I'm finding it hard to be critical because well, have you seen her face? And other things she has that are lower on her body?

"I went to the doctor of philosophy and he was like, 'man, what are YOU doing here, you lesbo?!'"-Sarah Silverman (tSSP)

...dreadfully monotone and ridiculously slow.

Granted, I only listened to this one song. Does she hit more than one continuous note in the other tracks?

"There's nothing like looking at your own history in the faces of your friends." -Ani d.

First Padma Lakshmi. Now Scarlett Johansson? What is it about Salman Rushdie that I'm missing?

::shrug::

I heard the album recently and, actually, kind of like it--she does with covers what you're supposed to do, which is make them your own. The album's not without its shortcomings (the new age interpretation of "I Don't Want to Grow Up" for instance), but I think it's a pretty good.

People looking for Scarlett Johansson the actress, with her natural charisma, on this album will be sorely disappointed. The interesting thing about the album is that I think she could've gone there--made an album more in line with her personality--but she chose this path (and brought her vocal register down) for whatever reason.

I don't think anyone's going to mistake Scarlett Johannson for Julie Andrews; instead, I think the comparison is going to be between Johansson and Zooey Deschanel (She & Him). Both albums, I think, are musically great, but I'd give Zooey Deschanel the vocal edge.

PS: The William Shatner album with Ben Folds was awesome.

-----

Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.

- The Lion in Winter

You know, I am so far from rushing out to buy this album or try to steal it or anything like that, but I kinda respect Scarlett for making a faux indie sort of album. It's kind of neat. I mean, she's not exactly putting out the usual irritating music that most actresses turned musicians create. Like Mandy Moore's stuff, or Hilary Duff or something. At least it's not that. And Tom Waits is cool, so he gets a lot of publicity from this, which is good for him.

I think this little music thing that she is up to may be a lot better than the last few movies she's been making anyways.

I know I am supposed to dislike this and make some comical remarks on how it's mediocre to poor. 

I could then put a title for the attack under let's say A Heartbeat for 2008 (too obscure?).  Yawn.   

The problem is it is pretty good.  I love Tom Waits and understand this is no swordfishtrombones.  On the other hand, she has an Americanized Nico sound going (bet she sings a solid Sunday Morning) and it captures the mood of the song well.  Just picked up the new Portishead by the way...awesome.  Also been listening over and over to Shelby Lynne's Anyone Who Has A Heart and Goldfrapp's Caravan Girl.  Lynne deserves every award for female vocal of the year for the latter. 

As for Scarjo, good luck and nice job.   

but I also LOVE to sleep...really a lot!

I'm interested enough to listen to bits and pieces on iTunes and see if any other songs catch my ear.

The entire album is boring. I don't know whether it's because I'm a Tom Waits fan but this effort by Johansson didn't do anything for me.

 Don't get me wrong, I respect Johansson for trying, but maybe stick to films next time...

At least she still has acting.

I'm not sure why she felt the need to ruin her beautiful voice by doing cheesy 90s sounding Tom Waits covers. First of all - Tom Waits is a genius and cannot be covered...anyone who has listened to his music would know that. His voice is so unique it's basically ludicrous to even imagine matching his style.

Also...anyone who's heard Scarlett sing blues or jazz music would be flabbergasted as to why she didn't cover old Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Lena Horne or something. She would have been much more impressive and still as "musically challenging" as this album.

~Renée

I am pleasantly surprised. She has an interesting sound.

I heart Tom Waits and it is interesting to hear his songs sung by a woman.

I'll definitely be illegally downloading  buying the album.

- - - - - - - - - -

-Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

Who doesn't blog these days?

I must admit that I am disappointed.

I heard a clip of Scarlett Johansson singing "Summertime" in one of your other AE blogs (entitled "Hot or Not? See Scarlett Sing" ) and while I didn't agree with everything she did musically (mainly clipping some words), I thought: "Hey! She's not bad." (For some reason, the clip of her song is no longer available on your blog, so here it is:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F_yCFtFn24 )

I always enjoy reading your blogs, Ms. Snarker (and I have the utmost respect for the opinions of some people who have already posted on this thread ;-) ), so I am listening to this new song of hers and well...all I can say is that it is indeed very boring and quite honestly...it is not the best choice for her voice (musically). It seems that she may be better suited for "jazz vocals"/torch songs...

I suppose I should listen to the rest of the album before judging it, but based on this clip alone...I'd have to say that she would be wise to focus on her acting talent.

I'd have to say upon first watching that video, even Scarlett couldn't keep me awake. But having listened to the album a few times, it does grow on you. I only have COMPLETE faith in David (of TV on the Radio... one of the best bands out there) and it's been getting amazing reviews left and right. I am a little confused as to the amazing critical reception and I know fans aren't so impressed, but I think it's one of those albums you have to listen to multiple times.

Also on a side note, I remember another blog post about Zooey Deschanel's musical dabbling (She & Him, with M. Ward) and I have to say, Zooey beats Scarlett out of the water (for now).

Being a huge fan of Tom Waits, I just had to listen to this album and, my god, it's awful. Totally boring and I almost fell asleep, too.

I commend her for her "unorthodox" way of going about it. Tom Waits isn't exactly an expected musical route for Hollywood ingenues, so good for her. I am glad to see that she is moving away from banking on her looks alone and looking to other avenues of self-expression and possible career building endeavors. I wish her luck. 

As a former music major, and someone who grew up with a band director, I tend to have a critical ear when it comes to new artists. I know what to listen for, and I know that most of what gets put out today is pure and utter crap.

And this?

Pure and utter crap.

As someone above me said, "it doesn't go anywhere." Where were they dynamic contrasts, where was her range? I heard MAYBE a total of four notes sung in that entire song. If this song were a lifeline, it'd be flat. There was no movement, nothing that drew the listener in, and made them want to invest any kind of emotion into the song. Probably because it didn't sound like Scarlett invested any emotion to the song. You've got to move, and flow, and experiment with your voice. You have to know how to sing from different parts of your body in order to achieve a certain sound, and effect. There was no such originality here. And, hey, if you can't do that, getting louder and softer periodically often helps. People don't realize how dynamics can really help to shape a song, and that makes me a little sad.

It was unoriginal, I've heard it before, and worse still.... it was like she wasn't even trying.

x Rage More x

i saw this post the other day at work, and have only just remembered about it. i'm actually wishing it had stayed forgotten...

while trying to view the video at work, it didn't even get past the advertisment before it stopped working, which was maybe also a major hint for me to ignore it.

i've never been into scarlett johansson, i think i've seen only one of her movies, and that was only because i didn't realise she was in it, until i saw it on tv - the island, with ewan macgregor (who incidentally grew up about half an hour from me, lol!)

i don't get why everyone loves her, etc etc, but that's probably just me, it can't be helped!

anyways, i thought, oh i wonder if she can sing, and after listening to it, and then half listening to it (i read everyone's comments at the same time) and i'm kinda glad that she's not great (in my opinion, of course).

like dorothy said, it was so boring! she just droned on and on and on...
she sounded like an off key linda perry, but then i think even linda perry off key would sound so good!!

to be honest, it's not what i imagined she'd sound like.

although it's not the type of music i listen to, i don't think i'd listen to her, even if i was into that type of music, it was just, well, rubbish.

okay, i have just listened to that clip of her singing summertime. is that really her?? because she sounds so different, and actually sounds like she can hold a tune. and is actually more like what i imagined she'd sound like...

so please, can someone explain why she is singing this rubbish on her album?