Joseph Gordon Levitt sings “Hey Jude” at Sundance: seriously, dude?

This is painful in so many ways. Look, you know that I LOOOOOVE Joseph Gordon Levitt. He’s adorable, he’s incredibly talented, and he was robbed of an Oscar nomination this year for his beautiful performance in 50/50. In the past, I’ve had mixed feelings about his “music” but since I love him so much, I’ve accepted the “music,” especially when it involves JGL flashing his dimples at Zooey Deschanel while they sing “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”

….But now I have to call a timeout. Because Joseph Gordon Levitt went to Sundance, and he got up on stage at an event and he covered The Beatles classic “Hey Jude”. And he killed it. Not “killed it” as in “Damn, that was good.” “Killed it” as in “JGL just completely trashed a classic song that you should only cover if you’re drunk or stupid.” Here’s the video:

This performance makes me uncomfortable. His eyes are closed, he’s concentrating, he’s really trying to sell this, and… he’s trying way too hard. Maybe if he had done it with a wink and a nudge? Maybe if he wasn’t on stage, acting like he was auditioning for American Idol? For God’s sake, JGL. STOP IT.

Thanks to Gawker for the tip!

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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31 Responses to “Joseph Gordon Levitt sings “Hey Jude” at Sundance: seriously, dude?”

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  1. soooz says:

    he looks a little like heath ledger here to me.

  2. Maritza says:

    He needs to stick with his acting, singing is not his forte.

  3. Julie says:

    Wow, I never saw that about Heath, but yall are right re: resemblence. Incredible. OK, it makes me like him more.

  4. Jb says:

    I had to stop watching. You read my mind.

  5. lulunacy says:

    I have no problem with JGL, but he always reminds me of trying to be the adorable “Male Version” of Zooey Deschanel at age 30 or 30+ Enough already.

  6. Chelsey says:

    His pitchiness makes me uncomfortable.

  7. JenJen says:

    Oh lord, that was cringe-inducing. It’s really hard to watch someone you otherwise kind of admire do something so embarrassing. I’m a HUGE Beatles fan, and I’m always a little annoyed when people take really big creative liberties with their music, but this was just… weird. Was he trying to be so off? Yuck.

  8. Mr. StinkyFishFace says:

    I liked it…granted I will love anything JGL does. Especially if he’s doing me 😉

  9. mikamoo says:

    I really didnt think it was that bad

    • Wens says:

      I’m with you on that one mikamoo, I thought he was just enjoying himself and having fun – there were some definite grins in there when he knew he was off – give the guy a break everyone, he’s too cute.

  10. Jackie says:

    i have never really been a fan. i don’t get it, especially after watching this sad performance.

  11. podzol says:

    Heeheehee something about that video made me smile. HE’S SO INTO IT. It reminds me of a friend who loves music with a capital L, and recorded songs and passed them around for our opinion, and no one had the heart to tell him it sounded like a complaintive cat (with laryngitis) wailing in the rain.

    But what can you reproach about someone who is so obviously passionate about something? JGL, carry on and spread the enthusiasm! (unless you’re thinking about birthing a CD… in which case, CRINGE).

  12. Cleo says:

    I hope Sean and Yoko are reading this. Hey Jude is a very naughty Paul McCartney song about trying to love Yoko with the chorus, “Na, Na, Nah, NAH, NAHHHH!”

    I bet Sean like Devon Aoki google stalk JGL since Sean and his frequently naked girlfriend hung out with JGL and Sean realized that JGL is EVERYTHING Sean Ono Lennon is NOT.

  13. Sasha says:

    Haha, I didn’t think it was bad at all. Ok it’s an untouchable classic, but everyone was joining in and maybe he was a little drunk? 😉 I still love him. Maybe he’s trying to impress Zooey… (sigh.. ok I know there’s nothing really between them but it would be so cute!)

  14. rachel says:

    i dont care if he cant sing hes just so darn cute

  15. Mairead says:

    aww come on, it’s grand!

  16. Jilli says:

    Methinks the lad was caught up in the moment and having some fun. We have all heard worse!

  17. original sandy says:

    lol, not the video, but the write up is funny. kaiser’s take on the performance. thanks again for the laugh. i really don’t know half of these people and most of the time i don’t even comment, i just like reading the take on the story at hand for the laugh.

  18. yoyo says:

    He sang with the desperation of a man than needs to rush to the bathroom and he ran off the stage just like one -lolol – maybe that was his problem?! lol

    The performance was really weird and screechy and hurried and horrible…hmmm

    I’ve been seeing a lot of his videos lately and I think he thinks he’s a much better all around performer than he really is. He puts his stuff out all proud of himself like a kid “look what I did!” (*dimples*) but 80% of it if not more falls flat. ( he’s really cute though :))

    Hugh Jackman is a total ham and gets on my nerves to no end but I can’t deny he’s an all around performer. JGL is a better actor though, he should stick to that, have the karaoke night…at a karaoke bar, on in your living room, not on a stage, that’s just bad.

  19. Marianne says:

    It wasn’t terrible, but there was definitely some pitchy parts.

  20. LittleDeadGrrl says:

    Eek, that was SO uncomfortable and I love him as an actor but he should keep singing and music as his hobby.

  21. Fortensque says:

    Meh, life is too short to give a toss what other people think.Listen to some of the auto-tuned CRAP that makes it to the top of the charts these days!

  22. Ben Pearson says:

    Hey, would you mind linking to GeekTyrant.com instead of Gawker? I was the one who shot this video for them, and I published it there first. Thanks!

  23. skuddles says:

    He’s awfully cute but i can’t decide if I want to date him or adopt him….