Billie Eilish’s ‘Barbie’ Hit ‘What Was I Made For?’ Wins Best Original Song at Golden Globes

The Barbie movie soundtrack had one of the most recognizable lists of musicians ever. On Sunday, Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” won the award for Best Original Song at the 2024 Golden Globes. Both Eilish and her brother Finneas, who wrote the song together, took the stage to accept the award.

During her acceptance speech, Eilish recalled seeing a cut of Barbie for the first time a year ago, noting, “I was very, very miserable and depressed at the time. And writing that song kind of saved me a little bit. A year later, and here we are, and it’s really surreal. I feel incredibly, incredibly lucky and grateful.”

Eilish was one of the surprise contributors to the Barbie soundtrack after not appearing in a Coachella-style lineup announcement before the movie was released. As it turns out, the pop star not only has a deep affinity for Barbie, but, as her brother-collaborator Finneas pointed out, has a vast knowledge of the extended Barbie universe and its lore. 

During a Hollywood Reporter roundtable with other artists, Eilish revealed that the song’s composition was preceded by a bout of writer’s block.

“I honestly was concerned that it was over for me,” said Eilish, who would go on to direct the one-take music video for the single. “We’d been trying, and it wasn’t doing what it usually would do in me. I was honestly like, ‘Damn, maybe I hit my peak and I don’t know how to write anymore?’”

The song is up for five Grammys, including Song of the Year. It also placed ninth on Rolling Stone‘s 100 Best Songs of 2023. She also performed the song on Saturday Night Live last month.

“What Was I Made For?” was nominated against two other Barbie soundtrack songs, “I’m Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling and “Dance the Night Away” by Dua Lipa, along with Bruce Springsteen’s “Addicted to Romance” from She Came to Me, Jack Black’s “Peaches” from Super Mario, and Lenny Kravitz’s “Road to Freedom” from Rustin.

The Barbie film received the most nominations of the night, with nine. The movie is up for Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture and Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, while Margot Robbie is up for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, and Ryan Gosling is up for Best Supporting Actor.

Additionally, Greta Gerwig was nominated for Best Director, along with Best Screenplay alongside Noah Baumbach.

Jo Koy is hosting the 81st Golden Globe Awards from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on CBS. This is the first year that Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge Industries take control of the awards show after the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 

From Rolling Stone US.