Ryan Gosling is going to perform at the Academy Awards. The actor is putting his singing chops on for a rendition of “I’m Just Ken” from the film Barbie. The awards show airs on March 10.
Barbie spawned two Oscar-nominated songs including “I’m Just Ken” as well as “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas. The latter won a Grammy making it a clear favorite to win the Oscar. However, “I’m Just Ken” has Gosling and is sure to entertain.
Gosling previously cast down on performing at the event. He told Variety February that the Academy Awards didn’t reach out to him about performing. The actor is also up for an award for portraying the role. Gosling insisted that the Academy hadn’t yet asked him to perform. “It might be too much of a risk to have me do it,” said Gosling. “I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it.”
He reiterated that he wasn’t performing but was open to the idea in an interview with W Magazine. He said the idea had crossed his mind though.
Gosling continued, “Well, I haven’t been invited. And I wasn’t thinking about it until now, and now it’s all I’m going to think about. Do you get paid to sing at the Oscars? Do you have to drive yourself? What kind of scratch is involved? They pick you up at least, right?”
Ryan Gosling Said Ken Was One of Most Difficult Roles
Mark Ronson, co-writer for the song, told Variety said he would love to see the song performed at the Oscars. However, it would have to be Gosling or bust.
He said, “No. I think if Ryan doesn’t do it then we’re not doing it.”
The songwriter also opened up about writing lyrics for the script. He said he instantly had an idea for the song after reading the script.
“You really fall in love with this hapless, but immediately sympathetic figure,” Ronson told Vanity Fair. “I instantly had this idea for this lyric: ‘I’m just Ken / Anywhere else I’d be a 10.’ It just seemed funny. It felt a little bit emo, like, this poor guy. He’s so hot, but can’t get the time of day.”
Likewise, Gosling said Ken was one of the hardest roles he’s ever had to perform.
He said, “It was the title page of the script, which said ‘Barbie and Ken,’ but ‘and Ken’ was scratched out. And the next impression was, this is the hardest part I’ll ever play. How do you approach playing a 70-year-old crotchless doll? There’s no research you can do for that. There’s no one you can shadow, no documentaries you can watch, no books written about Ken. You’re on your own.”