I'm Just Ken
{{Short description|2023 song by Ryan Gosling}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name =
| type = song
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| released = {{start date|2023|07|21}}
| artist = Ryan Gosling
| album = Barbie the Album
| recorded = March 2022
| studio = Eastcote Studios, London
| genre = {{hlist|Pop rock|art rock|glam rock}}
| length = 3:42
| label = Atlantic
| writer = {{hlist|Mark Ronson|Andrew Wyatt}}
| producer = {{hlist|Mark Ronson|Andrew Wyatt}}
| misc = {{External music video|type=song|{{YouTube|ru1LC9lW20Q|"I'm Just Ken"}}}}
}}
"I'm Just Ken" is a song performed by Canadian actor Ryan Gosling for the 2023 film Barbie. It was written and produced by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt and appears on the soundtrack album Barbie the Album. {{As of|August 2023}}, the song had over 100 million streams on Spotify{{Cite web |date=4 August 2023 |title=Ryan Gosling's 'I'm Just Ken' song lands on Billboard's Hot 100 |url=https://www.today.com/video/ryan-gosling-s-i-m-just-ken-song-lands-on-billboard-s-hot-100-189987397766 |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}} and over 3 million views on YouTube.{{Cite web |last=Jeffrey |first=Joyann |date=4 August 2023 |title=Ryan Gosling makes Billboard's Hot 100 chart. He's not the 1st actor to do so |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/music/actors-billboard-hot-100-chart-rcna98129 |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}} It won Best Song at the 29th Critics' Choice Awards and was nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards and Best Original Song at the 96th Academy Awards.
Background
"I'm Just Ken" is described as a sentimental {{"'}}80s power ballad."{{cite magazine |last1=Mendez II |first1=Moises |title=Mark Ronson Breaks Down the 'Barbie' Soundtrack |url=https://time.com/6291930/barbie-soundtrack-mark-ronson-interview/ |magazine=Time |date=6 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}} Ahead of the film's release, marketing and promotional materials often contained the tagline, "She's everything. He's just Ken," an allusion to the song.
Production
File:Ryan Gosling by Gage Skidmore.jpg recorded "I'm Just Ken" in March 2022.]]
"I'm Just Ken" was one of the first songs written for Barbie the Album. Producer Mark Ronson was inspired to write the ballad after reading the Barbie script and sympathizing with Ken's character.{{cite magazine |last1=Jarvey |first1=Natalie |title=Singing "I'm Just Ken" in 'Barbie' Was Ryan Gosling's Idea |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/07/singing-im-just-ken-in-barbie-was-ryan-goslings-idea |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}
{{cquote|I instantly had this idea for this lyric: "I'm just Ken / Anywhere else I'd be a 10." It just seemed funny. It felt a little bit emo, like, this poor guy. He's so hot, but can't get the time of day.|author=Mark Ronson, on writing "I'm Just Ken" for Barbie the Album}}
Ronson recorded a demo of "I'm Just Ken" and sent it to director Greta Gerwig, although he was not expecting it to be included in the film. Gerwig, however, loved the song and played it for Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken. Gosling stated that it affected him "deeply" and asked if he could perform it in the film.{{cite web |last1=Sherman |first1=Maria |title=How the 'Barbie' soundtrack came together, according to mastermind Mark Ronson |url=https://apnews.com/article/barbie-soundtrack-mark-ronson-f7b8ef9faf406a30576392197e72d237 |website=AP News |date=17 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}} Gerwig had to rewrite an important scene in the film to accommodate the new addition.
