The potential downsides to mucking about with the space-time continuum.
Eddie Murphy in ‘Coming to America’
The band
Sexual Chocolate
Lineup
A pastel-suited, fleshy-cheeked Eddie Murphy, plus assorted ruffle-shirted sidemen.
Influences
James Brown, Al Green, Barry White… Hang on, there’s a theme emerging.
The CV
In a slight contravention of our rules, Eddie Murphy had previously released a musical album (not to mention several comedy albums) before appearing in 1988’s ‘Coming to America’. But his early albums were a lot like his later movies: functional, self-involved and inexplicably popular. As a result, Murphy’s work with lounge-sleaze heroes Sexual Chocolate remains arguably his high point as a vocalist, with the notable exception of the James Brown Hot Tub sketch on Saturday Night Live.
Our music critic Oliver Keens says
‘Hell no, this is awful. If I wanted to hear Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love Of All” murdered by some asshat, I’d just turn on “American Idol”.’
Chances of superstardom
It won’t make your soul glow, that’s for sure.
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In the Coen brothers’ new film, ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’, newcomer Oscar Isaac plays a down-on-his-luck folkie in 1960s New York. There was no lip-synching allowed: the Coens hunted high and low for an actor who could strum a tune, sing a harmony part and emote convincingly (preferably at the same time). And this isn’t the first time an actor has stepped up to the mic...
We present the ten best examples of thespians turned musicians, and ask Jonny Ensall and Oliver Keens, our eagle-eared music writers, to pass judgement on their talents. Our rules were strict: this wasn’t about musicians acting, but the other way around. If you came up singing, you were out. Please feel free to argue to your heart’s content in the comments below.
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