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Mark Ronson

Why Ryan Gosling's 'I'm Just Ken' was nearly cut from 'Barbie' film

Jay Stahl
USA TODAY

Mark Ronson says the "Barbie" hit song "I'm Just Ken" just made the film's final cut.

Ronson, who co-wrote "I'm Just Ken," told Britain's The Sunday Times that the track almost didn't make it to the highest-grossing movie last year, saying that the studio was unsure about the now-Oscar-nominated song.

"I thought, 'God, I hope we don't ruin it,'" he told the news outlet in an interview, published Sunday. "At that first screening the song wasn’t working. I panicked. The humor wasn’t translating, and Greta (Gerwig) had to fight. The studio asked her how much she really needed it and she said, ‘With every inch of my body.’ And then there was a big swing."

Ryan Gosling took the stage Friday rehearse his "Barbie" power ballad for Oscars Sunday night. Co-writer Mark Ronson said the song was nearly cut from the highest-grossing film of 2023.

Gerwig, the film's director, and "Barbie" star Margot Robbie were snubbed from this year's best director and best actor categories at the Oscars, respectively. Ronson also told The Sunday Times that he wanted to bring a genuine approach to the song after Gerwig asked him to write songs for the movie.

"Ken is ridiculous," Ronson said. "But Greta’s point was that nobody should ever be laughing at a character. We feel their pain, as crazy as that sounds about a guy wearing a white mink and two pairs of sunglasses. I never wanted to write a song for a cheap laugh. You want something to get under people's skin."

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Will Ryan Gosling perform 'I'm Just Ken' at the 2024 Oscars?

Gosling is set to sing his Oscar-nominated song, along with fellow "Barbie" best song nominees Billie Eilish and brother Finneas O'Connell who are up for their "What Was I Made For?" ballad. The pair of songs are a part of a slew of eight Oscar nods for "Barbie," including a best supporting actor nomination for Gosling.

Jon BatisteBecky G and Scott George and the Osage Singers will also perform their nominated songs during the Oscars telecast, according to the show's executive producers Raj Kapoor, Molly McNearney and Katy Mullan.

Gosling sported a Black T-shirt and a Caterpillar hat to rehearse "Ken" on Friday during the 2024 Academy Award rehearsals, where presenters and performers prepared for Sunday night's big show.

Ryan Goslingwill sing 'I'm Just Ken' at the 2024 Oscars: Who else is performing?

Contributing: Bryan Alexander

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