Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision- September 7, 2023
This is Part II of a six part pancocojams series on Black Barbie dolls and/or some songs that refer to Barbie
This post focuses on the 2008 song "Black Barbie" by Lil Jackie, including a biography of "Little Jackie", the lyrics to the song, "Black Barbie", my critique of that song, and an excerpt from a much more favorable online article about that song.
WARNING: Parental Advisory is recommended for this song because its lyrics promote a false and dangerous "Barbie aesthetics" and include other problematic content. Read my critique below.
This post doesn't include a video of this song because of that song's problematic content.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/black-representation-in-barbie-doll.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases three videos of Black representation in the Barbie doll line and presents excerpts from two online articles about Black Barbie dolls.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/nicki-minajs-2018-song-black-barbies.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. This post focuses on the 2018 song "Black Barbies" by Nicki Minaj, including information and comments about the controversary about non-Black people singing the lyrics to "Black Barbies" on online social media sites.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/barbie-world-by-aqua-1997-barbie-world.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post showcases the 1997 official YouTube video of "Barbie World" by Aqua and the 2023 official YouTube video of "Barbie World" by Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (with Aqua). This post also includes an excerpt about Barbie dolls and Black girls.
WARNING: The 2023 song "Barbie World" by Nicki Minaj featuring Ice Spice contains profanity.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/lil-kims-black-barbie-aesthetic.html for Part V of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Lil Kim, an article excerpt, and discussion thread comments about Lil Kim's Black Barbie aesthetics.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/nicki-minajs-black-barbie-aesthetic.html for Part VI of this pancocojams series.
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The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Lil Jackie for this song and thanks all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Because pancocojams is a family friendly blog, no Nicki Minaj videos (except for "Barbie World") and no Lil Kim videos are included in this pancocojams series.
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INFORMATION ABOUT "LITTLE JACKIE"
Online excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Jackie
"Little Jackie is an American musical duo consisting of Imani
Coppola and Adam Pallin. Little Jackie, which derives its name from the 1989
hit song "Little Jackie Wants to Be a Star" by Lisa Lisa and Cult
Jam, released a hit single in 2008 called "The World Should Revolve Around
Me" from their debut album The Stoop.[1][2]
Background
Coppola was a solo singer, whose most successful single was
"Legend of a Cowgirl", from the 1997 album Chupacabra.[3] Adam Pallin
is the programmer and producer of the duo.
In 2008, Coppola and Pallin signed a contract with S-Curve, an independent label owned by Steve Greenberg, to release an album.[4] This coincided with the duo's television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[4] Coppola originally signed as a solo act with Columbia Records.[5][6]
On August 3, 2011 Little Jackie digitally released their second album, Made4TV, on Bandcamp. They digitally released their third album, Queen of Prospect Park, in 2014. They released their fourth album, Nothing Worth Listening To Part 1. I Don't Need a Therapist I Have Keith on August 22, 2022.
Origin: New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres: Indie pop,
R&B
Years active: 2008–present"...
****
From https://www.soultracks.com/little_jackie
"Official Bio (courtesy of Little Jackie)
Blend the old-school R&B sound with a quirky hybrid of hip-hop and pop and you get Little Jackie, the creation of genre-defying singer-songwriter Imani Coppola and programmer Adam Pallin. With a nod to the soulful Motown rhythms of the past and a sneer to many of the social and cultural issues that consume the public today, Coppola has crafted an album of musical sugar and spice, filled with sweet, saccharine-tinged melodies and spicy, bold commentaries.
Coppola had an early brush with fame when a demo she cut with Digable Planets producer Michael Mangini during her freshman year at the State University of New York landed her a record deal with Columbia Records. In 1997 the 19-year-old music composition major's debut record "Chubacabra" earned radio and MTV buzz with the cheeky, Neneh-Cherry-reminiscent lead single "Legend of a Cowgirl" and her dynamic NYC persona was introduced to mainstream America.
Little Jackie is Imani's return to center stage. The Long Island native, who was raised in a musical household by a black mother and white father who were both always playing and performing music, named the project after a mischievous little boy named Jackie who set her family's backyard on fire and fittingly after the Lisa Lisa Cult Jam song "Little Jackie Wants to Be a Star."
Coppola met Pallin, a Boston native who grew up listening to hip-hop and the golden oldies' his parents cranked during car rides, through Mangini. Pallin, who's worked on projects for Tom Jones and "American Idol" finalist Elliot Yamin, programmed and co-wrote the Little Jackie tracks with Mangini (who also produced the tracks), while Coppola wrote the melodies and lyrics, and produced the vocals.
