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Home » Blogs » Dorothy Snarker's blog » Mandy Moore shows "Dedication" to a new look

Mandy Moore shows "Dedication" to a new look

by
Dorothy Snarker

I really like Mandy Moore. I’ve already made that abundantly clear here. I think she is wonderfully grounded in an industry that all too often celebrates its unapologetic train wrecks. She is mature, healthy, hard-working and, above all, talented. And nice, good heavens, she is so nice. Which is why, of course, it pains me greatly to show you this.

Oh, honey. Honey. Her eyelids, they looks so … heavy. Now I appreciate the smoky, sultry thing Mandy is going for here. I’m all for vamping it up now and then. But the pancake makeup and the I-vant-to-suck-your-blood lipstick just seems off. Plus, she just doesn’t look like herself. (Seriously, from a distance I thought, “Has Jennifer Tilly done something different with her hair?”) The dress and its accompanying cleavage, however, can stay.

Perhaps, since Mandy is at the premiere of her latest film, Dedication (a dark romance co-starring Billy Crudup), she is just practicing her method acting. Because it sure seems like she is trying out looks for her upcoming guest spot on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother next season. The role is described as “the ultimate bad decision … a tattooed, vodka-swilling train wreck” who catches the eye of lead character Ted. Hmm, the outfit is starting to make more sense now.

Speaking of trying something different, the 23-year-old singer/actress recently covered Rihanna’s inescapable summer hit “Umbrella.” Mandy’s versions dials down the danceability and amps up the earnestness. But, you know what, it works better than you might expect. See for yourself:

(Yahoo!)

Granted, I’m predisposed to like anything Mandy does. (Well, almost anything. Even I didn’t go see License to Wed). You see, I actually met Mandy last month and she was lovely, simply lovely. So lovely that if I got the Oxygen network, I would have totally watched her I Am Mandy Moore one-hour reality special this week. So go ahead, call me an embarrassingly smitten kitten. I am one. But, really, why aren’t you?

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    • Submitted by
    Dorothy Snarker
    on August 16, 2007 - 11:35am.
    TAGS :: 
    Gishalicious's picture

    That cover rocks!

    Submitted by
    Gishalicious (45 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 12:14pm.
    I love her rendition of "Umbrella", I actually prefer it over Rihanna's version.

    And Mandy herself is gorgeous, I will just pretend I've never seen those pictures.

    pecola's picture

    You're just jealous of my success in the Lord!

    Submitted by
    pecola (1504 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 12:36pm.

    So, I'm a fan of Mandy Moore's acting (Saved!), but hadn't really given her music a chance until just recently. It was mostly obligatory--she's touring with Rachael Yamagata who I love, so I wanted to make sure I could stomach it. I'll admit I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

    But then I saw the aforementioned, I Am Mandy Moore reality special and she definitely endeared herself to me--mainly because she's clearly grown up and her music (I think she called it folk pop) reflects that. She's not the Candy girl anymore...thank God.

     

    geekychic's picture

    Did anyone recognize

    Submitted by
    geekychic (11 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 12:46pm.

    Michelle Clunie-"Melanie from Queer as Folk"

    on the CLOSER MOnday night??She was the therapist that Miss Brenda Lee was seeing at the start of the show. I recognized the voice, couldnt place it until I saw her name in the credits.

    Thanks to TIVO, I replayed it and  I still didnt recognize her.  She looks totally different...Anyone heard of her having some "surgery done?????

    And yes I lOVE Mandy Moore...

    just didnt know where to post my Closer comment!!

     

    allgood2's picture

    Mmhhh... Mandy and Rihanna

    Submitted by
    allgood2 (47 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 12:49pm.
    I love Mandy, and that is a fantastic cover, even though I still like the Rihanna version as well.  But what makes the song even better is imagining that Mandy's singing it to Rihanna, and Rihanna's dancing for Mandy. It's not my fault, they put all that imagery right there in the video.
    darkbug's picture

    My sentiments exactly !

    Submitted by
    darkbug (73 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 1:25pm.

