Anytime I hear about the latest actor to jump ship and begin a fledgling music career, it’s usually followed by a long-winded groan.
Let’s face it: some celebrities can make it work and some ... well ... just make a fool out of themselves. In most cases, it is a pure vanity project to boost their career and brand themselves in every way possible. Becoming a triple-threat, if you will.
Look at Jennifer Lopez. She started out as a fly girl on In Living Color, moved on to the TV series Second Chances, and started making movies like Selena and Anaconda.
But it wasn’t until she branched into her successful music that her acting career also took off, netting bigger projects. Now you can add fashion designer, perfumer and TV producer to her long list of accomplishments.
Then there are others who have tried their part in music and ended up being a train wreck ... if they weren’t already.
Reality star Paris Hilton (The Simple Life) is known for many things – her sex tape, countless boyfriends, being a paparazzi’s darling, going to jail and brainwashing thousands of young girls to think playing dum is ever-so-cute – but her over-produced pop album isn’t one of them.
It’s a risky move to branch into the music market, especially when you’ve already established a stellar movie career like actor Scarlett Johansson.
When I heard that this talented thespian of such flicks like Lost in Translation, Ghost World, and Scoop (she’s even guest-voiced on the stop-motion animated series Robot Chicken) was coming out with a covers album of Tom Waits tunes called Anywhere I Lay My Head (dropping May 20), I cringed. No, not ScarJo too! Say it ain’t so! But I think I was too hasty with my apprehension.
While most actors take the easy route of commercial pop (see Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paris Hilton), Johansson doesn’t follow this style.
Instead, she takes a chance covering songs from an iconic American singer like Tom Waits and puts her own spin on it with the help of guest vocalist David Bowie.
I can see this album not being for everyone but once you get over the shock that it’s indeed Johansson singing, you’re swept into a grainy, layered wall of sound with her monotone, Nico-esque vocals droning over top. This is certainly not a vanity project.
So in light of this news, I thought a bit of a retrospective of other notable actors-turned-musician was in order. You will be surprised to see who else moonlights in bands.
1. David Hasselhoff – Knight Rider to Night Rocker
When the Hoff wasn’t saving children from drowning on Baywatch, conversing with his super-car KITT on Knight Rider or trying to drunkenly eat a cheeseburger, he became quite a music idol in Europe (he’s HUGE in Germany) with 15 albums. The song/album Looking For Freedom went to number one in Germany in 1989. While Hasselhoff has failed to make a splash in North America, he was always a good sport about poking fun at himself – especially in his parodied music video “Jump in My Car”, in which the Hoff drives around in a KITT look-alike trying to pick up the ladies.
2. William Shatner – Star Trek to The Transformed Man
When Shatner was finished being beamed up on Star Trek and before he was Denny Crane on Boston Legal, the Shat put out a few cult-classic spoken word albums showcasing his famous vocal style. He recited Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” on his 1968 album The Transformed Man and covered Pulp’s “Common People” on his 2004 album Has Been, which was arranged and produced by Ben Folds.
3. Minnie Driver – The Riches to Everything I’ve Got in My Pocket
After this British actress made a name for herself in films like Good Will Hunting, Grosse Pointe Blank and a hilarious guest role on Will & Grace, she jumped into a low-profile music career with her rootsy folk album Everything I’ve Got in My Pocket in 2000, which reached number 43 in the U.K. She also released a second album in 2007, called Seastories, around the time she began her Emmy-nominated role on The Riches.
4. Jared Leto – My So-Called Life to 30 Seconds to Mars
Where did my sweet, sweet Jordan Catalano go? Who is this gothed-out creepy man? Yes ladies, the beautiful actor Jared Leto, known for his strong, silent character on the cult-hit series My So-Called Life, now sings in his brooding rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, which has done moderately well with the albums 30 Seconds to Mars and A Beautiful Lie (like our love!).
5. Bruce Willis – Moonlighting to The Return of Bruno
At the height of his successful acting career in the TV show Moonlighting with co-star Cybill Shepherd, Willis was also “moonlighting” as a singer when he released a blue-eyed soul record on Motown entitled The Return of Bruno. The single “Respect Yourself” actually reached number five on the Billboard charts. You can now find him playing in the House of Blues or Planet Hollywoods across the U.S. in his blues band Bruce Willis and the Accelerators.
6. Zooey Deschanel – Weeds to She & Him
Indie actress Zoey Deschanel, who is best known for her role on the hit TV series Weeds and singing a sweet duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Will Ferrell in Elf, also put out a lovely little record with singer M. Ward entitled She & Him Volume One.
7. Juliette Lewis – The Wonder Years to The Licks
Academy Award-nominated actress Juliette Lewis started her acting career in such TV shows as The Facts of Life and The Wonder Years before she moved on to greater projects, like her memorable performance with Robert De Niro in Cape Fear. You can now find the flamboyant showstopper leading her band of misfits in Juliette and the Licks, which has released three albums.
8. Jamie Foxx – In Living Color to Unpredictable
Before Foxx won an Academy Award for his portrayal of R&B singer Ray Charles in Ray or made us laugh on In Living Color and The Jaime Foxx Show, he was classically trained on piano since the age of five. Foxx first made a big splash in the music scene with his collaboration with rapper Kanye West on the number one hit “Gold Digger” and followed that up with his slow jam album Unpredictable, which debuted at number two on the Billboard chart.
