Barbie: Ryan Gosling performs a passionate power ballad in a music video for Greta Gerwig’s new film

A new Barbie music video features Ryan Gosling’s Ken experiencing an identity crisis. Being intrinsically tied to one of the most recognizable faces in entertainment history is a tough road to hoe, and the promo for Greta Gerwig’s new film explores Ken’s disposition with a powerful display of song. “I’m Just Ken” investigates Ken’s inner turmoil as he addresses being second fiddle to Matell’s blonde bombshell, Barbie (Margot Robbie). Who is Ken without Barbie? How does he love someone who overshadows him? Can Ken break free of his reputation and become a new person? Please, allow a shirtless, spiraling Ken to tell you about it in the film’s new music video.

“I’m Just Ken” joins the Barbie soundtrack with tracks from Grammy-winning artist Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish. In an unpredictable update, Barbie soundtrack producer Mark Ronson revealed to Variety that Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash plays on Gosling’s emotional track.

“It was so crazy,” Ronson told Variety about the song’s production. “[Ryan Gosling is] a huge star of this movie and only has three hours on a Tuesday afternoon to cut the vocals. He just went in and as he started to get warmed up I was like, ‘This guy is going to murder this song!’ Of course he would.”

Ronson adds, “I’m so psyched. We worked on it for about a year after he did the vocals. After I sent him the final version, with Slash on it, he was psyched and satisfied, which is what you want to do when you’re making a sound for someone.”

Today’s Barbie music video is one example of Gosling’s musical chops. Previously, Gosling performed songs for the film La La Land. Gosling is also one half of the rock duo Dead Man’s Bones, a project he shares with Zack Shields. Gosling performs under the alias “Baby Goose” in the band, described as Gothic rock or darkwave.

The Barbie cast includes many of Hollywood’s heavy hitters and fresh faces, including Margot Robbie (The Suicide Squad) and Ryan Gosling (La La Land) as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera (End of Watch), Kate McKinnon (The Spy Who Dumped Me), Michael Cera (Arrested Development), Ariana Greenblatt (Borderlands), Issa Rae (Insecure), Thea Perlman (Matilda), and Will Ferrell (Elf). The film also stars Ana Cruz Kayne (Little Women), Emma Mackey (Sex Education), Nari Nef (Transparent), Alexandra Shipp (the X-Men films), Kingsley Ben-Adir (Secret Invasion), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Ncuiti Gatwa (Doctor Who), Scott Evans (Grace and Frankie), Jamie Demetriou (Cruella), Connor Swindells (Emma), Sharon Rooney (Dumbo), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy), Dua Lipa, and Helen Mirren (The Queen).

Greta Gerwig directs from a screenplay she wrote with Noah Baumbach, based on Mattel’s rich history with the Barbie toy brand. The film’s producers are Oscar nominee David Heyman (Marriage Story, Gravity), Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Robbie Brenner, with Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Ynon Kreiz, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich, and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.

What do you think of Ryan Gosling’s Barbie music video for “I’m Just Ken?” Have you ever listened to Dead Man’s Bones? Let us know what you think of both in the comments below.