Smith in their gorgeously pink ensemble for the music video "I'm Not Here to Make Friends."

And the Final ‘Barbie’ Soundtrack Artist Is…

Barbie, Barbie, Barbie. As the release date for Barbenheimer slowly approaches, we get a new dose of bubblegum-pink Barbie news every single day, which has decidedly uplifted the spirits of everyone on the internet. And now, one little mystery set out by the producers has finally been revealed!

Recommended Videos

For the last two weeks, the Barbie soundtrack has been the subject of great curiosity, as it’s filled to the brim with modern talents (including just Ken), including two “Unknown” artists. After Billie Eilish was revealed to be one of them, we were still left wondering, after all this fanfare: who the hell could the last person be??

Lo and behold, it’s none other than Sam Smith!

Admittedly, I’m not super familiar with Smith’s work, but from what little I’ve seen, I think this was an expert choice. While Smith doesn’t have the same level of notoriety as other artists people were hoping for—such as Beyoncé or Lady Gaga—they have a very clever, cheeky, and delightfully pink sensibility to their work. Plus, every song I’ve heard from them is incredibly danceable and full of fun, powerful energy. So this is a pick I can fully get behind!

My main point of reference is, of course, their SNL performance, which had me gagged as an uninitiated fan:

Moreover, the fact that Smith’s energy will specifically be directed toward portraying Ken??? Oh my god. I can’t wait to see it in context, because thus far, I can’t really wrap my head around Ryan Gosling’s Ken as a sexual being whatsoever. He’s like that meme of a himbo who doesn’t know what sex is, yet somehow also has sex. If that makes sense.

Who else would you have loved to see on the Barbie soundtrack? Let us know in the comments!

(featured image: Capitol Records)


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Madeline Carpou
Madeline Carpou
Madeline (she/her) is a staff writer with a focus on AANHPI and mixed-race representation. She enjoys covering a wide variety of topics, but her primary beats are music and gaming. Her journey into digital media began in college, primarily regarding audio: in 2018, she started producing her own music, which helped her secure a radio show and co-produce a local history podcast through 2019 and 2020. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz summa cum laude, her focus shifted to digital writing, where she's happy to say her History degree has certainly come in handy! When she's not working, she enjoys taking long walks, playing the guitar, and writing her own little stories (which may or may not ever see the light of day).