9 Actors We Thought Would Be Good Singers, but They Actually Suck
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There are actors who have proven themselves as great singers. Take Julie Andrews in the "Sound of Music," for instance. But for others, their attempt to sing can be a bit ... off-key. From movie musicals to daring roles with singing parts, some Hollywood stars have tried their hand at belting out tunes, some failing ridiculously.
Here are some otherwise great actors who should really stick to their day jobs.
1. Gerard Butler
If you like romcoms and charming bad guys, then Gerard Butler is your man. From portraying a dead husband in the tear-jerker "P.S. I Love You" to a misogynist in "The Ugly Truth," the Scottish actor is nothing but decent in his craft.
Unless it involves singing.
Butler trying out his vocal abilities in the 2004 movie adaptation of the Broadway musical "The Phantom of the Opera" is like watching your drunk coworker struggling through a Luciano Pavarotti song at karaoke. The movie was notoriously panned by critics, with the majority of fingers pointed directly at Butler’s disastrous singing.
2. Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is one of the most watchable human beings in the world. We could watch her rearranging her closet, and it would be an Oscar-worthy performance. With record-breaking Academy Award nominations and three wins, no person alive would dare to question Streep’s ability as an actress. But can she sing? Debatable.
It truly depends on the movie. In some films, like "Mamma Mia!" and "Into the Woods," her singing fell short, revealing some vocal limitations. However, Streep's performances in "Postcards From the Edge" and "Ricki and the Flash" proved that she could nail certain musical genres with skill and affection. In "Florence Foster Jenkins," she portrayed the titular character's terrible voice flawlessly, showcasing her ability to sing "badly" with purpose.
3. Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe is an excellent, award-winning actor, a distinguished craftsman, and an attractive man. But he is a mediocre singer. And that’s a euphemism, as his attempt at singing in the 2012 movie adaptation of "Les Misérables" was not received well by audiences nor critics alike. The exceptional singing talent displayed by the rest of the cast in "Les Misérables" didn’t help Crowe. With Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman delivering powerful high notes throughout the movie, Crowe's singing felt as pleasant as listening to nails scratching on a chalkboard. Crowe's vocal limitations became glaringly apparent in the more prominent songs, such as "Stars," where he struggled to match the power and proper tone of the Broadway rendition.
4. Tom Cruise
Move over, death-defying stunts – Tom Cruise's biggest daredevil act was when he tried to be a rock star. In the movie "Rock of Ages," Cruise bravely showed off his hidden talent (or lack thereof) as an aging rock singer, about to hit the stage for his final gig with the band. And let's just say, from what we heard, it might be best for him to stick to jumping from helicopters and climbing buildings.
5. Cameron Diaz
In the 1996 romcom "My Best Friend's Wedding," Cameron Diaz's karaoke rendition of "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" was nothing less than charming and cute. However, Hollywood's decision to cast her as an unhinged singer in the 2001 film "Vanilla Sky" was far from cute; it was concerning. Even less cute was her portrayal in the 2014 remake of "Annie," where she played the villainous orphanage caretaker, Miss Hannigan.
6. Emma Watson
Emma Watson is a delightful actor and was undoubtedly a bull’s eye casting choice for portraying the kind and intelligent Belle in “Beauty and the Beast.” But her musical abilities are where she falls short. Watson's foray into singing in the movie adaptation of the classic fairytale received mixed reviews, with her vocals heavily layered with auto-tune during her introduction in "Belle" and her solo in "Belle's Reprise." While her acting as Belle was praised, her less-than-confident singing voice left some longing for the enchanting vocals of the 1991 version.
7. Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, the exemplary actor and pioneer of method acting, had an unexpected flop when it came to crooning in 1955's "Guys and Dolls." His off-key attempts at singing led the filmmakers to meticulously piece together the onscreen performance from various takes. The rest of the cast, including the renowned crooner Frank Sinatra, humorously gave him nicknames like "Mumbles," alluding to his lack of musical experience.
8. Pierce Brosnan
In the 2008 movie-musical "Mamma Mia!" Pierce Brosnan's performance of the ABBA classic "SOS" didn't quite hit the right notes. The title alone took on a quite literal meaning when it was performed by Brosnan. His singing left us shocked by how badly it fell short, showing that even the devilishly suave action hero has his vocal kryptonite.
9. Helena Bonham Carter
We still don't know for certain if Tim Burton's decision to cast his then-wife Helena Bonham Carter in the 2007 movie "Sweeney Todd," was nepotism-inspired. However, based on her performance of "The Worst Pies in London," it certainly raised some eyebrows and gave the appearance of favoritism.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
