Joseph Gordon-Levitt covers "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman"

August 18, 2010 4:02 PM

Joseph Gordon-Levitt covers an iconic song that does not belong to him. [via Katie West's NSFW tumblr]
posted by cgc373 (70 comments total)

*Lighter*
posted by Hardcore Poser at 4:13 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Nice to see someone secure enough in his skin to sing the accurate lyrics.
posted by kalessin at 4:20 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

*swoon*
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:21 PM on August 18, 2010

He's shooting a movie like a block away from me.

Maybe I should set traps.
posted by The Whelk at 4:24 PM on August 18, 2010 [18 favorites]

I still can't stop thinking of him as the "kid" alien straight-man to John Lithgow and French Stewart in "Third Rock (not to be confused with 30 Rock) From The Sun", and that clip does not help. (I wonder if he and DiCaprio traded child actor stories on the set of "Inception" OR DID I JUST DREAM THAT?)
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:30 PM on August 18, 2010 [5 favorites]

He is also very good in Brick.
posted by The Whelk at 4:31 PM on August 18, 2010 [9 favorites]

I love him. In all his many forms.
posted by yoga at 4:35 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

I find it amazing that (between Brick and Inception) Gordon-Levitt has become one of the most effective hard-asses in the movies. Not bad for a scrawny little dude.
posted by brundlefly at 4:36 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

He's like the Internet's new boyfriend, I've noticed. I approve.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 4:37 PM on August 18, 2010 [6 favorites]

He's like the Internet's new boyfriend, I've noticed.

He's become my new boyfriend just in the past ten minutes. I followed the links on that page and came across this playful little ditty and his Tumblr page. Heart.
posted by zerbinetta at 4:42 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

He is also very good in Mysterious Skin.
posted by rabidsegue at 4:43 PM on August 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

Cutest smile ever.
posted by heyho at 4:44 PM on August 18, 2010

Good golly, but I like that youngster. I also approve of his sensible sartorial choices! He can hang out on my lawn anytime.
posted by scody at 4:44 PM on August 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

Looking it up - hmmm the movie he's shooting is about a heroic hunky bike messenger. So in-between shooting his Sexy Bike movie he's doing live recording sessions downtown with his blues guitar

I think this "Mr. Gordon-Levitt" was born in a vat and specially made for us.
posted by The Whelk at 4:47 PM on August 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

Also, form the videos his speaking voice seems much deeper and accented then uh, the acting voice. Interesting.
posted by The Whelk at 4:49 PM on August 18, 2010

G.E. Smith just watched that video and said, "eh, that's a little too much fake-emotional-face for me."
posted by drjimmy11 at 4:49 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is awesome. I just recently learned of his collab project hitRECord (previously), which is fantastic and generally kicks ass.
posted by mullingitover at 4:51 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

And Gordon-Levitt should've played Scott Pilgrim instead of Cera. Maybe.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:52 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Nice to see someone secure enough in his skin to sing the accurate lyrics.

Why? It makes no sense. I agree that I prefer people keep the lyrics when it's about loving a person- like if the song was about *loving* a man, I would prefer he sing it from the perspective of a gay man or a woman, rather than change the lyric. But this song is about actually *being* a woman. And the smarmy grin he breaks into immediately after singing it screams, "aren't I cute doing a novelty for the internet?"
posted by drjimmy11 at 4:52 PM on August 18, 2010

drjimmy11: "And the smarmy grin he breaks into immediately after singing it screams, "aren't I cute doing a novelty for the internet?""

If it were me (I'm male) singing it, I'd probably have the same smarmy grin while thinking 'I can't believe I just did that.' Why presume egotism?
posted by Hardcore Poser at 4:57 PM on August 18, 2010 [3 favorites]

hmmm the movie he's shooting is about a heroic hunky bike messenger. So in-between shooting his Sexy Bike movie he's doing live recording sessions downtown with his blues guitar

Dude, he's the Second Coming of Kevin Bacon.
posted by The World Famous at 4:59 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

(I wonder if he and DiCaprio traded child actor stories on the set of "Inception" OR DID I JUST DREAM THAT?)

