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Scarlett Johannson Covers Waits

MONDAY OCTOBER 16 2006 2:00 PM

Submitted by Colin_ORegan. Edited By Colin_ORegan.

TAGS: Scarlett, Johannson, Tom Waits, Covers

Scarlett Johansson is ready to start a singing career - because having only one mulit-million dollar career in Hollywood is for the weak. Fox News reported this morning that Scarlett was hard at work on her debut Scarlett Sings Tom Waits. As the title suggests, Scarlett will be tackling the standards penned by the inimitable Tom Waits. The album is already in production with recording continuing through winter with a goal of a spring release via Atco, Rhino Record's recently defibrillated subsidiary.

Fox attempts to assuage our fears:

Fear not, though. Unlike some other recent pop tarts, Scarlett � who turns 22 next month � can actually sing; she is no Paris Hilton. Also, her choice of material is a tad more sophisticated. She's making a whole album of songs by Tom Waits, one of the premier singer-songwriters in the business.

166 Comments

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... 12

NinjaTech

Minneapolis, MN

November 2003

OCT 16, 2006 05:50 PM

Remember when Johansson was the other girl in Ghost World? You know, the one who wasn't Thora? Lost are those days...

MC_Dove

Cincinnati, OH

November 2004

OCT 16, 2006 05:57 PM

jason said:
i wonder what this will sound like about as much as i wonder what tom waits would look like in her clothes.

ah yes, but what would she look like in his clothes?

i wouldn't say i'm terribly optimisitic about this, but i am curious to see how it sounds.

mamet

Charleston, SC

March 2005

OCT 16, 2006 06:01 PM

Dove said:
ah yes, but what would she look like in his clothes?

Now that's hot.

Dot

SUICIDEGIRL

I'm lost

OCT 16, 2006 06:20 PM

i hate her. this only makes me hate her more.

d20

San Francisco, CA

September 2003

OCT 16, 2006 07:01 PM

i'm a fan of ridiculous remix/cover experiments... to me this album will likely rank up there with the beck remix single comprised of four songs done entirely on gameboys.

starblood

Horsham, PA

March 2006

OCT 16, 2006 07:02 PM

So we might get to hear these songs performed by someone who can sing?

s5

STAFF

San Francisco, CA

OCT 16, 2006 07:03 PM

artmovesproduct said:
Tom Waits is one of the most unique and talented artists of all time and arguably America's greatest songwriter.

Scarlett is flash-in-the-pan, semi-talented, one-dimensional eye candy.

Call it a hunch.

Man, I just can't agree here. She's no Lindsay Lohan or Olsen twin.

Sure, this could turn out terribly, but go back and rewatch Ghost World and Lost In Translation. Her deeper voice and more morose characters that she plays are well suited to cover Tom Waits. My hunch is, "two great tastes that taste great together".

be_elzebe

Chicago, IL

May 2006

OCT 16, 2006 07:05 PM

Also, I imagine Waits wouldn't let her do it unless she was going to do it right.

aegiswings

Cambridge, MA

July 2004

OCT 16, 2006 07:11 PM

Actors should not sing. Has there ever been a decent crossover? Besides Barbra Streisand, and she went the other way.

Sound

I'm lost

January 2004

OCT 16, 2006 07:13 PM

One of those *wont believe it till i see it, wont know what to think about it till i hear it* sort of things i suppose.

Cigarette

Cleveland, OH

April 2004

OCT 16, 2006 07:29 PM

The sheer volume of pretentiousness, ignorance and snap judgments in this thread overwhelms me. I mean, jesus, let someone record a goddamned record.

Also, if you don't believe a young female singer can't do straight up jazz vocal versions of Tom Waits, I suggest you check out Holly Cole's album Temptation, featuring amazing versions of Invitation of the Blues, Jersey Girl and I Don't Wanna Grow Up.

be_elzebe said:
Also, I imagine Waits wouldn't let her do it unless she was going to do it right.

No rights have to be acquired to publish a cover of a song. It's called a "compulsory license" and all you have to do is pay the Harry Fox agency.

aegiswings said:
Actors should not sing. Has there ever been a decent crossover? Besides Barbra Streisand, and she went the other way.

Does the entirety of the golden age of film count? A lot of actors get their start in theatre, and you know what pays the bills in theatre? Ding ding ding! Musicals! Being able to sing is damn near the most valuable secondary skill for a young actor. Bette Midler, Meat Loaf, Liza Minelli, and Tracey Ullman all started as actors before becoming recording artists.

artmovesproduct

Denver, CO

August 2006

OCT 16, 2006 07:30 PM

s5 said:

Man, I just can't agree here. She's no Lindsay Lohan or Olsen twin.

Precisely why I went with semi-talented and not talentless.

s5 Sure, this could turn out terribly, but go back and rewatch Ghost World and Lost In Translation. Her deeper voice and more morose characters that she plays are well suited to cover Tom Waits. My hunch is, "two great tastes that taste great together".

It's the musical equivalent of brain surgery/rocket science. She isn't up to it. Even the most talented female vocalists I can think of, professional musicians with both style and chops, would have a hard time doing the songs justice.

It's Tom Fucking Waits. I just don't know what else to say.