Jim Carrey's inclusion on The Weeknd's latest release, Dawn FM, showed how unlikely collaborations can create magic between actors and singers. This is, of course, not a new trick in showbiz, and musicians from across genres have relied on popular stars to either voice monologues or just appear in their music videos.
This strategy works in the favor of artists as it is liable to attract fans of the actors as well. From legendary singers like Michael Jackson to current trendsetters like J Cole, high-profile collaborations with actors have been reinterpreted in several ways over the years.
Jim Carrey - Dawn FM By The Weekend
The Weeknd's fifth studio album, Dawn FM, plays out as a radio station that airs during The Weeknd's journey into purgatory. In a highly unexpected collaboration, comedian and actor Jim Carrey voiced the part of the album's ominous narrator. From the opening track "Dawn FM" and the intro of "Out of Time" to the final track, "Phantom Regret By Jim," Carrey lends his voice in a calm and laidback manner.
This musical credit is a far cry from some of Jim Carrey's best movies in which he mostly delivered his brand of over-the-top comedy with exaggerated voices and physical mannerisms. On Dawn FM, he seems to show the dramatic prowess seen in movies like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Mahershala Ali, Mindy Kaling, & Hasan Minhaj - The Long Goodbye By Riz Ahmed
Apart from his film and TV roles, Riz Ahmed is one of those new-age actors who have also managed to maintain an impressive musical career on the side. His 2020 album, "The Long Goodbye," proved to be an eye-opening look into the struggles of being an immigrant in a post-Brexit Britain.
Along with his socio-political rap songs, the album is also filled with vocal interludes by his friends from the industry. This includes the likes of Mindy Kaling, Mahershala Ali, and Hasan Minhaj. While Kaling addresses a breakup, Ali offers some philosophical advice. Then, there's Minhaj's part that funnily addresses a common fascination with a Rush Hour 2 DVD. Playing out as phone calls, these star-studded interludes offer random glimpses into the artist's psyche.
Vincent Price - Thriller By Michael Jackson
One of Michael Jackson's most popular works, the "Thriller" music video is as iconic as the song. The video starts off with Jackson watching a horror movie with his girlfriend and walking back home on a road infested with creepy dancing zombies. Ultimately, Jackson himself turns into one of the creatures and breaks into a memorable dance sequence.
A major cinematic element in the song is Vincent Price's memorable monologue that poetically describes the creatures of the dark. Vincent Price has had his fair share of creepy roles, and with his baritone delivery, he was indeed the perfect choice for "Thriller."
Christopher Walken - Weapon Of Choice By Fatboy Slim
Christopher Walken dances a lot in his best movies, from The Deer Hunter to Hairspray, and given that he got his start in dance, it is very normal to find Walken show off a move or two. But perhaps the epitome of his dancing skills is seen in the Spike Jonze-directed video for Fatboy Slim's dance track, "Weapon of Choice."
Walken seems to groove a little in a full suit until he stands waving his arms swiftly. This eventually turns into a full-fledged dance routine with Walken even dancing in mid-air! The video is a perfect tribute to Walken's dance history and suits the bizarrely funny nature of Fatboy Slim's discography.
Kevin Hart - Kevin's Heart By J Cole
J Cole is an introspective rapper and his views on love are also multi-dimensional. In recent years, his fans can expect him to touch upon romantic commitment on songs like "Sacrifices," and adultery on his KOD track, "Kevin's Heart."
A clear reference to the public scandal surrounding comedian Kevin Hart's extramarital affair, the accompanying music video stars Hart playing himself. The video plays out as a bleak satire on media and celebrity culture. Viewers can expect footage of Hart getting socially awkward after his infidelity becomes public knowledge. This proved to be quite a realistic collaboration, with Hart coming to terms with his own flaws through J Cole's philosophical bars.
Sir Ian McKellen - Listen To The Man By George Ezra
From Gandalf to Magneto, Sir Ian McKellen's best roles have channeled his dramatic intensity. But behind the camera, McKellen is quite a jolly personality and English folk popstar George Ezra's music video for "Listen To The Man" bears testimony to this.
The video plays out with Ezra performing his track on the guitar until he is interrupted by the actor. Bothered by the latter's interference, Ezra stops the song until McKellen gleefully tells him that he just wants to lip-sync and dance along to the track. The result is this heartwarming cameo.
Issa Rae, Tessa Thompson, Tiffany Haddish And Lakeith Stanfield - Moonlight By Jay-Z
Inspired by the Oscar-winning movie of the same name, Jay-Z's "Moonlight" addresses the stale and monotonous nature of the rap game. However, the video takes the song to a meta-level, as it satirizes sitcom shows like Friends.
Popular actors like Tessa Thompson, LaKeith Stanfield, Lil Rel Howery, and Issa Rae star in this reimagining of a Friends episode with an all-Black cast. It is interesting to see the actors poke fun at the tropes and gags of the sitcom, while Master of None co-creator, Alan Yang, handles the directorial duties. In fact, the video even ends up poking fun at itself, as Jerrod Carmichael talks to Hannibal Buress backstage. The conversation ends with Buress saying, "You did a good job of subverting good comedy. You gonna do a Black Full House next?"
Tom Hanks - I Really Like You By Carly Rae Jepsen
Justin Bieber appears at the end of fellow Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen's music video for the upbeat love song, "I Really Like You." However, Bieber's cameo isn't that surprising, as Tom Hanks merrily lip-syncs Jepsen's lyrics throughout the song.
This delightful appearance seems to be totally on-brand for Tom Hanks, who has a slew of great roles no one talks about across his stellar career. His off-screen personality is also equally positive and so it's no surprise that Jepsen recruited the two-time Oscar winner to sing along to her track.
Robert Downey Jr. - I Want Love By Elton John
Carrying the tradition of popular actors lip-syncing for popular singers, Robert Downey Jr. appeared in the video for Elton John's "I Want Love" in 2001. Downey shows an underplayed sadness in his performance as he wanders around California's Greystone Mansion.
The song seems relevant to his own life, as it was in the early 2000s that he went through legal troubles from drug charges. While he was popular with movies like Chaplin, Downey was fired from the TV show Ally McBeal in 2001 following an investigation into his addiction. Lip syncing to lyrics like "I want love, but it's impossible / A man like me, so irresponsible" only seemed timely back then. Years later, Downey's career would resurge with his memorable stint as Iron Man in the MCU.
Rupert Grint - Lego House By Ed Sheeran
Because of their similar ginger locks of hair, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and actor Rupert Grint can sometimes be mistaken as the same person. The video for Sheeran's "Lego House" plays on this running joke, as Grint is introduced as Sheeran himself. Viewers can see him writing songs, sitting on a tour bus, and finally arriving on stage. But it is at this moment when Grint is escorted away by security and the real Sheeran appears. It turns out that Grint's character was an obsessive stalker.
Despite this bleak ending, the two do share a good friendship. In fact, as Billboard reports, Grint even appeared in a comedy skit for MTV News claiming that Ed Sheeran is a personality he created post-Harry Potter!