Top 20 Notoriously Bad Singing Performances in Movie Musicals
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Date: 2023-11-21
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Comments and reviews: 30
Kelley
I will agree with those who defend Lee Marvin in Paint Your Wagon. His role didn't demand a strong singing voice, and Marvin performs his songs quite effectively. But a beautiful romantic ballad like I Talk to the Trees NEEDS first-rate singing chops. If the studio was determined to use Eastwood without dubbing his vocals, that song should have been cut from the film, just as Joe Hardy's ballads from Damn Yankees were cut once Tab Hunter was cast. Gold Fever could have stayed, but Trees shouldn't have.
The movie musical started spiraling downward the moment studios started casting non-singing, non-dancing movie stars in musical roles, rather than seeking out musically gifted performers and turning them into stars as they had once done with Fred and Ginger, Nelson and Jeanette, Dick Powell, Jane Powell, Gene Kelly, Howard Keel, etc.
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I will agree with those who defend Lee Marvin in Paint Your Wagon. His role didn't demand a strong singing voice, and Marvin performs his songs quite effectively. But a beautiful romantic ballad like I Talk to the Trees NEEDS first-rate singing chops. If the studio was determined to use Eastwood without dubbing his vocals, that song should have been cut from the film, just as Joe Hardy's ballads from Damn Yankees were cut once Tab Hunter was cast. Gold Fever could have stayed, but Trees shouldn't have.
The movie musical started spiraling downward the moment studios started casting non-singing, non-dancing movie stars in musical roles, rather than seeking out musically gifted performers and turning them into stars as they had once done with Fred and Ginger, Nelson and Jeanette, Dick Powell, Jane Powell, Gene Kelly, Howard Keel, etc.
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kdtfiles1
Nipsey was great in The Wiz, his voice / choice in how he was singing worked for the character. You're missing the point with Rhinestone. HE'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND BAD! The point is to make a non-singer a singing star. to get the audience at one talent night to like him, a big part of that was also personality, not him being the best singer in the world. All the singing you showed was him hamming up how bad the character was / how he wasn't a singer, you didn't even show him singing the final song where he was actually trying to sing.
There is a big difference between actors who can't sing being in a musical - I. e. Crowe in Les Mis, and an actor purposefully sings badly for the role I. e. Randy Travis singing like ass in Black Dog.
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Nipsey was great in The Wiz, his voice / choice in how he was singing worked for the character. You're missing the point with Rhinestone. HE'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND BAD! The point is to make a non-singer a singing star. to get the audience at one talent night to like him, a big part of that was also personality, not him being the best singer in the world. All the singing you showed was him hamming up how bad the character was / how he wasn't a singer, you didn't even show him singing the final song where he was actually trying to sing.
There is a big difference between actors who can't sing being in a musical - I. e. Crowe in Les Mis, and an actor purposefully sings badly for the role I. e. Randy Travis singing like ass in Black Dog.
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Icon_
It's honestly hard to imagine anyone OTHER than Lee Marvin singing I Was Born Under a Wandering Star, it suited his voice and range to a tee.
And Liz Taylor's singing of Send in the Clowns might not be good, but might also be partly down to her not singing it not as a lyrical song (The way most concert or single versions do) but in the dramatic style the stage version demands (And which, for example, Glynis Johns and Judi Dench do, it's not meant to be pleasant to listen to, it's a sad and rather tortured song about someone full of anger and regret.
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It's honestly hard to imagine anyone OTHER than Lee Marvin singing I Was Born Under a Wandering Star, it suited his voice and range to a tee.
And Liz Taylor's singing of Send in the Clowns might not be good, but might also be partly down to her not singing it not as a lyrical song (The way most concert or single versions do) but in the dramatic style the stage version demands (And which, for example, Glynis Johns and Judi Dench do, it's not meant to be pleasant to listen to, it's a sad and rather tortured song about someone full of anger and regret.
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Maryann
THANK YOU for speaking the truth regarding Gerald Butler as The Phantom! It was a travesty not to have had Crawford. But if the studio was so dead set against him, at least they could have chosen someone who could sing in the range needed for this role! Butler doesn't sing those high notes, he hits them with a sledgehammer! There's only one scene in the entire film where Butler does a good. no, great job. It is the scene on the rooftop when the Phantom's heart breaks realizing Christina is truly in love with Raoul.
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THANK YOU for speaking the truth regarding Gerald Butler as The Phantom! It was a travesty not to have had Crawford. But if the studio was so dead set against him, at least they could have chosen someone who could sing in the range needed for this role! Butler doesn't sing those high notes, he hits them with a sledgehammer! There's only one scene in the entire film where Butler does a good. no, great job. It is the scene on the rooftop when the Phantom's heart breaks realizing Christina is truly in love with Raoul.
