When actors turn to song, it sometimes works

Kylie Minogue

Essential Tracks: The Loco-motion, Spinning Around, Can't Get You Out Of My Head

Minogue got her first break as a teen actor on the Australian soap Neighbours. Fast forward a couple of decades and she's become an iconic pop diva second only to Madonna (in certain parts outside of North America).

Zooey Deschanel

Essential Track: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

Deschanel's had no shortage of acting work since her 1999 film debut in Mumford, but in recent years she's received more praise for her musical output ---- particularly for She & Him, her '70s AM-Gold steeped project with singer-songwriter M. Ward. The duo released their debut album Volume One in 2008, and Deschanel's old-fashioned Judy Garland-esque croon helped land them on several tastemakers' best-of lists. According to reports, they're at work on their second album.

Jenny Lewis

Essential Tracks: Portions for Foxes (with Rilo Kiley), Rise Up With Fists

Lewis has been lending her clear-as-a-bell vocals to her indie band Rilo Kiley, The Postal Service and her own solo albums (Rabbit Fur Coat, Acid Tongue) for the last decade. To think she was starring in Troop Beverly Hills all those years ago. Shelley Long should be proud.

Nicole Kidman

Essential Track: Something Stupid (with Robbie Williams)

Nicole Kidman's delicate soprano was a pleasant surprise in 2001's Moulin Rouge!, and she made use of her newly discovered talents soon afterwards by cutting a single with U.K. popstar Robbie Williams.

Ewan McGregor

Essential Tracks: Your Song (Moulin Rouge!), The Lass of Aughrim (Nora)

Nicole Kidman's Moulin Rouge! paramour, Ewan McGregor, was truly the greater musical revelation in the film. Sadly, we're still waiting for McGregor's debut album all these years later, but his velvety brogue has still managed to make it on a decent collection of film soundtracks. McGregor does his own singing on films such as Velvet Goldmine, A Life Less Ordinary, Down With Love and Nora.

William Shatner

Essential Track: Common People (feat. Joe Jackson)

When it comes to lists of the worst actors-turned-singers, The Shat is a repeat offender. But we're of the (highly dorky) opinion that his work on the 2004 disc Has Been negates all the Mr. Tambourine Mans and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds he's committed to tape.

Janet Jackson

Essential Tracks: Nasty, Rhythm Nation

Before she was Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty), Janet was Penny on '70s sitcom Good Times. Of course, with her genetics, a recurring role on Fame wasn't going to be her peak. Pop superstardom came in the '80s and '90s ---- which she's retained to this day, never mind the record label woes and wardrobe malfunctions.

Meryl Streep

Essential Track: Excellent Moon (from the short film, The Music of Regret)

Streep's work on last year's Mamma Mia! found her up for a Grammy. That trophy didn't wind up joining her many Oscars, but Streep's been doing her own singing for years SEmD lending tunes to movies as far back as 1983's Silkwood (that's her singing Amazing Grace at the end) and 1990's Postcards From the Edge.

Alanis Morissette

Essential Track: You Oughta Know

When Morissette entered screaming (and, occasionally, yodelling) with 1995's Jagged Little Pill, her past as one of the oft-slimed kids from You Can't Do That On Television was soon forgotten (not to mention her early-'90s dance-pop phase). And though she's widely regarded as a pop star, Morissette's acting credits now arguably overshadow her most recent musical output, thanks to well-received turns on TV shows such as Nip/Tuck and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Look for her next on the upcoming season of Weeds.

Eddie Murphy

Essential Track: Party All the Time

OK, OK, there's no reason why Eddie Murphy should make the cut -- but there's room here to argue that there's a wafer-thin line between awesome and awful. And in this case, awesome wins out.

-- Canwest News Service

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 31, 2009 D8