Everybody loves a triple-threat: the actor who can also sing and dance. It really is a special gift of a person who can do all three, and do it well. Heck, sometimes we get so excited at the possibility of a triple-threat that we'll even let the lesser ones, well, slip through. And sometimes, the means-well-but-shouldn't take it upon themselves to attempt triple-threat status. And even though we may love these actors so, it doesn't forgive them of the fact that their attempts to achieve greatness were, well, a bit flawed.
But there's something to be sad and something to be learned from these performances: what not to do when your director asks for a jazzy dance number, an introspective singing scene on a beach, or even—gulp, we hope not—the use of song and blackface come into play. Sometimes even in comedy, the musical addition (or the person performing it) can miss the mark. So you do your best, because you're an entertainer, verdamnit! It's what entertainers do: anything to please the movie-going masses!
We know it's hard to do—act, sing, dance, all while trying to bring your best moments to screen? That's got to be a challenge unbelievable in scale. When everybody's watching like that, it's easy to think a tiny misstep may go unnoticed. But when they don't? Well, then it can sometimes blow up in people's faces. And, hey! We've all had moments like that in life, right? It's part of being human, the imperfections! Some just have skills that others don't, and that's fine. So let's sit back and have a quick laugh at some of the most absurd, ridiculous, or just flat-out terrible musical moments in movies. It's a group effort, after all!
Russell Crowe in Les Miserables
Oh Russell. You meant so well, didn't you? When you decided to sing in this very affected manner? We know you have a band (previously called 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, now called Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God) and all that, but rock music has a bit more leeway than your run of the mill, iconic musical number. But when you put on that accent and attempted to sing. Well, my poor, dear fellow: it didn't work. Not for a second. It felt put-upon and maybe a little (we hate to say it) community theater-esque. Better luck next time, Mr. Crowe?
Oh Russell. You meant so well, didn't you? When you decided to sing in this very affected manner? We know you have a band (previously called 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, now called Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God) and all that, but rock music has a bit more leeway than your run of the mill, iconic musical number. But when you put on that accent and attempted to sing. Well, my poor, dear fellow: it didn't work. Not for a second. It felt put-upon and maybe a little (we hate to say it) community theater-esque. Better luck next time, Mr. Crowe?
Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn
Bing Crosby can sing, y'all! Let's just get that out of the way first and foremost. He can sing, he's fabulous—every time he opened that mouth of his, greatness would come out. We're not arguing about that fact. It's just that, well, looking back at it now: a song about Abraham Lincoln, done at a party, in...blackface? Yeah, call us old-fashioned (or decidedly not), but that just doesn't really fly well with us, even if it was made in a time where that sort of thing was acceptable. Now poor Bing looks like a right old fool along with everyone else in the clip. Yikes!
Bing Crosby can sing, y'all! Let's just get that out of the way first and foremost. He can sing, he's fabulous—every time he opened that mouth of his, greatness would come out. We're not arguing about that fact. It's just that, well, looking back at it now: a song about Abraham Lincoln, done at a party, in...blackface? Yeah, call us old-fashioned (or decidedly not), but that just doesn't really fly well with us, even if it was made in a time where that sort of thing was acceptable. Now poor Bing looks like a right old fool along with everyone else in the clip. Yikes!
Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia!
Oh, Mr. Bond. For someone as cool, calm, and collected as you, it seems hardly fair to scrutinize you after wanting to let loose a little bit. But! This is the Internet, so judge we shall. And the verdict? Not good, Mr. Bond. Not good at all. It's hard going up against a flawless powerhouse of entertainment queendom likeMeryl Streep, but something tells us a different song may have served you better. Or no song at all. Can we have an actor in a musical movie not sing? That's like asking the sun not to shine! And so shine on, he tries, Mr. Brosnan does. This might've been a mission too extreme for even the almighty MI6.
Oh, Mr. Bond. For someone as cool, calm, and collected as you, it seems hardly fair to scrutinize you after wanting to let loose a little bit. But! This is the Internet, so judge we shall. And the verdict? Not good, Mr. Bond. Not good at all. It's hard going up against a flawless powerhouse of entertainment queendom likeMeryl Streep, but something tells us a different song may have served you better. Or no song at all. Can we have an actor in a musical movie not sing? That's like asking the sun not to shine! And so shine on, he tries, Mr. Brosnan does. This might've been a mission too extreme for even the almighty MI6.
Next: Hearts Pop! and Stallone is Drinkinstein
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