As February approaches, it’s time for my blog to shift into movie mode and recap my 2023 film year. Over the next several weeks I will give out my personal Oscars for acting and direction and count down my favorite films of the year.
But first, I’m dedicating a week to five of my favorite musical moments in last year’s films.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a borderline musical whenever the action is taking place in Barbieland. I could do a week on scenes from this movie alone.
Lizzo kicks things off with ‘Pink,’ introducing us to Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie and the rules of her world. Then Dua Lipa’s fabulous ‘Dance the Night’ scores the “giant blowout party with all the Barbies and planned choreography and a bespoke song.”
Later, Ryan Gosling’s Ken performs Matchbox Twenty’s ‘Push’ in a scene that alone should win him the Oscar. Skipping over today’s SOTD, the movie climaxes with Billie’s Eilish’s gorgeous ‘What Was I Made For,’ in a sequence that will surprise anybody who thought a Barbie movie can’t make them cry.
I’ll revisit one of those songs in an upcoming post, but today I’m highlighting the Oscar-nominated ‘I’m Just Ken,’ the technicolor dance ballet Gerwig inserted into the film because she probably didn’t know when she’d get the chance to recreate a ’50s Gene Kelly movie again.
This sequence captures the anarchic spirit of a film that’s as bursting with ideas as the sets are bursting with color. It epitomizes the unlikely feat of making a movie about a 65-year-old doll that feels completely original.
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m assuming the race for best song at the Oscars will come down to the two songs nominated from Barbie. I personally think Eilish should take home the prize, but I’ll be happy if this one wins as well – and maybe it should since it was performed by Gosling in such a memorable scene in the movie.
It’s movie time!
Agree with Dana about the Oscar, and I sure hope we get Gosling performing on a set and with all the extras this song deserves. That said, after Eilish’s performance last night, capped off with another delightfully humble and abashed speech when she and her brother/producer won the Grammy, it’s hard not to root for them to take home even more hardware. Also, having a “Ken” win if not a single “Barbie” does would be too realistic to bear.
it’s funny that it never occurred to me that Barbie isn’t a musical until reading your post. I’d likely opt for Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” since it features the Barbies and Kens together, but it’s hard not to like your choice.
I’ll start mulling my own list for when it’s time to share.
LOVE Movie Time! And love this song, film, and Ryan Gosling ❤️❤️❤️
Always excited for some movie/music crossover 🙂
Barbie was undoubtedly a top soundtrack this year – so it’s fitting to feature it first. It’s rare to have a song – let alone multiple from the same film – that leave such a cultural impact.
While I find the songwriting/production for Billie and Finneas to be the more complex and encapsulating the Barbie movie message – this is a bop and I would be very happy to see it performed on the broadcast (less happy to see it take home the gold).