mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Crossing over the mythical line between acting and singing is a difficult proposition. Some have found success (Jamie Foxx). Some have found failure (Steven Seagal). And some are Joey Lawrence. Here are a few clips of actors who should have stayed behind the camera instead of leaping in front of a microphone.
Remember Eddie Murphy’s How Could It Be album? Yeah, you’re not the only one. Although his single “Party All The Time” did reach #2 on the charts.
Bruce Willis actually recorded a pair of rather forgettable albums in the 80’s. Here’s a clip from “Respect Yourself.”
In case you haven’t run across this gem before, here’s Shatner’s version of “Rocket Man.” There is a debate about whether he meant this to be serious or if it was one elaborate joke. I think he looks far too self-satisfied for it to be a parody, but that may just be me.
In that vein, here is Leonard Nimoy singing “The Ballad Of Bilbo Baggins.” If you can make it more than a minute into this song without your ears bleeding, you’re a stronger person that I am.
Once the market for Under Siege sequels dried up, Steven Seagal tried his hand at music. Kind of makes you want to toss Gary Busey through a radar display.
As a bonus tonight, here is Christopher Walken with a spoken word rendition of Lady GaGa’s “Poker Face.” Simply hilarious.
Comments (23)
Comment
- Follow mental_floss
Bruce Willis had a special on Showtime early in his career called “The Return of Bruno”. In it he sang and danced and took credit for inventing opera and pizza. Sure enough, some people believed it was a documentary and that Willis really WAS Bruno.
posted by harold on 11-12-2009 at 10:32 pm
How could you forget not one but two albums from Don Johnson?????
posted by LadyTaz on 11-12-2009 at 11:10 pm
How can you forget Don Johnson? Or Bill Cosby’s disco album?
posted by psknapp on 11-12-2009 at 11:10 pm
Eddie Murphy’s song was better than half the crap around these days. I like Bruce Willis as a singer.
posted by Bakedpotatoes on 11-12-2009 at 11:43 pm
Needs more cowbell.
posted by nutmeag on 11-12-2009 at 11:46 pm
Don Johnson’s “Heartbeat” is possibly the best worst song of all time. I’m sad it was left off this list. With Dweezil Zappa on guitar and the most awesomely over-the-top video, it’s a rare gem.
posted by Rachel on 11-13-2009 at 6:50 am
Not only Don Johnson, but how about his Miami Vice partner Philip Michael Thomas’ groundbreaking 1980’s albums “Living the Book of My Life” and “Somebody?”
posted by Mike W on 11-13-2009 at 7:54 am
Funny… everyone’s saying “How could you forget Don Johnson?”
I found Don Johnson to be QUITE forgettable. :)
posted by Sandy Wood on 11-13-2009 at 8:05 am
*Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) “All I Need”
*And the late, great Patrick Swayze “She’s Like the Wind”
posted by Renis on 11-13-2009 at 8:55 am
Rick Springfield
Jessie’s Girl
posted by sjms on 11-13-2009 at 9:28 am
john travolta’s song in the 70’s was one of the worst. i think it was called “let her in” or something like that. it was dreadful.
posted by Nathan on 11-13-2009 at 10:08 am
Travolta’s albume was called “Travolta Fever” capitalizing on ….oh you know it!
posted by Rob f on 11-13-2009 at 11:31 am
A few things:
- I’m pretty sure Rick Springfield was a rock star first.
- It was Tommy Lee Jones that got thrown into the radar display, not Gary Busey.
- Didn’t Jennifer Love Hewitt have a song too?
- And finally, I LIKED “She’s Like the Wind.” He wasn’t that bad.
posted by Jim on 11-13-2009 at 11:56 am
Tim Curry’s “Paradise Garage.” Never fails to supply me with the giggles.
posted by Kate on 11-13-2009 at 12:46 pm
Jennifer Love Hewitt has like 6+ albums those most were overseas only (big in Japan apparently).
I agree that “She’s like the wind” is better than the drek on this list.
posted by Matt on 11-13-2009 at 12:56 pm
What about Stewie Griffin’s version of William Shatner’s “Rocketman”. The epitome of cool…
posted by Jeremy on 11-13-2009 at 1:09 pm
Rent an old copy of \Paint Your Wagon\ and then tell me that Lee Marvin singing ANYTHING is not the.worst.ever.
posted by Jon on 11-13-2009 at 1:40 pm
I don’t usually tell people what to put on their list posts, but yeah, Don Johnson is definitely missing here. He is best enjoyed/ridiculed when you watch the video for “Heartbeat”.
William Shatner is so awesomely bad that I actually have some of his songs and listen to them when I need a laugh. I love Bill. He makes me smile.
And yes, Jack Wagner and Rick Springfield were “musicians” before they were actors. Not saying they were anything great or special, but acting came later for both of them. And now I have “All I Need” stuck in my head. Damn you, 1980’s.
posted by MN on 11-13-2009 at 2:11 pm
Rick Springfield was a singer first. He had a hit in ‘72(?) with Speak to the Sky. He took acting classes and got a role on a soap before Jesse’s Girl.
While he’s not my taste, he is more legitimate than the people on this list as a bonafide musician, which is probably why he isn’t listed.
How about a listing of musicians who made ham fisted atttempts at acting?
posted by BassMan on 11-13-2009 at 2:14 pm
Pathetic, I started Eddie Murphy and my 10 year-old knew the song from the opening riff, but they couldn’t figure out his name. Dr, Doolittle, the guy from haunted mansion, etc
posted by Lorelei on 11-13-2009 at 4:47 pm
David Hasselhoff, anyone?
posted by Meri on 11-13-2009 at 8:21 pm
David Soul. “Don’t Give Up On Us, Baby.” Surely I’m not the only one who remembers that… song.
posted by Brooklynfemale on 11-13-2009 at 10:02 pm
And Beck’s “Where It’s At” video pays homage to the Shatner clip.
posted by Brooklynfemale on 11-13-2009 at 10:05 pm