Everyone is talking about Barbie thanks to the new movie, starring Australian beauty Margot Robbie as the doll-come-to-life.
But before she was Barbie – and Ryan Gosling was “just Ken” – when you said Barbie to a lot of people, they would think of the iconic song by Aqua.
The Danish-Norwegian Europop group released Barbie Girl in 1997 and it reached No1 in the UK charts, keeping the top spot for four weeks.
READ MORE: Margot Robbie’s unusual on-set rule exposed by Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling
Controversy followed due to the sexual undertones of the lyrics and in 2000 Mattel, who created Barbie, filed a lawsuit, claiming the song damaged their brand.
However Judge Alex Kozinski dismissed the case, writing: “The parties are advised to chill.”
Now, with Barbie back on everyone’s minds, Aqua have reunited, but what have they been up to in the years since their mega-fame?
Movie ‘snub’
(Image: Getty Images)
As soon as Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was announced, everyone was expecting Barbie Girl to feature on the sound track.
When the trailer was released, fans were gutted that it was nowhere to be heard.
One person tweeted at the time: “The most disappointing thing to me about the Barbie movie is how in the trailer they went ‘hi Barbie’, ‘hi Ken’ and then Barbie Girl by Aqua did not start playing.”
Another said: “This song better be in the movie.”
(Image: FILM STILL / HANDOUT)
Last year, a representative for Aqua’s lead singer Lene Nystrøm said Barbie Girl wouldn’t be in the film too.
However it seems plans changed, as a new version of the song, with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice rapping over the top of it, was finally confirmed.
It’s not identical to the original, but fans have at least been placated and Aqua are credited still.
Other artists on the official soundtrack include Dua Lipa, K-Pop viral sensations Fifty Fifty, Ava Max, Charli XCX and Lizzo.
Huge transformation
(Image: Instagram/ @aqua.dk)
Aqua have been touring again in recent years, including in the UK at Mighty Hoopla festival in June.
And, as you’d expect after 25 years, they look nothing like they did when Barbie Girl was released.
Lead singer Lene, now 49, used to sport black hair with a red streak in the front, but she now has a much more glamorous look.
Last year, they reunited for a Top Of The Pops special, and fans couldn’t believe how great they were looking.
One said at the time: “You guys look great,” as another added: “You have held up well. Still like to hear you.”
Dark meaning to song
(Image: Aqua/YouTube)
Barbie Girl might seem like a playful song about a kids’ doll at first listen, but the lyrics are actually much less family friendly.
After listening carefully, it’s clear that “Barbie” in the song is giving up all control to Ken, the man, and essentially saying she is his play thing.
The lyrics include: “You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere”, “Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky”, and “Make me walk, make me talk, do whatever you please”.
(Image: Aqua/YouTube)
In 2000, three years after Barbie Girl was released, Barbie creators Mattel launched a lawsuit, claiming the naughty song damaged the brand’s reputation.
Mattel filed a series of lawsuits against MCA Records, which was the band’s US label.
The brand claimed that Barbie Girl violated their trademark and turned the iconic character into a sex object.
On top of that, they claimed the single cover used “Barbie pink”, which is a registered trademark, and likened MCA to a bank robber.
(Image: Press Association Images)
The lawsuit was eventually dropped, and it was ruled that Barbie Girl was protected as a “parody”.
MCA’s defamation counterclaim was also dropped.
Years later, Mattel released their own version of the song, with different lyrics, to promote their brand.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
