Sophia Michaels
Michael Cera and Ryan Gosling star in the biggest movie of the summer, “Barbie,” and both have received rave reviews as the magnificently neutral Allan and the insecure Ken, respectively. Gosling, in particular, has made waves for his blockbuster performance of the song “I’m Just Ken,” which allows him to show off his dance skills and impressive vocal range. Unfortunately, Cera’s Allan doesn’t get to show off his vocal skills, which is a shame because Cera actually has a very nice voice, and he’s used it to make some pretty solid indie folk music.
As it turns out, both Cera and Gosling have produced impressive indie music projects over the years. Cera released his debut album, “True That,” in 2014, and it’s a soft, wistful, lo-fi folk project that garnered generally positive reviews and comparisons to the likes of Elliot Smith. Though the album showcases Cera’s impressive songwriting skills, one particular highlight is Cera’s cover of Blaze Foley’s “Clay Pigeons,” which is so prettily melancholy that it would have made the perfect soundtrack for Barbie’s existential crisis in “Barbie” — if Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” hadn’t taken that spot, that is. “True That” isn’t the first time Cera showed off his musical chops, though — in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” he played bass and sang backup vocals, and he also recorded “Anyone Else but You” with Elliott Page for the movie “Juno.”
Meanwhile, Gosling has been a singer since he was young, performing in an Elvis cover band with his uncle as a child, per Entertainment Tonight, and getting his big break on the Mickey Mouse Club. In 2007, though, Gosling seemed to decide to make some inroads with his music career. He released his debut solo single, “Put Me in the Car,” and that same year, he formed the group Dead Man’s Bones with musician Zach Shields. Dead Man’s Bones released a self-titled album in 2009, which features an array of charmingly macabre Halloween-themed ballads; one particular highlight is the cathartic, unsettlingly romantic “My Body’s a Zombie For You.” Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any Dead Man’s Bones music since, but Gosling has lent his talent to other ventures, such as “La La Land” and, of course, “Barbie.” With “I’m Just Ken” hitting the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August, it’s clear that Gosling’s musical talent is getting the recognition it deserves.
Listen to music by both of these “Barbie” stars below.