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safahmie
I like Emma Watson's version. Why compare her voice to a Broadway star? They are 2 separate people with different voices and vocal ranges but it doesn't mean she did bad. Her sadly hard to hear singing was more on par with the rest of the world. She didn't over do it like a lot of people do these days in remakes trying to be the same exact character the last person made them to be instead of making it their own. I never watched Harry Potter so I saw her with fresh eyes.
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I like Emma Watson's version. Why compare her voice to a Broadway star? They are 2 separate people with different voices and vocal ranges but it doesn't mean she did bad. Her sadly hard to hear singing was more on par with the rest of the world. She didn't over do it like a lot of people do these days in remakes trying to be the same exact character the last person made them to be instead of making it their own. I never watched Harry Potter so I saw her with fresh eyes.
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Thomas
It's unfair to put Rex Harrison on this list. He didn't have a strong singing voice, but he developed a sing-speak style that allowed him to bring vocal nuances to his performances that would have been difficult to achieve by singing alone (Poor Eliza! How simply frightful. The impact of his approach is so powerful that it's impossible to imagine Henry Higgins being played any other way. The clunkiness of Dr. Doolittle can't be blamed on Harrisonit's just a bad show.
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It's unfair to put Rex Harrison on this list. He didn't have a strong singing voice, but he developed a sing-speak style that allowed him to bring vocal nuances to his performances that would have been difficult to achieve by singing alone (Poor Eliza! How simply frightful. The impact of his approach is so powerful that it's impossible to imagine Henry Higgins being played any other way. The clunkiness of Dr. Doolittle can't be blamed on Harrisonit's just a bad show.
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Robert
However badly Gerard Butler may have sung in Tantrum of the Opera, Schumacher's half on target film version of the long-running Broadway hit, I still prefer his voice to the adenoidal whine of Michael Crawford. David Burns, who originated the role of Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! wasn't much better than Matthau, who is an actor after all! Brando turns in an amazing performance, he ACTS his songs! Ball earned the movie the title Maimed!
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However badly Gerard Butler may have sung in Tantrum of the Opera, Schumacher's half on target film version of the long-running Broadway hit, I still prefer his voice to the adenoidal whine of Michael Crawford. David Burns, who originated the role of Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! wasn't much better than Matthau, who is an actor after all! Brando turns in an amazing performance, he ACTS his songs! Ball earned the movie the title Maimed!
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Adam
I really wish producers/directors would realise that casting actors with name value over singing talent is why movie-adaptions are failing. The musical Nine is brilliant, but to cast DANIEL DAY-LEWIS as the main star, Nicole Kidman and Judy Dench to replace people with strong voices in the show, then have to replace/change some songs to match their mediocre singing abilities, is why it was a dismal failure.
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I really wish producers/directors would realise that casting actors with name value over singing talent is why movie-adaptions are failing. The musical Nine is brilliant, but to cast DANIEL DAY-LEWIS as the main star, Nicole Kidman and Judy Dench to replace people with strong voices in the show, then have to replace/change some songs to match their mediocre singing abilities, is why it was a dismal failure.
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cgplanchart
I usually love your videos but I couldn't get this one. These actors are not supposed to have perfect voices or sing beautifully. These are movies, musicals, not concerts. The most important thing is the actor's charisma and general performance, not that they can perfectly belt a song. I admit, there are some terrible miscasts here, but sometimes directors are looking for effect, not perfect notes.
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I usually love your videos but I couldn't get this one. These actors are not supposed to have perfect voices or sing beautifully. These are movies, musicals, not concerts. The most important thing is the actor's charisma and general performance, not that they can perfectly belt a song. I admit, there are some terrible miscasts here, but sometimes directors are looking for effect, not perfect notes.
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Lewie71
How is Tom Cruise even on this list? His singing in Rock of Ages was amazing. His voice coaches discovered that he had a multi-octive vocal range. When Def Leopard visted the set and saw Cruise do Sugar, Joe Elliott, DL's lead singer came up to Cruise and said What am I supposed to do now? . That's pretty high praise from and established rock superstar. Sorry but your choice here was way off base.
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How is Tom Cruise even on this list? His singing in Rock of Ages was amazing. His voice coaches discovered that he had a multi-octive vocal range. When Def Leopard visted the set and saw Cruise do Sugar, Joe Elliott, DL's lead singer came up to Cruise and said What am I supposed to do now? . That's pretty high praise from and established rock superstar. Sorry but your choice here was way off base.
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Eric
The moment I saw this topic, I suspected I knew what was going to be #1. I was right! But may I come to the defense of Nipsy Russell? All you showed was Slide Some Oil to Me, but his rendition of the ballad What Would I Do If I Could Feel was sensitive and (ironically, for the character he was playing) heartfelt. He may have been the weakest singer in The Wiz, but he sure made his Tin Man memorable.
