Oscar-nominated star Ryan Gosling is grappling with the identity of ‘Just Ken’ in the newly launched music video for the official Barbie track, Just Ken. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, the latest release provides a deeper glimpse into the Ken-nergy that Gosling has been elaborating upon. Gosling demonstrates his vocal prowess in this evocative Barbie melody. The video for Just Ken can be found here.
Conveying a heart-rending plea, Gosling croons, “I just don’t know who I am without you,” while casting a pensive glance at Margot Robbie’s Barbie. His heartache is palpable as he laments, “But it’s Barbie and Ken. There is no just Ken.” He is wrestling with his own sense of self and identity, echoing the profound existential crisis that ultimately results in Barbie being ostracized from the idyllic pink-and-wonderful Barbieland.
Reflecting on this process, executive music producer Mark Ronson, who collaborated with Andrew Wyatt to craft Just Ken for the official Barbie soundtrack, describes the experience as mind-boggling. He was deeply impressed by Gosling’s dedication, who despite being a monumental part of the film, was able to allocate only three hours on a Tuesday afternoon for the vocal recordings. Ronson recounts, “He just dove in, and as he began to warm up, I realized, ‘This man is going to ace this song!’ It was as if it was meant to be.”
Ronson’s enthusiasm didn’t stop there. “I’m tremendously excited. We honed it for about a year after the vocal session. After delivering the final version to him, now featuring Slash, he was thrilled and satisfied. That’s the goal when creating a sound for someone.”
The Barbie Soundtrack – An Embodiment of Diverse** Musical Brilliance
Barbie: The Album, the official Barbie soundtrack, is set to showcase an array of exceptional musical talent. The lineup includes notable artists such as Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Charli XCX, Dominic Fike, Fifty Fifty, Gayle, Haim, Ice Spice, Kaliii, Karol G, Khalid, the Kid Laroi, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, PinkPantheress, Tame Impala, and several others.
At the heart of Barbie are Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken, who find themselves cast out from the paradisiacal Barbieland for not fitting the perfect doll archetype. This expulsion sets Barbie and Ken on a path of self-discovery in the real world. The film is the brainchild of Oscar-nominated writer and director Greta Gerwig, co-written by Gerwig and Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, and based on Barbie by Mattel. The film is replete with stellar performances from a star-studded cast including Oscar nominees Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell, and a host of other talent.
Having premiered earlier this week, Barbie has been met with resounding positive feedback. “#Barbie BLEW ME AWAY!” starts one glowing review. “This cleverly humorous anti-establishment film merges the aesthetics of Rosa von Praunheim with Brian DePalma. With its avant-garde style, Margot Robbie shines as a leading lady, but it is Ryan Gosling’s impassioned monologue reminiscent of Jean-Pierre Léaud’s La Chinoise speeches that steals the limelight. A MUST-WATCH!” Another enthusiastic viewer praises, “#Barbie is a masterpiece. The perfect script and stellar performances – particularly from Ryan Gosling – transform what could have been a straightforward studio comedy into a shrewd societal commentary that subtly conveys its nuanced messages to even the most casual viewer. GG is three for three.”
The Barbie movie is scheduled to hit the big screen in the United States on July 21, 2023, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
