As the years go by I believe we are seeing a return to old times. It used to be that the celebrities of the day were not just actors, singers, or dancers. They were all of these things. They were "Entertainers!" They could do it all. Lately, I think we are seeing Hollywood try to return to this... but as it turns out, celebrities aren't always talented... at all... like they shouldn't be famous in the first place (Cast of The Hills I'm talking to you). So I have addressed some stars who "crossed over" one way or another.
Good crossoverZooey Deshanel (who's sweet persona has been featured in a number of TV shows and movies such as "Elf" and "500 Days of Summer") had the good sense to team up with M. Ward to form the group She & Him. This is smart for a number of reasons. Because she is in a "group" rather than releasing under her name, she earns more street cred and doesn't have to write her own songs. The album is not just about her, she just happens to be the front (wo)man of a group that features a musician that has been respected in the industry since the late 90's. M. Ward is a genius and by having him in the band Zoeey can lean on him without looking like a teen pop star that can't play an instrument or write songs, but wants to be a star.
Bad Crossover
No offense to the two young aspiring calipso singers in this reality, but this branch of music seems to be the easy fall back of actors trying to be pop stars. Paris and Hayden have already tried it and I just want to tell you before I have to listen to Shia LaBeouf play steel drums... it's not good Hollywood... it's just not good. Better to bombard me with autotuners and beats so loud I can't hear the lyrics (Ashley Tisdale) than to sing me a song I would only listen to for 15 seconds over a 2 inch elevator speaker while I decend into a hotel lobby in Jamaca for my Jimmy Buffet themed class of 63' reunion. Even then, people would wonder why that crap was on when we have Margarettaville we could listen to on repeat.
Good CrossoverHey if you can sing, then some acting jobs are available to you, because the part requires you to sing. The reverse is not true just because you act like a singer does not entitle you to an album. But fortunetly for us Mandy Moore can both sing and act. She is hilarious in movies like "Saved" and made great guest appearances in "Scrubs", but we have to attribute this great crossover to the fact that in "Saved" "American Dreamz" and "A Walk To Remember" Mandy Moore sang in the roll. Good job Mandy...
Bad CrossoverI love this man. He is an international sensation and is funnier than all get out hosting award shows and sketch comedy. But "Alpha Dog"? Seriously Justin? It breaks my heart.
Good CrossoverWouldn't you rather watch "The Italian Job" than listen to "Good Vibrations"? Ok, maybe that is catchy... and maybe I'd rather listen to Mark Wahlburg talk to animals than watch "Max Payne" again. But I think, over all, the acting is better for his image.
Any rapper at all... Any of them... Ice Cube, Ice Tea, Cube Tea, Common, Dre, Snoop, Nick Cannon, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne... I'm talking to all of you. Stop it. Just because you can speak in rhythm with stunning lyrics like "I'm on a boat" doesn't mean you should act. You can rap about owning a big screen without actually being on a big screen.
Adendum: Exceptions to this rule are Will Smith and Marshall Mathers (eminem). But in all farness Eminem starred in a movie about himself. But the man can be himself very well, give him an award.
My Toss ups are as follows:
J.Lo - went from dancer on "In Living Color" to dancing pop star to starring in not so great movies.
Hillary Duff - it was cute for a while.
Lindsay Lohan - It wasn't good in the first place, so having a crappy crossover is the least of your problems. Get tested Lindsay...
4 comments:
Yeah I think its a good list, though I think you don't give Justin Timberlake enough credit as an actor. Alpha Dog was maybe the worst movie in a 5 year span, but even Bruce Willis was in it. So obviously, it was the movie...not the actors themselves.
I saw a list yesterday that Mandy Moore is the most searched for female on the internet (according to stats that tally search engine results). The moral of the story was that class and talent are actually more appealing to people than smut.
I'm going to be that guy. Forgive me, or if you prefer, shun me at Thanksgiving. Zooey wrote the lyrics for all the songs (save a couple of covers) on the She & Him album.
I don't know man, in spite of releasing Cop Killer back in '92, Ice T makes for a pretty convincing detective as Fin Tutuola on the hit television series Law and Order: SVU. You see my friend, in the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.
These are their stories.
i LOVE zooey deshanel. she is my fav =)
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