Set in five movements, What's That Spell? uses two soprano soloists to portray Barbie dolls accompanied by a chamber orchestra with a rock & roll rhythm section.

Movement 1 begins with a commonly known cheer in which one soprano seductively asks the other soprano to give her the letters B, A, R, B, I, and E with a seedy jazz bass line in the background. After asking "What's that spell?" the two sopranos are propelled into soaring and high repetitions of the name Barbie. This is complemented by rock & roll music from the orchestra and is quite catchy. Alternating with each other on the word Barbie and the question "what's that spell," this two-minute movement is over quickly.

Movement 2, "Ballerina," begins with dance like rhythms having a neo-classical flavor. After rising to a glissando-riddled climax, the music slows down and becomes legato and beautiful with the sopranos singing "Ballerina dance for me."

In the third movement "Drum Majorette," the singers make drum-like sounds with rolled R's and quick repetition of D sounds which, along with the orchestra, mimic marching band music.

"Oh Ken" interprets Barbie's love for the Ken doll in a romantic slow movement. The sopranos croon solemnly and bluesily, philosophizing on what they will do since they are in love with Ken but are made out of plastic.

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