Can you even fathom a world in which "I'm Just Ken" never made it into our ears and into our hearts?
According to Mark Ronson, who produced and co-wrote the Barbie hit, that was nearly the case.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Ronson revealed that director Greta Gerwig had to "fight" for the song to make the final cut.
“At that first screening, the song wasn’t working."
“I panicked. The humor wasn’t translating, and Greta [Gerwig] had to fight."
"The studio asked her how much she really needed it, and she said, ‘With every inch of my body.’ And then there was a big swing.”
The eight-time Grammy winner explained that the song didn't quite convey Gerwig's message.
“Ken is ridiculous, but Greta’s point was that nobody should ever be laughing at a character."
"We feel their pain, as crazy as that sounds about a guy wearing a white mink and two pairs of sunglasses."
"I never wanted to write a song for a cheap laugh. You want something to get under people’s skin.”
After a few alterations, the song became the Barbie hit that we know and love today.
I'm Just Ken Scene | BARBIE (2023) Margot Robbie, Movie CLIP HD youtu.be
Most people online were ever-so-grateful that Gerwig scrapped for the song to stay.
Some, however, felt the film would have been fine without it.
Ultimately, "I'm Just Ken" put Gosling on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy nomination. The song was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song but lost out to another Barbie hit: "What Was I Made For?" performed by Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas.
Gosling put on quite the spectacle at the Oscars last night, performing the hit alongside Ronson, Slash, and the other Kens.
And it was definitely Kenough.
"I'm Just Ken" Performed by Ryan Gosling, Mark Ronson, Slash & The Kens | 96th Oscars Performance youtu.be
@tulipanet/Bluesky
@which–witch–ru/Bluesky
@phillip–rees/Bluesky
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social