Meryl is a Rock Star
Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 7:29PM First image of Meryl Streep as a rock star in Jonathan Demme's Ricki & The Flash via People magazine. Very Melissa Etheridge. (Is it just me or is Meryl getting younger?) So excited for this movie. Demme is always at his best when he focuses on actresses (Married to the Mob, Rachel Getting Married, Silence of the Lambs) and who doesn't love to hear La Streep sing?
Uh oh... I feel a list coming on
10 greatest silver screen uses of Meryl's astounding pipes...
01. "You Don't Know Me" - as Suzanne Vale in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
02. "He's Me Pal" - as Helen Archer in Ironweed (1987)
03. "Stay With Me" - as The Witch in Into the Woods (2014)
04. "I See Me" - as Madeleine Ashton in Death Becomes Her (1992)
05. "Amazing Grace" - as Karen Silkwood in Silkwood (1983)
06. "My Minnesota Home" - as Yolanda Johnson in Prairie Home Companion (2006)
07. "I'm Checkin' Out" - as Suzanne Vale in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
08. "The Winner Takes It All" - as Donna in Mamma Mia (2008)
09. "The Last Midnight" - as The Witch in Into the Woods (2014)
10. "Goodbye to My Mama" - as Yolanda Johnson in Prairie Home Companion (2006)
Meryl was singing before she ever hit the movies... here she is on stage in her Drama Desk nominated Broadway role in 1976's "Secret Service" the year before her first movie came out (Julia).
Heartily agree with Louis Virtel that she should have released an album by now. I mean, come on. I'd be fine with "Meryl's Greatest Hits" so I didn't have to build my own playlist. How reinforced are her shelves at home do you think what with the 3 Oscars, 8 Golden Globes, 8 People's Choice Awards, 2 Emmys, 2 SAGs, 2 BAFTAs, 2 Critics Choice, 1 Cesar, 1 Theater World, and multiple festival and critics prizes (though those are often less statues than scrolls or certificates or whatnot)? Despite being an awards & nominations magnet she hasn't had much luck with theater or music trophies so she hasn't made any progress on her EGOT since her Oscar win for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) which followed her Emmy win for Holocaust (1978). She's received four Grammy nominations (all for Children's records) and 1 Tony nomination (and multiple Drama Desk nominations) but no wins from those.
Reader Comments (27)
You know what I love about this picture/film? She's working with a truly great director. How often does Meryl do that? She's like the anti-Kidman when it comes to seeking out the visionaries. Nathaniel, why do you think that is?
I'm not the biggest Streep fan, but her recording of the Velveteen Rabbit should have won a Grammy. Spoken word albums rarely TRANSCEND but that one sure does.
She should record an album.
Please Meryl, PLEASE!!!!!
I bet in her late 70's and 80's she starts doing all those old lady parts on stage and she will win a Tony. She's not done yet!
Is it just me or is Meryl getting younger?
She's had work done.
Nah, she just still has that potion from Death becomes her.
Love this photo and I love what it represents even more. It's wonderful that she is working with Demme again and I will be lining up to see this. I'm an fan of Streep and the great thing about her is that she is so unafraid to push her self.
As for her choice of directors - she is like Judi Dench in that she picks a script that she is interested in. That script may or may not be attached to a name director, I think her choices have stood her in good stead for the most part.
Btw, I love your list of songs, it's nice that you didn't forget about "Amazing Grace" in Silkwood.
Your #7, I'm Checking Out, is my favorite, especially when you listen to it side by side with Reba McEntire's version.
See Demme's Beloved adaptation.
I'm relatively confident that she got a fifth Grammy nomination for Mamma Mia as a compilation album (where they also nominate/reward principle vocalists).
Demme's love and reverence for actresses (of all ages, of all types) warms my heart. This image makes me smile.
If this were, say, 1983, somebody would have convinced her to release an adult contemporary album with hints of disco. She'd have a giant perm wig and wear gold on the cover.
Where's the VF Hollywood Issue post? I'm craving a breakdown and discussion.
She tends to shout a bit, if you ask me... I prefer her singing in Silkwood and Prairie.
Streep has very good makeup work for this film....
I saw a recent picture of her ( very closeup ) with Emily Blunt, and she
certainly has some wrinkles .. but still looking good
So 3rtful... you are wrong again!
Great article, Nat...
John T -- hmmm. it's tough to know with Grammy. They're one of the hardest awards to research I find. IMDb doesn't list that nomination but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Streep has very good makeup work for this film....
I saw a recent picture of her ( very closeup ) with Emily Blunt, and she
certainly has some wrinkles .. but still looking good
So 3rtful... you are wrong again!
Great article, Nat...
"My Minnesota Home" is probably my favorite Streep performance so I'm very excited to see it on the list! I can't wait to hear the songs she'll be singing for Ricki & the Flash
Her version of "Amazing Grace" in Silkwood....one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard in a film!
I'm still waiting for that Meryl Streep heavy metal movie where she is in leather pants, full-on makeup like Kiss and singing about death and destruction.
So happy that this post is not full of Streep hatred for once....but rather a celebration of what a remarkable talent she is.
'He's Me Pal' from Ironweed is my favorite Streep song.
Let's not forget the heart breaking 'God Bless America' at the very end of The Deer Hunter. What a scene! Just devastating.
"My Minnesota Home" "I See Me" and "Amazing Grace" are in my Ipod. :)
Can't agree with the Into the Woods inclusion though.
Fun Facts:
Meryl and two of her daughters, Mamie and Grace are the only mother and two daughters who all have won Theatre World Award.
The 7-year old Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (Lily from Modern Family) has more SAGs than Meryl!
and I can't believe that her Cesar is only honorary, and she's never been even nominated for a competitive one.
fadhil, I think it's probably because she never works with French directors or in French productions. A honorary Cesar seems good enough.
I've always wanted a Postcards from the Edge soundtrack just for those two songs! Sadly it doesn't exist I think. I can't find a good download of the songs either. In my search I did come across this strange song, apparently from a children's CD called Sandra Boynton's Philadelphia Chickens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsS2DPuw4tw&feature=youtu.be
It's odd that Meryl has never worked in French because she is fluent (or nearly so). Her French is so good that she dubbed herself for the French release of Sophie's Choice. Apparently an American accent sounds very much like a Polish accent in French.
I really like her voice. It hit me when they released that new Into the Woods song. She has a great singing voice and should cut some tracks.