With her music, Coppola has created a space where she's free to be herself. Fitting in has always been a struggle. "I have a unique take to look at both races," she says. "The only thing I can really speak for in this life is as a woman." "
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LYRICS - "BLACK BARBIE"
(Little Jackie, 2008)
[Verse 1]
I'm just like black Barbie
The life of the party
I light up the TV
Arrested for DWI
Sent me to the slammer
Did time without glamor
Time stood still
Without my pain kill pills
Don't need a lawyer
I got Diana Sawyer
She'll interview me and prove
That I'm not guilty
I'm a reformed slut
I'm a much better woman
After the twelve step program
And now I can drink again
[Pre-Chorus]
Cheers to my publicist
For making me look like an angel
Cheers to the media
I'm back form hell with a story to tell
[Chorus]
Before I'd make believe
I'm a celebrity
All the boys wanna get with me
I am too sexy
I'm black Barbie
Up all night having fun
I love to party
Just like the white one
I believe
In make believe
I believe in make believe
Black Barbie, I love to party
Up all night having fun
Just like the white one
[Chorus]
I live the simple life
I am a socialite
I got no appetite
Ain't got no cellulite
Got a disorder
I eat all the time
I'm part Ethiopian
That's why I stay so thin
Yeah, I never ever
Had to watch my weight
Just call my publicist
She'll get my story straight
Went from a size 8 to a 0
Just like magic
I'm a weight loss hero
[Pre-Chorus]
Bon appetite, I promise I’ll eat
I'm a mess in a designer dress
I've been so distressed, I confess
But there's no such thing as bad press
[Chorus]
Before I'd make believe
I'm a celebrity
All the boys wanna get with me
I am too sexy
I'm black Barbie
Up all night having fun
I love to party
Just like the white one
I believe
In make believe
I believe in making believe
Black Barbie, I love to party
Up all night having fun
Just like the white one
[Bridge]
Cool, hot, I'm cool, I'm hot
I'm chilling and so slim
I live in a perfect world
I live in a perfect world
I live in a perfect world
I live in a perfect world
[Chorus]
Before I'd make believe
I'm a celebrity
All the boys wanna get with me
I am too sexy
I'm black Barbie
Up all night having fun
I love to party
Just like the white one
I believe
In make believe
I believe in make believe
Black Barbie, I love to party
Up all night having fun
Just like the white one
online source:
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MY CRIQUE OF THIS SONG
I believe that the lyrics for Little Jackie's "Black Barbie" are very problematic for these reasons:
1. The lyrics to Little Jackie's "Black Barbie" glorifies a hedonistic lifestyle as being how "White Barbie" lives. As such, the song further centers a form of "whiteness" as the preferred way of living for White people and for non-White people. That is problematic because it fits into and further strengthens the White racial default that exists in most of the world when there should be no racial or ethnic default.
References to hedonism in that song include partying and having fun all night long. The song also promotes being a celebrity, being sexy, being desired by "all the boys", believing in make believe as "living in the perfect world"
2. Little Jackie's song "Black Barbie" provides misinformation about alcoholism and misinformation about alcoholic support programs It begins with mentioning being arrested for DWI (driving while intoxicated), and indicates that attending a twelve step program (alcoholics support program) which makes it permissible to drink afterwards. That information is definitely false and dangerous.
3. Little Jackie's song "Black Barbie" promotes and/or gives misinformation about eating disorders. (talks about being "so slim", "went from a size 8 to a 0, being a weight loss hero", having no appetite, but eating a lot etc.
4. Little Jackie's song "Black Barbie" appears to minimizes the horrors of the (then current) famine in Ethiopia, East Africa with a reference to being part Ethiopian and therefore being thin.
-snip-
Read the article excerpt given next that reaches different conclusions about this song.
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ARTICLE EXCERPT ABOUT LITTLE JACKIE'S 2008 SONG "BLACK BARBIE"
From https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-black-barbie-by-little-jackie/ "The Meaning Behind The Song: Black Barbie by Little Jackie", Last Updated on August 27, 2023 / By Corey Hoffman
" "Black Barbie" is a song by the American music duo Little
Jackie, comprised of Imani Coppola and Adam Pallin. Released in 2008, the song
garnered attention with its catchy beats and thought-provoking lyrics. It
stands as a testament to the importance of self-love and defying societal
stereotypes.
The song explores the concept of being a “Black Barbie,” which is often associated with having a perfect, flawless appearance. However, Little Jackie challenges this notion and emphasizes the need for self-acceptance and embracing one’s uniqueness. The lyrics convey a message of empowerment, inspiring listeners to embrace their individuality and not conform to traditional beauty standards.
The song also delves into the topics of racial identity and the struggles faced by Black women in society. It confronts the issue of colorism, where lighter skin is often deemed more desirable than darker skin. Little Jackie seeks to challenge these harmful standards and encourages listeners to celebrate their own beauty, regardless of societal expectations.
Overall, Black Barbie serves as an anthem for self-acceptance, empowerment, and breaking free from societal norms. It promotes the idea that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Little Jackie’s bold and impactful lyrics make this song a powerful statement against the pressures of conformity and a reminder to embrace one’s true self.
[…]
The title “Black Barbie” highlights the juxtaposition
between society’s beauty ideals associated with a traditional Barbie doll and
the reality faced by Black women. It serves as a commentary on the limited
representation and narrow standards of beauty often portrayed in popular
culture.
4. How does “Black Barbie” address the issue of colorism?
“Black Barbie” addresses colorism by questioning and
challenging the biased beauty standards that perpetuate the belief that lighter
skin is more desirable than darker skin. The song calls for embracing and
celebrating all shades of beauty.
5. What message does Little Jackie hope to convey through “Black Barbie”?
Little Jackie hopes to convey a message of self-acceptance,
empowerment, and the importance of embracing one’s uniqueness. The song aims to
inspire listeners to redefine beauty on their own terms and to celebrate their
individuality"....
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MY CRITIQUE OF THIS SONG
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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.
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