The ‘Barbie’ Soundtrack Seems Like a Lock for Grammys and Oscars: But Which Songs, and Which Awards?

The “Barbie” film and soundtrack album are such an embarrassment of riches that an equally massive bounty of Grammy and Academy awards seems like a foregone conclusion. But such awards don’t just happen — it’s an intricate, laborious, precisely timed dance of official submissions, lobbying, advertising campaigns and (so we’ve heard) insider machinations less-than-lovingly known as “FYC,” i.e. For Your Consideration.

So, Atlantic Records, which released the Mark Ronson-helmed “Barbie the Album” soundtrack, and Warner Bros. pictures have a challenge on their hands: Which songs to push for which awards, and which categories?

Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” may be the most musically resonant song in the film and album, but it’s a melancholy one; conversely, Dua Lipa’s disco-fied “Dance the Night” is lighthearted fun personified and lights up the dance scenes, but it’s maybe not as emotionally resonant. Nicki Minaj and Variety cover star Ice Spice’s “Barbie World” features hot verses and an interpolation of Aqua’s 1997 hit “Barbie Girl” (not to mention the subtext of Minaj’s fans being called “Barbz”).