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Scarlett Seduces in First Live Performance

AOL

Posted: 2008-05-16 18:30:32

NEW YORK (May 16) - While many of her Hollywood peers mine the fields of pop and dance music, actress Scarlett Johansson decided to do something a bit different for her first crack at the record industry. The actress is releasing a set comprised almost entirely of Tom Waits covers and for the first time has emerged to perform several of those tracks live. Watch @ AOL Music Sessions

The husky voiced actress is promoting her first album, "Anywhere I Lay My Head," made up almost entirely of songs by cult hero Waits. She considers the project a labor of love and isn't entirely sure how or if her celebrity status will affect the album's popularity.

"I hope people enjoy the music, but it's not like we made an album of pop hits that are gonna hit the charts and go off the charts and sell platinum records and stuff like that," she told AOL Music. "It's an album that we made for our own lifestyle that we thought was a cool project, and maybe perhaps more people will be aware of it because they know my name from films.

But whether that harms or enhances the success of the album -- it's all fair game, really."

Johansson, whose films include "Lost in Translation" and "The Nanny Diaries," said the idea of a Tom Waits cover album came about after a song she recorded for a benefit CD impressed the record label.

"I hadn't really thought about it before, I mean I always loved musical theater when I was a kid -- it was how I started acting, doing a lot of vocal lessons when I was little," she said. "But I certainly never thought about doing an entire album"

>> WATCH SCARLETT PERFORM & READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

Reviews for "Anywhere" have been mixed. Rolling Stone gave it two and a half stars, calling the actress a "faintly goth Marilyn Monroe lost in a sonic fog." NME, however, dubbed it "completely brilliant" and believes it will "no doubt top some 'best of 2008' lists."

The album, on Atco Records, hits stores May 20.

Scarlett Snapshots

Actress Scarlett Johansson arrives for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" in New York in this May 5, 2008 file photo. Johansson's latest film work may be getting the red carpet treatment at Cannes, but her debut album, released on Tuesday, is drawing fire from music critics. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/Files (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

In this photo provided by Starpix, Scarlett Johansson, left, and Deborah Harry pose for a photo in New York, Tuesday, May 20, 2008. MySpace Music will recognize Johansson's debut recording as well as the 30th anniversary of Harry's "Parallel Lines" with an Artist on Artist interview which airs this Thursday, May 22 on www.myspace.com/artistonartist. (AP Photo/Starpix, Dave Allocca)

US director Woody Allen (L) and Spanish actress Penelope Cruz pose during a photocall for their film 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 17, 2008 in Cannes, southern France. Woody Allen on May 17, 2008 presented "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", a summertime sex romp featuring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in a hilarious menage a trois. The movie, which is screening out of competition, drew big laughs and applause at a packed press preview late May 16 ahead of its red-carpet premiere. AFP PHOTO / Valery Hache (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

(L-R) Designer Domenico Dolce, actress Scarlett Johansson and designer Stefano Gabbana attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala "Superheroes: Fashion And Fantasy" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2008 in New York City.."Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Arrivals.The Metropolitan Museum of Art.New York, NY United States.May 5, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15783143), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Designer Domenico Dolce, actress Scarlett Johansson and designer Stefano Gabbana depart the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2008 in New York City.."Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Departures.The Metropolitan Museum of Art.New York, NY United States.May 5, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15782970), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Actress Scarlett Johansson departs the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala "Superheroes: Fashion And Fantasy" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2008 in New York City.."Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Departures.The Metropolitan Museum of Art.New York, NY United States.May 5, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15782573), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

2008-05-16 10:55:55

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146 comments

Morbidgoodfun 12:02:12 PM May 21 2008

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This is what I wrote earlier:
"She sounds like she should be in the clips from America Idol's worst auditions.(hilarious, found at americanidol.com) It seems she thinks because she is famous, she can just turn right around and make a c.d...."

And, of course, since there is one in every bunch, here's what the ass Arvog responded:
Actually, if you read the article (I wonder if people DO bother to read it), she says she knows she isn't making an album of hit songs or something to climb up the charts as a gold or platinum record. As for "because she is famous, she can just turn around and make a CD" bit..well ANYONE can go to a recording studio and record a song or a whole album. :P

My response: Your sarcasm bit- (I wonder if people DO bother to read it) was actually very stupid. I read the article. And, without your help! Can you even BELIEVE I read the part that she wasn't really worried about going platinum, she's just having fun? But the fact of the matter is that she still sounds

edbenson98 12:33:51 AM May 21 2008

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When Scarlett was shaking those bells it sounded better than her voice and they were like sand paper rubbing up and down my spine! She looks great but sounds terrible, stick to acting and forget the singing parts!!!

stevo8791 07:22:05 PM May 20 2008

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This Live Performance is way better than the album version in which theres some terrible voice effects that kill her voice. Sounds a lot better here.

skysz86 05:17:26 PM May 20 2008

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shes hot...but her singing is uhh....not so hot

gj2424 04:52:55 PM May 20 2008

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GREAT FIGURE, WITH A HORSE FACE. YA HESAR THAT RYAN? YOUR KIDS COULD HAVE HORSE FACES.

moex93 04:51:59 PM May 20 2008

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nd i agree wit star4u2nv2

moex93 04:50:19 PM May 20 2008

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but shes hot though!
=D

moex93 04:49:56 PM May 20 2008

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wtf is dis?, she sounds like a bich on crack!
lol

sweety0521liu 04:42:08 PM May 20 2008

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LoL. That was hilarious. Seriously, is that supposed to be a joke? The performance was great, it made my day. It is great that she is having fun. Hopefully though, she honestly doesn’t want to pursue this as another career. :)

tinydime06 04:29:21 PM May 20 2008

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Horrible .. omg stop it .. just stop .. take it no further lol .. there's a reason that your an actress and not a singer ..

snickersjr38 04:23:31 PM May 20 2008

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hey star4u2nv2 i rly like what u said and your totally right

star4u2nv2 04:11:45 PM May 20 2008

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Like Scarlett said, she's not expecting for this album or any of her songs to hit number 1 on the charts, it's just something she's doing on the side! In my opinion, if it makes her happy, then that's all that matters. I personally enjoyed it, of course I wouldn't rate her the best singer in the world, but I give her credit for TRYING! People are so negative! Have a heart!!!