Ryan Gosling launched Ken The EP on Wednesday, December 20, that includes a “Kristmas” model of the Grammy-nominated track “I’m Just Ken.”
In conjunction with “I’m Just Ken – Merry Kristmas Barbie,” the EP additionally options “I’m Just Ken – In My Feelings Acoustic,” “I’m Just Ken – Purple Disco Machine Remix” and the unique track from the film directed by way of Greta Gerwig.
Generating powerhouses Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt — who scored Barbie and prior to now earned an Oscar and a Grammy for writing A Big name is Born’s “Shallow” in 2019 — collaborated with Gosling, 43, to redesign Ken’s ballad.
“I told [Gosling] I fantasized about us performing the song live, so we started to dream what that might sound like,” Ronson, 48, wrote on Instagram, pronouncing the EP.
He added: “I was also dying to show the song in a different context — [Gosling] demanded I go ‘Full Ronson’ with the arrangement (which I took to mean 2007 motown/wall of sound-obsessed me).”
Ronson additionally shared that the Christmas model of the track used to be advanced organically. “I sent this version to [Gosling] last Tues and he dug it & it sounded so f–king xmas that we were like, ‘man, can we get this out in a week?!’” he wrote. “So he rerecorded the vocals and here we are, a week later serving up this version that we love with about 5 days til no one wants to hear a xmas record, but sometimes u have to do it 4 fun (& maybe a little for Barbie). Happy holidays, we hope u ❤️.”
The trio additionally launched a tune video for the Christmas track, acting it are living with a complete band in a decked-out Christmas dream studio.
“What do you think, do you think it’s too Christmas?” Gosling asks to start with of the video. “There’s just a worry that if we just do too much Christmas no one’s going to watch it after the 26th.”
Wyatt, 52, jokingly responds to Gosling: “No, I mean, I watch Die Hard 50-60 times a year and it’s filmed on Christmas and it was released at Christmas.”
Gosling then will get into persona as Ken by way of striking on his shades prior to starting his efficiency. “The world can have Ken’s voice but only Barbie can have his eyes,” he says.
In November, Ronson instructed The Hollywood Reporter that “I’m Just Ken,” which Gosling plays within the film as he questions being 2d to Barbie (Margot Robbie), wasn’t to begin with within the script.
“Originally, [Gerwig] was just looking for two songs for the film: a dance number that became ‘Dance the Night,’ and a Ken song,” he defined. “It was never in the script [that] Ryan was going to sing. It was just like, ‘If we’re going to have Barbie’s perfect day song, we need a song from Ken’s point of view.’ ”
“I’m Just Ken” is nominated for the Grammy Award for Very best Track Written For Visible Media, and Barbie The Album racked up 11 nominations general. Following the discharge of Barbie — the highest-grossing film of the 12 months and the very best grossing movie directed by way of a girl — “I’m Just Ken” soared to the highest 5 of the Billboard Scorching Rock & Choice Songs chart and surpassed 100 million world streams.
As Gosling says on the finish of the tune video, “Merry Christmas Barbie, wherever you are.”