Ryan Gosling’s ‘I’m Just Ken’ Is Now Oscar-Nominated
Amid Barbie’s star-studded soundtrack, Ryan Gosling’s ballad “I’m Just Ken” has been nominated for Best Original Song at the 2024 Oscars.
On July 21, Greta Gerwig’s fantasy-comedy Barbie took the world by storm. The film boasted a stacked cast of iconic actors like Margot Robbie, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, and Oscar nominees America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling. Barbie received eight nominations, including Best Picture, Ferrera for Best Supporting Actress, and “I’m Just Ken” for Best Original Song.
“I’m Just Ken” songwriter Mark Ronson received word of the nomination while in the air. “My one-year-old daughter was sleeping right next to me on the plane, so I was just like obviously holding it all inside, but it was, of course, super exciting,” he stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“I’m Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling is nominated for ‘Best Original Song’ at the #Oscars. pic.twitter.com/BAMBsCDLEI
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 23, 2024
The blockbuster’s soundtrack was also equally as successful. The official Barbie album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Soundtracks Chart. It’s the highest charting debut for a full-length film soundtrack since The Lion King: The Gift.
#Barbie soundtrack aiming for #2 debut on the US albums chart with almost 110K units first week (via @HITSDD). pic.twitter.com/VgBU9YySgT
— chart data (@chartdata) July 25, 2023
Barbie The Album featured many well-known artists. After its release, Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” rose to the No. 1 spot on the U.K. Singles Chart. Billie Eilish’s Oscar-nominated “What Was I Made For?” hit the top of Billboard’s Alternative Songs Chart. Additionally, Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” did well on the charts, cracking the Billboard Top 100.
Fans had mixed reactions to the song’s nomination. Many X users have reposted GIFs of Gosling’s reaction to the news, along with their thoughts.
i’m just ken is cute but NOT oscar nomination worthy sorry why tf is it nominated pic.twitter.com/NA4CKUuPdY
— · (@foreversalways) January 23, 2024
“I’m Just Ken got an Oscar nomination. This is so unserious,” one X user noted. These reactions are likely due to audience members’ thoughts on lead Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig’s snubs. Others expressed happiness and anticipation for the upcoming awards.
IM JUST KEN WORLD DOMINATION
— wes JEMMA DAY (@gvfalbarn) January 23, 2024
There are four other nominees alongside Gosling in the Best Original Song category. They include fellow Barbie artist Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” and Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” for American Symphony. Songwriter Diane Warren’s “The Fire Inside” also received a nomination, and so did Killers of the Flower Moon track “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” by the Osage Tribal Singers.
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