Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell's Barbie blockbuster ballad "What Was I Made For?" clinched the Academy Award for Best Original Song, making Eilish the youngest person ever to win two Oscars. Eilish surpassed Luise Rainer's 1938 record.
O'Connell, aged 26, also joined the exclusive club of double Oscar winners, alongside luminaries like Hilary Swank and Jodie Foster. Their journey to Oscar success began with their first win in 2021 for No Time to Die
Eilish expressed gratitude in her acceptance speech, recognising the impact of the movie and the support of her team and family.
Eilish and Finneas beat out another Barbie cut, “I’m Just Ken,” as performed by Ryan Gosling and written by “Barbie the Album” executive producer Mark Ronson and his creative partner Andrew Wyatt.
Other songs in the category included:
Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson’s “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony
Diane Warren’s “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot
Scott George’s “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon
Chart success and cinematic significance
"What Was I Made For?" amassed an impressive collection of accolades. In 2024 alone, the song clinched a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and secured two Grammy awards. The recognition is remarkable considering the song's unconventional inspiration—a mere 11.5-inch-tall plastic doll.
The song also made waves on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, debuting at No. 34 and ultimately reaching No. 14.
In the movie, the song is a thematic anchor throughout the narrative. An instrumental rendition of the track recurs as a leitmotif, underscoring introspective and existential moments for the protagonist. While Billie Eilish's vocals are withheld until the final scene, the audience is primed for the song's emotional resonance, enhancing its impact and significance within the film's context.
