In light of the captivating release of the Barbie movie, the full soundtrack, Barbie The Album, is now available to stream. The star-studded record delves into the whirlwind of emotions that the film explores, all done with the charismatic personality and expressive production that the Barbie world is known for. All seventeen tracks are taken on with creative focus, but allow a whole lot of fun to bring it to life. The album was produced by guru Mark Ronson and Barbie’s writer and director Greta Gerwig, as well as Kevin Weaver and Brandon Davis. Barbie The Album is a groundbreaking musical companion to a film full of care, thought, and, of course, glamor.
Since its first tracks began to release in May, Barbie The Album has been breaking the internet. Not only is the album curated by an accurate lineup of forefront musicians of our time, but the songs take on an edge, a sense of humor or drive that ascends music making and breeches fantastical storytelling. Lizzo’s “Pink” and Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” are instantly special songs because they play out as the narration of their scenes. There is interplay between the song at hand and the scene is a cinematic treat in the film, and when listening to the album on its own this element allows the track to create a vivid picture and connection within the listener. Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice caused the excitement for the movie to soar in early summer when they released “Barbie World (feat. Aqua).” The track is exhilarating and fresh, an unsurprising combo from such a star team of rappers. Plus, it centers around Barbie’s trademark theme song, sang on the track by the original 1997 artist herself.
“I’m a ten, so I pull in a Ken
Like Jazzie, Stacie, Nicki (Grrah)
All of the Barbies is pretty (Damn)
All of the Barbies is bad
It girls (It girls) and we ain’t playin’ tag (Grrah)…
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”
Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua, “Barbie World”
Charli XCX “Speed Drive” keeps the tone set as we dig deeper into the album. The pounding drums and strobe-like lyrics are electric, the perfect pinch of attitude, turning Barbie’s pale pink into her hot pink. KAROL G meets Charli in “WATATI (feat. Aldo Ranks),” which taps into a grooving dance beat and smooth Spanish lyrics. Sam Smith aptly takes on a satirical moment in the film next, capturing the audience with fun, freeing lyrics and a shiny, disco pulse in “Man I Am.” In the middle, Sam walks the runway with their intonation, letting each word resonate in a deep register before launching back into the catchy, dazzling chorus.
“And all the papers say that there’s no Ken without Barbie
But, baby, there’s no woman that could possibly stop me
That’s just the man I am
Super sleazy, sexy, and freaky Ken tonight”
Sam Smith, “Man I Am”
“Journey To The Real World,” by Tame Impala, is a classically psychedelic, transformative track. He plays with electronic music, like shooting stars through the track. The song swirls and trickles between the drum kit, keys, flute and various percussion extravagance. Ryan Gosling steals our hearts in every film he’s in, but he truly hit home with his role as Ken. His earnest delivery of “I’m Just Ken” has gone viral, and rightfully so. It inquires a multitude of genres, but keeps a sense of humor at its forefront. “I’m Just Ken” is a major performance in production, allowing the moment in the film and on the album to stand out.
“I wanna know what it’s like to love, to be the real thing
Is it a crime? Am I not hot when I’m in my feelings?”
Ryan Gosling, “I’m Just Ken”
Next, “Hey Blondie,” Dominic Fike, is a necessary softness at this point on the album, something you can get down to or close your eyes and feel out. His songwriting mastery is heartfelt, full of perspective and observation. HAIM, another band known for their lyrical and vocal candor, catches attention in “Home.” The entire album is perceptive, deeply displayed by HAIM’s yearnful take me home, just take me home atop the ascending and descending keys. Another heart of Barbie The Album as well as Barbie the film is Billie Eilish’s raw, wrenching ballad “What Was I Made For?” She is refreshingly upfront, given by the delicate hands of Eilish’s breathy, emotive voice. The piano guides her, and the truth she is able to communicate easily singles the song out as a universally felt, though at times silenced, reality.
“Takin’ a drive, I was an ideal
Looked so alive, turns out I’m not real
Just something you paid for
What was I made for?”
Billie Eilish, “What Was I Made For?”
The Kid LAROI strategically picks the guitar to begin “Forever & Again,” launching into more complex vocals quickly. The chorus is loud and expressive, backed by a powerful bassline. “Silver Platter,” by Khalid, is a spunky indie track, tinged with the soul that Khalid never fails to bring to life in his music. Ronson and Gerwig did an exceptional job recruiting artists that consistently bring the deepest parts of themselves to their music, something perceptible from the inflection of their voices and their detailed lyrical decisions. PinkPanthress is, of course, no exception to this with her alluring track “Angel.” The strings are a bright element on “Angel,” as ethereal as PinkPanthress’ voice. They keep the melody new and dynamic, a song Barbie The Album would be incomplete without.
“Everyone tells me life is hard but it’s a piece of cake”
PinkPanthress, “Angel”
GAYLE starts of at full speed in “butterflies,” bringing the rock side of the album to the forefront. Like Charli’s feature, “butterflies” does not allow the audience to forget sass as a key vibe in the Barbie world. The imaginative attitude begins with little kids playing with Barbies, but becomes an empowering phenomenon as they grow up and face the world. Ava Max reaches for empowerment head on, calling upon a larger audience to join her in “Choose Your Fighter.” The record’s penultimate song does not let itself get lost amidst the rest, sweeping her vocals through the intro before jumping into a calculated tempo. Finally, FIFTY FIFTY and Kaliii close with glitz and glamor in “Barbie Dreams.” It is bubblegum pop at its finest, quintessential Barbie joy. The movie and album are a celebration of girlhood, being shameless in your femininity, in fact, turning that into pride. FIFTY FIFTY and Kaliii put the cherry on top of that notion in a genius way, sure to be kept on replay.
“Glitter nirvana, mascara n my eyes
Can’t see the drama under my sequin sky
Pink primadonna, I’m feeling hot tonight
That pretty state of mind because I’m with my
Gorgeou, gorgeous, gorgeous girls
Flip phones dipped in diamonds and pearls
Rhinestone rover, hot pink toaster
Come take a step into my world.”
FIFTY FIFTY and Kaliii, “Barbie Dreams”
Check out the Barbie movie in theaters and be sure to listen to the vibrant soundtrack below!
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