Yes, there have been some movie stars and sex symbols that could actually sing. While usually known for other virtues, these two ladies prove that you don’t need to just look at them to dream about them as well.
Possibly the epitome of the femme fatal, Marlene Dietrich made a rich career as a sultry actress as well as a freedom fighter for the US in WWII. This two disc set features Dietrich singing in a variety of famous movies, as well as a few studio and concert recordings. Her voice is similar to that of Billie Holiday in that what is lacking in range and dynamics is more than made up for in feeling and sensuality. The movie soundtracks start with her iconic debut from The Blue Angel with “Falling in Love With Love Again” while she drips invitation of the classic “You’ve Got That Look” from Destry Rides again. Her rendition of “Lili Marlene” from the heat of WWII is gorgeously nostalgic, while her duets with Rosemary Clooney on “Besides-He’s A Man” and “Land Sea and Air” show that she can hold her own with strong counterparts. The fact that she could excel at styles ranging from chasson to country and nightclub cabaret is a testament to her flexibility as both a singer and actress. Her voice on every song creates a sonic image of her wearing a long raincoat,with a wide brimmed hat over her eyes, smoking a cigarette with a 7″ filter, enticing you with her Weimar Republic eyes of a voice.
In contrast, Monroe makes every song sound like she’s busting out of her teddy in your private hide-away. While usually chided for her limited singing range, Marilyn Monroe actually made her ‘boop oop a doop’ voice work alarmingly well, as demonstrated on this 2 disc set of songs from films, studio recordings, and for a bonus, her still-discussed rendition of “Happy Birthday” given to President John F Kennedy, where she sings like she just popped out of the cake. She embodies the lyrics to “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” and is coyfully buoyant on “Heat Wave.” Most successful is when she actually plays a jazz vocalist in the classic Some Like It Hot and coos out “I Wanna Be Loved By You” while steaming on “Running Wild,” with her take of “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” not too far behind. She gives out vocal Viagra on “Do It Again” oozing with sensuous invitation and getting anyone with xy chromosomes hot under the collar. You can appreciate this lady even without a her calendar staring at you.