Ronson's colleague and fellow producer on the soundtrack, Andrew Wyatt, wrote the rest of the song before Ronson flew to London to record the vocals with Gosling at Eastcote Studios in March 2022.{{Cite Instagram |user=iammarkronson |postid=C1DOX3QtlQ3 |title=We first recorded this song back in March 2022 at a studio in North London called Eastcote... I was informed I had 2 hours before he had to return to a grueling rehearsal on set, so I was already feeling up against it. |date=19 December 2023}} In an interview with Vulture, Ronson stated, "In the studio with Ryan, it was really his performance that lifted the whole thing. All these lines that felt a little bit throwaway-ish, delivered by him, suddenly took on much more."{{cite web |last1=Curto |first1=Justin |title=Mark Ronson Went Full 'Batshit' on the Barbie Soundtrack |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/07/mark-ronson-barbie-soundtrack-amy-winehouse-movie.html |website=Vulture |date=19 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}} Gosling only had two to three hours to record the track.{{cite web |last1=Sharf |first1=Zack |title=Ryan Gosling Sings His Heart Out in 'Barbie' Music Video for 'I'm Just Ken': He Was 'Psyched and Satisfied' By the Power Ballad |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/ryan-gosling-sings-im-just-ken-barbie-music-video-1235665344/ |website=Variety |date=10 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}
After Gosling recorded his vocals, Ronson sent the track to Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, who found it "cool" and agreed to play guitar on the song. Guitarist Wolfgang Van Halen and Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese also played on the track.{{cite magazine |last1=Wang |first1=Jessica |title=Wolfgang Van Halen and Josh Freese also bring Kenergy to Barbie Land |url=https://ew.com/movies/wolfgang-van-halen-josh-freese-barbie-soundtrack-ken-ryan-gosling/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=19 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}
Release
Ahead of Barbie{{'s}} release, Warner Bros. released a clip of Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" on July 10, 2023.{{Cite tweet |user=barbiethemovie |number=1678433927311298566 |title=Heard everyone was feelin' the Ken-rgy ✨ #BarbieTheMovie – only in theaters July 21. Tickets on sale now!}}{{cite web |last1=VanHoose |first1=Benjamin |title=Ryan Gosling Flexes His Muscles and Sings His Ken Anthem in New 'Barbie' Sneak Peek |url=https://people.com/ryan-gosling-sings-ken-song-barbie-sneak-peek-video-7558608 |website=People |date=10 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}} A "behind-the-scenes" music video mixing rehearsal footage with clips from the actual musical sequence in the film was released on August 21, 2023.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/im-just-ken-behind-the-scenes-ryan-goslings-barbie-1234809502/|title=Ryan Gosling Fully Leans Into His Kenergy in 'I'm Just Ken' Behind-the-Scenes Footage|first=Larisha|last=Paul|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 21, 2023}}
=''Ken The EP''=
{{Infobox album
| italic_title = no
| name = {{yesitalic|Ken the EP}}
| type = EP
| artist = Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson
| cover = Ken the EP cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2023|12|20}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Pop
| length = 13:54
| label = Atlantic
| producer = Mark Ronson
| chronology = Mark Ronson
| prev_title = Barbie (Score from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
On December 20, 2023, Gosling and Ronson released an extended play containing three additional versions of "I'm Just Ken" in addition to the original track. A performance video was released for the Christmas version, subtitled "Merry Kristmas Barbie", which features Gosling, Ronson, and Wyatt in the studio.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/ryan-gosling-ken-ep-im-just-ken-christmas-version-1235844314/|title=Ryan Gosling Releases 'Ken The EP' With Three New Takes on 'I'm Just Ken,' Including a Christmas Version|date=December 20, 2023|first=Thania|last=Garcia|work=Variety|access-date=December 20, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2246003/ryan-gosling-and-mark-ronson-release-christmas-version-of-im-just-ken/music/|title=Ryan Gosling And Mark Ronson Release Christmas Version Of "I'm Just Ken"|first=Danielle|last=Chelosky|work=Stereogum|date=December 20, 2023|access-date=December 20, 2023}} The Christmas version was recorded and released within the span of a week.
