Aqua — “Barbie Girl” (1997)
This is the type of song that won’t sell well in today’s world. The feminist movement would have slammed the song’s lyrics as obscene and counterproductive to the cause. Instead, the song was bubblegum pop catchy in context, and it was played in clubs all over the world at the time it was released. You’re more likely to hear it in a Zumba class these days than on the radio or through streaming services.
Aqua — “Barbie Girl” (1997)
Starship — “We Built This City” (1985)
Whatever you want to call it, this song is one of the most evocative representations of the 1980s music industry. We can already feel the crimp and frizz just by listening to the intro, and that’s just talking about the band! The song’s lyrics are about building a city on rock and roll. But, of course, given the rise of electronic music among Gen Z, the city might be long gone by now if that were the case.
Starship — “We Built This City” (1985)
