Meaning of "Barbie Girl" by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox

The meaning behind the lyrics of "Barbie Girl" goes beyond the surface-level depiction of a Barbie doll's life. It can be seen as a commentary on societal expectations and gender roles. The opening lines, "Hi Barbie, Hi Ken! Do you wanna go for a ride? Sure Ken! Jump in..." sets the stage for the relationship between Barbie and Ken, where Barbie is the submissive and willing participant. The repetition of the phrase "I'm a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world" emphasizes the artificiality and superficiality of the idealized Barbie image. The line "Life in plastic, it's fantastic!" suggests that the plastic and perfect image of Barbie is seen as desirable and unattainable in real life. Barbie is portrayed as a blonde bimbo girl, reinforcing the stereotype of the idealized, attractive woman. The lyrics also hint at a power dynamic within the relationship, with lines like "You can touch, you can play, if you say: 'I'm always yours'" implying control and ownership.

The song can be seen as a critique of society's unrealistic expectations for women, where they are expected to be perfectly groomed, attractive, and obedient. The lyrics highlight the objectification of women with lines like "Dress me up, make it tight, I'm your dolly" and "Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky..." which reduce the woman to a mere plaything for the man's pleasure. The repeated invitation to "come on Barbie, let's go party" can be interpreted as society's pressure on women to conform to social norms and expectations, putting on a facade of happiness and enjoyment even if it may not be genuine.

Overall, "Barbie Girl" serves as a critique of the superficiality and artificiality of societal expectations for women, while also shedding light on the power dynamics and objectification that often accompany these expectations.