What I want to know is, what was going through Lukas Haas's mind while they did? ("ZOMG WHERE DID I GO WRONG?!?!" maybe?)
posted by asterix at 5:01 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Lukas Haas' problem is that I keep thinking he's Patrick Fugit
posted by The Whelk at 5:04 PM on August 18, 2010

Why? Because a lot of folks wouldn't or didn't sing the accurate lyrics. The Beatles at least sometimes didn't. I'm not going to do the research to call it out, but there are lots of musicians who've covered songs originally written by or for the opposite gender who sing the lyrics fudged so it fits the singer's gender. So it's nice to see someone bucking that trend. Even if it's cutesy, it's still nice.
posted by kalessin at 5:07 PM on August 18, 2010

I, too, want him. Bad.
posted by Houyhnhnm at 5:16 PM on August 18, 2010

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a great actor. Even in the shitty movie Havoc he committs totally to the role of a wannabe gangster. And he's brilliant in Mysterious Skin.
posted by Bookhouse at 5:24 PM on August 18, 2010

"Man" for "woman" would totally fuck with the prosody and meter of the chorus hook, too. That "na-chuh-ruhl WO-MUHN" is right at the core of the song's identity.

Any other mindreading of JGL's theory of performative gender transposition and whatever the fuck aside, he probably had the good sense not to fuck up the song in such an obvious way. You might as well change "Louie Louie" to "Lou, Lou".
posted by cortex at 5:33 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

I like him. I'm inordinately pleased that the kid from that show that I didn't watch about aliens or something turned out to be a good adult actor and by all accounts, a decent famous-guy. A friend of mine met him at SXSW last year and she said that he was a bit put out at being recognized, but he was polite and friendly and all around just a normal guy. I hope he's able to keep making good movies but floating under the threshold of mega-celebrity.
posted by donajo at 5:34 PM on August 18, 2010

"Man" for "woman" would totally fuck with the prosody and meter of the chorus hook, too.

He could've broken "man" into two syllables, Southern-belle style: "MAY-uhn."

I did like it this way, though.
posted by Gator at 5:39 PM on August 18, 2010

Have u seen his version of madonnas "express yourself"?

Good stuff dude. I'm still a fan of angels in the outfield.
posted by hal_c_on at 6:05 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Why can't more Hollywood actors be as interesting as Joseph Gordon-Leavitt? With the kind of money he's made he could easily be a layabout but instead he's spent the last five years curating and contributing to a collaborative new media playground.

My hat is off to you, sir.
posted by jnrussell at 6:10 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

And yet no mention of Cobra Commander???
posted by mikelieman at 6:13 PM on August 18, 2010

He sings too? What?
posted by chunking express at 6:24 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Half-derail: back in college, I braved an ice storm to go see my very favorite musician at the time, Bob Schneider. The venue was intimate and the few other people who made it out to the show were mostly ladies wearing skimpy, weather inappropriate clothing. Bob and his band played an incredible show. The ladies were crowding the stage, swaying to the music while I stood a few feet back, nodding and smiling while getting to listen to my favorite tunes live. Just before the set break, Bob starts singing (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. He reaches out his hand and the crowd of girls parts like the Red Sea and I suddenly realize he is reaching out his hand to me. He pulled me up on stage and sang the rest of the song, and by the end I was duly convinced that I made him feel like a natural woman. It was my Dancing in the Dark moment. To this day, that remains the best show I've ever been to and hearing a man sing that song gives me the warm fuzzies like nothing else.
posted by TheGoldenOne at 6:35 PM on August 18, 2010 [5 favorites]

that show that I didn't watch about aliens or something

Really, the first season of 3rd Rock From The Sun is one of those magical pieces of television. Surprisingly deep and incisive commentary on widely varying facets of US culture. As the series continued, they kind of tweaked things a bit here and there (as is common in television) and some of the original rebel spirit of the show disappeared. But the sharp edges of the social critique was there until the very end. I recommend the first season to anyone who enjoys insightful sitcoms as a form.

JGL kind of sprang into my consciousness as someone other than Tommy when I saw The Lookout. One of the most underrated screen performances I've ever seen. He is really very talented. I look forward to seeing what he does next.

For those who don't know about hitRECord, it's an online collaborative production company that JGL kind of envisioned and brought into being. It's another example of where this very talented young man is working hard to make his mark outside the expected channels.
posted by hippybear at 6:48 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

(gah, of course mullingitover mentioned hitRECord earlier in the thread. bad me!)
posted by hippybear at 6:51 PM on August 18, 2010

There was some buzz for bit about him taking over the role of The Joker in a future Batman film. As much as I am still in awe of Heath Ledger's performance in Dark Knight, I would totally be on board for JGL to assume the role, just based on having seen him in Inception (yay, let's keep it in the family). However, recently there's been different buzz that has JGL doing The Riddler. Oh please, yes, if only for him to wash the memory of Jim Carrey's version out of my head.
posted by fuse theorem at 7:01 PM on August 18, 2010

I'm pretty sure that was awful.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:10 PM on August 18, 2010

SOMEONE (coughrobocopisbleedingcoughwinnerismecough) Said the next Batman flick should be the Riddler, with the Riddler done as a scary serial killer who likes to leave clues and forces Batman out of Retirement.

