Barbie Girl

"Barbie Girl"
Single by Aqua
from the album Aquarium
Released	14 May 1997
Format	12" vinyl, CD single, CD maxi, cassette
Recorded	1997
Genre	Bubblegum dance
Length	3:16
Label	Universal Music Denmark, MCA (US)
Writer(s)	Claus Norreen, Søren Nystrøm Rasted
Producer	Søren Rasted, Claus Norreen, Johnny Jam, Delgado
Aqua singles chronology
"My Oh My" (1997) "Barbie Girl" (1997) "Doctor Jones" (1997)
Music sample Barbie Girl

"Barbie Girl" is a song by the Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua. It was released in May 1997 as their third single overall, and the first United Kingdom release. The song is included on the album Aquarium and was written by Claus Norreen and Søren Nystrøm Rasted after the group saw an exhibit on kitsch culture.

The song topped the charts worldwide, particularly in European countries such as the UK, where it was a number-one hit for three weeks. It was also on top of the charts in Australia for the same length of time, and debuted and peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 6 September 1997 and It remains Aqua's biggest hit single in the US to date, and their only one to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

History

The lyrics of the song are about Barbie and Ken, the dolls made by Mattel. Both the song and its music video feature Lene Nystrøm as Barbie and René Dif as Ken. As such, the lyrics drew the ire of Barbie's corporate owners, and a lawsuit was filed by Mattel.

The song was voted the fourth "Best Number One of All Time" in a VH1 poll, and was featured in spot No. 32 on VH1's "Most Awesomely Bad Songs... Ever" countdown. In an unrelated VH1 countdown, VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders, it was featured at #88. In 2007, Rolling Stone named "Barbie Girl" as one of the 20 Most Annoying Songs. Also in 2007, MuchMoreMusic featured the song at No. 27 on the list of the 50 Guilty Pleasures. In 2009, Same Difference voted it No. 2 in their Ultimate Cheese-Fest Top 20 on 4Music. Five years before, Blender magazine voted it at No. 33, as one of the 50 Worst Songs Ever. Most recently, in September 2010, Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio ranked the song at No. 5 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, stating that "Paris Hilton was 16 years old when this [song] came out. We're not blaming Aqua Girls entirely. We're just saying..." Despite the criticism, "Barbie Girl" has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

Music video

The music video, which was played repeatedly on MTV, was directed by Peder Pedersen and Peter Stenbæk.

Mattel's lawsuit

Main article: Mattel v. MCA Records

Mattel sued the band, saying they violated the Barbie trademark and turned Barbie into a sex object, referring to her as a "Blonde Bimbo." They alleged the song had violated their copyrights and trademarks of Barbie, and that its lyrics had tarnished the reputation of their trademark and impinged on their marketing plan. Aqua claimed that Mattel injected their own meanings into the song's lyrics and MCA Records was not about to let their hit single be suppressed without a fight. They contested Mattel's claims and countersued for defamation after Mattel had likened MCA to a bank robber.

The lawsuit filed by Mattel was dismissed by the lower courts, and this dismissal was upheld, though Mattel took their case up to the Supreme Court of the United States (Mattel's appeal was later rejected). In 2002, a Court of Appeals ruled the song was protected as a parody under the trademark doctrine of nominative use and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; the judge Alex Kozinski also threw out the defamation lawsuit that Aqua's record company filed against Mattel, concluding his ruling: "The parties are advised to chill." The case was dismissed, and in the process, it garnered lots of media attention for the song and the band. In 2009, Mattel released a series of advertisements and a promotional music video of the song, with modified lyrics, as part of a new marketing strategy brought in to revive sales.

Cover versions and parodies

The song has been covered by several artists throughout years, including U.S. electric duo Velva Blu, Brazilian singer Kelly Key (in Portuguese, titled "Sou a Barbie Girl" ["I'm the Barbie Girl"] as her tenth single on 15 April 2005 ; the CD maxi contains four version of the song : radio edit, extended version, DJ Malboro mix and club remix), Samanda (2007, peaked at No. 26 in the UK singles Chart), Rob Mayth (2006, released as single ; in summer 2006, German Euro house project Bangbros played live the remix of this version in an DJ set), Andrea featuring Sergio (Eurobeat cover for Super Eurobeat Vol. 199 ~Collaboration of Eurobeat~), Electric Chairs (2001, melancholy and down-tempo version). Other covers have been performed by bands Home Grown, My Favorite Band (MFB) and Mars Moles. The song has also been covered by Jessica Jung, a Korean-American singer from the popular girl group Girls' Generation in their first Asia Tour. An Easy listening version also exists by Axel Boys Quartet (1999) which was featured in a Dior television ad.

There are also many parodies of the song, notable made by The Dog House (a "gay" version in which Barbie is insulted behind her back by Garrett and Raoul with gratuitous words because they pine for Ken, however the conclusion of the song sees Barbie approach the pair who proceed to assault her and run off. This song is featured on their 2000 album, How Many People Must Get Dissed?), German duo Lynne & Tessa (a lip-synched internet video of the song, May 2006), British Indian comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me (titled "Punjabi Girl" both in the radio series and later on television), Ome Henk (Dutch song "Neem Een Ander in de Maling (Barbie Girl)", WPLJ (entitled "Jersey Girl", using stereotypes of Jersey girls as the basis for the whole song).

Mattel in 2009–2010 used an edit of the song as the 'theme song' of Barbie.

In the Family Guy episode "Bill and Peter's Bogus Journey," president Bill Clinton is seen singing and dancing to "Barbie Girl" while playing Dance Dance Revolution.

HBO comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David did a parody of the song called "Party Girl" in the episode "Life is Precious and God and the Bible".

