Scarlett Johansson covered the November 2009 issue of Glamour and gave an interview almost as much flavor as unsweetened oatmeal, but there was something kind of strange that she forgot to mention. The interview started off mentioning her successful new album with Pete Yorn, Break Up, and Scarlett acted as if this was the first album she’s ever recorded. She may try to rewrite history, but the truth is she’s already gone down this road recording a full album of Tom Waits covers called Anywhere I Lay My Head, which was widely panned. As a big Tom Waits fan, I was weirdly excited when I found out about this, but it was a mess. Even with heavy production, it was difficult to be convinced that Scarlett had any kernal of singing talent in her gorgeous body.
If you want a little taste, here’s a video of Scarlett singing Green Grass:
Wow, that was more pitiful than I remembered, but at least she likes Tom Waits. That’s a plus in my book.
Pete Yorn thought there was something there, however, and was able to squeeze a couple of diamonds out of some coal. In other words, he’s a regular Kandi Burruss. Listen to the addictive “Relator” from Break Up:
Click here to learn more about the magic Pete Yorn managed to create with ScarJo. You can buy a copy at Amazon.com.
Here’s Scarlett’s artful dodge of Anywhere I Lay My Head during her Glamour interview. I love how they kind of nudge her to try to get her to reveal how Pete knew she was interested in singing. She’d like us to think this whole singing thing was completely random dream Pete Yorn had and not a public aspiration of hers.
Glamour: Your album’s fantastic! How was it to work with Pete Yorn?
Scarlett: I’ve know him for a while. I’ve worked with both of his brothers, who are in the entertainment industry. One day Pete texted me out of the blue saying “Hey, do you want to record an album?” I was like, Whoa, that’s a weird message. But I said, “Sure–why not?”
G: How’d he know you sing?
SJ: He didn’t!
G: He just thought you would be good?
SJ: He said he had some weird fever dream — and had this idea that we should do a duets album… When I started singing along to the songs he was playing me, he said, “I’m really happy that you can sing!”
Subscribe to Starcasm by Email
