April 4 saw the release of the latest trailer for Greta Gerwig's Barbie, set to be released in July 2023. With a star-studded cast, the film is full of killer styles and iconic pastel aesthetics. Twitter had a lot to say about the trailer, especially regarding Ryan Gosling's take on Ken. Keen-eyed viewers also pointed to the attention to detail present in the trailer. There are many missable details highlighting that Barbie does indeed live in a "Barbie World".
While Barbie dates back to the late 1950s, the 1990s are an important era in the toy's history. Barbie took on a whole new veneer during the decade. Highlights included television programming and of course, Aqua's iconic 1997 earworm, Barbie Girl. But a forgotten gem of the 1990s Barbie craze was brought to the forefront by its creator in the wake of the Barbie trailer.
Missy Elliott Calls BeepMe911 Look "Ahead Of The Game"
In 1998, then-28-year-old Missy Elliott released BeepMe911 along with a unique music video. In the video Elliott, along with featuring vocalist 702 and Maggo, were dressed and styled like Barbie dolls. The video's choreography also features staccato movement to simulate the rigid movement of a Barbie doll. But as Elliott notes in her Instagram post on the subject, "some folks clowned me...for doing a Barbie style". Elliott goes on to say that she remembers "crying" as a result of the video's response. However, the industry legend rallies as she reflects, "I realized I was just years ahead of the game". 25 years later, Elliott has introduced BeepMe911 to a brand-new audience. And all because Margot Robbie is starring in a Barbie movie. Here's hoping the video now gets the respect it deserves.
BeepMe911 was not a smash hit for Elliott, peaking at #13 in the R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart. However, it was part of Elliott's debut album, Supa Dupa Fly, which launched the iconic truly Songwriter Hall of Famer's career. But while not one of her best-known hits, the song and video highlight Elliott's creativity and style. However, Elliott's post is a great reminder of times gone by, and proof that some concepts are, as she put it, ahead of the game.
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