Rene came up with the original lyric Come on Barbie, Let's go party! and we wanted to put voices to the dolls and imagine what they would say to each other.
The lyrics of the song are about Barbie and Ken, the dolls made by Mattel. Both the song and its music video feature Lene Nystrøm as Barbie and René Dif as Ken. As such, the lyrics drew the ire of Barbie's corporate owners, and a lawsuit was filed by Mattel.
A footnote on the back of the Aquarium CD case precisely stated that "The song 'Barbie Girl' is a social comment and was not created or approved by the makers of the doll." [12] "Barbie Girl" is written in the key of C-sharp minor, [13] using major chords and an upbeat tempo to create an effect Rasted calls "the plus and minus". [14] The song has a tempo of 130 beats per minute. [15]
"Barbie Girl" was released the same year as the pitch correction software Auto-Tune, although it was not yet available when the song was recorded and mastered. Rasted said that Nystrøm naturally portrayed the high-pitched Barbie voice in the studio. [16] [17]
"Barbie Girl" received critical acclaim. Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "with her squeaky, high-pitched delivery, Lene Grawford Nystrøm fronts this giddy pop/dance ditty as if she were Barbie, gleefully verbalizing many of the twisted things people secretly do with the doll." He noted that "at the same time, she effectively rants about the inherent misogyny of Barbie with a subversive hand", adding that René Dif is an "equally playful and biting presence, as he embodies male counterpart Ken with an amusing leer." [18] Scottish Daily Record stated, "Love them or hate them, you have to admit Aqua's silly doll song is pure pop and the video is great, too". [19] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly described it as a "dance-floor novelty that alludes to the secret, less-than-wholesome life of every little girl's fave doll." [20] Another EW editor, Jeremy Helligar, commented, "There must be something in that Northern European water. Like recent tunes by their Swedish-pop counterparts Ace of Base and the Cardigans, these Danish newcomers' frothy debut is fun, fun, fun—but oh so disposable." [21]
Kevin Courtney from Irish Times named it Single of the Week, calling it "a supreme slice of cheese which out-hums even the mighty Whigfield" and saying that Aqua had "hit the perfect wally beat, and this awful tune is set to dominate the dance-floor and do kinky things to it." [22] British magazine Music Week gave the song five out of five and also named it Single of the Week, concluding, "Bleached and blonde this bouncy Europop tune may be, but dumb it isn't. Its mix of perky vocals, barbed lyrics and infectious energy has already brought it success in Scandinavia and the US. The video is irresistible." [5] A reviewer from People Magazine called it "the year's best novelty record, a cartoonish anthem you'll need surgery to remove from your head." [23] James Hyman from the RM Dance Update gave the song top score, declaring it as "a Balearic-tinged Euro pop smash hit". He added, "My niece refuses to go to bed unless the video is played several times over; I think that speaks for itself with regard to ongoing single success." [6]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called "Barbie Girl" "one of those inexplicable pop culture phenomena" and "insanely catchy", describing it as a "bouncy, slightly warped Euro-dance song that simultaneously sends up femininity and Barbie dolls." [7] Insider stated that the song is "sugary sweet" and "totally catchy", viewing it as one of the best songs of the 90s. [24] In a retrospective review, Pop Rescue wrote that "this song is fun, undoubtedly catchy, and bouncy, with the personas of Barbie and Ken fitting perfectly with the vocal contrast." [25] The song ranked number 88 in a VH1 countdown, "VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders". [26] In 2017, Billboard ranked it number nine in their list of "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997", writing, "'Barbie Girl' was like the cartoon rendering of Jill Sobule's more obviously snarky 'Supermodel', so over-the-top in its kitschiness that you could be forgiven for not noticing its impressive self-awareness." [27] Same year, BuzzFeed ranked it number 76 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". [28] In October 2023, Billboard ranked "Barbie Girl" number 220 in their "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time". [4] They praised its "magic moment"; "Put on your best Ken voice — René Dif, not Ryan Gosling — for every "Come on Barbie, let's go party!" shout-along." In 2024, MTV 90s ranked it number two in their list of "Top 50 Rhythms of Eurodance". [29] [30]
