Friday, December 10th 2010
News: She & Him
She & Him On Conan: Spells & Christmas Songs
She & Him finally got a solid hold on our attention last night when they appeared on Conan to perform a powerful cover of a Screamin’ Jay Hawkins classic, showcasing a vocal prowess from Zooey Deschanel we didn’t know she had in her.
Thursday night’s episode of Conan featured a visit from brilliant physicist Michio Kaku (really though, read his Visions book) and Sarah Silverman, who had a message for women about vaginal deodorant, and ended with an impressive dose of the musical collaboration between Deschanel and M. Ward.
We’d resisted the idea of the chick from Elf impressing us with her vocals, right up until the moment she opened her throat and started wailing the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ legendary I Put A Spell On You, adding an element of sensuality and haunting passion that sold me straight-out. Less than ten minutes after the performance, I’d bought their Volume 2 album and was checking tour dates.
They also rocked a little backstage Christmas-jam action with Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, featuring Conan O’Brien on backup guitar:
She & Him formed in 2006 after Deschanel and Ward worked together on a little-seen film called The Go-Getter. Their first album Volume 1 debuted in 2008 with considerable fanfare, while this year’s Volume 2 displayed a much more developed, confident sound, rife with a hybrid of folk rock, country and bluegrass.
Hear, see & learn more from She & Him at their official site.
I was very under-impressed with Zooey and her vocals. That all changed earlier thsi year when the WORLD CHAMPION San Francisco Giants took on the Phillies. Ben and her cruised up to the City by the Bay to sing at the game. Ben did the Star Spangled Banner to start the game and Zooey sang God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. Zooey sounded amazing and blew Mr. Death Cab out of the water.
I have to assume that the result of touring and recording the last few years have really helped her improve as a vocalist. This is performance bad ass and very enjoyable.
Well, I dig the ending and she is good, (sometimes flat at those screams, no?) but Mosshart owns this chick, anyday. Also, what a lame name for a band.
Mosshart suffers from her own schtick with the Dead Weather. Not so much with the Kills, but the “I’m gonna cut you then fuck you” attitude is one-dimensional and tired. Expect a huge dropoff of Dead Weather interest if this doesn’t change.
drooooool all up in the innards of my keyboard. I agree with ya about mosshart. plus zooey is just as cute OFF the stage.
I’ll take that “fierce bitch” attitude over the “emotionless cupcake” schtick of Deschanel which seems to run dry much faster than the former. Or at least for me. Although I get what you’re saying to get bored with the Dead Weather just over that would be a crime to me. There are so many other factors to that equation. Also, I was just adressing the Kills version of the song, being another prominent two man band with a girl on the main vocals.
Ive dug her since I saw 500 days of summer. Chick can sing.
But I for one am still in love with the she-devil Mosshart. I hope I dont get tired of her like you say though, shes half the draw of the band for me (other half, of course is Jack himself).
You mention “the chick from Elf”. If I remember correctly, she showcases a very good singing voice on that movie, completely opposite to the one she adopted on the first S&H album. I think she’s always been a good singer, but rarely decided to actually show her skills.
And since we’re arguing Mosshart, The Kills did a badass cover of I Put A Spell On You before S&H.
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no5odooSsI4
The live versions rock too.
Lord almighty no.
When this was on the other night my mom wouldnt shut the hell up about how she ruined the song and wasnt even singing. Sheesh at least I have a ear for music.