Giovanni Bianco, in addition to Steven Klein (who directed Minaj’s companion single, “Chun-Li“), is a longtime collaborator of Madonna’s in terms of art direction (most notably for The Re-Invention Tour), which is perhaps why Minaj entrusted him with the aesthetic of her “Barbie Tingz” video, an homage in many regards to “Vogue” that also manages to school Bruno Mars and Cardi B on how a 90s throwback look should come across (which is to say, not completely contrived).
At first luring us in with her various sartorial presentations that find her in everything from a Fendi jacket and coordinating thong to a neo-Barbie on a string getup to a 60s “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” pink prom dress sort of look, Minaj, who co-directed with Bianco, finally builds up toward the shot that managed to serve as the album artwork for the single: that of her as a somewhat demure (as in not overly gaudy) Marie Antoinette figure with five masked courtesans behind her. And though this costume change only appears twice in the video–far less than the other incarnations presented, including a Hard Candy-esque boxing outfit–there can be no denying where the influence of these “re-worked” eighteenth century vibes came from, even if it was unintentional (for Minaj is more than a one-time collaborator with Madonna, working on “Give Me All Your Luvin'”, “I Don’t Give A…” and “Bitch I’m Madonna” with her, the latter of which she apparently took to heart). And while Minaj might spit, “Let’s be real, all you bitches wanna look like me/Wanna be in demand, get booked like me/Wanna run up in the lab and cook like me/But ain’t none you hoes’ pussy good like me,” it is Madonna whose look is being copped. And, on a side note, why must Cardi and Nicki always talk about how good their pussy is? Methinks the ladies doth insist too much. In any case, thanks Madonna, for, as usual, contributing to someone else’s pastiche. Herself the original connoisseur of knowing how to wield this method from other artworks.
