(New York) The hype surrounding the Barbie movie hasn’t died down yet, and it’s now adapting to the holiday season.
On Wednesday, Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken alongside Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie in the feature film of the same name, released the microalbum I’m Just Ken with collaborators Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt.
It includes the film’s original, Grammy-nominated 1980s-style ballad, also titled I’m Just Ken, plus three new versions: the stripped-down I’m Just Ken (In My Feelings Acoustic), the danceable I’m Just Ken (Purple Disco Machine Remix), and the festive I’m Just Ken (Merry Kristmas Barbie).
The latter was released alongside an official music video, in which Gosling, Wyatt and Ronson work on the holiday version of the song in a studio bathed in Christmas lights with an impressive group of musicians, joking with each other. At one point, a bumbling Gosling puts on a pair of sunglasses to get into the character’s skin, telling Ronson that he does it because “the world can have Ken’s voice, but only Barbie can have his eyes “.
The trio is joined by a full orchestra as well as two cellists, four violinists and a glockenspiel. Gosling’s vocals come through the reverb, which adds to the triumphant, whimsical grind. “Merry Christmas, Barbie,” he finishes. ” Wherever you are. »
In July, Ronson, who worked as executive producer of the original Barbie soundtrack and also composed the music alongside Wyatt, told the Associated Press that he usually only contributed music to songs films, but in the case of I’m Just Ken, he couldn’t shake off a few lyrics that made the cut, like the memorable chorus “I’m just Ken, anywhere else I’d be a 10” .
I’m Just Ken is up for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2024 Grammy Awards, as well as the Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
