MusicNewsWatch the new video for Charli XCX’s Barbie banger, ‘Speed Drive’Charli and Devon Lee Carlson race a pink Corvette in the official Barbie the Album visuals, with a surprise cameo from Sam SmithShareLink copied ✔️August 16, 2023MusicNewsTextThom Waite As a pioneer of pink-tinged hyperpop, Charli XCX was a fitting addition to Greta Gerwig’s stacked Barbie soundtrack when the film released last month. ICYMI, her song “Speed Drive” accompanied a high octane chase scene in the IRL Los Angeles beyond the borders of Barbieland, drawing on all the expertise of her Vroom Vroom era. But if that wasn’t already enough, the official video has now dropped, putting Charli back in the driver’s seat. Co-directed by Charli and Ramez Silyan, the new video for “Speed Drive” sees the musician join Devon Lee Carlson – as in, “Kawaii like we’re in Tokyo / Devon Lee smile, teeth a white row” – in a pink Corvette convertible, drifting through an industrial wasteland under the Californian sun. In a brief cameo, Sam Smith also appears on Charli’s flip phone, interrupting the shoot to discuss the details of the pair’s upcoming (as-yet-untitled) collaboration. Then it’s back to the action, which – if you’ve been paying any attention to Charli’s recent releases – ends exactly as you’d expect. Appearing on Barbie the Album alongside original tracks by Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Lizzo, PinkPantheress, and more, “Speed Drive” has already clocked more than 70 million global streams. It’s not Charli’s first foray into film, either, having written the official song – “Hot Girl” – for A24’s Rachel Sennott-starring Bodies Bodies Bodies. This year, Charli is set to contribute another pop banger to the soundtrack of lesbian fight club film Bottoms, and will team up with Jack Antonoff for the soundtrack of Mother Mary, an upcoming “pop melodrama” starring Michaela Coel. In front of the camera, meanwhile, she’s set to make her acting debut in cult 70s horror reboot Faces of Death. In the meantime, you can watch the new video for “Speed Drive” above. Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREBloodz Boi: The humble godfather of Chinese underground rapA rare interview with POiSON GiRL FRiEND, dream pop’s future seerNigeria’s Blaqbonez is rapping to ‘beat his high score’Inside Erika de Casier’s shimmering R&B universe ‘Rap saved my life’: A hazy conversation with MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt7 essential albums by the SoulquariansIs AI really the future of music?The KPop Demon Hunters directors on fan theories and a potential sequelplaybody: The club night bringing connection back to the dancefloorAn interview with IC3PEAK, the band Putin couldn’t silenceFrost Children answer the dA-Zed quizThe 5 best features from PinkPantheress’ new remix album