Today In Rock: March 10th, 2024: “I’m Just Ken” Rocks
On this day… Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Slash, joined actor Ryan Gosling for a version of “I’m Just Ken” from the fantasy comedy “Barbie” at the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood. Gosling played ‘Ken’ in the film.
The song was written by Mark Ronson and Andrew.. Wyatt. And that’s where the story begins…
“Slash is my hero,” Ronson told Variety. “I was, what, (in) seventh grade when (Guns N’ Roses debut) “Appetite For Destruction” came out. He’s my all-time hero. I had pictures of Slash all over my walls. So when we were getting near this song being done, I was like, ‘It never hurts to ask.’ It seems like such a long shot.”
He took the shot and Slash was “cool” with it. “He killed it,” continued Ronson.” He plays the solo at the end and the rhythm parts. It’s wonderful.”
Ronson also reached out to Wolfgang Van Halen, who joined the project.
“I have a lot of textural stuff throughout the film with two major spots where I do some soloing,” offered Van Halen. “One in particular is pretty cool because it’s the big song that Ryan Gosling sings and Slash plays on it as well!”
Since both Slash and Van Halen were on the original track it was natural for them to perform the Oscar nominated song (Best Original Song) during the Academy Awards ceremony.
But despite a killer performance, the Original Song Oscar went to Billie Eilish for “What Was I Made For,” also from “Barbie.”
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