"Barbie Girl" has sold more than eight million copies worldwide. [31] It went on becoming a huge hit on several continents, remaining the most successful song by the band. It reached number one in more than 10 countries. In Europe, the single peaked at the top position in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the band's native Denmark, the song debuted and peaked at number two. [32] In the United Kingdom, it debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number two and reached number one the next week, on 26 October 1997. [33] It stayed at that position for four weeks and has sold and streamed 2.4 million units in the United Kingdom as of September 2023. [34] Outside Europe, "Barbie Girl" peaked at number-one in Australia and New Zealand, number four in Canada and number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. On the latter, it debuted at that position. It sold 82,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number five on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart. [35]
The accompanying music video for "Barbie Girl" was directed by Danish directors Peder Pedersen and Peter Stenbæk, [36] and depicts the band members in different scenes that a Barbie doll would be in. It has Nystrøm dressed as various Barbie dolls skulking around her swimming pool at home after Dif, dressed as Barbie's love interest Ken, accidentally pulls her arm off. [11] The video was also the number one most requested video in the US, having shot from 30 to number one on The Box . [11] The video was uploaded to their official YouTube channel in August 2010 and reached 1 billion views in February 2022. [37] [38]
In September 1997, six months after the release of the song by Aqua, Mattel, the toy manufacturer of the Barbie doll line, sued MCA Records, Aqua's North American record label. The company claimed that "Barbie Girl" violated their trademark and turned the doll into a sex-object, and referred to her as a "blonde bimbo". [39] Their case also alleged that the song infringed its copyrights and trademarks on the Barbie doll and that the lyrics had ruined the longtime popularity and reputation of their trademark, impinging on their marketing plan. Aqua and MCA Records claimed that Mattel injected their own meanings into the song's lyrics, contesting Mattel's claims and countersuing for defamation, after Mattel had likened MCA to a "bank robber". [40] The lawsuit filed by Mattel was ultimately dismissed by the lower courts, with this dismissal upheld and a certiorari petition denied by the Supreme Court of the United States. [41]
In 2002, a Court of Appeals ruled that the song was protected as a parody [42] under the trademark doctrine of nominative use and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; the judge Alex Kozinski also threw out the defamation lawsuit that Aqua's record company filed against Mattel, concluding his ruling thus: "The parties are advised to chill." [43] The case was dismissed.
In 2009, as part of a marketing strategy to revive sales, Mattel released a series of advertisements and a promotional music video featuring the song, with modified lyrics. [44] [45] In 2023, with the global release of the Mattel-produced film Barbie (starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken), a new song entitled "Barbie World" (performed by rappers Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice) was included on the film's soundtrack. [46]
As the interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 2001, Aqua performed a medley of their singles along with percussion ensemble Safri Duo. [47] There were several complaints due to the profanity used during the performance, both at the beginning and end of "Barbie Girl". [48]
"Barbie Girl" | ||||
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Single by Aqua | ||||
from the album Aquarium | ||||
Released | 8 April 1997 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:16 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Aqua singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Barbie Girl" on YouTube | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
"Barbie Girl" is a song by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua. It was released in April 1997 by Universal and MCA as the third single from the group's debut studio album, Aquarium (1997). The song was written by band members Søren Rasted,Claus Norreen,RenéDif,and Lene Nystrøm,and was produced by the former two alongside Johnny Jam and Delgado. It was written after Rasted saw an exhibit on kitsch culture in Denmark that featured Barbie dolls. [9] [10] The accompanying music video was directed by Danish directors Peder Pedersen and Peter Stenbæk.