The swedish artist Loke Nyberg (See Swedish Wikipedia article) did a new version of this song for the swedish radio show Morgonpasset (See Swedish Wikipedia article). He interprets the song as criticism of todays beauty ideals.

In 2012, the song was parodied in an Australian lamb advertising campaign, relying on the Australian use of the term "barbie" to refer to the outdoor barbeque popularly held in Australia.

Track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Barbie Girl".

United Kingdom/U.S.

• CD1

1. "Barbie Girl" (radio edit) – 3:22
2. "Barbie Girl" (extended version) – 5:12
3. "Barbie Girl" (Perky Park Club Mix) – 6:23
4. "Barbie Girl" (Spikes Anatomically Correct Dub) – 7:55

• CD2

1. "Barbie Girl" (CD-ROM video)
2. "Barbie Girl" (radio edit) – 3:22
3. "Barbie Girl" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 12" G-String mix) – 8:37
4. "Barbie Girl" (Dirty Rotten Peroxide Radio mix) – 4:10

• 12" maxi 1

1. "Barbie Girl" (Spike's Anatomically Correct dub) – 8:01
2. "Barbie Girl" (extended version) – 5:17
3. "Barbie Girl" (Spike's Plastic mix) – 8:47
4. "Barbie Girl" (radio edit) – 3:16

• 12" maxi 2

1. "Barbie Girl" (original extended mix) – 5:14
2. "Barbie Girl" (Dirty Rotten G-String mix) – 8:37
3. "Barbie Girl" (Dirty Rotten Peroxide mix) – 4:10

Europe

• CD single / Cassette

1. "Barbie Girl" (radio edit) – 3:16
2. "Barbie Girl" (extended version) – 5:14

• 12" maxi

1. "Barbie Girl" (Perky Park club mix) – 6:13
2. "Barbie Girl" (Spike's Anatomically Correct dub) – 7:55

Australia and Canada

• CD maxi

1. "Barbie Girl" (radio edit) – 3:16
2. "Barbie Girl" (Spike's Plastic mix) – 8:47
3. "Barbie Girl" (Spike's Anatomically Correct dub) – 8:01
4. "Barbie Girl" (extended version) – 5:14

Credits

• Written by Norreen, Nystrøm, Dif, Rasted
• Performed by Norreen, Rasted
• Vocals by G. Nystrøm, Dif
• Hair and make-up by Fjodor Øxenhave
• Styling by Aqua, Bjarne Lindgreen
• Artwork by Peter Stenbæk
• Photo by Robin Skoldborg
• Produced, arranged and mixed by Norreen, Jam, Delgado, Rasted

Release history

Country	Release date
Europe	14 May 1997 (1997-05-14)
United Kingdom	1 September 1997 (1997-09-01)
United States

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	1
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)	1
Canada (RPM)	4
Canada Dance (RPM)	1
Denmark (Tracklisten)	2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	3
France (SNEP)	1
Germany (Media Control Charts)	1
Ireland (IRMA)	1
Italy (FIMI)	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	1
New Zealand (RIANZ)	1
Norway (VG-lista)	1
Spain (AFYVE)	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	1
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)	1
US Billboard Hot 100	7
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	21

End-of-year charts

End-of-year chart (1997)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	2
Austrian Singles Chart	11
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart	2
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	2
Canadian RPM Singles Chart	67
Dutch Top 40	3
French Singles Chart	5
Swiss Singles Chart	34
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	94
End of year chart (1998)	Position
French Singles Chart	33
Swiss Singles Chart	19

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Australia	3× Platinum	1997	210,000
Austria	Platinum	13 January 1998	30,000
France	Diamond	27 November 2004	750,000
Germany	Platinum	1997	500,000
Sweden	3× Platinum	19 January 1998	60,000
Switzerland	Platinum	1997	60,000
UK	2× Platinum	5 December 1997	1,200,000

Successions

Order of precedence
Preceded by "When Susannah Cries" by Espen Lind	Norwegian VG-lista number-one single 30 May 1997 – 6 June 1997	Succeeded by "Bailando" by Paradisio
Preceded by "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112	Swedish number-one single 5 September 1997 – 19 September 1997	Succeeded by "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John
Preceded by "Leven na de dood" by Freek de Jonge and Robert Jan Stips	Dutch Top 40 number-one single 20 September 1997
Preceded by "Men in Black" by Will Smith	New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single 14 September 1997 – 21 September 1997	Succeeded by "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba
Preceded by "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112	Italian FIMI number-one single 11 October 1997 – 15 November 1997	Succeeded by "Breathe" by Midge Ure
Preceded by "Spice up Your Life" by Spice Girls	UK Singles Chart number-one single 26 October 1997 – 17 November 1997	Succeeded by "Perfect Day" by Various Artists
Preceded by "Savoir aimer" by Florent Pagny	French SNEP number-one single 1 November 1997	Succeeded by "Savoir aimer" by Florent Pagny
Preceded by "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John	Irish IRMA number-one single 25 October 1997 – 15 November 1997	Succeeded by "Good Lookin' Woman" by Dustin the Turkey and Joe Dolan
	Belgian (Flanders) number-one single 8 November 1997 – 10 January 1998	Succeeded by "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia
	German Singles Chart number-one single 10 November 1997 – 15 December 1997	Succeeded by "It's Like That" by Run DMC vs. Jason Nevins
	Euro Hot 100 number-one single 16 November 1997 – 25 January 1998	Succeeded by "Together Again" by Janet Jackson
	Australia ARIA number-one single 16 November 1997 – 7 December 1997	Succeeded by "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba
	Swiss number-one single 30 November 1997 – 10 January 1998	Succeeded by "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John

External links

• Text of Mattel, Inc. v. MCA Records, Inc., the verdict that favored MCA (PDF file)