Barbie "Brooklyn" Roberts released her first music video of the year -- and it's called "Legacy." In good ol' Barbie fashion the video is bright, colorful, and highlights moments from Brooklyn's life. We liked the message behind the 2-minute song, which is to honor the ones who came before us by gifting the world with our very best. Barbie's tribute compliments the brand's goal to encourage all girls that "they can be anything."
Released on YouTube on February 1, 2024, the video received over 1.3 million views, and close to 900 likes by the end of the month. You can watch the video and read the lyrics below:
"I come from a rich, rich history
My roots are strong
Yeah they run deep
I feel it in the rhythm with my feet
Ba Ba Bump
Ba Ba Bump Bump Baa
Every generation's story
I'm not the branch, in my family tree
I hear it in the melodies I sing
La la la la la
Passed down from heart to heart
We all play a little part
*and I'll do my best to play along
Cuz I'm building my my my legacy
I get to make my own history
L-E-G-A-C-Y Legacy
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
It's my legacy
I'm building my my my legacy
I get to make my own history
L-E-G-A-C-Y Legacy
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
It's my legacy
It's my turn to reach for the stars
And I feel them cheering me on
They're with me keeping me strong
Ra Ra Ra Ra Ra
Passed down from heart to heart
We all play a little part
*and I'll do my best to play along
Cuz I'm building my my my legacy
I get to make my own history
L-E-G-A-C-Y Legacy
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
It's my legacy
*Oh I remember the stars I'm giving them credit
I'm so thankful for all they did
Now it's my time, I'm ready, I'm ready
*[...]
Oh Oh
Cuz I'm building my my legacy
I get to make my own history
L-E-G-A-C-Y Legacy
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
It's my legacy"
*Unclear lyrics
Did You Know?
Screenshot of "Legacy" playing on iphone
As of the writing of this post, "Legacy" is Barbie's second most popular song on Amazon music. You can check it out here. It's beat by a 2014 song called "Mermaid Party." For reference Barbie released 10 singles in 2023, and 7 in 2022.
What Legacy is Barbie Trying To Leave?
Barbie has been a well-renowned international brand for decades. We appreciate how strategic and purposeful the company is when it comes to sharing its ideas with the world. And this creativity and playfulness is what fosters the love for the Barbie brand.
A big part of her legacy is embracing a modern multi-media approach. For example, in addition to selling the "Legacy" single on all streaming platforms (including Amazon and Apple Music), Mattel (Barbie's parent company) also partnered with a well-known YouTuber with 3.3 million subscribers. Gracie's Corner is a kid-friendly YouTube channel that created a reaction video starring herself, her little sister, mom and dad dancing to the song. It was released a day later on February 2, 2024 and received over a million views by the end of the month.
Screenshot of Gracie from Gracie's Corner on YouTube dancing to "Legacy"
On February 17, 2023, Barbie also released an MTV-styled World Premiere on her Instagram. It features a Barbie doll wearing pink extensions, while dancing beside two backup dancers.
After the snippet, Barbie is interviewed by Ken. He asks her to tell the audience about her hopes for the song. This time you'll see a Poetic Justice-inspired Barbie with hoop earrings and a nose ring deliver the response.
We're super impressed with how much detail went into creating unique content for every platform the song was released on. The Barbie team used animation, a reaction video, stop motion, wardrobe changes, gorgeous art, and fun to launch a super catchy song with intentional lyrics. What was your reaction to Barbie's new song? What legacy (if any) has it inspired you to leave?