Of course while Batman was Retired, another vigilante who is obessed with him has taken the reigns and the spotlight but with much less moral purpose. She dresses like a cat for one thing, and keeps all the money she "saves."
posted by The Whelk at 7:15 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm pretty sure that was awful.

It wasn't great, but I'm pretty sure it was charming.
posted by peripathetic at 7:28 PM on August 18, 2010

SOMEONE (coughrobocopisbleedingcoughwinnerismecough) Said the next Batman flick should be the Riddler, with the Riddler done as a scary serial killer who likes to leave clues and forces Batman out of Retirement.

Of course while Batman was Retired, another vigilante who is obessed with him has taken the reigns and the spotlight but with much less moral purpose. She dresses like a cat for one thing, and keeps all the money she "saves."

JGL as riddler, I like it and... I dunno, Ellen Paige is the obvious choice.
posted by codacorolla at 7:39 PM on August 18, 2010

There was some buzz for bit about him taking over the role of The Joker in a future Batman film.

Both JGL and Ledger were in 10 Things I Hate About You, and I swear they could be brothers they look so much alike.
posted by headnsouth at 7:40 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Nah sorry, he's been awesome since 1999 and he made that movie that dethroned Citizen Kane.

Glad folks are starting to figure out that he's awesome.
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:43 PM on August 18, 2010 [5 favorites]

10 things I hate about you is very underrated. Julia Stiles needs to come back to mainstream media attention She's a pip.
posted by The Whelk at 7:48 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

10 things I hate about you is very underrated.

That movie came out when I was in high school and I didn't go to see it because I was very much against "teen movies" (because I was, you know, an intellectual), and the trailers made me think that this was just another dumb teen movie. Years later I watched and much to my surprise it was way better than I had expected. Deserves to be in the pantheon with Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sixteen Candles.
posted by jnrussell at 8:03 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

10 things I hate about you is very underrated.

My son watched it last year before reading Taming of the Shrew for school. He's not a reader and was very anxious about Shakespeare, and the movie helped him understand the interplay among and motivations of the characters, and he actually enjoyed reading the play.
posted by headnsouth at 8:09 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

When does he team up with Lady Gaga to fight crime?
posted by chairface at 8:26 PM on August 18, 2010

Dude Lady Gaga is a supervillian, she causes crime.
posted by The Whelk at 8:30 PM on August 18, 2010 [4 favorites]

I had a HUGE crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt when Third Rock From The Sun was on (that show was GREAT.. French Stewart should have become a superstar!). Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was on the only episode of That 70s Show that I ever liked ('People let me tell you 'bout my be-est friend..'). Also, I once saw a picture of him in a brown sweater that was, you know.. nice on him.
posted by Mael Oui at 8:55 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

I too am a JGL fan, I saw this recently on The Daily Wh.at which led me to the first one. Loved them!
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:58 PM on August 18, 2010

The Whelk: "Dude Lady Gaga is a supervillian, she causes crime."

Lady Gaga Kidnaps Commissioner Gordon

"If you ever want to see Commissioner Gordon again, you'll do exactly as I say," Lady Gaga said from her secret lair, adjusting her angular yellow Tyvek and spandex dress as henchmen danced menacingly around the bound commissioner.

posted by Rhaomi at 9:25 PM on August 18, 2010

In the parlance of our times: squeeeeee~!
posted by en forme de poire at 9:37 PM on August 18, 2010

I am so glad that my gigantic man crush has been endorsed by the web. I feel so much less super gay now. For some reason.
posted by marmaduke_yaverland at 9:42 PM on August 18, 2010

I love him.
posted by canadia at 9:53 PM on August 18, 2010

I briefly dated a guy who went to high school with JGL and were kind of rivals and despite admitting JGL was a good actor and a decent human being still obviously had a little bit of a chip on hos shoulder about some very minor things that had happened in high school.

