Some of us took up bread making, or gardening, or existential dread during the early COVID pandemic.
Actor Amanda Seyfried apparently picked up...the dulcimer?
While appearing on the Tonight Show, she left everyone, Jimmy Fallon and audience alike, in awe when she showed off her new instrument ability.
She didn't choose an easy song, but rather "California" by Joni Mitchell, a song that many agree is not easy to sing or play, but Seyfried did both very well and casually, like it was just another hobby for her.
Fallon was left speechless and the audience got quiet just to listen better. This is not Seyfried's first or even third time singing in front of a camera. She starred at a younger age alongside Meryl Streep in the hit Mamma Mia and its sequel, as well as playing adult Cosette in the 2012 film version of the musical Les Miserables.
The dulcimer is an interesting choice: an instrument with deep roots in folk music and especially Appalachia, it's not the first instrument people think of to learn to play.
However, Seyfried already played the guitar going into 2020, so it was time to pick up a more... niche instrument.
You can watch her performance here.
@fallontonight Amanda Seyfried brings out the dulcimer and sings a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “California”! #FallonTonight #TonightShow #AmandaSeyfried #JoniMitchell #JimmyFallon
People loved her singing on the show. Diehard fans were less stunned, as they remembered her extensive prior musical roles.
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Some folks were impressed by the quality of her singing voice.
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Others were in awe of how well she sang that specific song.
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It was real, people said. Her talent is a real one.
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Her hair really was also good in this appearance.
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People wondered why she hasn't become part of Disney's live versions of their classic films.
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Many people realized how rare it is to sing Joni Mitchell well and saw potential for another role.
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Seyfried is currently making the publicity rounds for her new limited series Long Bright River, a detective thriller based on the New York Times Bestseller by the same name, viewable on Peacock.