Ryan Gosling Gets Emo On Slash-Assisted ‘Barbie’ Song ‘I’m Just Ken’

We’re officially just over a week away from the hotly awaited release of Barbie – and to keep the hype train rolling, Warner Bros. have dropped a new preview featuring a power-ballad by Ryan Gosling (in his role as Ken, naturally) and… Uh… Slash?

As if the Barbie film didn’t look wild enough as it is, the legendary Guns N’ Roses shredder makes an audible appearance in the musical number with his emotive guitar solo, gelling perfectly with powerful grand piano chords and Gosling’s impassioned singing. “Doesn’t seem to matter what I do,” he croons wistfully in the short tune, “I’m always number two / No-one knows how hard I try / Oh, why? / I have feelings that I can’t explain / Driving me insane.”

The hunky himbo goes on to lament how he’s “just Ken” and that “anywhere else [he’d] be a ten”, pondering whether it’s his “destiny to live and die a life of blonde fragility”.

Have a listen to the ballad, accompanied by some new Barbie footage, below:

Barbie is set to hit Australian cinemas next Thursday (July 20), following preview screenings a day earlier. Gosling stars alongside Margot Robbie as the titular doll, while other variations of Ken are played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa and John Cena. Additionally, bonus Barbies are portrayed by Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Sharon Rooney, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, Ana Cruz Kanye and Ritu Arya.

Dua Lipa also appears on the Barbie soundtrack with her single Dance The Night. Also featured are the likes of Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Dominic Fike, Haim, Sam Smith, The Kid LAROI and Khalid.