Scarlett Johansson: Please No Lindsay Lohan Comparisons

Posted Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:30pm PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Video Ga Ga

Isn't Lindsay Lohan's "Rumors" song and video exactly what you expected when you heard that the then teenage actress was planning to release a pop record? It was full of paparazzi angst, hip hop choreography and drum machine effects. It made you think Britney as did Paris Hilton's "Stars Are Blind."

These tabloid darlings clearly didn't give the impression that they intended for anyone to take them seriously. Mission accomplished.

Equally as beautiful, though an acclaimed actress, Scarlett Johansson shows them how it's supposed to be done with her May 20 singing debut, Anywhere I Lay My Head, for which she sings 10 Tom Waits covers and one original song.

Ironically, the Y! Music video premiere for the first single "Falling Down" can be compared to Lohan's "Rumors." While in "Rumors" Lohan complains about the annoyances of celebreality, Johansson offers another perspective. The day-in-the-life themed video follows Johansson being chauffeured to work, seemingly in deep thought as she looks at passerby. She arrives to the set to get her hair and makeup done and dressed by stylists. Her handlers brief her on the day's tasks.

Her expression is welcoming and pleasant, but she isn't completely engaged. Maybe she's tired or would simply rather be doing something else, an emotion probably not all too different than the one underneath Lohan's "Rumors." But it's also the underling story of "Falling Down," that things aren't always what they seem, you often have to do exactly what you don't want to do, and sometimes as things fall apart there's nothing you can do but watch.

When Johansson is finished working, she strips off the make up and heads back home. She is greeted by fans, and appears to return to the deep thought. There's definitely a lot on her mind.

Clearly, there's a lot more depth to her music effort than what you expect from a hot, young actress turned singer who happened to portray a salacious video vixen to Justin Timberlake last year in his 9-minute, Cameron Diaz breakup prequel "What Goes Around...Comes Around."

Johansson's music video is as artistic as her Golden Globe nominated work, Lost In Translation, Girl With A Pearl Earring, A Love Song For Bobby Long and Match Point.

The fact that she both acts and sings is the beginning and end of her comparisons to Lohan. Johansson won't be dismissed as a joke.


1056 Comments

1. barrmark@prodigy.net -
She is a great actress, but her singing is lacking.

2. Gigie Valenccia -
That was paintful....sorry but she is a horrible singer! who told this lady she could sing?

3. lazo_laura -
The video was good, but I wasnt really able to hear her voice under the beautiful music.

4. seeker -
Bless her heart eiher someone told her she sang as well as she looked or the powers that be feel her looks will get her by. If this was Idol i'd say "next"

5. Diamond S -
I think the song is blah yawn yawn and then her voice I can't really hear it, she's chanting not really singing. If she actually sings I might be able to comment, right now it's like ugh

6. dmarr821 -
sounds like MAZZY STAR to me!

7. Jennifer B -
I am embarressed for her. She can act, but she sure cannot sing. That video was painful. At least we all know how she puts on her makeup now. ugh!!!

8. hotchickmc03 -
Honestly ..I dont want to slam her but she needs to stick to acting... she a good actress but singing just isnt her strong suit... at least not in this song...

9. ZombieMaker -
My ears !!!!!!!!!11

10. abcdefg543 -
what a shame. i really had high hopes for this album once i read what she'd said about other young artists leading a double life as singer/actress. if this is what she would "sit around and listen to with her friends", i would assume her friends have a hearing impairment. i'm just REALLY glad she does have a day job, and she more than makes up for this with THOSE skills.

11. Amanda B -
Three words... MAH-NO-TONE

12. john j -
she has a great screenname, and pretty face... but... her acting is what i would call 'daytime television beginning actors'; and her voice, it's just as i thought it would be, modulated to cover up any pitch or technique issues. remember on the brady bunch when they told greg it doesn't matter that they can't hear his voice, cause it's rock and roll music? isn't that what hollywood is, flash and cash? i'm sure her breasts are fake, and other parts to come. but hey, that's the flash, and who cares when there's plenty of cash. (falling down)

13. collettezzz -
awful -- i wouldn't even call it singing. Robert Redford gave her a first break in the film 'Horse Whispere' and under his direction, she was exceptional. I Have NOT been impressed with her work after that. Seems she's more interested in the make up illusion of "hollywood" and has moved away from pursuing real Artistry.

14. collettezzz -
awful -- I wouldn't even call it singing. Robert Redford gave her the first break when he cast her in the film, 'The Horse Whisperer', and under his direction she was exceptional. I have NOT been impressed with her work since then. Seems she is more interested in the make up illusion of "hollywood" than pursuing the creation of true Artistry.

15. Brina -
I like it. It reminds me of Mazzy Star; love Mazzy Star. Kuddos to her for doing something different. Lohan was a freaking joke; I acutally dig this.

16. roberta b -
Actually i immagined to hear a bit more her voice...you can barely heae it, and this is just a cover song, isn't it?I would need to hear more times this song...As opinion after the first listening, i would say that at least she did choose an unexpected genre.

17. bigaahawk -
backup folks, ya need to listen beyond the music and feel her voice, mark my words this girl has it.

18. dreadlocs -
Oh my goodness! I know she was making a point about stardom but as they say, girl don't quit your day job. YOU ARE NOT A SINGER but we get it, you can stop now.
Dreadlocs

19. jhtex90 -
CAN SHE SING? NOPE.... I MEAN... NOPE!!! STICK WITH THE ACTING

20. J. Alexis -
Ok....so hear is the truth, stick to what you know because singing ain't it!
PEACE & LOVE
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