Nostalgia Nook—Barbie and the Rockers

Barbie.

She can do anything, can’t she? I think most girls grew up with at least one Barbie. There is even a phase all little girls go through at one point—for about two years, our Barbies are naked. Or they have very interesting clothing options (mine only wore skirts. Just skirts). But Barbie could do anything and everything.

And that includes singing in a band in her own animated movie (?). And thus “Barbie and the Rockers” was born.

An overabundance of pink and SPOILERS! follow.

Barbie and the Rockers are they “It” band. They perform sold out concerts across the world and look 80’s-tastic. Ken is in the band as well as three other girls and one guy who never really get names. They’re not that important. Anyway, there is some filler with Barbie and Ken going to some party and filled with the usual 80s clothing montage. There, Barbie receives an invitation to do a concert…IN SPACE! She agrees and tells the others that they are doing this. So, Barbie’s the tyrant and they are her monkeys.

They go into space with very little preparation space-travel wise. They arrive at a space station where they are going to give their concert. And it’s broadcast ALL over the world because it’s for world peace! (Okay, I am doing my best to not be cynical and snarky). The concert is a huge success and Team Barbie must return to earth.

They board their shuttle (which is pink, natch) and rock out on their way home. They are so busy singing, they don’t notice when they enter the Doctor Who credits. Seriously, that’s what my friends and I thought it looked like the last time we watched it. We then started to joke about Barbie being a Time Lord complete with Companion Ken (sold separately).

Whoever drew these scenes was not only a Doctor Who fan but a fan of Dali as melted clocks appear everywhere. Barbie notes they are moving backward before they come out by Earth. Barbie contacts ground control, getting permission to land. They re-enter earth’s atmosphere and land at an air field, where they notice the cars and planes look pretty old. A young girl runs up to them, surprised to see their air craft, as is her father. Her name is Kim and she tells them it is 1959, which makes one wonder how Barbie was able to contact ground control from space?

The gang takes being in 1959 really, really well. And Kim and her father take their story about being from the future really, really well. Kim is lonely and has no friends, so she hangs out with a bunch of 20-somethings. Because that it isn’t creepy at all! Barbie and the gang get makeovers and there is more innuendo than in He-Man! They go to the ice cream shop, where they perform a song. Because Barbie’s band can adapt to any music. Heck, I bet if you threw them into the medieval world, they would be the best at Gregorian chanting as well.

Anyway, Barbie takes the world by storm! Of course! We see her getting more popular with no question on how this could affect the future. They get invited to sing at the opening of Cape Canaveral…Despite the fact that it is still clearly 1959 and Cape Canaveral had been in use for a few years already. Kim’s dad has discovered a way to send Barbie back to the future. And off she goes after her concert, first giving Kim a locket to remember her by.

Barbie and her team arrive back on Earth with no one being any wiser, despite the fact they are still wearing their 50’s getup. They deliver one more song as Barbie and an older Kim are reunited.

And that was Barbie and the Rockers. How does it hold up? Well, considering I had to try keep my sarcastic mode off, not really. It’s cheesy and completely dated, even if they don’t establish a year in the first half of the special. However, it does fall into “So bad it’s funny” category. So, if you want a good laugh, give it a watch!

Yes, this is a few days late. I’m thrown off on my schedule. Hopefully, I’ll get back on it soon.

Next month: American Girl (books)