Have Your Johnny Cash's Cover of ‘Barbie Girl’

As excitement builds for Greta Gerwig's live-action "Barbie" movie, a YouTube video has gone viral featuring the legendary Johnny Cash singing Aqua's iconic 1997 hit, "Barbie Girl." But, as you've probably guessed, it isn't all it seems ...

The culprit behind this musical mashup is YouTuber Dustin Ballard, the mastermind behind the channel "There, I Ruined It." Using some serious sorcery (or you know, AI voice models), Ballard has transformed Cash's signature baritone into a surprisingly convincing rendition of the sugary pop tune.

This isn't Ballard's first rodeo in the genre-bending realm. His channel boasts a collection of beloved songs reimagined in entirely new styles. Think Nirvana's "Come As You Are" as a toe-tapping swing number or a honky-tonk rendition of The Police's "Every Breath You Take."

The "Barbie Girl" video, which also throws in a healthy dose of Spice Girls' "Wannabe" and Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA," has racked up over 650,000 views (and likely a fair share of giggles).

Ballard, who started the channel during a pandemic-induced bout of musical boredom, describes his mission as "lovingly destroying" songs by twisting genres and melodies while keeping the original lyrics.

But beyond the entertainment value, Ballard's work touches on a fascinating intersection of technology and music. AI voice models offer a playground for creative expression, but they also raise questions about intellectual property rights. Back in April, an AI-generated song mimicking the styles of Drake and The Weeknd sparked a copyright controversy before being pulled from streaming platforms. This incident highlights the need for copyright law to adapt to the ever-evolving world of AI-powered music creation.

So, the next time you crave a bit of musical absurdity, head over to "There, I Ruined It" and see what classic gets its next genre-bending treatment. Just don't be surprised if Johnny Cash ends up singing about life in a plastic world.