# The "Barbie Girl" song--being used on Barbie commercials? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095 "2009-09-22T15:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/1 "2009-09-22T15:43:40Z")
My kid is sick and I’m letting her veg out on the couch watching tv. There was a commercial for a Barbie toy of some kind. And I wasn’t paying close attention, but I’m almost certain I heard this right: They were using the song “Barbie Girl” in the commercial! Or at least, using the tune from that song. Can anyone confirm this? Am I going nuts? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/2 "2009-09-22T15:48:30Z")
[Confirmed!](http://www.mattel.com/videos) This is unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/3 "2009-09-22T16:44:51Z")
Didn’t Mattel sue Aqua over the song? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/4 "2009-09-22T16:50:03Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Didn’t Mattel sue Aqua over the song? Yeah. That’s what weirds ME out about this. Now it’s good enough for you to use?! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/5 "2009-09-22T16:52:35Z")
After the suit failed, they probably managed to buy the rights to it and changed the lyrics. My guess, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/6 "2009-09-22T17:11:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > After the suit failed, they probably managed to buy the rights to it and changed the lyrics. My guess, anyway. What’s weird about the lyrics change is, it continues to express _un_ironically what the original tried to express _ironically_. Removing suggestive language hardly did the trick as far as making it make sense for Mattel to use the song. I just don’t understand how the world works sometimes. How does this look like a good idea to anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/7 "2009-09-22T17:47:55Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > What’s weird about the lyrics change is, it continues to express _un_ironically what the original tried to express _ironically_. Removing suggestive language hardly did the trick as far as making it make sense for Mattel to use the song. > > I just don’t understand how the world works sometimes. How does this look like a good idea to anyone? Americans have a notoriously short attention span, and the ads are directed at 8-year-old girls. Most people that I’ve mentioned the lawsuit to in casual conversation had never heard of it. Also, Mattel probably thinks it makes them look hip and groovy: See? We’re a big greedy corporation with a sense of humor! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/8 "2009-09-22T18:26:53Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Americans have a notoriously short attention span, and the ads are directed at 8-year-old girls. Most people that I’ve mentioned the lawsuit to in casual conversation had never heard of it. > > Also, Mattel probably thinks it makes them look hip and groovy: See? We’re a big greedy corporation with a sense of humor! Plus, bonus payoff when she grows out of Barbie dolls and can appreciate the irony of the original song. “Oh my gaaaawd! I had no idea that’s what this song was about!” ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/9 "2009-09-22T19:24:50Z")
GI Joes aren’t big enough to do Barbies anymore, are they? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/10 "2009-09-22T19:30:41Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > What’s weird about the lyrics change is, it continues to express _un_ironically what the original tried to express _ironically_. Removing suggestive language hardly did the trick as far as making it make sense for Mattel to use the song. > > I just don’t understand how the world works sometimes. How does this look like a good idea to anyone? Reminds me of the time a TV manufacturer (Phillips?) used as their jingle a Beatles song that goes “I’ve got to admit it’s getting better, a little better all the time” but then left off the next few words about how it couldn’t get much worse. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/11 "2009-09-22T19:31:25Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I just don’t understand how the world works sometimes. How does this look like a good idea to anyone? As opposed to that cruise line that took Iggy Pop’s ode to meth addiction Lust for Life and used in their ads? They’re just trying to get an ear-worm stuck in your head that makes you think of their product - almost by any means necessary… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/12 "2009-09-22T19:42:38Z")
The second-worst example of this would be any politician ever who’s used “Born in the USA” as a patriotic song at campaign appearances. I say second-worst, because the absolute worst example was when Philadelphia Cream Cheese (which, incidentally, is made in Chicago) was using “New York, New York” as their theme. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/13 "2009-09-22T19:50:49Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > As opposed to that cruise line that took Iggy Pop’s ode to meth addiction Lust for Life and used in their ads? > > They’re just trying to get an ear-worm stuck in your head that makes you think of their product - almost by any means necessary… That’s it’s an ode to meth is not referenced in the [wiki on the album.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lust_for_Life_(album)) They say if anything it’s intended as something of a redemptiver song. Where do you get the “ode to meth” connection? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/14 "2009-09-22T20:08:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The second-worst example of this would be any politician ever who’s used “Born in the USA” as a patriotic song at campaign appearances. > > I say second-worst, because the absolute worst example was when Philadelphia Cream Cheese (which, incidentally, is made in Chicago) was using “New York, New York” as their theme. How about a love song with reference to Sid and Nancy? Hey sugar momma, come and dance with me The smartest thing you ever did was take a chance with me So whatever tickles your fancy Girl, it’s you, like Sid and Nancy > **[LyricalContent.com is for sale | HugeDomains](https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=lyricalcontent.com)** > > This domain is for sale! Fast and easy shopping. Trusted and secure since 2005. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/15 "2009-09-22T22:43:22Z")
I used to think that “Barbie Girl” was actually a Mattel jingle. Mind you, at age eight I probably wouldn’t know irony if it dropped a cow on my head. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/16 "2009-09-22T23:42:33Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > [Confirmed!](http://www.mattel.com/videos) > > This is unbelievable. Which video has the song? (Edit: Nevermind, [found it](http://www.mattel.com/videos/1864)) BTW, Barbie and the Three Musketeers seems like an incredibly lame Shrek-wannabe. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-barbie-girl-song-being-used-on-barbie-commercials/511095/17 "2009-09-23T01:35:38Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I used to think that “Barbie Girl” was actually a Mattel jingle. Mind you, at age eight I probably wouldn’t know irony if it dropped a cow on my head. Mattel actually has been using the phrase “Barbie girl” in their advertising for the past couple of years, but I didn’t connect it with the song they tried to force off the market until they started using it in their ads.