{{Track listing
| headline = Ken The EP track listing
| title1 = I'm Just Ken
| note1 = Merry Kristmas Barbie
| length1 = 3:16
| title2 = I'm Just Ken
| note2 = In My Feelings Acoustic
| length2 = 3:59
| title3 = I'm Just Ken
| note3 = Purple Disco Machine remix
| length3 = 2:55
| title4 = I'm Just Ken
| length4 = 3:42
| total_length = 13:54
}}
Accolades
Live performance
Gosling performed the song live at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024. The performance paid homage to the "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" sequence from the 1953 film adaptation of the stage musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Marilyn Monroe, as well as the choreography of Busby Berkeley. Gosling was joined by Ronson on bass, Wyatt on piano, and Wolfgang Van Halen and Slash on guitar, as well as his Barbie co-stars Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Scott Evans. The performance was choreographed by Mandy Moore, who also choreographed Gosling in La La Land.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/ryan-gosling-62-kens-im-just-ken-oscar-performance-1235849758/|title=How Choreographer Mandy Moore Harnessed the Kenergy of Ryan Gosling and 62 Kens for "I'm Just Ken" Oscars Performance|first=Caitlin|last=Huston|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 11, 2024|access-date=March 11, 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=2024-03-12 |title=How 'I'm Just Ken' Won the Oscars Without Winning an Actual Oscar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/movies/oscars-ryan-gosling-just-ken-mandy-moore.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |work=The New York Times}}
Parodies
On the October 14, 2023, episode of Saturday Night Live, comedian Pete Davidson parodied the song as "I'm Just Pete" to mock his personal life.{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/tv/pete-davidson-snl-barbie-inspired-parody-im-just-pete/|title=Pete Davidson mocks his personal life with 'Barbie'-inspired 'Im Just Ken' parody, 'I'm Just Pete' on 'SNL'.|website=EW.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/pete-davidson-im-just-pete-video-barbie-snl|title=Pete Davidson Is "Just Pete" in SNL's Barbie Musical Sketch|date=October 15, 2023|website=NBC Insider Official Site}}
On March 15, 2024, British comedian Lenny Henry parodied the song as "I'm Just Len" as part of his final year as host of Comic Relief's annual Red Nose Day telethon.{{Cite news |title='I'm just Len' - Henry's Barbie ballad for Comic Relief |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-68583864 |access-date=2024-03-16 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
Personnel
All credits are adapted from the CD liner notes of Barbie the Album.{{cite AV media notes|title=Barbie The Album|date=21 July 2023|author=Various artists|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=075678616006}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Mark Ronson – songwriter, producer, bass guitar, synths
- Andrew Wyatt – songwriter, producer, synths, background vocals, choir arrangement
- Picard Brothers – additional production
- Slash – lead guitar, rhythm guitar
- Wolfgang Van Halen – rhythm guitar
- Josh Freese – drums
- Mike Richiuti – piano
- Roger Manning – synths
- Brandon Bost – programming, engineering
- Geoff Foster – male choir recording engineer
- Peter Cobbin – scoring engineer, female choir recording engineer
- Kirsty Whalley – scoring engineer, female choir recording engineer
- Daniel Hayden – Pro Tools recordist
- Alex Venguer – orchestra recording, piano recording engineer
- Matt Dunkley – orchestral arrangement
- Ben Parry – choirmaster
- Ricky Damian – engineering
- Jake Ferguson – assistant engineering
- Mike Clink – Slash recording
- Tom Elmhirst – mixing
- Adam Hong – engineering for mix
- Abbey Road Studios Orchestra – orchestra
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "I'm Just Ken" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-rock-songs/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 9, 2023}}
| 69 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Ryan Gosling|title=I'm Just Ken (From Barbie The Album)|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|accessdate=April 6, 2024|id=19879-6731-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|wwux9KiBMjE|I'm Just Ken (Official Audio)}}
- {{YouTube|ru1LC9lW20Q|I'm Just Ken (Behind the Scenes)}}
- {{YouTube|Re2J-aD98rM|I'm Just Ken (In My Feelings Acoustic)}}
- {{YouTube|KKO84c6SbfY|I'm Just Ken (Merry Kristmas Barbie)}}
- {{YouTube|fo6T5BwxFh0|I'm Just Ken (Live from the Oscars 2024)}}
{{Barbie}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song}}
Category:Songs from Barbie (film)
Category:Song recordings produced by Andrew Wyatt
Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Ronson