The song topped the charts worldwide,particularly in European countries such as the United Kingdom,where it was a number-one hit for four weeks and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. It also reached number two in the group's homeland and peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It is Aqua's most popular work and was also performed as the interval act in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. Mattel accused Aqua's label of diluting the image of Barbie,leading to the controversial lawsuit Mattel,Inc. v. MCA Records,Inc. . Twenty-five years later,Mattel licensed the song in the 2023 film Barbie and additionally sampled it for a new song,"Barbie World". That same year,Billboard magazine ranked it among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time". [4]
|
|
Credits are adapted from liner notes of the "Barbie Girl" CD single and Aquarium. [49] [58]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [116] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [117] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [118] | 4× Platinum | 200,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [119] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [120] | Diamond | 750,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [121] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Italy | — | 100,000 [122] |
Italy (FIMI) [123] sales since 2009 | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [124] | Platinum | 75,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [125] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [126] | 2× Platinum | |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [127] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF) [128] | 3× Platinum | 90,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [129] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [34] | 4× Platinum | 2,400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [130] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 8,000,000 [31] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|
Denmark | 8 April 1997 | CD | Universal | [131] |
Europe | 14 May 1997 | [132] | ||
United States | 12 August 1997 | MCA | [133] | |
19 August 1997 |
| [131] [134] | ||
Japan | 21 August 1997 | CD | Universal | [135] |
United Kingdom | 13 October 1997 |
| [134] [136] |
The song has been covered by several artists over the years. Alternative metal band Faith No More covered the song live in 1997 during their Album of the Year tour. [137] Identical twin sisters Amanda and Samantha Marchant, better known as Samanda, released their cover of the song on 8 October 2007, and it entered the UK Singles Chart at number 26. [138] Girls' Generation's Jessica Jung covered this song as her solo performance during the first Asian concert tour Girls' Generation 1st Asia Tour: Into the New World . The Swedish artist Loke Nyberg did a new version of this song for the Swedish radio show Morgonpasset. He interprets the song as criticism of today's beauty ideals. [139] In 2013, Ludacris sampled the song in his single "Party Girls" featuring Wiz Khalifa, Jeremih and Cashmere Cat. [140] In 2016, Caramella Girls released a version called "Candy Girl" on iTunes, [141] as well as a YouTube music video. [142] The most recent rendition of the song was recorded by Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj, accompanied by Aqua, titled "Barbie World". The track was released as the fourth single on the official Barbie soundtrack Barbie the Album in June 2023, ahead of the film's release on 21 July 2023. [143]
There are also many parodies of the song, including a parody called "Ugly Girl", with an unverified author (often wrongly credited to "Weird Al" Yankovic, Adam Henderson, or Jack Off Jill) [ citation needed ]. German duo Lynne & Tessa made a lip-synched Internet video of the song in 2006, and on British Indian sketch comedy show Goodness Gracious Me , where a version titled "Punjabi Girl" was featured in the radio series and later on television, performed by Asifa Lahore. [144] In 2012, the song was parodied in an Australian lamb advertising campaign, relying on the Australian use of the term "barbie" to refer to the outdoor barbecue popularly held in Australia. The advertisement starred Melissa Tkautz and Sam Kekovich. [145] In 2014, the song was used in the South Park episode "Cock Magic". Ava Max recorded a version with new lyrics, titled "Not Your Barbie Girl", in 2018. [146]
"Barbie Girl" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Kelly Key | ||||
from the album Kelly Key | ||||
Released | 15 August 2005 [147] | |||
Recorded | 2004 | |||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label | Warner | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | DJ Cuca | |||
Kelly Key singles chronology | ||||
|
In 2005, Brazilian recording artist Kelly Key recorded a version in Portuguese for her third studio album Kelly Key , [148] which was released as the album's second single on August 15, 2005. [147] Key said she loved the song and wanted to cover it as a tribute to the original, stating: "I've loved this song ever since I heard it. I made a point of recording it, without worrying about whether it was for my audience or not." [149]
