic experience. In light of this impactful message, the inclusion of Barbie Girl, a controversial song that contradicts the movie’s essence, would have been incongruous and would not have aligned with the film’s purpose.
According to Mirror, fans have passionately defended the song, explaining that its lyrics serve as a commentary on the molds and stereotypes that women are frequently pressured to fit into. The song’s interpretation by supporters emphasizes its deeper meaning and intention, asserting that it addresses societal expectations and challenges the traditional norms imposed on women.
Undoubtedly catchy, the song contains lines like “I’m a blonde bimbo girl” and Ken’s lyrics “kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky,” along with phrases like “come jump in, bimbo friend,” which are not in harmony with the tone Greta Gerwig aimed to achieve.
Mattel Sued The Barbie Girl Song In 1997
The Danish-Norwegian Europop band Aqua‘s hit Barbie Girl reached a peak position of number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1997. It achieved chart-topping success from the UK to Australia in the year of its release and emerged as Belgium’s second-best-selling single of the entire decade, second only to Elton John.
However, Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie, strongly disliked the song to the extent that they took legal action against MCA Records, Aqua’s American record label, which was subsequently integrated into Universal Music Group.
The music video showcases two members of Aqua, donning the roles of Barbie and Ken, delightfully cruising around in a pink convertible and joyfully frolicking inside Barbie’s Dreamhouse. Lene Nystrøm, portraying Barbie, delivers her lines with a innocent voice, while René Dif lends his deep voice to Ken’s character.
Understandably, Mattel expressed concerns over this interpretation of its beloved 11-inch doll. However, as Lobel pointed out, the company faced limitations in pursuing a copyright infringement lawsuit because the music video did not incorporate any genuine Barbie dolls or images.
Source: Hidden Remote
