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Ryan Gosling went completely Ken at the 2024 Oscars with an exciting and ridiculous live performance of “I’m Just Ken” from the original “Barbie” soundtrack. “I’m Just Ken” was one of two songs from “Barbie” to earn a nomination for best original song. “What was I made for?” Billie Eilish was the other.
Before the performance, Gosling’s “Barbie” co-star Simu Liu asked the Oscar audience to turn on the lights on their phones and sing along during Gosling’s performance.
Gosling, bathed in purple lighting and dressed in a bright pink suit and pink gloves, began singing “I’m Just Ken” while in the audience sitting behind Margot Robbie, who couldn’t help but laugh. He then headed to the stage, where he was joined by Mark Ronson on guitar and a handful of backup dancers. Slash also appeared on stage, contributing guitar to the song.
Also joining Gosling on stage was his fellow Ken actors Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa and Kingsley Ben-Adir. At one point, Gosling returned to the audience and raised the microphone toward his “Barbie” collaborators, Greta Gerwig, Robbie and America Ferrera, who were singing with him. He also tapped his “La La Land” co-star, Emma Stone, to sing.
In the weeks leading up to the Oscars, there was mystery over whether Gosling would take the stage to perform “I’m Just Ken” live. He opted not to sing the song “City of Stars” from “La La Land” at the 2017 Oscars, where his co-star John Legend performed the single. Gosling did not confirm his participation in the Oscar performance until a few weeks before the Academy Award ceremony.
VarietyMarc Malkin popped the question to “Barbie” soundtrack producer and “I’m Just Ken” co-writer Mark Ronson on the 2024 Grammys red carpet, when Gosling had not yet committed to performing in the Oscars. Ronson said it would be his “dream” to perform the song live with Gosling on vocals.
When asked if he would possibly fill in for another singer in case Gosling didn’t want to perform “I’m Just Ken” live during the Oscars, Ronson immediately shot down the idea.
“No. I think if Ryan doesn’t do it then we won’t do it,” the producer said.
Before “I’m Just Ken” became an official Oscar nomination, Gosling himself was shy about singing live during the awards show.
“Well, I haven’t been invited. And I wasn’t thinking about that until now, and now it’s all I’m going to think about,” Gosling said recently. W Magazine last month. “Do they pay you to sing at the Oscars? Do you have to drive yourself? What type of scratch is involved? At least they pick you up, right?
Gosling went to the 2024 Oscars as a nominee in the best supporting category thanks to his work in “Barbie.” In total, Greta Gerwig’s hit comedy earned eight Academy Award nominations, including best picture.