Barbie Girl received generally negative reviews from music critics. Vinícius Versiani Durães of IMHO felt it was humorous and would later become a hit. [150] [ better source needed ] Marcos Paulo Bin of Universo Musical commented that the song was significantly different from her previous releases, which were known for explicit lyrics, but ultimately give it a positive review. [149] Rodrigo Ortega of Pilula Pop said Barbie Girl was sensational and funny, calling it the best song on the album. He also stated that Key should have released Escuta Aqui Rapaz as her first single because "the song was boring", but "Barbie Girl" saved the album. [151] Carlos Eduardo Lima of Scream & Yell said the song was "childish, silly and boring" and killed Kelly Key's status as a sex symbol. [152]
The music video for "Barbie Girl" was directed by Ricardo Vereza, Bidu Madio, Rentz and Mauricio Eça. It was filmed on August 17 and August 18, later premiering on August 30. [153] The video features Key playing a determined and feminist woman. [154]
A YouTube video of Czech model Dominika Myslivcová lip syncing to the song became a viral video worldwide. Due to its success, it has often been wrongly attributed to Myslivcová. [155]
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Brazil | 15 August 2005 | Mainstream radio [147] | Warner Music |
Environmental movements, like Fridays for Future , when trying to bring attention to the heavy amounts of plastic thrown by humans into the seas, have referred the song lyrics in their slogans with the words "Life in plastic is not fantastic". [156]
In 2022, British singer Tom Aspaul named his album Life in Plastic after a line from the song. [157]
"Iris" is a song by the American alternative rock band Goo Goo Dolls. Written for the soundtrack of the 1998 film City of Angels, it was included on the sixth Goo Goo Dolls album, Dizzy Up the Girl, and released as a single on April 1, 1998. No character named Iris appears in the film, and the song title is not heard in the lyrics.
Søren Nystrøm Rasted is a Danish musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He plays keyboards, guitar and sings backing vocals. He is a member of the Danish-Norwegian Eurodance group Aqua in 2024 Rasted departing the band.
René Dif is a Danish musician, singer-songwriter, DJ and actor, best known as the male lead vocalist of the Danish-Norwegian Eurodance group Aqua.
"Doctor Jones" is a song by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, released as the fourth single from their debut album, Aquarium (1997). It was the follow-up to their most successful song, "Barbie Girl", and first released as a single in most of Europe in October 1997 by Universal Records. In December 1997, "Doctor Jones" was released in Australia and peaked at No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks. In January 1998, the song was released in the United Kingdom and became the group's second No. 1 single, topping the chart for three weeks. Throughout the rest of Europe, the song reached the top 10 in 11 countries, topping the charts of Croatia and Ireland. Its music video, directed by Peder Pedersen, continued the same cinematic style as in "Barbie Girl", this time using Indiana Jones characters from the film series of the same name.
"Lollipop (Candyman)" is a song by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua. It was released as the fifth overall single from their debut album, Aquarium, in Australasia, North America, and mainland Europe. However, it was not released in the United Kingdom. "Lollipop" features a prominent role for René Dif, with vocals also from main vocalist Lene. The US CD and cassette single include "Good Morning Sunshine" as the B-side.
"Turn Back Time" is a song by Danish dance-pop group Aqua, released as their seventh single overall, and the sixth from their debut album, Aquarium (1997). The song was also included on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Sliding Doors, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and was released across the world throughout 1998, starting with the United States in January. The track possesses less of a bubble pop sound than Aqua's other releases; it is slow-paced and shows the full range of Lene Nystrøm's vocals but maintains the Aqua sound. In Japan, "Turn Back Time" was released along with "My Oh My". "Turn Back Time" was successful on the charts on several countries, becoming Aqua's third consecutive number one on the UK Singles Chart.
"Cartoon Heroes" is a song by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua from their second studio album, Aquarius. The song was sent to radio stations worldwide on 1 January 2000 and was released as a retail single on 31 January 2000. It was their first release anywhere for over 14 months due to the time spent touring the world, resting, and recording Aquarius.
