When Amanda Seyfried appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon last March, Jimmy challenged the Emmy Award-winning actress to show off her musical talent. But Amanda’s incredible cover of Joni Mitchell’s 1971 hit, “California,” was the polar opposite of what fans expected, her refreshing cover amassing over 867,000 views in only two months!
Amanda broke into the mainstream after landing her iconic role as Karen in 2004’s “Mean Girls,” before upping the antics starring in “Mamma Mia!” “Dear John,” and “Les Misérables,” to name just a few of her smash hit films. But despite a filmography of hit musicals, Amanda’s singing voice still manages to shock and stun fans at every turn.
Amanda’s always had a secret passion for music. She reveals her first steps into the performing arts to Jimmy: first learning the piano when she was seven, then the clarinet (albeit for one year only), then the guitar. But even as an adult, Amanda’s constantly picking up new tricks: over the COVID-19 lockdowns, she challenged herself to learn the dulcimer, which she describes as a wooden, acoustic lap instrument, comparable to a lap guitar.
Jimmy surprises Amanda, whipping a dulcimer out from beneath his host’s desk, handing it to her, asking for a tune. She picks “California” by Joni Mitchell, taken from the “Blue” album – a record which Joni mostly composed on the dulcimer. Amanda reveals that she’s nervous to take on the hit and debut an obscure instrument to thousands of Tonight Show viewers. But once her song begins, fans couldn’t believe their ears.
Amanda picks a slide-infused riff on her instrument, before strumming crisp and clean chords that ring out like a summer breeze; her metallic shimmer of strings balanced by the plush depths of the wooden instrument. But it’s Amanda’s voice which steals the show; as bright and ethereal as her dulcimer, high-pitched and perfect as a folk-pop princess or Broadway star.
The studio audience breaks into applause as Amanda follows her chorus with another flawless riff, Jimmy launching himself into a standing ovation beside her. But it’s not just the live audience who was blown away by Amanda’s performance. Since making its way onto YouTube, this clip has been giving goosebumps to fans across the world, with one top-commenter even petitioning, “Cast Amanda in a Joni Mitchell biopic!”
Amanda Seyfried continues to enchant audiences with her versatile talent and undeniable charisma. Her unexpected musical performances are a testament to her artistic depth, leaving fans both surprised and delighted. If you’d like to explore more about Amanda Seyfried and her remarkable journey, be sure to check out the useful links below.