Aqua’s Barbie Girl has not aged well: 90s pop hit has been reassessed as ‘problematic’ due to its lyrics
It topped the charts when it was first released in 1997 and has become one of the best-selling singles of all time.
But Aqua’s hit song Barbie Girl is not without its detractors as many feel the song’s ‘problematic’ lyrics send a bad message to young girls.
While some criticised the track, others remained fully fledged supporters.
The track, sung by bandmembers Lene Nystrøm and René Dif, sees them taking on the personas of Mattel dolls Barbie and Ken.
Lene as Barbie sings: ‘I’m a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world. Life in plastic, it’s fantastic. You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere. Imagination, life is your creation’, which led to the concerns over sauciness.
Track: Aqua’s hit song Barbie Girl is not without its detractors as many feel the song’s ‘problematic’ lyrics send a bad message to young girls
Pop hit: The track, sung by bandmembers Lene Nystrøm and René Dif, sees them taking on the personas of Mattel dolls Barbie and Ken
Lyrics: Barbie takes pride in being a ‘bimbo’ and makes several sexual innuendos in the song, which is popular with kids
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhrYis509A%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US
While Barbie is likely singing to Ken here, the song became hugely popular with kids who would raise eyebrows if they were heard singing ‘undress me everywhere’.
Later in the song, Barbie takes pride in being a ‘bimbo’ before making several sexual inneundos, singing: ‘I’m a blonde bimbo girl in a fantasy world.
‘Dress me up, make it tight, I’m your dolly. Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky.’
Barbie then tells Ken he can do whatever he wants to her, singing: ‘Make me walk, make me talk, do whatever you please. I can act like a star, I can beg on my knees.’
Several listeners have taken issue with the song’s lyrics, with one writing on Twitter: ‘I’m a Barbie Girl is such a problematic song. You expect women tobe so thin and plastic perfect?’
Another wrote: ‘There is WAY worse out there but sure, Barbie Girl is problematic’.
A third added: ‘I really hate when people [sing] the song Barbie Girl when teaching children as if it’s not wildly problematic’.
However, modern reappraisals of the song aren’t doing anything to harm the success of the new Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
Criticism: Several listeners have taken issue with the song’s lyrics over the years
Aside from the criticism, some Twitter users maintained their love of the song.
Fans penned: ‘One excited fan penned: ‘There is a reason I was spiritually invigorated by Aqua’s Barbie Girl, I do not not make the rules…
‘I’ve been unironically listening to Aqua’s Barbie Girl like are we really gonna pretend it’s not an absolute classic? Be serious…
‘Barbie Girl has forever been one of my favorite songs ever and a few other Aqua songs but this Nicki and Ice Spice Barbie World song is definitely going on my favorite song list.’
Just hours after the Barbie world premiere screening in Los Angeles, the first reactions are trickling in from critics on social media.
Supporters: Aside from the criticism, some Twitter users maintained their love of the song
While the full reviews aren’t in quite yet, the reactions that have surfaced on Twitter are largely quite positive.
It’s unclear when the full reviews will surface, as fans get ready for the theatrical release on July 21, going up against Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
Katcy Stephan, Variety’s social media editor, was among the first to post a reaction to the film on social media, stating it was nothing short of ‘perfection.
‘#Barbie is perfection. Greta Gerwig delivers a nuanced commentary on what it means to be a woman in a whimsical, wonderful and laugh-out-loud funny romp,’ Stephan begins.
Reactions: However, modern reppraisals of the song aren’t doing anything to harm the success of the new Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling
‘The entire cast shines, especially Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in roles they were clearly born to play,’ she adds.
ScreenRant’s Joseph Deckelmeier tweeted, ‘#Barbie caught me off guard & I mean that in the best way possible.’
‘It’s funny, bombastic, & very smart. Greta Gerwig aims for the fences & hits a home-run. Margot Robbie’s performance is great & @RyanGosling & @SimuLiu are pure entertainment! The whole cast is brilliant!; he added.
Collider’s Perri Nemiroff did enjoy the film as well, though she thought it was lacking in some important areas.
‘I have seen #Barbie! The craftsmanship is incredible. In particular the costume & production design includes next-level work that heavily contributes to creating the feeling that these truly are Barbies, their dream houses, and their worlds come to life,’ she began.
‘As for the story, that’s where I’m a bit more mixed. I think the film serves Margot Robbie’s Barbie and her journey especially well, but there are other characters experiencing important arcs that needed more screen time to really dig into and explore to the fullest,’ she added.
Nemiroff continued in another tweet, ‘Overall, #Barbie isn’t the home run I was hoping for, or that I think it needs to be given the topics it’s tackling, but it’s still a well made, bold film with a VERY strong voice and vision, one that often made me think, HOW does this movie exist? And that right there is almost always a quality in a film that will win me over.’
ComicBook.com’s Jamie Jirak tweeted, ‘I can’t officially quit Twitter before telling you all that #Barbie is currently my favorite film of the year.’
Source: Read Full Article