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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Tuesday 18 July 2023

How the ‘Barbie’ soundtrack came together, according to

mastermind Mark Ronson

By MARIA SHERMAN Early on, Gerwig used the
AP Music Writer Bee Gees and ‘70s discos
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mark as a reference point for
Ronson is showing off his Ronson.
Barbies. “You know the Chicago
Scattered throughout (Disco Demolition) thing,
his studio, the executive where everyone burned
producer of the “Barbie” their disco records, “Sat-
soundtrack and a musi- urday Night Fever” had
cal polymath known for reached its apex and the
his work with artists like poor Bee Gees were like,
Amy Winehouse and Lady ‘All we wanted to do was
Gaga has a few “leftovers” make people dance! What
scattered across the room. did we do wrong?’” says
One doll is placed in a Ronson. “That’s ‘Barbie.’”
permanent split, stretched If anything, that idea is
across a Moog synthesizer. more of a thematic one
Another is styled to look like This mage released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ryan Gosling, left, and Margot Robbie in a than a sonic guideline. The
primatologist Jane Good- scene from “Barbie.” mood board was vast, and
all. Associated Press also included “Dolly Parton,
“I went to Toys R Us and I The music supervisor on the “self-aware, bombastic silli- he only contributed lyrics Olivia Newton John, ‘Nine
couldn’t find a single Ken,” project, George Drakou- ness,” as Ronson calls it). to fill in gaps the “surface, to Five,’” Ronson explains.
he laughs. Fittingly, “that’s lias, shot Ronson a quick, The former came first. Ron- don’t hurt us,” line, as he re- It speaks to why the “Bar-
the theme of the movie.” “Barbie?” Ronson read the son came up with a chorus calls. But for the song that bie” soundtrack spans
Mattel HQ did end up send- script and was in. He also and beat a detour from his would become Ryan Gos- pop genres, including a
ing over a few; the Ken that scored “Barbie” with col- first, far too obvious plan on ling’s “I’m Just Ken,” Ron- reggaeton track courtesy
remains in Ronson’s studio laborator Andrew Wyatt. writing “’80s, sugar-y pop,” son couldn’t shake the lyr- Karol G, “Watati,” bubble-
is, appropriately, shirtless. Ronson is no stranger to and instead landing on ic: “I’m just Ken, anywhere gum K-pop from girl group
Finding the sound of “Bar- working on music for film, a “groovy, melodic thing else I’d be a 10.” Fifty Fifty featuring Kaliii in
bie,” poised to become but executive producing … with some toughness,” So he sent director Greta “Barbie Dreams,” and the
one of 2023’s biggest a soundtrack album and perfect for Dua Lipa. It be- Gerwig a demo with a few falsetto-led piano ballad
blockbusters, required scoring an entire movie, let came “Dance the Night,” lines including a deliciously “What Was I Made For?” by
careful consideration and alone, a movie of this size, the Lipa track featured in mouthy lyric about “blonde Billie Eilish.
research for a film with was new territory. “It was a the film’s main trailer. fragility.” She sent it to Gos- For Atlantic Records, who
such a rich visual palette. lot of learning on the job,” The Ken song came about ling, who plays Ken in the released the soundtrack,
In the end, he produced he says. The soundtrack as- differently. For the most film, and knew immediately collaboration and diversity
a stacked soundtrack that signment began with two part, Ronson works on in- he needed to sing it. What was key.
included Lizzo, Billie Eilish, tracks: a pop song for a strumentals: When he wrote could have soundtracked “All of these artists were
Dua Lipa (who also acts in big dance number and an “Shallow” with Lady Gaga any scene in the film be- brought in early on to do
the movie) and more. ‘80s power ballad for Ken and Bradley Cooper for “A came its own musical mo- screenings with Mark, Gre-
But it started with a simple (name a genre with more Star Is Born,” for example, ment. ta, and the filmmakers. q
text message.

Child star Mia Armstrong is working

on a picture book

By The Associated Press kids see the world as she friend. My dream is for ‘I Am
NEW YORK (AP) — Child star sees it. a Masterpiece!” to help
and activist Mia Armstrong Armstrong has spoken of- kids everywhere recognize
has a picture book coming ten about Down syndrome, that people with Down syn-
out next year about her ex- and has called it her “su- drome are capable, strong
periences with Down syn- perpower.” and unique and that all
drome, what her publisher “I wrote this story because people deserve to be ac-
calls “all the joys and chal- I want to inspire other peo- cepted and loved.”
lenges.” ple to love their own stories Armstrong is the first child
Random House Children’s and be proud of who they with Down syndrome to
Books announced Mon- are,” the 12-year-old Arm- provide the voice for a
day that Armstrong’s “I strong said in a statement. cartoon character, the su-
Am a Masterpiece!” will “Down syndrome does not perhero Eon on the Netflix
be released next January. define me and is just one show “Action Pack.”
Illustrated by Alexandra small part of who I am. I’m Her other credits include
Thompson and co-written also an actress, a model, “Hello Jack! The Kindness
by Armstrong and author a voiceover artist, a rock Show” and “Carol of the This book cover image released by Penguin Random House
Marissa Moss, the book is climber, a thrill seeker, a Bells.”q shows “I Am a Masterpiece!” by Mia Armstrong. Associated Press
Armstrong’s way of helping daughter, a sister, and a