Barbie's been a rock star, an astronaut, a doctor and a supermodel. What she has never been is someone who would sing a subversive song.

And that remains so. This week, Mattel released Barbie's first music video with music set to 1997's "Barbie Girl." The song, made famous by Danish group Aqua, is a cheeky critique of materialism and female disenfranchisement; Mattel's tweaked 2009 version is a you-go-girl anthem for the post-Bratz, post-Pussy Cat Dolls generation.

The original lyrics are more bitingly critical than many give it credit for. Beneath the neon-bright synth pop, the female singer is little more than an accessory in a rich man's life, trapped in a life that should be thrilling yet feels empty. Mattel replaced the original verse "You can brush my hair / Undress me everywhere," with the more appropriately inspirational "You can be a star / No matter who you are."

   "Cutie" Fashionista Barbie

Let us backtrack: In 1997, one-hit-wonders Aqua hit the MTV airwaves with a bubblegum pop song, "Barbie Girl." Barbie owner Mattel smacked Aqua and its label MCA with a copyright infringement lawsuit that lasted until 2002 when Judge Alex Kozinski ruled in favor of Aqua. Judge Kozinski ended the wrangling with the most awesome legal scolding ever: "The parties are advised to chill."

Fast forward to 2009, the year of Barbie's 50th birthday. During February's New York fashion shows, the Barbie runway show was among the hottest fashion week tickets, and the show's exuberance was memorable among a season of mostly somber presentations. The pumping Barbie runway soundtrack, included ELO, Madonna and... Aqua. In fact, Aqua closed out the final runway strut as pink heart confetti rained down on guests.

It was no fluke. "There's nothing more iconic than that song," Barbie Senior Vice President of Marketing, Stephanie Cota says. "Yes, there's an interesting history with Mattel and Aqua. But one of the things that's great about Barbie is that she's had 50 years to figure herself out. "

The song "is such the epitome of Barbie. It's a fun, kicky upbeat song," she added. "We've re-written the lyrics ever so slightly. There's a bit of girl empowerment that gets infused in there."

The video is a platform for the new Barbie Fashionista line, which will hit stores in October. The dolls have new points of articulation, with twistable ankles, knees and wrists. In order to show off the dolls' flexibility, Mattel commissioned JaQuel Knight to create a dance video that premiered on Barbie's YouTube channel. (The 20-year-old choreographer is nominated for MTV's 2009 Best Choreographer award for his work on Beyonce's hit "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).") A second video demonstrates a step-by-step how-to by Knight.

"Barbie has been in the marketplace for 50 years. When you're around for a little while, you tend to reinvent yourself along the way," Cota says. To wit: Barbie's on Twitter.