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The moment I saw this topic, I suspected I knew what was going to be #1. I was right! But may I come to the defense of Nipsy Russell? All you showed was Slide Some Oil to Me, but his rendition of the ballad What Would I Do If I Could Feel was sensitive and (ironically, for the character he was playing) heartfelt. He may have been the weakest singer in The Wiz, but he sure made his Tin Man memorable.
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Alexis
Gerald butler and marlon Brando are both fantastic singers. I think its the expectation for both that had them considered so poorly. Like butter is phenomenal for a non-broadway singerhe brings so much emotion to his signing while still being lovely to hear and Brando is wonderful soft, like a father singing his child to sleep. Again I think critics being too harsh
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Gerald butler and marlon Brando are both fantastic singers. I think its the expectation for both that had them considered so poorly. Like butter is phenomenal for a non-broadway singerhe brings so much emotion to his signing while still being lovely to hear and Brando is wonderful soft, like a father singing his child to sleep. Again I think critics being too harsh
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Thomas
Annie was the first musical I saw in stage back when the original toured, so I tend to like it more than a lot of people (and the Disney tv version in the 90s starred Victor Garber and Audra McDonald is excellent. But the version with Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx. They reorchestrated most of the the songs as rap songs and write done sub-par ones.
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Annie was the first musical I saw in stage back when the original toured, so I tend to like it more than a lot of people (and the Disney tv version in the 90s starred Victor Garber and Audra McDonald is excellent. But the version with Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx. They reorchestrated most of the the songs as rap songs and write done sub-par ones.
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Shauni
Russel Crowe is even harder to understand when you know Tom Hooper cast a lot of the roles with people who had played them in the Westend production. Why the hell then, after doing that, cast the pivotal role of Javert with A name who cant sing, instead of someone who had proved they could sing the part night after night? Ruined the film for me
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Russel Crowe is even harder to understand when you know Tom Hooper cast a lot of the roles with people who had played them in the Westend production. Why the hell then, after doing that, cast the pivotal role of Javert with A name who cant sing, instead of someone who had proved they could sing the part night after night? Ruined the film for me
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Cody
Gerard Butler's voice in Phantom is pretty good in my opinion. Yes, it has its faults, but to me it expresses the nuance of the depression of his solidarity, the anger of his rejection by the outside world, and just the sheer melancholy of his life. I'm not sure if that's what Gerard was going for, but I like it.
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Gerard Butler's voice in Phantom is pretty good in my opinion. Yes, it has its faults, but to me it expresses the nuance of the depression of his solidarity, the anger of his rejection by the outside world, and just the sheer melancholy of his life. I'm not sure if that's what Gerard was going for, but I like it.
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Nathan
Unpopular opinion: I actually liked Russell Crowe in Les Mis, Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia, and Gerard Butler as the Phantom. Not singers, sure, but they played it off better than others would have. And sonically they were not as rotten as some on this list were that should have been higher up.
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Unpopular opinion: I actually liked Russell Crowe in Les Mis, Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia, and Gerard Butler as the Phantom. Not singers, sure, but they played it off better than others would have. And sonically they were not as rotten as some on this list were that should have been higher up.
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Louise
Russell Crowe should have been n1. At least Brosnans terrible voice could have been passed off as part of Mamma Miss corny comedy. Rebel Wilson should have been higher up and so many Cats actors should be here too. But I do protest Emma Watson and Gerard Butler on the list. I enjoyed them.
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Russell Crowe should have been n1. At least Brosnans terrible voice could have been passed off as part of Mamma Miss corny comedy. Rebel Wilson should have been higher up and so many Cats actors should be here too. But I do protest Emma Watson and Gerard Butler on the list. I enjoyed them.
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fanjoy
There are very few re-makes that live up to the original. Since the advent of streaming and DVDs, the originals have been available for everyone. Why remake them unless you plan to make MAJOR differences? Suspiria is an example of a good remake, but of course, that's not a musical.
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There are very few re-makes that live up to the original. Since the advent of streaming and DVDs, the originals have been available for everyone. Why remake them unless you plan to make MAJOR differences? Suspiria is an example of a good remake, but of course, that's not a musical.
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msmojo
How is Ben Platt from Dear Evan Hansen NOT on the list. Holy sht! His performance (in the film) was absolutely atrocious with his clear voice cracks, clear auto tune and ESPECIALLY the garbage deaging effects they made to make him kook younger. That movie was horrendous.
