"I'm Just Ken"
Song by Ryan Gosling
from the album Barbie the Album
ReleasedJuly 21, 2023 (2023-07-21)
RecordedMarch 2022
StudioEastcote Studios, London
Genre
Length3:42
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mark Ronson
  • Andrew Wyatt
Music video
"I'm Just Ken" on YouTube

"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. The song has over 100 million streams on Spotify[1] and over 3 million views on YouTube.[2] It won Best Song at the 29th Critics' Choice Awards and is nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the upcoming 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

"I'm Just Ken" is described as a sentimental "'80s power ballad."[3] 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.[4]

Production

"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.[4]

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.

— Mark Ronson, on writing "I'm Just Ken" for Barbie the Album[4]

Ronson recorded a demo of "I'm Just Ken" and sent it to director Greta Gerwig, although he wasn't expecting it to be included in the film. Gerwig, however, loved the song and played it for Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken.[4] Gosling stated that it affected him "deeply"[3] and asked if he could perform it in the film.[5] Gerwig had to rewrite an important scene in the film to accommodate the new addition.[4][6]

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.[3][7] In an interview with Vulture, Ronson noted, "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."[6] Gosling only had two to three hours to record the track.[7][8]

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.[8] Guitarist Wolfgang Van Halen and Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese also played on the track.[6][9]

Release

Ahead of Barbie's release, Warner Bros. released a clip of Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" on July 10, 2023.[10][11] 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.[12]

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the CD liner notes of Barbie the Album.[13]

  • 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

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "I'm Just Ken"
Award Year[lower-alpha 1] Category Result Ref.
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2023 Best Original Song in a Feature Film Nominated [14]
Best Onscreen Performance in a Feature Film Nominated
Las Vegas Film Critics Society 2023 Best Original Song Won [15]
Phoenix Film Critics Society 2023 Best Original Song Won [16]
Critics Association of Central Florida 2024 Best Original Song Won [17]
North Carolina Film Critics Association 2024 Best Original Song Won [18]
Georgia Film Critics Association 2024 Best Original Song Nominated [19]
Astra Film Awards 2024 Best Original Song Won [20]
Golden Globe Awards 2024 Best Original Song Nominated [21]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2024 Best Song Won [22]
Grammy Awards 2024 Best Song Written for Visual Media Pending [23]
Satellite Awards 2024 Best Original Song Pending [24]
Hawaii Film Critics Society 2024 Best Song Nominated [25]
Denver Film Critics Society 2024 Best Original Song Nominated [26]
Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards 2024 Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Pending [27]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "I'm Just Ken"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[28] 66
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[29] 25
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[30] 48
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[31] 13
Germany (Official German Charts)[32] 67
Global 200 (Billboard)[33] 70
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 98
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 25
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[37] 55
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 60
UK Singles (OCC)[40] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 87
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[42] 5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "I'm Just Ken"
Chart (2023) Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[43] 69

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.[44][45]

Ken the EP

Ken the EP
EP by
Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson
ReleasedDecember 20, 2023 (2023-12-20)
GenrePop
Length13:54
LabelAtlantic
ProducerMark Ronson
Mark Ronson chronology
Barbie (Score from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(2023)		 Ken the EP
(2023)

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.[46][47] The Christmas version was recorded and released within the span of a week.[7]

Ken the EP track listing
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Just Ken" (Merry Kristmas Barbie)3:16
2."I'm Just Ken" (In My Feelings Acoustic)3:59
3."I'm Just Ken" (Purple Disco Machine remix)2:55
4."I'm Just Ken"3:42
Total length:13:54