It was really for the best it didn't work out because it was really hard for me to not swoon over JGL everytime a movie he was in was mentioned.
posted by whoaali at 10:23 PM on August 18, 2010

I liked him in Roseanne. Of course, now that he's almost old enough to star in my Bill Hicks biopic, friggin' Opie has to go and pull this shit.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:33 PM on August 18, 2010

I just like the growing acceptance of the surname.

For the LAST TIME, it's Leahvitt. Not Leevitt or Le'vitt. Think Liegh'vitt. Got it? Ok Go with that.
posted by The Whelk at 10:35 PM on August 18, 2010

cause there is a fucking A in thee.
posted by The Whelk at 10:39 PM on August 18, 2010

The Whelk is sounding like someone who is bitter about also having a last name with ambiguous pronunciation. Oh wait. Yeah. *heh*
posted by hippybear at 10:47 PM on August 18, 2010

I just want to undo years of elementary school roll calls

"JOHN LEEEEEVIT"

Raise hand 'LEAHVIT"


Hmm okay then SIDNEY PAAAAHTER-ELLLL?.
posted by The Whelk at 10:50 PM on August 18, 2010

I have great respect and affection for JGL. Loved him in 3rd Rock from the Sun and thought he was excellent in Brick. His fight scene in Inception was the highlight of the movie for me, so it shouldn't be surprising to learn that the dude is hardcore.
posted by ooga_booga at 11:13 PM on August 18, 2010

He can dance, too.
posted by Optamystic at 6:32 AM on August 19, 2010 [2 favorites]

I want to marry him.

I'm impressed by the way he uses his fame to create more cool shit. I like what he's doing with the web and with HitRECord. It's way too easy to get caught up in the celebrity, but he's actually turning it around and transforming it to make everything around him better. From people I know who have met him, he's also genuinely kind, friendly and interesting.

For me, the song was good primarily because he was singing it. Not the best cover out there.

10 Things I Hate About You was one of the best high school flicks of the '90s, up there with Clueless and Election. Often gets caught up in the dreck that is 1999 Freddie Prinze Jr. chick flicks (She's All That — eep) but it's so much better. After all, it did star a young Heath Ledger & Joseph Gordon-Levitt — two of the better / prettiest actors from my generation.
posted by good day merlock at 7:45 AM on August 19, 2010

And yet no mention of Cobra Commander?

Ha! Last weekend, I finally watched this terrible movie so I could get it off my DVR and then went to see Inception. I'm probably going to be calling him Cobra Commander for the rest of my life. He's a great actor, but I especially love that he signed up to do GI Joe so he could get in on the prosthetics and act ridiculous.
posted by zix at 7:57 AM on August 19, 2010

The more I find out about JGL, the better I like him.

I, too, saw him as Cobra Commander right before Inception, which was a hilarious image to have in your head. I had forgotten about 10 Things (or hadn't made the connection), but now I want to check out more of his back catalog of films.
posted by immlass at 9:36 AM on August 19, 2010

Nah sorry, he's been awesome since 1999 and he made that movie that dethroned Citizen Kane.

Wow, thanks for that Daily Show clip. He looks so young.

Jon Stewart, that is.
posted by msacheson at 9:38 AM on August 19, 2010

I saw "10 Things I Hate About You" on its opening night in 1999.

To this date, it remains one of my all-time favorite films. I'll watch it repeatedly when I'm ill or feeling crappy or want to watch a good, solid movie that runs a gamut of emotions easy enough to deal with.

More, though, that movie was a reflection of my life at the time. Boyfriend troubles. Sibling troubles. Parental troubles. Applying to college troubles. Prom date troubles (I didn't get to go to my then-boyfriend's prom because he asked someone before we were dating, and then he couldn't go to mine because he attended this weekend writing-workshop) and so forth.

When I need to remember what it's like to be on the cusp of 18 and nearing the end of high school, I remember "10 Things I Hate About You."

Heath Ledger was more my cup of tea than JGL, but I do so love them both.
posted by zizzle at 11:26 AM on August 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yeah, 10 Things I Hate About You really is very good – the best of the crop of those perky teen movies that popped up around 2000. (Bring It On is a bit overrated and Election is a whole different animal)
posted by furiousthought at 3:34 PM on August 19, 2010

Heh. Love the guy's acting, and this was totally charming. Count me in with the crush-ers.
posted by desuetude at 7:21 PM on August 19, 2010

This cover reminded me of the Radiohead cover of "Nobody Does It Better" for some reason.
posted by Jaybo at 1:59 PM on August 20, 2010