The musician Jim Carrey called “one of the most talented people I have ever seen”
Although he might have now announced his step back from acting, Jim Carrey has been a staple of popular culture for decades. Whether it be The Mask, Dumb and Dumber or Ace Ventura, his absurd form of comedy was a staple for many of us in our younger years. Carrey is a fascinating actor in that he’s just as adept at goofy comedy as he is profound drama, as evidenced by his performances in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Man on the Moon and The Truman Show.
While his comedy style might have taken a step back in the cultural conversation in recent years, there’s no denying that Carrey’s highlights are impactful. In addition, he’s always been one of the more complex and divisive characters in Hollywood.
Yet, without getting bogged down in the debate, one of the most intriguing aspects about Carrey is his brilliant taste in music, which is undoubtedly one of the finest in Hollywood. From the surprising admission that he’s a fan of the fierce grindcore of Birmingham dynasty Napalm Death to mainstream acts such as The Beatles and Nirvana, there’s a strong undercurrent of quality coursing throughout his record collection.
A man with his ear to the ground regarding the freshest music sounds, in 2007, when promoting his flop movie The Number 23, he sat down with Cinema Blend and aptly listed his 23 favourite songs. A broad bunch, which includes efforts by the likes of Sia, Broken Social Scene and even alternative rock heroes Filter, with this collection, Carrey resoundingly showed the parameters of his taste whilst comically trying to tie some picks to his film.
One of Carrey’s most significant choices was ‘Limp’ by art pop pioneer Fiona Apple, taken from her 1999 album When the Pawn. In picking the song, he recalled watching the New Yorker live and was so effusive about the experience that he dubbed her “one of the most talented people I’ve ever seen”. It’s hard to disagree with the actor’s assertion, as Apple made her name by sheer talent and a hefty dose of natural inventiveness, which makes her stand out from the crowd.
Carrey said of Grammy Award-winner: “I saw her live. It was staggering. One of the most talented people I’ve ever seen. She’s totally hooked in. Pure and uncut.”
Listen to ‘Limp’ below.
