A&E’s Weekly Song Pick: ‘City Of Stars’ — Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone

Name: A&E’s Weekly Song Pick: ‘City Of Stars’ — Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
Uploaded: 2026-03-09T08:40:31-07:00
Channel: Tara Vatandoust, A&E Editorial Assistant
Description: With the 98th Oscars on the horizon, I find it fitting to listen to one of my favorite best original song winners from one of my favorite best picture losers of all time: “City of Stars” from “La La Land.” The intimate duet allows the film’s themes to crescendo, producing a tale of ambition intertwined

The UCSD Guardian’s A&E team viciously scours the corners of the internet in search of ground-breaking and revolutionary music in order to provide Tritons with the best of the best. Not really, but here’s music we think is fun.

Tara Vatandoust, A&E Editorial Assistant • Mar 9, 2026

Image Courtesy of Spotify

With the 98th Oscars on the horizon, I find it fitting to listen to one of my favorite best original song winners from one of my favorite best picture losers of all time: “City of Stars” from “La La Land.”

The intimate duet allows the film’s themes to crescendo, producing a tale of ambition intertwined with an ode to the power of human connection. After following aspiring actress Mia and musician hopeful Sebastian chase their dreams — and each other — for the first half of the movie, we start to wonder whether it’s possible to prioritize both a fast-paced career and true love.

The lyrics are simple, yet immediately produce a spark of raw passion: “It’s love/ Yes, all we’re looking for is love from someone else.” Juxtaposed against the hazy Los Angeles sky that “never shined so brightly,” the song evokes a magical, dreamlike world in which our two leads attempt to jump-start their careers. With its nuanced exploration of the intersection of personal goals and interpersonal connection, “City of Stars” encapsulates why “La La Land” touches the hearts of so many.

About the Contributor

Tara Vatandoust, A&E Editor

A second-year literary arts and psychology major with an affinity for mozzarella sticks and ABBA. Probably doing a crossword or going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole of some kind.

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