You know what they
say? 'Sexy' is not about the looks. 'Sexy' is about enthusiasm. I've always
liked that. Enthusiasm can take many forms, and there's no accounting for all
of them, but one thing I know for sure: Scarlett Johansson's maligned/ignored
album of Tom Waits covers, Anywhere I Lay
My Head, is very sexy.
Now of course this
album is wrong. Everything about it
is wrong. Even the actual idea of Scarlett Johansson recording an album of Tom
Waits songs will make your head shake uncontrollably. Her vocals lack an ounce
of subtlety. The rendition of "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" is straight
from butcher's shop. The record sounds vulgar and tasteless. David Sitek can't
save it. Thing is – I absolutely love it.
Maybe an evil
coincidence, maybe a cunning plan, but Johansson even chooses four of my
favourite Waits songs. "Town With No Cheer", "Anywhere I Lay My
Head", "Fannin Street" and the unforgettable "Falling
Down". The last two feature – hold your fucking hat! – David Bowie on
backing vocals. He may have been blackmailed into this, I don't know, but the
edge he brings is unmistakable.
Now of course Anywhere I Lay My Head is not a
'masterpiece'. Hell, it's not even 'misunderstood'. But I do hope that in a few
hundred years someone will recognise it as such. Because it sounds glorious. It
has passion seeping through the chords and Scarlett's vocals in a way that is
most vulgar and profane. It sounds coarse and romantic. It sounds like dirty
sex. It sounds incredible.
