The world has been captivated by the success of Barbie, a film that has not only resonated with audiences but has also garnered praise from critics. With its growing popularity and rave reviews, the movie appears poised to secure a plethora of nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards, potentially positioning it as a frontrunner among this year’s most-nominated productions.
Complementing the on-screen visuals, the film’s soundtrack boasts a collection of original music tailor-made for the movie. This curated selection of tracks holds the potential to contend for the illustrious Best Original Song Oscar category. However, a notable success among them, Nicki Minaj’s “Barbie World” featuring Ice Spice and Aqua, seems destined to be ruled ineligible in this prestigious race.
“Barbie World” made a grand entrance onto the Billboard charts, debuting inside the top 10 of the Hot 100. Its subsequent fluctuations within the upper echelons of the chart further solidified its stature as a standout hit from the Barbie soundtrack—the biggest, in fact. Naturally, this achievement suggests that the track would be a prime contender when the time comes to submit songs for Oscar consideration. Yet, despite its commercial triumph, Minaj and her talented collaborators find themselves on a divergent path from the road to Oscar glory.
“Barbie World” makes use of an interpolation of Aqua’s iconic ’90s hit “Barbie Girl.” The Danish pop band’s memorable single resonated with a global audience and, in turn, served as inspiration for this updated version of sorts. The utilization of this musical reference in “Barbie World” is undeniable, and while artistic homage, reinterpretation and sampling are all celebrated in music, the Oscars don’t view these things quite so fondly.
This decision to sample “Barbie Girl” will almost surely disqualify it from being in contention for the Best Original Song Oscar. This prediction comes from a precedent set last year, when Doja Cat’s “Vegas” sampled the original version of “Hound Dog” for the Elvis biopic’s soundtrack. The Academy Awards’ strict criteria require compositions to be wholly original and exclusively crafted for the cinematic production, so sampling and interpolating are not allowed—at least that’s how it seems.
In essence, the regulations for the Best Original Song Oscar category explicitly mandate that competing entries must demonstrate complete originality, both in terms of lyrics and production, and that the music made must seamlessly align with the narrative of the film. Thus, while the success of “Barbie World” might propel it to top of the charts, its reliance on an interpolation will almost surely mean it’s not going to compete for one of the biggest honors in entertainment, though final word will be handed down by the Motion Picture Academy in the coming months.
Though Minaj’s “Barbie World” may not be eligible for the Best Original Song Oscar, there are several other charting singles from the Barbie soundtrack that could potentially secure nominations. Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” and Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” stand as formidable contenders in their own right. Additional contributions from artists such as Lizzo, Karol G and even Ryan Gosling are all also potential nominees.
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