Ryan Gosling Releases Christmas Version of ‘I’m Just Ken’ from ‘Barbie’: Listen!

Ryan Gosling brings Kenergy this Christmas!

The Barbie star reunited with Mark Ronson, the film’s soundtrack producer Barbie: Albumpublish Ken EP featuring new versions of the original song performed by Ken himself, “I’m Just Ken.” Just in time for the holidays, they’ve prepared a festive surprise for the project: a brand new version of the Christmas theme song.

Along with the EP’s release, Gosling, 43, and Ronson, 48, also returned to Barbieland, dropping the music video for “I’m Just Ken (Merry Kristmas Barbie)” on Wednesday.

Mark Ronson and Ryan Gosling in the “I’m Just Ken (Merry Christmas Barbie)” music video.

Courtesy of Atlantic Records

‘Barbie’ music producer Mark Ronson says ‘I’m Just Ken’ was originally meant to be a background track

In the clip, the Golden Globe winner joins Ronson and co Barbie: Album writer/producer Andrew Wyatt in the studio, along with a host of musicians, to record a new version of Ken’s soulful anthem.

With the studio decked out in garlands and holiday lights, Grammy winner Ronson intends to shoot a happy and bright version, but Gosling isn’t so sure. “Do you think it’s too Christmassy?” asks the Oscar-nominated star, channeling his best Ken. “I’m so worried if it’s too much Christmas, no one will watch it after the 26th.”

After some persuasion and the power of a few cool shades (because “the world may have Ken’s voice, but only Barbie can have his eyes”), Gosling eventually succumbed to the Christmas Kenergy, giving a soulful rendition of the song. It’s transformed with a string section and jingle-studded chorus — as well as a sweet “Merry Christmas, Barbie, wherever you are” message at the end — making the power ballad a festive tribute to fans of the Greta Gerwig movie.

Illustration of the album ‘Ken The EP’.

Courtesy of Atlantic Records

With the “Merry Christmas Barbie” version, Ken EP also contains two other updated versions of the song. “I’m Just Ken (In My Feelings Acoustic)” is a stripped-down performance that ends with new lyrics from Gosling repeating, “Ken you feel Kenergy? / Feel so real the Kenergy,” over a track with 70s soft-rock echoes, while “I’m Just Ken (Purple Disco Machine Remix)” is almost a sister track to Dua Lipa’s contribution to the “Dance the Night” soundtrack with nostalgic , rhythms ready for the dance floor.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, Ronson took to Instagram to reveal when he and Gosling first got together to film the serious showstopper and their decision to make a Christmas-themed remake.

Ryan Gosling in ‘Barbie’ and Mark Ronson.

Warner Bros. Pictures; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Eva Mendes Supports Ryan Gosling’s Kenergy in Music Studio: ‘Ken Not Wait for This’

The “Uptown Funk” musician shared that he only had two hours in the studio with La la country the actor, who “was a bit stunned” when they first met to record the song, written by Ronson and Wyatt, 52.

Although Ronson said he was a little nervous about the “quite uneven” vocals, he wrote, “It only took me 2 or 3 warm-ups to realize not only [Gosling] I’ll be able to handle the vocals, but it will far exceed anything Andrew and I could have hoped for. Not only did he bring the broken falsetto, the ferocious growl and everything in between, he brought the emotional resonance of a great actor who has lived the role for the last 6 months.”

The composer continued, explaining that it wasn’t until November that he and Gosling started talking back and forth about their “dream” of what the live version might sound like. “Anyway, I sent him this version last Tuesday and he dug it and it sounded so freaking Christmasy that we were like, ‘man, can we put this out in a week?!’ Being the person who plays Stevie’s ‘Someday at Christmas’ the day after Thanksgiving, I really liked this.”

Ronson concluded: “He re-recorded the vocals and here we are, a week later, serving up this version we love with about 5 days until nobody wants to hear the Christmas record, but sometimes you’ve got to make it 4 fun (and maybe a little Barbie). Happy holidays, we hope ❤️.”

Ryan Gosling jokes that he would like to play ‘Husky Ken’ in the Barbie Continuation

After the EP and music video were dropped on Wednesday, Gosling’s wife Eva Mendes took to social media to express her admiration for her husband’s musical abilities — as well as his and Zach Shields’ rock duo Dead Man’s Bones.

“So thankful to @iammarkronson for making my man make more music. Dead Man’s Bones is my favorite band ….when I first heard Ryan sing MY HEART EXPLODED,” Mendes, 49, wrote on Instagram. “More Ryan & Ronson musica por favor!”

Ken EP arriving soon after Barbie: Album received a handful of Golden Globe and Grammy nominations.

The film starring Margot Robbie leads with nine nominations at the 2024 Golden Globes, three of which are for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. “I’m Just Ken”, “Dance the Night” and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” all received commendations in the category.

At the upcoming Grammy Awards 2024. Barbie: Album and his songs are in competition for an incredible 11 awards. In addition to winning Best Visual Media Score and Best Visual Media Compilation Soundtrack, Eilish’s somber ballad is up for five awards, and Lipa’s disco-pop hit is up for two — both up for the coveted song of the year. Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice’s collaboration “Barbie World,” which samples Aqua’s iconic “Barbie Girl,” was also nominated for two awards, while “I’m Just Ken” earned just one nod.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education