'Barbie' Soundtrack Receives Poor Reviews Despite Star-Studded Lineup

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Ever since it was announced that the "Barbie" Movie soundtrack will be composed of songs from various A-list artists, the hype for the movie escalated even further.

The likes of Nicki Minaj, Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Ice Spice, HAIM, and even Karol G, Tame Impala, and Dominic Fike were added to the soundtrack of one of this year's most highly anticipated motion picture events.

Executive produced by Oscar and Grammy-winning producer and singer Mark Ronson, the album was hyped because of the release of "Dance The Night" by Dua Lipa, and Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice's reimagination of the Aqua song "Barbie Girl," in "Barbie World."

'Barbie Movie' Soundtrack Received Poor Reviews

Despite the anticipated huge takeoff of the album commercially, the "Barbie" Movie soundtrack was received poorly by critics.

Pitchfork (5.4/10)

Pitchfork's Cat Zhang wrote that the album, despite the "chic, diverse roster-including artists whose identities weren't fully represented by Mattel until around 2016," fell flat and noted that "these throwaway products should largely be left on the shelf."

She noted that some songs seemed to be repetitive, including Ava Max's "Choose Your Fighter," which sounded very much like her song "Kings and Queens." She also said that "Dance The Night" by Dua Lipa was a "serviceable Future Nostalgia retread," and Charli XCX recycled her "typical themes-being cute, driving fast-and glib, signifier-heavy writing style."

The Guadian (2/5)

The Guardian seemed to echo Pitchfork, pointing out that it was more of "a cynical exercise in corporate synergy." Both publications have praised Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Sam Smith and PinkPantheress' songs in the album.

"Angel", by PinkPantheress, seems not to have been written according to corporate dictum, and it too is a highlight, the wonderfully wacky producer Count Baldor welding jaunty Irish traditional music onto PinkPantheress's usual featherlight dance-pop," the publication wrote.

NME Magazine

Unlike the two publications, NME noted that Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For" was a standout, pointing out that the unusual addition of the Oscar-winner on the album was actually a good thing. The publication noted that Eilish's vocals were "more whispery" than usual," as if it is "Barbie's deepest, darkest secret - thanks to the delicate arrangement, it works."

Stream the full "Barbie" Movie Soundtrack below.

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Barbie, Mark Ronson
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