Tom Waits Talks ScarJo
As part of the press push for Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards, a three-disc collection of new and rare Waits, the gravel-throated troubadour took a call from Pitchfork to discuss everything from Missy Elliot, the desire for vocal gravitas, and his interest "in the minutiae of things." But the part about Scarlett is great; chances are all of us knew about her cover album before Tom did!
Pitchfork: I'm sure you know Scarlett Johannson is recording an album of your songs?Not sure if she "cut the sleeves off" of Gershwin, but let's see how she handles Tom's catalogue. Anyway, here's a few from the latest Waits release:Tom Waits: Well no, I read about it in the paper.
Pitchfork: No one consulted you beforehand?
Tom Waits: No, no. But, you know, more power to her.
Pitchfork: Are you excited to hear it?
Tom Waits: I don't know if I'm excited to hear it, but I'm curious. People make songs so that somebody else will hear them and want to do them. I guess it's an indication that the songs aren't so ultra-personal that they can't possibly be interpreted by anyone else. I've seen her in movies. I don't know what she's going to do with the tunes. When you get a hold of somebody else's song, you make it your own. That's all you can do. And that usually requires a certain amount of tailoring. Cut the sleeves off, lay some buttons. Everybody does something different to a song, that's the tradition.
Tom Waits - "Bottom Of The World" (MP3)
Tom Waits - "Road To Peace" (MP3)
Tom Waits - "You Can Never Hold Back Spring" (MP3)
Yup, covering that voice should be a breeze.
Posted at 11:16 AM in MP3
Tags: Scarlett Johansson | Tom Waits
The difference in voice shouldn't be a problem as long as the arrangements are good. I thought Holly Cole did it quite admirably on Temptation. Then again, this isn't Holly Cole.
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i love that he's not excited.
neither are we.
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i love that he's not excited.
neither are we.
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Let's remake "Lost in Translation" with Tom Waits, eeeewwwwwwww.
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Let's remake "Lost in Translation" with Tom Waits, eeeewwwwwwww.
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i thought 'scojo' was the accepted embarrassing abbreviation for this lady...?
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It's a little scary to think Scarlett is attempting such a lofty goal but you also have to like her for attempting something that requires taste to start. Not like she's covering bubble gum.
Not a huge fan of stars covering other stars in any way but it keeps happening and I keep being pleasantly surprised.
Perfect example is Michael McDonald is on his third? cd of covers but they keep working. He did the Motown covers and now R&B coming out in March and I actually am looking forward to.
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