Summary
- Simu Liu recently performed Barbie‘s “I’m Just Ken” at a concert, capturing the song’s epic energy while also forgetting a few of its lyrics.
- “I’m Just Ken” has maintained popularity due to its on-point lyrics spoofing masculinity and Gosling’s stellar performance in the Barbie movie.
- The track is up for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and is likely to score Barbie an Oscar nomination, demonstrating the enduring success of “I’m Just Ken.”
Barbie actor Simu Liu flubs up a performance of “I’m Just Ken” in a new live video. Liu plays one of the many Kens in a group led by Ryan Gosling, being labeled as both Tourist Ken and “Rival” Ken, as he frequently gets Margot Robbie’s attention over Gosling’s main incarnation of the iconic doll. Other Ken actors in the ensemble Barbie cast include Ncuti Gatwa, John Cena, Scott Evans, and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
While performing in a recent concert, Liu takes an attempt at singing Gosling’s breakout number “I’m Just Ken.” Before starting the song, Liu encouraged the audience to repeat after him in an incantation of “I am Kenough.” Though starting off with Ken’s characteristic melodrama, Liu’s performance devolved when he began to forget the lyrics after the first verse.
Throughout the performance, Liu included some classic Ken lines, including extra “feel the Kenergy” encouragement. The performance escalates when Liu strips off his leather jacket to reveal his tank top and muscular arms underneath, continuing the rest of the “I’m Just Ken” performance this way.
Why “I’m Just Ken” Has Maintained Popularity (And Is Still On Its Way Up)
Barbie is not a musical in the conventional sense as aside from “I’m Just Ken,” characters do not sing songs in order to move the plot forward. Nonetheless, the original songs included on the Barbie soundtrack became extremely popular following the film’s release. Among those songs, “I’m Just Ken” remains the most iconic, likely due to its on-point lyrics spoofing masculinity and stellar over-the-top performance from Gosling.
Related
Barbie Needed More Songs Like “I’m Just Ken,” Not Less
“I’m Just Ken” is an iconic musical number in the Barbie movie, and the comedy actually needed more songs like it throughout the film.
As awards season approaches, there is still time for “I’m Just Ken” to rise in popularity once more. Currently, the track is up for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes, in a category currently dominated by Barbie tunes. “I’m Just Ken” is also likely to score Barbie an Oscar nomination in the Original Song category, which will be announced towards the end of January.
While Gosling delivers a show-stopping performance in the Barbie number, Liu captures the “I am Kenough” spirit quite well in his performance. Showcasing his vocal range, Liu belts out the rock ballad parts well, covering them well even when he messes up the lyrics. This “I’m Just Ken” performance is a great reminder of how well-rounded the cast of Barbie is, even in its lesser-appreciated Kens.
Source: Simu Liu / Twitter
Barbie
Barbie is a film adaptation of the generational iconic toy directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbach. The film centers on Margot Robbie’s Barbie who is expelled from Barbieland and travels with Ken (Ryan Gosling) to the real world in search of happiness. The film also stars Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, and several other famous celebrities in cameo roles.
- Cast
- Margot Robbie , Ryan Gosling , Simu Liu , Ariana Greenblatt , Helen Mirren , Nicola Coughlan , John Cena , Will Ferrell , Ritu Arya , Michael Cera , America Ferrera , Alexandra Shipp , Kate McKinnon
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 114 Minutes
- Studio(s)
- LuckyChap Entertainment , Mattel Films , Heyday Films
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
