Original Barbie Girl song dubbed 'problematic' as fans study nature of lyrics (2024)

"Barbie Girl" by Aqua is a classic '90s pop song and while fans may not have noticed at the time, they're starting to see the problematic nature of the lyrics

Barbie Girl by Aqua has never exactly been a feminist anthem - and fans have shared their unease after studying the lyrics closer.

With the upcoming release of the Barbie movie, fans are now revisiting the '90s hit. Debate is sparking over whether or not Margot Robbie's Barbie will be considered a "bimbo" that Aqua labelled the doll.

The song, which was originally released in 1997, is lewd in nature using innuendos and lyrics about sex in association with the Barbie image. Throughout the song, singer Lene Nystrom role plays as Barbie and co-singer, René Dif, takes on the role of Ken. They paint the picture of a "blonde bimbo girl in a fantasy world", proclaiming that she can "can act like a star, I can beg on my knees".

Lene sings: "You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere."

A fan wrote on Twitter: "The original song 'Barbie Girl' by AQUA was always problematic to me as "innocent" Barbie was oversexualizing herself and being complicit with derogatory comments from Ken."

Some fans, who are now all grown up, have shared stories that their children are the ones to point out the concerning nature of the song. Kids as young as 9 have recognised the implications and, unlike the '90s kids, are no longer absentmindedly singing along to lyrics like "you can touch, you can play".

Admitting to still enjoying the song, another Twitter user wrote: "I get that the song is problematic...but I'm a 2000's gayby."

Other fans have claimed that those criticising the song are missing the bigger point. They say the song is and always was satire rather than a literal telling of promiscuity. Fans have defended the song by explaining that it was a commentary on the molds and stereotypes that women are often forced to conform to. Under this theory, the 'bimbo' persona wouldn't be a bad thing intrinsically, but the way society sees it as bad would be the real problem.

Despite the criticism, the Barbie movie will indirectly include the song as part of the soundtrack. In Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice's "Barbie World", the original "Barbie Girl" has been sampled in the backing track. While this new version isn't quite as explicitly bimbo-esque, it still stays true to the sexual suggestions of the original.

Nicki raps: "Rad, but he sp**k me when I get bad."

In 2022, Lene's manager had claimed in an interview with Variety that the song would "not be used in the movie". Lene revealed in a later interview that she didn't mind that they were avoiding the song, saying that it would be "cheese on cheese" to include it. Of course, it seems now that vision has changed.

Lene even posted a video on the official Aqua TikTok account where she lip-synced to her song and encouraged fans to duet it. The video has nearly 9 million views.

Mattel has previously taken issue with the song. In 1997, they sued MCA Records for trademark infringement and dilution, but they lost the case.

Barbie seemingly does not fit the description provided by Aqua. Instead, she is known for having countless careers including being a surgeon, Presidential candidate, and firefighter. As a children's story, she has never been marketed sexually.

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