All has suddenly become clear.

+1

You do know that Midler did a very good duet with Waits on I Never Talk To Strangers? And what the hell is wrong with Meat Loaf?

That duet was half good. Guess which half?

^^^And?

Touche

Meatloaf didnt write it either.

plus, the Midler/Waits duet was good. Both parts. I have a feeling you haven't heard it.

Uh, that point sort of destroys your argument....If he's "America's Greatest Songwriter" then people should be covering his songs. Great songs are great songs. That's what songwriters do---they write songs, and not just for themselves.

Unless you're just claiming that he's a great song stylist and performer.

Isnt it a fact that *The Boss* is the greatest American everything?

I say Scarlett Johannsen has neither the musical talent nor experience to cover Tom Waits in any meaningful way.

You guys say "Bette Midler and Meatloaf."

I know when I'm beaten.

How do you say, rolley eyes?

No, what I said was:
People who claim that someone is "the greatest American Songwriter" don't complain when someone decides to cover that songwriter (that's...umm...what songwriters are there for).

It was also pointed out that Midler was good enough for Waits himself, but shes not cool enough for fanboy #1. Then we pointed out that you got who wrote that Meatloaf song wrong.

Feel free to continue making up the points you can dismiss, and ignore those that go over your head. You're good at it.

Two things I love, likely combining to form one awful fuckup of detestability? Yeah, I'm gonna steer clear.

I'm still wondering what "actors " meant.

Wow. I thought you were joking.

I'll just go ahead and address that stuff so you can quit saying such nasty things.

Wouldn't fanboy #1 be more inclined to agree unquestioningly with his idol's decision, no matter how bad? I'm not entirely up-to-speed on my sycophant etiquette but I'm pretty sure, "No seriously, Bette Midler's really talented." would be the line the person you're describing would tow. Bette Midler is. That's all. She just is - safe, non-threatening and uninspired- the very definition of vanilla. Like a robot without a soul. I wouldn't say she's awful because that would imply that she's veered far enough from the middle of the road to warrant anything other than indifference. In regards to the duet, at best, her voice provided a temporarily amusing juxtaposition to Tom's. All said and done he could've picked a far more suitable and interesting partner. Artists do crazy, often inadvisable, things all the time. You might disagree with me but so would my grandmother.

Point 1: Bette Midler is boring despite her duet with Tom.

You really settled my hash with Meatloafgate. I admit it, I didn't know he didn't write his own songs. That was my mistake. I never should've posted the lyrics when a video or audio clip would've illustrated my point sufficiently. Look, even I admit Meat's fun but hardly an example of actor turned colossal musical talent. Spinal Tap is about the only worthwhile band whose list of influences might include Meatloaf. Again, the fact that Meatloaf didn't write the songs on his most famous album is a bad reason for why he might not be a good example of a talented musician. Does that sound right?

Point 2: Meatloaf is not a musical juggernaut.

Point 3: Musically, Scarlett Johansen is less experienced and talented than MidLoaf, who, even combined in such a clever way, are nowhere near the caliber of artists Tom Waits is.

Tom Waits is a song writer. He's also a recording artist. He writes great songs and then records them in a unique and often complicated fashion. He can do this because he's an extremely talented and experienced musician. Producing such a prolific, varied and enduring catalog requires much more than mountains of disposable income, free time and a SAG card. Producing a single album composed of tidbits from the aforementioned catalog requires a great deal of talent as well, especially if you intention is to do something more than butcher or satirize them. She can't do it. However, she'd be more likely to be able to perform songs written specifically for her by Mr. Waits. That's where the songwriting part of the equation becomes important. It still wouldn't be any good but at least great recordings wouldn't have to suffer at the hands of a dilettante.

Point 4: Recording songs that have been written specifically for you to record is different than covering songs.


Anyway, Bette Midler and Meatloaf aside, Tom Waits' songs are nobody's training wheels. However, it doesn't sound like there's any shortage of people willing to enable Scarlett's vanity project. Maybe she'll trace an Andy Warhol painting or cut-n-paste For Whom The Bell Tools and people can buy and pretend to enjoy those too.