Barbie: life in plastic, it’s fantastic
Long in preparation on the part of Warner Bros. Studios, the film Barbie finally saw the light in this month of July 2023. E success was not long in coming as the feature film directed by Greta Gerwig, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the lead roles, is currently breaking all records in worldwide box office.
Thus, in the space of less than a month, the Mattel-produced film has surpassed the billion dollar mark in sales and is on its way to becoming the biggest blockbuster of the year 2023in front of Super Mario Bros. the film.
Barbie: the film banned in several countries of the world
As a reminder, the film’s plot tells the story of Barbie and Ken as residents of Barbieland, a matriarchal society where Barbies occupy prestigious roles while Kens are relegated to less important duties. Barbie is struck by the anguish of mortality, developing physical imperfections. To heal herself, she must find the little girl playing with her in the real world.
Accompanied by Ken, she embarks on an adventure in which she discovers the contrast between the traditional roles imposed on Barbie and their true potential.
Aqua reacts to the Barbieland aesthetic
In 1997, the Scandinavian musical group Aqua released the song “Barbie Girl” which became a huge worldwide hit, accompanied by a colored clip with the famous dolls. A sort of film before the film, and therefore the aesthetics are very reminiscent of the feature film by Greta Gerwig.
Asked about this by The Guardian, the band members shared their feelings about what could be mistaken for a tribute. Thus, emphasized the singer Lene Nystrøm the similarities between Barbie’s aesthetic in the film and that of the music video. He’s rounded up things like fashion for halter tops, cargo pants, and other iconic ’90s looks:
The Barbie movie has the style I had then, which is totally back in fashion. It was fun to see the movie trailer with the inscription “Hello Barbie!” Hi Ken!'”
René Dif, another member of the group, added:
It was like seeing our universe, our video on steroids: they are the same colors.
The complicated relationship between Mattel and Aqua
Before Margot Robbie took on the iconic features of Barbie in the film, the blonde doll had already inspired the Scandinavian group Aqua in 1997 with their hit “Barbie Girl” and its colorful music video.
However, the arrival of Greta Gerwig’s feature film ignited the spark concerns about the presence of this song. Indeed, the tumultuous relationship between Mattel and the band cast a shadow over the track’s inclusion. At the time of Aqua’s single release, Mattel had sued them for using the brand without permission. After a tryout, Aqua had finally won due to the “parodic” nature of their song.
This situation made Aqua’s song unlikely to be incorporated into the film. However, director Greta Gerwig had said that a nod to this iconic song was inevitable. The remixed “Barbie Girl” chorus thus finds its way into the film in the form of a Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice track titled “Barbie World,” used as the end credits..
Lene Nystrøm, lead singer of Aqua, expressed, again for The Guardian, her surprise at being included in the project, acknowledging that they didn’t expect it.
He praised the film crew’s choice to look for something new and refreshing. Surprisingly, Aqua revealed that she was approached about a collaboration just two months before the release.
René Dif, for his part, also enthusiastically noted Mattel’s gesture of renewing the dialogue, seeing it as a sign of reconciliation between the two parties.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