    I was thinking the same thing!  Like maybe Mandy was singing to Rihanna, whom I've really come to appreciate more after this song, which to me was a little weird at first, with the um-ba-rell-a pronunciation and all.  But after watching Rihanna's mesmirizing dancing, I was hooked on phonics!  I notice that Mandy took the word back to 3 syllables for the most part.  I liked it for the most part.  Not crazy about Mandy's vocals (sorry) I just don't think she's a real stand out, but I will listen to more, no pun intended. 

    $0.02,

    db

    TheWeyrd1's picture

    I was thinking the SAME thing...

    Submitted by
    TheWeyrd1 (766 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 3:49pm.

    Isn't this video just a tad lesbianish! I mean omg....black latex or leather shorts on a butt shot right next to Mandy's FACE... I need a cold shower now...

    darkbug's picture

    Jennifer Tilly

    Submitted by
    darkbug (73 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 1:26pm.
    Where's the pic???  Don't tease me!
    darkbug's picture

    ok, now I feel silly

    Submitted by
    darkbug (73 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 1:28pm.
    i get it now, sorry....a little slow today..
    Dorothy Snarker's picture

    Mandy, Jennifer. Jennifer, Mandy...

    Submitted by
    Dorothy Snarker (1747 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 4:43pm.

    Violet and Corky, oh the memories

    Just for you, so you don’t feel silly anymore. Mandy is totally channeling Violet, no? Though, just to be sure, I think we should have Gina pose with her. What? It’s in the name of hotness research.

    p.s. I forgot to add that Mandy is out on tour with Paula Cole right now. It’s like a mini-Lilith Fair, I tell you.



    ---------------------------------------------------
    Why I Don't Sleep Much: Dorothy Surrenders

    kazcymru's picture

    Love Mandy

    Submitted by
    kazcymru (22 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 1:45pm.

    I love Mandy Moore's version more than the original although the Rhianna video always puts a smile on my face! I hope they show the reality tv thing of Mandy here, in the UK. She's come a long way since 'Candy'. She has a low profile in the UK dunno why?

     As for the pics it just doesn't look right on her, it is very Jennifer Tilly. Nice to know she's nice in real life

    AngelinaLover's picture

    Love Her

    Submitted by
    AngelinaLover (26 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 2:28pm.
    loved her back when she was still a bubble gum pop princess, but now she's grown up and gotten some great films under her belt and a new album to boot. I'm totally diggin Mandy's version of Umbrella, i like it better than Rhiannas'.
    mak 23's picture

    moore mandy please :)

    Submitted by
    mak 23 (149 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 3:00pm.

     It's funny, when Many Moore fist came out, I couldn't stand having another young bubble gum pop "candy" girl. Here we are now YEARS later and I've got to admit that I'm additcted to Mandy Moore! Shes turned into an absolutely beautiful woman and her smile is just infectious. I love all that she does! I think i enjoy her on the big screen more so than in my CD player, but I still think shes amazing! Plus, her remake of Umbrella is possibly more likeable than Rhianna's version! GIVE ME MOORE...MANDY!

    (yes i realize with that sentence any cool cred i had just went flying out the window lol)

    "I saw a flock of moosen. There were many of them...many much moosen!"-Brian Regan

    EmmaLynn's picture

    LOVED IT!

    Submitted by
    EmmaLynn (24 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 4:24pm.

    As if it hasn't been said already... I LOVED the cover by Mandy.  I didn't expect to like it, so I was very pleasntly surprised.  And I love surprises!  I think you can call me smitten too, despite her poor styling choice above.  What do you think Tim Gunn would have to say about that outfit?  EEK!

    Pesto the Pirate's picture

    Love the old look

    Submitted by
    Pesto the Pirate (129 posts)
    on August 16, 2007 - 6:29pm.
    She does look sexy there. But I like her old down-to-earth look she had before.
    shygurl99's picture

    Love the cover

    Submitted by
    shygurl99 (213 posts)
    on August 17, 2007 - 1:15am.

    I don't like Rihanna's version.I find it annoying and it's everywhere.Mandy Moore's version sounds so romantic.I love it.I'm a sucker for a good love song.I like Mandy Moore now matter what she looks like but I admit the goth look did surprise me.

     

    "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."-Helen Keller

    Meke's picture

    Mandy Moore's cover is WAY

    Submitted by
    Meke (206 posts)
    on October 3, 2007 - 3:01am.
    Mandy Moore's cover is WAY better than the original.

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