Ryan Gosling is known for much more than acting. Fans know him for a wide range of talents, including singing. As a child, he performed on a show with Britney Spears during the era of the Mickey Mouse Club. In 2007, he released a solo album titled Put Me in The Car. He also co-founded an indie rock band called Dead Man’s Bones with his friend Zach Shields. More recently, he starred in a standout musical project that captured audiences’ imagination, Land of La La, released in 2016.
As the year progressed toward its close, Gosling collaborated on the album Ken, The EP, joining forces with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. Ronson, a British musician, DJ, composer, and producer, contributed to the project that captures a retro, 80s-inspired sound woven through original tracks. The centerpiece song is I’m Just Ken, complemented by three remixes: a Christmas edition, Merry Kristmas, Barbie; an acoustic ballad, In My Feelings Acoustic; and a lively disco remix by Purple Disco Machine.
The music video for the Christmas rendition has already appeared on YouTube, while the other tracks have not yet been released publicly.
In the Barbie version of the Christmas track, Gosling appears at the center of a studio setup, surrounded by garlands, festive decorations, and a group of musicians including piano, guitar, and violin players. The cast shares lighthearted banter, and at one moment Gosling dons sunglasses to channel Ken and jokes with Ronson, remarking that the world may take Ken’s voice, but only Barbie can have his eyes.
Merry Christmas Barbie
Accompanying the trio is a full band, two cellists, four violinists, and a glockenspiel, giving the piece a rich, festive texture. The recording closes with the line Merry Christmas, Barbie, Wherever you are, a sentiment that resonates through the track.
In July, Mark Ronson, who served as executive producer on the Barbie soundtrack and co-composed the score with Wyatt, spoke with the Associated Press. He noted that normally his contributions to movie songs are selective, but in the case of I’m Just Ken some lyrics lingered. The chorus line I’m just Ken, anywhere else it would be 10 sticks in the memory as a haunting, definitive hook of the piece.
I’m Just Ken received nominations for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards 2024, and it also earned recognition from the Golden Globes for Best Original Song. The collaboration blends cinematic storytelling with pop sensibilities, underscoring Gosling’s versatility as a performer and musician.