Hidden talents are the best surprises! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the comedians, stand ups, and comic actors who weren’t primarily known for their singing, but who have some serious vocal chops.
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00:00Welcome to MissMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the comedians,
00:08stand-ups, and comic actors who weren't primarily known for their singing, but
00:12who have some serious vocal chops.
00:1510. Steve Martin
00:21While many may know him from movies like Father of the Bride and the Hulu series
00:35Only Murders in the Building, Steve Martin is actually an accomplished
00:39musician. If the legendary King Tut sketch didn't convince you, maybe his
00:43decades as a bluegrass frontman will. His career began as a comedy writer in
00:57the 1960s before taking his own comedy shows on the road, eventually coming to
01:01TV and film as a performer. He would begin making more music, singing, and
01:06playing banjo professionally as his career progressed. He'd won Grammys for
01:10his comedy albums, but his musical ventures would earn him another three.
01:149. Maya Rudolph
01:22This SNL alum spends a lot of time making fun of singers, but maybe that's
01:34because she has an innate talent for music. Whether she's playing a parody of
01:38Christina Aguilera or belting it out as a Disney villain, Rudolph's shown us she's
01:43actually got some serious chops. She comes by it honestly. Her parents were
02:04both musicians, and her mother was Minnie Riperton, a legendary soul singer
02:09with a crystal-clear voice and five-octave range. Maya's voice is deeper
02:13and brassier than her mom's, but every time she's showcased it, without
02:17stretching for laughs, it's clear she inherited some of the talent.
02:208. Stephen Colbert
02:35The late-night host and satirist got his start in sketch and improv comedy,
02:39but every once in a while, we get to hear his velvety, smooth vocals.
02:51Indeed, Colbert sometimes sings with guests on The Late Show. Some of his
02:57famous duet partners include Anna Kendrick, Paul Simon, and even Jennifer Hudson.
03:02You'd be surprised by how good he sounds. Colbert also loves musicals,
03:13citing Jesus Christ Superstar as an influence. Plus, in 2011, he performed in a televised
03:20concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Company. He held his own alongside a
03:24star-studded cast that included Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone.
03:287. Jimmy Fallon
03:43Like many of his fellow SNL alums, the giggly, fun-loving The Tonight Show host
03:48is a master of imitating singers' vocal quirks.
04:00Many of his most popular segments, including the recurring Wheel of Musical Impressions,
04:04lets him have some fun while he sings in the styles of other artists.
04:08But there are also times when Jimmy Fallon lets his natural voice take center stage.
04:18In those moments, it sounds less like a charming TV host,
04:25and more like the weathered sound of a folk rock singer who's seen too much.
04:29For someone who pokes fun at musicians, he's a pretty accomplished one himself.
04:346. Catherine O'Hara
04:54When she started on SCTV, Catherine O'Hara often sang in order to do send-ups of over-the-top
05:01lounge singers. But when she performs in earnest, Catherine O'Hara has a spectacular voice.
05:06Her haunting vocals on Sally's song from The Nightmare Before Christmas
05:10introduced many of us to the Canadian comic genius' musical talents.
05:24She's able to sing in such a gentle and heartbreaking way that feels lived-in
05:28and totally authentic. Look no further than Christopher Guest's A Mighty Wind,
05:33where she is totally believable as a former folk music star.
05:36She even reprised one of the songs at the Oscars, alongside co-star Eugene Levy.
05:545. Eddie Murphy
05:58If Donkey's rocking rendition of I'm a Believer in Shrek didn't clue you into the fact that
06:06Murphy is a great singer, meet Party All The Time. Murphy was fresh off of a star-making run on SNL,
06:13and was one of the biggest movie stars with Beverly Hills Cop. But there's one thing fellow
06:17comedian Richard Pryor bet him he couldn't do. He challenged Murphy, who was planning an album,
06:23to keep it 100% serious.
06:29The latter's synthesizer-heavy uber-80s single may be dated now, but it was on the Billboard
06:37Hot 100. Murphy would later earn an Oscar nomination for his role in Dreamgirls,
06:42where he slipped into the persona of a 60s soul singer with ease.
06:46Those are just some of his musical achievements.
06:594. Jack Black
07:03The high-spirited Jack Black primarily made a name for himself as a comic character actor,
07:08but as he became better known, viewers got to see more of his gifts.
07:23Roles in movies like School of Rock and the Super Mario Bros. movie
07:27have notably given him the chance to showcase his musicianship,
07:30but he's also one half of the rock duo Tenacious D. And let us just say, his voice is one of a kind.
07:46While his sense of humor is always in his music, his larger-than-life charisma
07:50translates to lung power too. He's not just a comedian playing at being a singer.
07:55As a frontman, he is raw and powerful, even when he's being funny.
08:12After a breakthrough on the ensemble sketch comedy show In Living Color,
08:16Jamie Foxx went on to star in his own sitcom and carve out a career as an acclaimed actor
08:21and comedian. Most people probably know him for those skills,
08:24yet he sounds like he could belong on the pop charts. Actually, he has been on the charts.
08:37Although he didn't do most of the singing in Ray, his imitation of Ray Charles
08:41was notably included on Kanye West's Gold Digger.
08:44But there's more. Many fans also know that he has several solo R&B albums to his name.
08:50His biggest single, Blame It, featuring T-Pain, was a huge success. It even earned him a Grammy.
08:562. Seth MacFarlane
09:18Given the musical numbers featured on the show, you might not be surprised to learn
09:22that the creator of Family Guy is a lover of old-fashioned music.
09:26In fact, the man behind Stewie, Peter, Brian, and more actually trained with Frank Sinatra's
09:33vocal coaches. MacFarlane has released several albums full of show tunes and American standards,
09:38and showed off his skills in sing. With his sonorous voice and delicate phrasing,
09:54he could have a career in music with or without the Griffin family.
09:57That crooning baritone has also sung with several other artists like Nora Jones,
10:02and Barbra Streisand even hand-picked him for a track on her 2016 duets album.
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10:331. Adam Sandler
10:44Sure, his scratchy and affected voice might make it hard to take him
10:48seriously as a singer, but make no mistake, Adam Sandler has proven time and time again
10:53that he really can sing. His Hanukkah song became a calling card, but it wasn't until
10:59The Wedding Singer that he was able to mix his loud and abrasive vocals with a new layer of
11:04sensitivity and genuine ability. Who knew Sandler could be the romantic lead in a music-heavy rom-com?
11:22Well, we sure know it now. Over the years, he's notably sung in movies and in live appearances,
11:28proving he's got more chops than you'd expect.
11:342. Miss Mojo
11:40Who's your favorite comedian who turned out to be a great singer? Let us know in the comments.
11:54Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Miss Mojo,
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