Ryan Gosling inBarbie(2023).Photo:Warner BrosRyan Gosling’s Ken is a paragon of pop.The actor’s hilarious ballad"I’m Just Ken"from theBarbiemovie has officially entered theBillboardHot 100, at No. 87. It marks thefirst-ever chart entryfor Gosling, 42.“I’m Just Ken” joins songs from artists likeDua Lipa,Sam SmithandBillie Eilishon theBarbiesoundtrack, which debuted at No. 2 this week on theBillboard200albums chart.The song isn’t Gosling’s only tune for the film. He also recorded a cover ofMatchbox Twenty’s 1997 song “Push,“which he plays on the guitar during a hilarious moment in the film alongside other Kens, likeSimu LiuandKingsley Ben-Adir.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ryan Gosling inBarbie(2023).Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTubeThe music producer behind “I’m Just Ken,“Mark Ronson, toldVanity Fairlast month that he immediately connected with Barbie’s right-hand man — or at least the version Gosling plays oppositeMargot Robbiein the blockbuster.“You really fall in love with this hapless but immediately sympathetic figure,” Ronson, 47, told the magazine.That instant Ken-ection, combined with his inability to locate a Ken in the sea of Barbies at the toy store (“nobody gives a s— about buying a Ken doll”), is what inspired the Grammy winner to pen the power ballad “I’m Just Ken.”The executive producer for theBarbie: The AlbumtoldVanity Fairthat one of the track’s lyrics, “I’m just Ken / Anywhere else I’d be a 10,” came to him “instantly.”“It just seemed funny,” Ronson said. “It felt a little bit emo, like, ‘This poor guy. He’s so hot, but can’t get the time of day.' “After Gosling first heard the demo of the “I’m Just Ken,” he was such a big fan that he not only agreed to sing the track but alsorequested to perform it in the movie.Ronson worried howBarbiedirectorGreta Gerwigwould react to the song, explaining that he didn’t want her to think he was “trying to provide the funny,” but she agreed with Gosling. In fact, she liked the ballad so much she rewrote a pivotal scene to ensure Gosling could belt it in the film.After recording the vocals, Ronson said he realized Gosling (whose musical résumé includes hisOscar-nominatedLa La Landperformance, analbum with his rock duo Dead Man’s Bones, and a stint as a Mouseketeer) was a “vocal powerhouse.”“He really got [that] it had to walk this line of not being funny or parody,” the producer toldVanity Fair. “But obviously, the song is also kind of ridiculous at times. So he was really amazing.“Barbieis in theaters now.
Ryan Gosling inBarbie(2023).Photo:Warner Bros
Warner Bros
Ryan Gosling’s Ken is a paragon of pop.The actor’s hilarious ballad"I’m Just Ken"from theBarbiemovie has officially entered theBillboardHot 100, at No. 87. It marks thefirst-ever chart entryfor Gosling, 42.“I’m Just Ken” joins songs from artists likeDua Lipa,Sam SmithandBillie Eilishon theBarbiesoundtrack, which debuted at No. 2 this week on theBillboard200albums chart.The song isn’t Gosling’s only tune for the film. He also recorded a cover ofMatchbox Twenty’s 1997 song “Push,“which he plays on the guitar during a hilarious moment in the film alongside other Kens, likeSimu LiuandKingsley Ben-Adir.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ryan Gosling inBarbie(2023).Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTubeThe music producer behind “I’m Just Ken,“Mark Ronson, toldVanity Fairlast month that he immediately connected with Barbie’s right-hand man — or at least the version Gosling plays oppositeMargot Robbiein the blockbuster.“You really fall in love with this hapless but immediately sympathetic figure,” Ronson, 47, told the magazine.That instant Ken-ection, combined with his inability to locate a Ken in the sea of Barbies at the toy store (“nobody gives a s— about buying a Ken doll”), is what inspired the Grammy winner to pen the power ballad “I’m Just Ken.”The executive producer for theBarbie: The AlbumtoldVanity Fairthat one of the track’s lyrics, “I’m just Ken / Anywhere else I’d be a 10,” came to him “instantly.”“It just seemed funny,” Ronson said. “It felt a little bit emo, like, ‘This poor guy. He’s so hot, but can’t get the time of day.' “After Gosling first heard the demo of the “I’m Just Ken,” he was such a big fan that he not only agreed to sing the track but alsorequested to perform it in the movie.Ronson worried howBarbiedirectorGreta Gerwigwould react to the song, explaining that he didn’t want her to think he was “trying to provide the funny,” but she agreed with Gosling. In fact, she liked the ballad so much she rewrote a pivotal scene to ensure Gosling could belt it in the film.After recording the vocals, Ronson said he realized Gosling (whose musical résumé includes hisOscar-nominatedLa La Landperformance, analbum with his rock duo Dead Man’s Bones, and a stint as a Mouseketeer) was a “vocal powerhouse.”“He really got [that] it had to walk this line of not being funny or parody,” the producer toldVanity Fair. “But obviously, the song is also kind of ridiculous at times. So he was really amazing.“Barbieis in theaters now.
Ryan Gosling’s Ken is a paragon of pop.
The actor’s hilarious ballad"I’m Just Ken"from theBarbiemovie has officially entered theBillboardHot 100, at No. 87. It marks thefirst-ever chart entryfor Gosling, 42.
“I’m Just Ken” joins songs from artists likeDua Lipa,Sam SmithandBillie Eilishon theBarbiesoundtrack, which debuted at No. 2 this week on theBillboard200albums chart.
The song isn’t Gosling’s only tune for the film. He also recorded a cover ofMatchbox Twenty’s 1997 song “Push,“which he plays on the guitar during a hilarious moment in the film alongside other Kens, likeSimu LiuandKingsley Ben-Adir.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ryan Gosling inBarbie(2023).Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube
Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube
The music producer behind “I’m Just Ken,“Mark Ronson, toldVanity Fairlast month that he immediately connected with Barbie’s right-hand man — or at least the version Gosling plays oppositeMargot Robbiein the blockbuster.
“You really fall in love with this hapless but immediately sympathetic figure,” Ronson, 47, told the magazine.
That instant Ken-ection, combined with his inability to locate a Ken in the sea of Barbies at the toy store (“nobody gives a s— about buying a Ken doll”), is what inspired the Grammy winner to pen the power ballad “I’m Just Ken.”
The executive producer for theBarbie: The AlbumtoldVanity Fairthat one of the track’s lyrics, “I’m just Ken / Anywhere else I’d be a 10,” came to him “instantly.”
“It just seemed funny,” Ronson said. “It felt a little bit emo, like, ‘This poor guy. He’s so hot, but can’t get the time of day.' "
After Gosling first heard the demo of the “I’m Just Ken,” he was such a big fan that he not only agreed to sing the track but alsorequested to perform it in the movie.
Ronson worried howBarbiedirectorGreta Gerwigwould react to the song, explaining that he didn’t want her to think he was “trying to provide the funny,” but she agreed with Gosling. In fact, she liked the ballad so much she rewrote a pivotal scene to ensure Gosling could belt it in the film.
After recording the vocals, Ronson said he realized Gosling (whose musical résumé includes hisOscar-nominatedLa La Landperformance, analbum with his rock duo Dead Man’s Bones, and a stint as a Mouseketeer) was a “vocal powerhouse.”
“He really got [that] it had to walk this line of not being funny or parody,” the producer toldVanity Fair. “But obviously, the song is also kind of ridiculous at times. So he was really amazing.”
Barbieis in theaters now.
source: people.com
