It was a “Barbie” world at theaters this summer. And now that the Greta Gerwig-directed blockbuster has taken over the 2024
Grammys, with multiple “Barbie” soundtrack songs occupying the nominations list — announced Friday morning — it’s as if the Recording Academy is her own personal Dream House. First, there’s Billie Eilish , who not-so-surprisingly scored Record of the Year and Song of the Year nominations for “What Was I Made For?” — among five of her six nods connected to the “Barbie” behemoth. And is there any doubt that, at just 21, she seems destined to win her second Best Original Song Oscar after her 2021 victory for the Bond theme “No Time to Die?” But no one — certainly not this critic — probably saw the Song of the Year nomination coming for Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night.” (Cleary, Dua knew what was up when she signed on for a bit part as a mermaid Barbie.) I mean, is that really even on the same level as Rihanna’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ballad “Lift Me Up,” which was also eligible? And the fact that four out of five nominees for Best Song Written for Visual Media — where “Dance the Night” and “What Was I Made For?” are joined by the
Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice collab “Barbie World” (which is also up for Best Rap Song) and Ryan Gosling ’s inimitable “I’m Just Ken” — makes it a battle of the “Barbie” bops. Although the “Barbie” album is also nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, it’s now almost a surprise that it didn’t get an Album of the Year nomination. Your move now, Oscar.