Why Is "I'm Just Ken" So Good?

written by Melanie Naumann

What Ryan Gosling couldn’t believe is now a reality.

The song, written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for the Barbie movie, won Best Song at the 29th Critics' Choice Awards.

It has amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify and over 3 million views on YouTube.

Intrigued by its success, I closely studied the lyrics and discovered something fascinating: a three-part songwriting formula that has turned this movie track into an award-winning hit.

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Why "I'm Just Ken" is an award-winning song.

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Part One: Relatability

The first part of the formula focuses on making the song relatable.

Typically, songs that include a person’s name are written from someone else’s point of view.

However, "I'm Just Ken" shifts this narrative.

Instead of naming someone the audience might not know, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt make the audience become that person (even though it's about Ken!)

Direct Address: By not naming Ken initially, they allow the listener to step into Ken’s shoes, making the experience personal.
Drip Feeding Hooks: The first verse tackles a relatable problem – the feeling of not being good enough. This tactic hooks the audience by addressing universal emotions and concerns.
Funnel Technique: They start broadly with universal feelings and narrow them down to a specific human need: love.

By the second verse, the song dives into the need for love, a fundamental human emotion.

By adopting a first-person perspective and avoiding Ken’s name in the first verse, the song speaks directly to the listener's experiences and emotions.

Part Two: Engagement

The next gripping topic is crime. Crime threatens our safety and challenges our sense of justice.

Here are three songs that dive deep into various criminal narratives:

Attention-Binding Phrases: They keep the audience on edge by increasing the stakes and teasing the outcomes, making listeners invested in Ken’s fate.
Narrative Gaps: By creating an open question about how Ken will solve his problem and foreshadowing the solution, they keep the audience curious and engaged.
Storytelling: The song mirrors Ken’s transformation in the movie, employing the five key moments to tell a compelling story. Ken’s initial rejection, his quest for self-worth, and his final acceptance create a dramatic arc that engrosses listeners.

Part Three: The Mantra

The third part of the formula is the "build-in mantra."

Even legends like Michael Jackson emphasized the power of a strong mantra in a song.

Ronson and Wyatt cleverly incorporate a mantra that ties the song together and solidifies its message - and they did that in the song's outro!

All of the "Kens" singing together and saying "My name is Ken (and so am I") transforms the song from a personal struggle to a universal affirmation.

The line "I’m enough" serves as a powerful, unifying message that resonates with all listeners.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the genius of "I'm Just Ken" lies in its three-part songwriting formula:

Making the song relatable by allowing listeners to embody the character.
Keeping the audience engaged with story-driven lyrics and narrative hooks.
Incorporating a powerful, universal mantra that ties the song together and delivers a resonant message of self-worth.

This formula makes the song a catchy and engaging listen and embeds a profound message that listeners can carry with them.

It’s no wonder "I'm Just Ken" has achieved such acclaim, resonating deeply with audiences worldwide.

Let me know in the comments below what do you think about the song "I'm Just Ken"?

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