Featured Image Credit: Aqua
Topics: Music
Rhianna Benson
Were you even a 90s baby if you didn't belt out the words to Aqua's 'Barbie Girl' at every given karaoke opportunity?
Next, let me ask you this - did you ever really consider what the lyrics to the teen pop track actually mean?
Because apparently, some former fans of the Danish-Norwegian number have recently looked back at the song's meaning, and many claim they've been left scarred.
Advert
For those in need of a little reminder of the throwback party single, 'Barbie Girl' was released in 1997 by the Europop band Aqua, consisting of vocalists René Dif, Lene Nystrøm, and Søren Rasted.
Claus Norreen also featured as the group's guitarist.
The song - which was accompanied by a whacky music video, not too dissimilar in setting to the 2023 Barbie movie - tells the story of a woman head over heels for a man, doing whatever she can to please him.
Now, I know what you're thinking - 'that's not a totally outrageous premise for a chart-topping anthem'.
Advert
But remember, this was a song often sung along to by young children at the likes of birthday parties and school discos...
Let's take a look at the lyrics.
After a spoken introduction - which hears 'Barbie' agree to 'jump in' for 'a ride' with 'Ken' - the song kicks off with the words, "I’m a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world. Life in plastic, it’s fantastic."
Nothing to severe just yet, but wait...
Advert
"You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere. Imagination, life is your creation," the lyrics continue.
Undress me everywhere? Have we become so desensitised that we can't see how wrong it is for school children to have been singing such a song.
The chaos doesn't stop there, however.
Advert
"I’m a blond bimbo girl in a fantasy world," the first verse begins.
Bimbo? The term - which, in previous US culture, described an unintelligent and frivolous yet attractive young woman - is problematic in itself, but when paired with the next line it's even worse?
"Dress me up, make it tight, I’m your dolly. Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky."
Whilst we're all here for women expressing their sensuality, you can't deny - this is pure, unadulterated objectification.
Advert
And it doesn't end there - "Make me walk, make me talk, do whatever you please. I can act like a star, I can beg on my knees."
All I'll say is, thank god Margot Robbie and 'What Was I Made For?' singer Billie Eilish came around when they did.
As we say, the revelation hasn't sat very well with many music fans, who've been left sickened by the true meaning.
"Ayo! I just read the lyrics for the OG ‘Barbie Girl’ song and that s**t is way too sexual than it needs to..." one recently penned on X.
"I mean that s**t gets dark at multiple points!"
Another hit out: "The lyrics of ‘Barbie Girl’ by Aqua are dark as f**k".
And a third also confessed: "Karaoke has made me realize the lyrics to 'Barbie Girl' are reaaaaally inappropriate".