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The surreal moment Bill Murray and Clint Eastwood rocked out as a karaoke duo

Sat 20 July 2024 17:41, UK

Clint Eastwood and Bill Murray are, it goes without saying, remain two of Hollywood’s most enduring and beloved figures, albeit at different ends of the scale. Their careers span decades and are marked by a series of performances that are forever etched into history. Despite their differing styles and career trajectories, both actors share mutual respect and have occasionally crossed paths, including on stage for a spot of spontaneous karaoke.

While his numerous different roles have helped establish him as one of Hollywood’s favourite names, Murray’s off-screen personality has undoubtedly cemented him as a cult hero like no other. Whether he is gatecrashing engagement photos, giving impromptu speeches at bachelor parties or, in some cases, randomly applying for a job in an Asian restaurant at the back of Atlanta Airport, Murray is always up for a good time.

Clint Eastwood’s journey from the rugged landscapes of spaghetti westerns to the revered position of an Oscar-winning director, meanwhile, took a significantly different path to that of Murray. Emerging as the stoic Man with No Name in Sergio Leone’s ‘Dollars Trilogy’, Eastwood quickly became a symbol of American masculinity and rugged individualism—a far cry from Murray’s goofball antics. His portrayal of Dirty Harry further cemented his status as a Hollywood icon, and an uncompromising one at that.

While Eastwood and Murray have not often worked together on-screen, their paths have occasionally intersected at industry events, award ceremonies, and film festivals. These encounters are typically marked by a sense of mutual admiration and respect, if not one that often comes across curiously by those looking on. Both men have spoken favourably of each other’s work in various interviews, acknowledging the unique contributions each has made to the film industry. But the question remains: what’s their karaoke tune?

When appearing at the AT&T Pro-Am golf tournament at Pebble Beach in 2012, we got our answer. With Hollywood A-listers gathered at a private party of the event and enjoying the live entertainment on offer, this took a turn for the surreal. At one point, Murray decided it was time to ramp up this shindig and, in a scene befitting of Lost In Translation, walked up to the microphone to deliver his own rendition of Looking Glass’ 1972 hit ‘Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)’ armed with Eastwood himself.

Kicking things off, Murray flies into a “do do do” as the crowd cheers on. Eastwood, clearly more than a little awkward at not knowing the lyrics, is prompted by Murray to get involved: “What a band!” he states while delivering some melodies.

There’s no stopping Bill, though, as he urges the crowd to get involved while belting out the chorus: “Brandy, you’re a fine girl, what a good wife you would be”.

Eastwood, offering a slower, softer approach to Murray’s all-in approach, closes: “I don’t know the lyrics, but I’d better be moving on.”