Released as a bonus digital track on Barbie The Album (Best Weekend Ever Edition) , Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile recorded a new version of the Indigo Girls classic Closer To Fine. Written by Amy Ray and Emily Sailers from the Indigo Girls.
A slower more melancholy take, it’s a sparse acoustic version vs the original.
The original track by the Indigo Girls featured heavily in the Barbie movie trailer, (but doesn’t feature on the original soundtrack).
The song is produced by Brandi Carlile, and engineered by Brandon Bell. Brandi Carlile’s version has playing guitar, piano, keys, banjo and Moog on the track. Guest musicians are Matt Chamberlain on drums and Dave Mackay on keys.
It’s only available as a digital track and limited release of a Best Weekend Ever Edition CDr from the Barbie movie store – The song was not released on the ‘main’ soundtrack. There is a new vinyl version coming out November 2023 on Pink vinyl.
In a promo for her producing credits Brandi Carlile says
I’m the biggest Indigo Girls’ fan on the planet. I have probably heard this song over a thousand times. Sung the verse about the bar on stage mabye over a hundred! The up-tempo hopeful OG interpretation of this lyric is ubiquitous among seekers and free thinkers the world over! As I’ve gotten older, my understanding of the lyrics has become very gentle…I wanted to offer an interpretation on seeking from a sweeter place than where I was when I first needed this anthem in my life. “It’s only life after all”… with a bit less of it in front of us just hits different now, you know? The production is designed to feel like a celebration….but an emotional and contemplative one.”
