Oscars 2024: Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” Performance Is Pure Joy

Sometimes, all we need in the world is a little bit of fun—a perfectly choreographed performance where the only thing the artist takes seriously is the amount of joy and love they bring into every note they belt out. And that’s exactly what viewers get in Ryan Gosling’s performance of “I’m Just Ken.”

Gosling took the stage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards to perform the nominated hit single from Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, and he smashed it, making even the Martin Scorsese get on his feet with glee. (Video proof is captured by his daughter, Francesca Scorsese.) Plus, in the words of Miss Swift, the crowds in stands went wild. Gosling’s performance was met with all sorts of cheers and screams from his co-stars to every Hollywood star.

And what this ultimately showed us is that Hollywood is ready to take sillier content more seriously. As frustrated as critics and fans might’ve been for the fact that Ken is nominated over Barbie, it also sends a message that maybe, just maybe, we can have fun again. Movies don’t always have to reflect something dark and heartbreaking to gain critical acclaim. Yes, I will forever weep for hours on end over Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” (And I did during the award ceremony), but we can also get up and applaud the man decked out in head-to-toe pink.

Related Content: Character Deep Dive: Ken

It’s called the entertainment industry for a reason, but in recent years, we’ve segued away from the more lighthearted musicals to more gaudy depictions of ordinary life. At the same time, we’ve simultaneously ventured toward nuanced forms of storytelling, such as last year’s fantastic and deserved Best Picture winner, Everything Everywhere All at Once. In short, the last few years at the Oscars have been fun again. 

And it’s performances like Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” that continue stirring this perfectly messy pot to show the world that art is all we have amid dark times. Further, what continues to floor me about Gosling’s entire depiction of Ken is how thoroughly he’s owned the role. It’s not something he’s ashamed of, it’s not something he wants to push aside and hide away from, and it’s not something he regrets doing.

While the character’s popularity might clearly shock him at some points (Critics Choice Award win), he is fully owning what Ken stands for and the character growth he experiences in Barbie. He is fully embracing it with immense heart. Plus, having all the other Kens take the stage with him and Mark Ronson (as well as a surprise appearance from Guns N’ Roses’ Slash) makes for an exceptional performance. And, of course, the perfect homage to Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, choreographed by Mandy Moore, is something that will stay with viewers for a long time. It’s the joy we’ve been needing amid dark times, and we’re grateful in a way words really can’t describe. You’ve just gotta screech about it in the group chats for a while (or maybe forever).

Related Content: Ryan Gosling Nails a Perfect SNL Opening Monologue Featuring Emily Blunt

Watch Ryan Gosling’s performance of “I’m Just Ken” and scream with us in the comments below.