The Untold Truth Behind Ken's Show-Stopping Song in Barbie's Viral Video

Summary

The music in the Barbie movie is crucial in conveying its themes and messages, and has received special praise from critics and viewers.

Director Greta Gerwig's request to expand the background track "I'm Just Ken" into a full musical number led to its transformation. The music in Barbie is essential in capturing the movie's essence, effectively selling the film and supporting its diverse messages.

Music producer Mark Ronson recently shared details about the viral Barbie song, "I'm Just Ken." Originally, the song had a smaller role in the Barbie soundtrack, but director Greta Gerwig requested that it be extended after listening to the initial version. Currently, the song has over 50 million streams on Spotify, contributing to the success of the Barbie film, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide and is the highest-grossing film of 2023. Ronson's revelation came during a behind-the-scenes featurette called "Musical Make-Believe," shared by Vudu. Here is his full quote:

"The 'I'm Just Ken' song was initially supposed to be a minor background track. However, after director Greta Gerwig listened to the initial version, she requested that we make it longer. This decision turned out to be a brilliant move, as the song has now gained over 50 million streams on Spotify and has played a significant role in the success of the Barbie film. It's amazing how small changes can lead to such great outcomes."

The True Identity Of Barbie Lies In Its Music

The song transformed from a mere possibility of being played somewhere in the film to becoming the pivotal theme around which an epic battle was centered. As a result, we are tasked with scoring approximately 11 minutes solely for the Ken song.

Barbie has garnered widespread acclaim since its debut, with critics and viewers alike lauding its exploration of consumerism and beauty standards, its visually stunning aesthetics, and remarkable performances. The film's music, a pivotal component of the whimsical comedy, also received high praise. In addition to boosting the movie's sales, the Barbie soundtrack played a vital role in conveying and reinforcing the diverse themes and messages intended for its audience.

Gerwig and Robbie emphasize the significance of music in the development of Barbie, with specially crafted songs accompanying the evolving script. A notable example is Billie Eilish's melancholic performance of "What Was I Made For?" which flawlessly captures Barbie's internal struggle and despair as she ventures into reality and confronts the harsh truth of her being.

Gosling’s ballad "I'm Just Ken" beautifully conveys Ken's feelings of uncertainty and existential turmoil as he contemplates his role without Barbie and whether she will ever view him as more than just a companion. While Barbie may shine in various aspects, the music, in particular, is meaningful and exceptional. It flawlessly encapsulates the essence of the film, and the transformation of "I'm Just Ken" from a background tune to a complete musical number further enhances this effect.