Notes

  1. ↑ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

  1. ↑ "Ryan Gosling's 'I'm Just Ken' song lands on Billboard's Hot 100". TODAY.com. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ Jeffrey, Joyann (August 4, 2023). "Ryan Gosling makes Billboard's Hot 100 chart. He's not the 1st actor to do so". TODAY.com. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Mendez II, Moises (July 6, 2023). "Mark Ronson Breaks Down the 'Barbie' Soundtrack". Time. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Jarvey, Natalie (July 11, 2023). "Singing "I'm Just Ken" in 'Barbie' Was Ryan Gosling's Idea". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ Sherman, Maria (July 17, 2023). "How the 'Barbie' soundtrack came together, according to mastermind Mark Ronson". AP News. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Curto, Justin (July 19, 2023). "Mark Ronson Went Full 'Batshit' on the Barbie Soundtrack". Vulture. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 @iammarkronson (December 19, 2023). "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" – via Instagram.
  8. 1 2 Sharf, Zack (July 10, 2023). "Ryan Gosling Sings His Heart Out in 'Barbie' Music Video for 'I'm Just Ken': He Was 'Psyched and Satisfied' By the Power Ballad". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ Wang, Jessica (July 19, 2023). "Wolfgang Van Halen and Josh Freese also bring Kenergy to Barbie Land". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ @barbiethemovie (July 10, 2023). "Heard everyone was feelin' the Ken-rgy ✨ #BarbieTheMovie – only in theaters July 21. Tickets on sale now!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ VanHoose, Benjamin (July 10, 2023). "Ryan Gosling Flexes His Muscles and Sings His Ken Anthem in New 'Barbie' Sneak Peek". People. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Paul, Larisha (August 21, 2023). "Ryan Gosling Fully Leans Into His Kenergy in 'I'm Just Ken' Behind-the-Scenes Footage". Rolling Stone.
  13. ↑ Various artists (July 21, 2023). Barbie The Album (Media notes). Atlantic Records. 075678616006.
  14. ↑ "2023 HMMA WINNERS AND NOMINEES". Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  15. ↑ "2023 Sierra Award Winners". Las Vegas Film Critics Society. December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Killers of the Flower Moon wins Best Picture and 2 other awards". Phoenix Film Critics Society. December 18, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  17. ↑ "2023 Awards". Critics Association of Central Florida. January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Oppenheimer Awarded in a Record-Breaking Ten Categories by North Carolina Film Critics Association Best of 2023". North Carolina Film Critics Association. January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  19. ↑ "2023 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. December 29, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  20. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (January 7, 2024). "Astra Film Awards: 'Barbie' Wins Eight Awards, Including Best Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  21. ↑ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (January 8, 2024). "Golden Globes: 'Oppenheimer' Leads With Five Wins, 'Succession' Tops TV With Four (Complete Winners List)". Variety. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  22. ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (January 15, 2024). "Critics Choice Awards 2024: Winners List (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  23. ↑ Enos, Morgan (November 10, 2023). "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". GRAMMY.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  24. ↑ "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 28th Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Indicados ao Hawaii Film Critics Society 2024". VHS CUT (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  26. ↑ "AwardsWatch - Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Nominations". AwardsWatch. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  27. ↑ Haring, Bruce (December 22, 2023). "Society of Composers And Lyricists Sets SCL Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  28. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 7 August 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1744. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 7, 2023. p. 4.
  29. ↑ "Ryan Gosling – I'm Just Ken" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of August 19, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  31. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202332 into search. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Ryan Gosling – I'm Just Ken" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Billboard Global 200: Week of August 19, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Ryan Gosling – I'm Just Ken" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  36. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  37. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202332 into search. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 32". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Ryan Gosling – I'm Just Ken". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of August 5, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of August 5, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Pete Davidson mocks his personal life with 'Barbie'-inspired 'Im Just Ken' parody, 'I'm Just Pete' on 'SNL'". EW.com.
  45. ↑ "Pete Davidson Is "Just Pete" in SNL's Barbie Musical Sketch". NBC Insider Official Site. October 15, 2023.
  46. ↑ Garcia, Thania (December 20, 2023). "Ryan Gosling Releases 'Ken The EP' With Three New Takes on 'I'm Just Ken,' Including a Christmas Version". Variety. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  47. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (December 20, 2023). "Ryan Gosling And Mark Ronson Release Christmas Version Of "I'm Just Ken"". Stereogum. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
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