Aqua was a Danish-Norwegian Europop band, best known for their 1997 single "Barbie Girl". The group formed in 1995 in Copenhagen and achieved international success around the globe in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The band released three albums: Aquarium in 1997, Aquarius in 2000 and Megalomania in 2011. The group sold an estimated 33 million albums and singles, making them the most profitable Danish band ever.
"Slide" is a song by American alternative rock group Goo Goo Dolls. It was released as the first single from their sixth studio album, Dizzy Up the Girl, in September 1998. According to lead guitarist John Rzeznik, the song is about a Catholic girl who becomes pregnant and discusses with her boyfriend how they should respond to it. Musically, the track is a jangle pop and alternative rock song.
"My Oh My" is a song recorded by Danish dance-pop group Aqua. It was released as the second single from their debut album, Aquarium (1997), and was initially released in February 1997 before being reissued following the success of "Barbie Girl", "Doctor Jones" and "Turn Back Time" in August 1998. Like many early Aqua tracks, the song featured vocals from both Lene Nystrøm Rasted and Rene Dif. It was the fourth release from the album in the UK, where it peaked at number six, the group's lowest performing single there until "Good Morning Sunshine".
Lene Grawford Nystrøm is a Norwegian musician, singer-songwriter and actress who is the female lead vocalist of the Danish-Norwegian Eurodance group Aqua.
"Back to the 80s" is a song by Norwegian-Danish band Aqua. The song was written by members Søren Rasted, Claus Norreen, and produced by Rasted, for their second greatest hits album (2009). "Back to the 80s" was Aqua's first single in eight years, following the release of the 2001 single "We Belong to the Sea". "Back to the 80s" was released on 25 May 2009 as the lead single from Greatest Hits and topped the Danish Singles Chart for six weeks.
"My Mamma Said" is a song by Danish-Norwegian pop band Aqua. The song was written by members Søren Rasted and Lene Nystrøm, and produced by Rasted, for their second greatest hits album (2009). It was released as the second single from the album, following "Back to the 80's".
The Aqua Diary is a 1998 music documentary film starring the members of the Danish-Norwegian dance music group Aqua.
Aqua: The Videos is a compilation of Aqua's music videos, released in 1998. It includes four videos, representing the band's 1997 singles, though not in chronological order of release.
Mattel v. MCA Records, 296 F.3d 894, was a series of lawsuits between Mattel and MCA Records that resulted from the 1997 hit single "Barbie Girl" by Danish-Norwegian group Aqua. The case was ultimately dismissed.
Megalomania is the third studio album by Danish band Aqua. It was released on 3 October 2011 by Universal Music Group and WaterWorks, over 11 years after the release of their second studio album, Aquarius (2000). The album peaked at number two in Denmark and was certified gold by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
"Barbie World" is a song by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj and American rapper Ice Spice from Barbie the Album, the soundtrack of the film Barbie (2023). It was released by Atlantic Records, 10K Projects, and Capitol Records as the soundtrack's third single on June 23, 2023. Produced by RiotUSA, the song heavily samples the 1997 single "Barbie Girl" by Danish Europop band Aqua, who are credited as performers and co-writers in the song.
"Playmate to Jesus" is a song by Danish-Norwegian pop band Aqua from their third studio album, Megalomania. The song, which was released in 2011, is about universal love and "what goes around comes around". Despite the song's positive critical reaction, it only charted in Denmark, becoming the group's second lowest-charting single. The music video, directed by Michael Sauer Christensen and filmed in Lyngby, Denmark, premiered on 22 September 2011.
"Like a Robot" is a song from Danish-Norwegian pop band Aqua's third studio album, Megalomania. Initially released as a promotional single on 5 November 2011 producer Lucas Secon reported that "Like a Robot" would be released as the album's international lead single. and was released in Australia and New Zealand in January 2012. It was their first song to come with an "explicit language" warning, with band member René Dif saying: "There’s a million rappers out there who do that too."
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: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)'Barbie Girl' [...] was released as a single in April in Denmark. The stateside commercial single arrives at retail Aug. 19.