Today I‘d like to share some songs about dolls and their unique charms. From the classic “Doll parts by hole“ to the more contemporary “Barbie Girl“, dolls in music are often portrayed as playful, fun and free–spirited, conveying a sense of whimsy and innocence.
Whether they be porcelain or ragdoll, each song tells its own story, enriching our world with a colorful variety of melodies and stories. So sit back and enjoy some of these timeless songs about dolls!
6 Top Songs About Dolls
1. ‘Barbie Girl’ by Aqua
“Barbie Girl” is almost certainly going to be the first song that comes to anyone’s mind when they are asked to mention songs about Dolls.
There is no denying that “Barbie Girl” by Aqua is a timeless classic, and it never fails to bring a lot of childhood memories for a lot of adults who are now fully grown up.
The song would always come to mind and be brought up at some point whenever the famous doll was discussed.
When I was a kid, however, that song had a completely different meaning to me, but as an adult, I’ve realized that the lyrics have an entirely new significance.
If you take the time to read the lyrics to the timeless classic released in 1997, you will discover that the once lighthearted song about a child’s doll actually has a rather sinister message.
Therefore, all of you who adore Barbie and Ken should get ready for a significant shift in the way you think about them.
After a brief introduction in which Ken and Barbie discuss their desire to go for a ride, the song continues with the following lyrics: “I live in the world of Barbies and I am a Barbie girl. Living a life made of plastic must be amazing ” You are free to comb my hair and undress me in any way you see fit”.
To say the least, this is a little unsettling.
It is likely that Barbie is conversing with Ken, and if that is the case, then good for her. Bear in mind, however, that this is a children’s song, and that Barbie is instructing Ken to “undress her everywhere” in the chorus.
It’s possible that the song wouldn’t be as terrible if it weren’t such a popular song and such a pop anthem for such a large number of children; however, this song has more than a billion views on YouTube and more than 300 million streams on Spotify.
The next lyric in the song goes as follows: “I’m a blonde bimbo in a fantasy world.”
Dress me up, and make it as fit as you can because I’m your dolly. Hanky panky, make out with me, kiss me here, touch me there.”
The fact that they used the word “bimbo” in the first place is already problematic enough; therefore, the fewer interpretations that can be drawn from the second line, the better.
For the benefit of those who haven’t quite grasped the concept just yet, Barbie is essentially stating that Ken is free to do as he pleases.
Sincere apologies are all that we can offer in the event that we have just ruined your childhood.
2. John Mayer Paper Doll
Mayer penned this song in retaliation to “Dear John,” which Swift reportedly wrote about their relationship. In an interview, Mayer revealed that the humiliation by”Dear John” lasted for years.
Mayer said, “That is cheap songwriting” because of how bluntly it confronted him about how he “gave love and took it away” and how she “regretted when they said run as fast as you can” away from Mayer because of his reputation.
In “Paper Doll,” Mayer responds, “my love didn’t cost a thing,” indicating that he does not regret what they had.
His response is a more considerate action, which stands in contrast to Swift’s art, which is so emotive and points the blame at others. This is one of the songs about dolls that reflects on a lot of things.
3. The Mills Brothers’ “Paper Doll”
The Mills Brothers’ song “Paper Doll” is about a person who has experienced heartbreak in love and as a result has developed a cynical perspective on romantic partnerships as a result of their experience.
The musician claims that he would prefer to have a paper doll, which is a representation of a person who does not actually exist, rather than a girl who exists in real life.
He refers to real women as “fickle-minded” in an allusion to the fact that they have a propensity to abandon him.
He finds the idea of a paper doll to be more appealing because it gives him the freedom to decide when and how he will interact with her, while also providing him with the assurance that she will still be there when he returns.
The song is an open and honest expression of the longing of a lonely heart for someone to love, but it is also a plea for freedom from the anguish that comes from being in a relationship by seeking solace in imaginary companions.
4. Polly Wolly Doodle Folksongs
The song Polly Wolly Doodle has been popular with children since the 19th century. Dan Emmett sang it for the first time in 1843 at New York’s Bowery Amphitheatre. Its written form was first seen in 1880, in a Harvard songbook.
There is no clear meaning to the lyrics, and “Polly Wolly” could just be a made-up name; yet, the song is generally accepted as having its origins in a southern slave hymn.
Many artists have put their own spin on the song, but none more so than Shirley Temple in “The Littlest Rebel” (1935). In the 1970s, the band Boney M recorded a success with “Hooray, Hooray, It’s a Holi-Holiday,” which featured the same melody.
5. Doll Parts: Hole
The song was written in 1991, shortly after Love had met Cobain, and it addresses her concerns about their relationship.
Love believed that a rock star like him could have any girl he wanted at the time, which is why the lyrics reflect Love’s belief that their courtship could only end in her experiencing heartache. At the time, Kurt Cobain had just reached the pinnacle of his career.
The guitar is played with restraint, and the drum beat is kept deliberately uncomplicated. The instrumental portion of the track is thoughtful and sincere.
This is one of those songs in which the pauses and quiet sections convey just as much meaning as the music itself does.
The song’s use of the doll as a motif stems from a present that Kurt Cobain gave to his ex-girlfriend; it was a heart-shaped box (which served as the inspiration for the Nirvana song of the same name) that contained a porcelain doll.
The doll came to represent an artificiality and lack of reality. While the song’s desolate guitar was initially meant to complement its themes of insecurity, Kurt Cobain’s death (which occurred after the song was recorded but before the album was released) gave it an even more painful poignancy.
Studying the lyrics with the knowledge of how their relationship ended is a thing that is powerfully tragic, which makes the track an unfortunate example of how context can affect music.
6. Melanie Martinez’s “Dollhouse”
Last on our list of songs about dolls is dollhouse by Melanie Martinez. In the song “Dollhouse,” Melanie sings from the perspective of a little girl whose chaotic home situation compels her to seek refuge in the world of her miniature dollhouse.
The family of Melanie’s alter persona is the focus of the song “Dollhouse.” It is revealed that the alter ego’s mother is an alcoholic as a result of her husband’s extramarital affair and the alter ego’s sibling smoking cannabis.
The persona’s alter ego, whom she calls Cry Baby, is the only one who is aware of how terrible her circumstances are. Cry Baby wants that others would comprehend the truth of her situation.
Cry Baby and her family are depicted as dolls throughout the song video. This serves as a metaphor for how Cry Baby’s family strives to appear flawless to the outside world.
This song can also be used to express how ordinary people feel towards famous persons. Melanie stated same sentiments in an interview, saying, “People keep them in glass boxes and think they are ideal, and when something happens that indicates when they are humans, people don’t like it.”
The young child who stars in the song video is seen playing with a dollhouse throughout the clip. It depicts the members of Cry Baby’s family in a variety of settings.
The father is currently involved in an extramarital affair, the son is high on pot, and the mother is dozing off on the couch.
