Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated Barbie movie is set to make a splash not only with its colorful visuals and comedic storyline but also with its carefully curated soundtrack. With the intention of enhancing the onscreen experience, Gerwig enlisted the expertise of renowned producer and songwriter Mark Ronson, along with a talented lineup of artists, to create an unforgettable musical accompaniment.
However, set to release on 21st July 2023, along with Cristopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, the movie needed something special to stand out. And here’s how the on-screen Barbie Margot Robbie made sure that the project achieved it.
From the outset, the Barbie team identified two essential songs that required immediate attention: a showstopping pop number for a highly choreographed dance scene and a powerful ’80s-style ballad for Ken, played by Ryan Gosling. But what about the 1997 pop hit Barbie Girl by Aqua?
Margot Robbie begged Greta Gerwig to incorporate this classic pop hit into the movie
Earlier, fans were outraged when the Danish group reported that the movie will not be featuring Aqua’s iconic hit Barbie Girl. In fact, the song was not even included in the script for the movie. But determined to make the movie as perfect as it can get, Margot Robbie begged the makers to add the iconic pop hit. She revealed, “I was like, ‘Greta, how are we going to incorporate this song? We can’t do a Barbie movie and not have a nod to Aqua’s Barbie Girl. It has to be in there.”
Furthermore, she revealed that Gerwig always wanted to incorporate the song, but was just finding the right way to include it. She continued, “And [Greta] was like, ‘Don’t worry, we’re going to find a cool way to incorporate it. And then, when she was like, ‘Guess who’s going to do the remix of Aqua’s “Barbie Girl”? Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice.’ I was like, ‘Together? Are you joking?!’ I just knew immediately that all my girlfriends were going to lose their minds.”
The soundtracks in the movie play a crucial role in Gerwig’s vision, as many scenes required specific musical cues to bring them to life. In fact, Robbie herself acknowledged that the lyrics of the songs became a device to enhance the audience’s viewing experience and might serve as the voice of the viewers themselves.
How is the Barbie soundtrack planning on taking over the world?
Barbie, portrayed by Margot Robbie, starts her journey in a perfect world filled with other Barbies who may appear different but act similarly. The initial bliss is shattered, and hilarity ensues when Barbie’s life takes an unexpected turn. Adding a campy touch to her pastel universe, Lizzo’s upbeat anthem Pink perfectly captures the essence of Barbie’s onscreen misadventures.
Known for dominating the soundtrack market with successful albums for films like Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and the Fast and the Furious franchise, Atlantic Records was a strong partner for Barbie. At the recommendation of music supervisor George Drakoulias, Ronson was approached to collaborate on the project. And impressed by the script’s comedic elements, the British music producer eagerly joined the Barbie squad during their pre-production phase in England.
In collaboration with Andrew Wyatt and singer Dua Lipa, Ronson composed the infectious disco-infused track Dance the Night, which serves as the film’s anthem. Gerwig’s vision of disco representing a desire for fun and a good time aligns perfectly with Barbie’s journey into the real world.
Apart from this, Charli XCX, a devoted Barbie fan since childhood, penned the exhilarating track Speed Drive after being captivated by a chase scene. Drawing on her love for singing about cars, Charli XCX aimed to create an empowering and energetic anthem. Poised to deliver an unforgettable audiovisual experience, Gerwig’s Barbie has combined nostalgic hits, original compositions, and carefully chosen tracks – all that is ready to take over the world.
Source: Rolling Stone
