Atlantic Records
Release Date: July 21st 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Various Artists– Barbie The Album (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Pink [Lizzo]
- Dance The Night [Dua Lipa]
- Barbie World [Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice] (with Aqua)
- Speed Drive [Charli XCX]
- WATITI [KAROL G featuring Aldo Ranks]
- Man I Am [Sam Smith]
- Journey To The Real World [Tame Impala]
- I’m Just Ken [Ryan Gosling]
- Hey Blondie [Dominic Fike]
- Home [HAIM]
- What Was I Made For? [Billie Eilish]
- Forever & Again [The Kid LAROI]
- Silver Platter [Khalid]
- Angel [PinkPantheress]
- Butterflies [GAYLE]
- Choose Your Fighter [Ava Max]
- Barbie Dreams [FIFTY FIFTY featuring Kali]
The other month, my family and I relented. We watched the highly polarising and critically acclaimed film Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. With the film being nominated for many Academy Awards….well, I guess we assumed that the film would be an inspiring and encouraging film, with some profound and deep truth that would enlighten us come the end of the film. And so, what is my consensus? I’m not a woman, nor is the film Barbie my demographic. Is the mere fact of me saying ‘the film is ok but I didn’t really resonate with it’ sacrilegious or blasphemous to all people who hold Barbie (the film and the toy) close to their vest? Is there anything ‘special’ about the film? Well I guess I’ll leave all of the reviews up to the experts. After all, if I did write a review… what would it be? ‘It was ok’ and that’s it? The ins and outs and intricacies of film production and how and why the film was made…that’s interesting, but it’s not my forte in terms of what I write. I can try… but who’d read it anyway? But as Barbie the film is still such a force to be reckoned with, and made such a cultural impact on society last year; I think something deserves to be talked about, don’t you think? And so, shall I dive deep into the album of Barbie, and dissect some of the songs and the general feel of the project, that serves as the backdrop of one of the buzziest films of 2023?
First things first, these songs require you to have an extensive knowledge of the film Barbie. If you haven’t seen the film for whatever reason, stop reading this review, stop listening to the album, and start watching the film now. Done? Good. Lizzo’s “Pink” opens the musically diverse track list, as this song describes the idyllic, innocent, blissful and unaware life the Barbies had in Barbie land prior to Stereotypical Barbie having irrepressible thoughts of death and cellulite, with Lizzo’s passion permeating through the 2 minute track; while Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” is a pop banger also present in the film, where the Barbies are dancing after a day of doing absolutely nothing. “Barbie World” is given a modern update with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice (a track that to me is completely forgettable!); while songs from Charli XCX, Karol G, Sam Smith, and Tame Impala are next, and are hardly recognisable, partly because these songs aren’t played out in full in the movie and personally I don’t really connect with these songs which are about a doll that I don’t really care for at all. Most of the other songs near the end (songs from HAIM, Dominic Fike, Khalid, The kid Laroi, PinkPantheress, Gayle) all blur together; but thankfully, “I’m Just Ken”, sung by Ryan Gosling during Ken’s monologue about his existential crisis and finding meaning in his life apart from Barbie, is a powerful and inspiring song in its own right; and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” speaks to the soul- Billie longs to know the true reason why she was made- and isn’t this an earnest prayer to God?
Out of the 17 tracks which are all in the film or inspired by the film in one way or another, some are forgettable, and others are impacting and inspiring and encouraging. Barbie The Soundtrack is an album that is something, that’s for sure. But unless you’re ultra-invested in Barbie the doll and in that universe; you’ll find this album only ‘ok’ and that’s it. And that’s more than fine, it just means that it’s not my demographic. But “I’m Just Ken” is impressive, and if that’s all I found out- that Ryan is actually a good singer, then I consider this album a win, don’t you reckon?
3 songs to listen to: Dance The Night, I’m Just Ken, What Was I Made For?
Score: 3/5
RIYL: Soundtracks, Disney Songs, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, for KING & COUNTRY, Demi Lovato, Needtobreathe