PinkPantheress Yearns For Her Lost Ken in New Single For “Barbie” Soundtrack
By Arianna Mioni
As one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” is expected to have an unforgettable soundtrack that perfectly captures the feminine essence of the Barbie world. Last Thursday, UK-based star PinkPantheress delivered a remarkable contribution to the awaited album with her new single “Angel”.
The princess of bedroom pop quickly rose to fame through TikTok in early 2021. Since then, her unique sound – inspired by UK garage and drum and bass melodies – has captivated audiences. Her previous single “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” featuring Ice Spice released in February, and gained significant radio play as well as peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on US Spotify charts. The song was written and produced by PinkPantheress herself alongside BloodPop, Count Baldor, and Charlie Puth.
“Angel”’s bubblegum-esque sound transports listeners straight into their own Barbie Dreamhouse. However, despite the song’s sweetness, it tells the story of a relationship that ultimately ended sourly. PinkPantheress recalls a saccharine love in the first verse:
“Johnny, my baby, tell me all the details for tomorrow
Johnny, my baby's hands, they grip my fingers when they're cold
He could be the one to make me never freeze again because
No one is as romantic as him, I want you to know”
Her innocent, glittery description easily reminds listeners of a sentimental relationship, similar to that of Barbie and Ken. PinkPantheress then shatters the image of this picture perfect romance in the chorus:
“'Cause one day (One day)
One day, my baby just went away (Went away)
My angel (My angel)
You're what haunts me now that you're away (You're away)”
PinkPantheress’s lyrics pack a punch that cannot be disguised by its upbeat sound. Her explicit storytelling manages to put you directly into her hot pink high heels and feel the situation firsthand. Nonetheless, the track still keeps its playfulness with a lyric from the repeated pre-chorus, “Everyone tells me life was hard, but it's a piece of cake.”
This lyric fits directly in with the character of Barbie, who lives in a seemingly perfect world; although, trailers have revealed that the movie will explore the reality of womanhood and Barbie’s discovery of the real world’s conventionalities. The discussion of hardship alongside the high-spirited melody foreshadows Barbie’s journey in the film, making it a quintessential addition to the soundtrack.
“Barbie The Album” will be released alongside the film on July 21, 2023. Executive produced by Mark Ronson, the album features other artists such as Charli XCX, Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj, and more.
Following the release of Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” and KAROL G and Aldo Rank’s “WATATI” off the album, PinkPantheress’s addition only emphasizes the high expectations for the rest of the album as well as the movie. It is no surprise that this track has absolutely surpassed those expectations, building even more excitement and anticipation for their release. 1 ticket for “Barbie”, please!
