Scarlett Johansson Covers Tom Waits And Alanis Morissette's Ex
Wednesday May 07, 2008 @ 05:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Scarlett Johansson

If you've seen Lost In Translation, you might remember the scene in a karaoke bar where Scarlett Johansson croons The Pretenders' "Brass In Pocket." You'll soon be able to catch her singing someone else's songs again when she releases Anywhere I Lay My Head, an album featuring Tom Waits covers, on May 20 through Atco/Rhino Records.

The album contains 10 Waits covers and one Johansson original ("Song For Jo"). It was produced by TV On The Radio guitarist David Andrew Sitek (Foals, Liars). David Bowie makes guest appearances on "Falling Down" and "Fannin' Street." The disc also features Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner and members of Baltimore, Md. indie rockers Celebration.

Johansson originally intended to cover standards from different artists, but later decided to only record songs by Waits.

"His melodies are so beautiful and his voice is so distinct," she told Billboard.com. "I sent him some of the early, early recordings, and he said, 'Go ahead.'… I've heard he's very pleased."

Another young actress, Zooey Deschanel, recently cut a disc with indie folk star M. Ward as She & Him. The microphone stand-wielding Jared Leto is another recent actor/rock star example. Keanu Reeves and Russell Crowe also tried to make forays into the rock world with their respective bands, Dogstar and Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunts.

Going the other way, Johansson is rumoured to have just become engaged to actor Ryan Reynolds. He was previously engaged to Alanis Morissette — a singer, songwriter and musician who's tried her hand at acting.

Here are the tracks on Anywhere I Lay My Head:

• "Fawn"
• "Town With No Cheer"
• "Falling Down"
• "Anywhere I Lay My Head"
• "Fannin' Street"
• "Song For Jo"
• "Green Grass"
• "I Wish I Was In New Orleans"
• "I Don't Want To Grow Up"
• "No One Knows I'm Gone"
• "Who Are You?"

—Kate Harper