Canadian actor Ryan Gosling made a memorable appearance at the 96th Annual Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024. Despite not winning an award, Gosling's performance of the song 'I'm Just Ken' from the movie 'Barbie' captivated audiences and garnered significant attention.
'I'm Just Ken' was nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars, earning Gosling a chance to showcase his vocal talents on stage. The lively performance, reminiscent of 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,' stood out as a highlight of the evening, drawing praise from viewers.
In the aftermath of the awards show, 'I'm Just Ken' experienced a surge in popularity. Sales of the song spiked, with 900 purchases recorded between March 10 and 11, marking a substantial increase compared to the previous week. The track saw a remarkable 2,000% jump in purchases following Gosling's performance, indicating its impact on the audience.
Moreover, the song also gained traction on streaming platforms, amassing 417,000 plays on services like Spotify and Apple Music post-performance. This represented a 176% increase in streams from the previous week, underscoring the song's newfound popularity.
While 'I'm Just Ken' did not clinch the award for Best Original Song, the honor went to Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?' from the same movie, 'Barbie.' Eilish and her brother Finneas, credited as the song's writers and producers, became the youngest two-time Oscar winners in history.
In addition to his musical performance, Gosling was also a nominee for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Ken in 'Barbie.' However, the award ultimately went to Robert Downey Jr. for his role in 'Oppenheimer.'