9. Adrian Grenier – Entourage to the Honey Brothers
In addition to playing the dreamy Vincent Chase in the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Entourage, Grenier moonlights in two New York bands as a singer in Kid Friendly and a drummer in the Honey Brothers.
10. Eddie Murphy – Saturday Night Live to Party All the Time
When the funnyman wasn’t making us laugh with his impersonations of Buckwheat or Gumby on Saturday Night Live, he tried his luck at singing with his Rick James-produced 1985 album How Could It Be. His single “Party All the Time” reached number two on the Billboard charts, but was voted number seven by VH1 as the worst song of all time.
Honorable Mentions
Jack Black – Tenacious D
Russell Crowe – Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts
Dennis Quaid – Dennis Quaid and the Sharks
Keanu Reeves – Dogstar
Kevin Bacon – the Bacon Brothers
Billy Bob Thornton
Jada Pinkett-Smith – Wicked Wisdom
Who are your favorite actors turned musicians? Let me know at jessica.russell@tvguide.ca
SOUND BITES: A WEEKLY DIG THROUGH THE CHANNELS
Tues., May 20: Zaki Ibrahim performs on MTV Live (6 and 11 p.m. ET, MTV)
Toronto neo-soul singer performs from her latest EP Eclectica (episodes in purple).
Tues., May 20: Ringo Starr: Off the Record (9 p.m. ET, MuchMoreMusic)
Interviewer Dave Stewart chats with former Beatle Ringo Starr.
Tues., May 20: Jason Mraz performs on Jay Leno (11:35 p.m. ET/PT, NBC)
Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz performs from his latest album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things.
Tues., May 20: Mates of State on Conan O’Brien (12:35 a.m. ET/PT, NBC)
Indie pop duo Mates of State perform from their latest album Re-Arrange Us.
Wed., May 21: Jimmy Buffett on David Letterman (11:35 p.m. ET/PT, CBS)
Mr. Margarita himself performs on the show.
Thurs., May 22: Leona Lewis on MOD (4 p.m. ET/PT, MuchMusic)
R&B singer Leona Lewis stops by MuchMusic’s headquarters.
Thurs.., May 22: Tristan Prettyman performs on Jay Leno (11:35 p.m. ET/PT, NBC)
Singer Tristan Prettyman performs from her latest album Hello.
Sat., May 24: R.E.M. on Austin City Limits (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings)
Rock superstars R.E.M. make their debut on Austin City Limits, performing from their excellent latest album Accelerate.
Sat., May 24: Ben Harper on Live at the Rehearsal Hall (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, Bravo!)
Easy, breezy singer Ben Harper performs live.
JESSICA’S JUKEBOX: FRESH TUNES YOU GOTTA HEAR
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
On this sixth album, the sentimental lads of Death Cab seem to be embracing their roots and exploring a darker, moodier side like that of earlier albums. However don’t be scared, children; while they might alienate a few 16-year-old O.C. fans by straying from the commercial sing-a-longs on Plans, they’ve evolved on this album into a more grown-up band with a bolder sound.
Recommended if you dig ... Bright Eyes or Yo La Tengo.
Islands – Arm’s Way (Anti)
This follow-up to Islands’ masterful debut album Return to Sea shows these Montreal lads aren’t suffering from the dreaded “sophomore slump”. Instead they shift gears a bit here (since co-founding member Jamie Thompson left the group), allowing various styles to seep in. Amping up their signature orchestrated pop sound to delve deeper into a darker lyrical tone, this band that rose from the ashes of the Unicorns delivers another fantastic record.
Recommended if you dig ... Arcade Fire.
Christa Couture – The Wedding Singer and the Undertaker (One Foot Tapping)
This pretty little record from Vancouver-based singer Christa Couture will just melt your heart. I’ll admit I have a soft spot for female singer/songwriters, but Couture’s folk-pop arrangements of strings and horns that accompany her trusty acoustic guitar and endearing bohemian vocals make this sophomore album so captivating and lovely.
Recommend if you dig ... Ani DiFranco or Jenny Lewis.
The Coast – Expatriate (Aporia)
The Torontonian fellas who make up this boisterous guitar-pop quartet create quite an impact on this catchy debut full-length album. There’s a little somethin’ for every fan on this great mix of atmospheric show-gaze and vibrant indie-pop anthems of bouncy pianos, fuzzy guitars and melodic vocals.
Recommended if you dig ... Tokyo Police Club.
Mudhoney – The Lucky Ones (Sub Pop)
I have a confession to make. I had no idea Mudhoney were still making records. The last I listened to them I was a grungy teenager in the early ‘90s, so I was blown away to find the band still layin’ down the same snarly, fuzzed-out Stooges-like tracks after 20 years of rockin’. This eighth album may not convert new fans but will definitely please die-hards.
Recommended if you dig ... The Stooges or Nirvana.
Jessica’s musical nerdiness/obsession started at a very young age thanks to her older sisters, Jem and the Holograms, CFNY compilations and an early introduction to Nirvana. She has since developed a penchant for effeminate indie rock, soul/mod revivalists, Scandinavian singers and old school hip-hop. After a stint as a music writer at Toronto’s acclaimed NOW magazine, Jessica now aims to make the couch potatoes of the world a little more music savvy in her column "Telly Tunes".
