Oscar predictions are already buzzing, with Films of the Year ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ being front-runners for the major categories. ‘Oppenheimer’ starring Cillian Murphy told the moral dilemma that Robert J. Oppenheimer went through after the detonation of the first nuclear bomb. Whereas ‘Barbie’ was a satirical comedy that explored how a utopian world led by Barbies gets haywire after Kens learns that they are more revered in the real world.
Both ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ successfully revived the theaters further and became the cornerstones of popular culture, doing great both critically and commercially. Along with stellar screenplay and storytelling, ‘Barbie’ tapped into some of the viral soundtracks of 2023. Be it Dua Lipa’s ‘Dance the Night’ or Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s ‘Barbie Girl’ rendition, However, to tell Ken’s plight, Greta decided to have a theatrical track titled ‘I’m Just Ken’ with Gosling singing it. But the song was going to be axed by the executives.
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Greta Gerwig Told ‘Barbie’ Executives That Everything In Her Needs ‘I’m Just Ken’ Scene
One of the important moments in ‘Barbie’ after Ken comes from the real world is the theatrical portrayal of the plight of being a man in Barbie’s world. So, in the voice of Ryan Gosling, we hear the hardships of Ken. Now, during an interview, Greta Gerwig confessed the executives wanted her to think again about the ‘I’m Just Ken’ song in the film.
During a conversation with Jesse Armstrong at the BFI London Film Festival, Greta Gerwig said, “It just said in the script, ‘And then it becomes a dream ballet and they work it out through dance.’ There was a big meeting that was like, ‘Do you need this?’ And I was like, ‘Everything in me needs this.’ They were like, ‘What do you even mean? What is a dream ballet?’ And I was like, ‘A dream ballet? Where do I begin!’ “
Greta Gerwig continued, “I was like, if people could follow that in ‘Singing in the Rain,’ I think we’ll be fine. I think people will know what this is. So that was the big reference point. Even though everything felt right to me and was giving me so much joy in the way we were doing it, it was also like, ‘Oh no, this could be just terrible, but now I’m committed.’ “
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Ryan Gosling Wanted To Sing The Song
Barbie’ not only created and smashed records as a whole, but it also helped the individuals involved in the film shine. One such example is that of Ryan Gosling, who earned his first Billboard Hot 100 song with ‘I’m Just Ken’. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, music producer Mark Ronson said that Ryan Gosling wanted to sing the song after listening to the demo.
Mark Ronson sent the demo of ‘I’m Just Ken’ to Greta Gerwig, and she made Ryan Gosling hear it. Ronson said, “Next thing I know, she’s like, ‘Ryan wants to sing the song.’ And I was like, ‘Really?’ She goes, ‘Yeah, he said it speaks very deeply to him.’ And I was like, ‘Is he being ironic?’ And she was like, ‘I don’t think so.’ “
Ryan Gosling felt surreal when ‘I’m Just Ken’ debuted at Billboard Hot 100. Mark Ronson added, “He kind of feels like someone who doesn’t get caught up in the hype from the little bit that now I know about him.”
He continued, “Even he’d be like, ‘This is so surreal, I don’t even know what to tell you.’ I think he’s a real musician, he loves music, and I think he was really touched by that and like when Slash played on it, you know? So there’s certain things that he’s been really, I think, excited about.”
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