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How is Ben Platt from Dear Evan Hansen NOT on the list. Holy sht! His performance (in the film) was absolutely atrocious with his clear voice cracks, clear auto tune and ESPECIALLY the garbage deaging effects they made to make him kook younger. That movie was horrendous.
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Jade
I wont have you people disrespecting the late Nipsey Russell. All black purple dont sound the same. He has a very Smokey old school voice that I think was PERFECT! Ppl who say he wasnt up to par I think are just devoid of culture. I agree with most everything else tho
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I wont have you people disrespecting the late Nipsey Russell. All black purple dont sound the same. He has a very Smokey old school voice that I think was PERFECT! Ppl who say he wasnt up to par I think are just devoid of culture. I agree with most everything else tho
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Jessica
Rebel was good in Pitch Perfect. The role in the movie Cats wasn't for her, and it was just a horrendous movie to make. Why not insult Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd? Musicals weren't meant to be movies. They should only be on the stage in a theatre.
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Rebel was good in Pitch Perfect. The role in the movie Cats wasn't for her, and it was just a horrendous movie to make. Why not insult Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd? Musicals weren't meant to be movies. They should only be on the stage in a theatre.
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ShinbiBelldandy
Its not fair to be so tough on Emma Watson. Paige OHara is a Broadway performer, so she had years of practice & experience. While Emma is no acting novice, singing is a different form of art. I thought she was great with what she had.
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Its not fair to be so tough on Emma Watson. Paige OHara is a Broadway performer, so she had years of practice & experience. While Emma is no acting novice, singing is a different form of art. I thought she was great with what she had.
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megan
It may have been made for tv but Carrie Underwood performance in the sound of music wins every award for bad. Bad signing, bad acting, bad presence, bad casting, bad understanding of the script. I still have nightmares about that performance
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It may have been made for tv but Carrie Underwood performance in the sound of music wins every award for bad. Bad signing, bad acting, bad presence, bad casting, bad understanding of the script. I still have nightmares about that performance
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Mrs.
Bullocks! Nipsey Russell was perfect in that role! I mean he was a daggone tin man! Why wouldnt his voice match the character. I dont like he was spoken about like he wasnt a fantastic singer himself! He was a poet with a magnificent voice!
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Bullocks! Nipsey Russell was perfect in that role! I mean he was a daggone tin man! Why wouldnt his voice match the character. I dont like he was spoken about like he wasnt a fantastic singer himself! He was a poet with a magnificent voice!
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TwistMyMoose
I was wondering if they were going to bring up Russel Crow. I've seen the 25th anniversary DVD a million times. The man who played Javier was amazing. They didn't use him because they didn't think people would like a black Javier.
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I was wondering if they were going to bring up Russel Crow. I've seen the 25th anniversary DVD a million times. The man who played Javier was amazing. They didn't use him because they didn't think people would like a black Javier.
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Shauni
Totally agree about Marlon Brando! He does ruin the film for me, It would of been SO much better with someone who could actually sing! Another team up with Gene Kelly would have been ideal! The film would of been SO much better!
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Totally agree about Marlon Brando! He does ruin the film for me, It would of been SO much better with someone who could actually sing! Another team up with Gene Kelly would have been ideal! The film would of been SO much better!
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TonyA552
This list isn't nearly complete unless you include the musical At Long Last Love (1975, a notoriously bad film in which none of the performers (including Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepherd) were known for their singing prowess.
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This list isn't nearly complete unless you include the musical At Long Last Love (1975, a notoriously bad film in which none of the performers (including Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepherd) were known for their singing prowess.
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alfiechat
So fun true story: my husband and I did vocal recitals a few years ago, and he sang Stars from Les Mis as one of his pieces. Someone came up to him after the recital and said that he sang it better than Russell Crowe. Hahaha
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So fun true story: my husband and I did vocal recitals a few years ago, and he sang Stars from Les Mis as one of his pieces. Someone came up to him after the recital and said that he sang it better than Russell Crowe. Hahaha
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K. C.
I have always loved that Oliver Reed, who seriously can NOT sing, was cast in not 1 but 2 musicals! Tommy and Oliver! Granted, he didn't really sing in Oliver! but still. (He WAS an impressive Bill Sykes, anyway)
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I have always loved that Oliver Reed, who seriously can NOT sing, was cast in not 1 but 2 musicals! Tommy and Oliver! Granted, he didn't really sing in Oliver! but still. (He WAS an impressive Bill Sykes, anyway)
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Paul
Lucille Ball ruined many a good song in Mame because her ego. I also felt she was off-key too. In addition, the use of all the gauze on the camera lens when she appeared. Angela Lansbury should have been in the film!
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Lucille Ball ruined many a good song in Mame because her ego. I also felt she was off-key too. In addition, the use of all the gauze on the camera lens when she appeared. Angela Lansbury should have been in the film!
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