Leighton Meester

[advo]

Originally Posted by Caroliiine

That music video is embarrassing and I actually cringed while watching it. The sexiness is way too forced. Honestly, I think Leighton can do much better than that. I don't know if it is because I associate her with Blair, but Leighton has never really been about sex appeal to me. She's not a sexpot a la Megan Fox.



It's hard to say. The "teen" actors on Gossip Girl are not good - Blake mumbles, Ed overacts, Chace is lifeless, and Jessica and Taylor never get enough screen time. Penn and Leighton are the only ones who look natural in their roles - but it's easy to play the geek and the brat. Just ask Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson... whose careers are kind of non-existent right now. And when Gossip Girl is eventually canceled, they will probably go the way of their OC counterparts and fade away.

Also, talented actors can take a crappy script and do amazing things with it. So yeah, the GG writers are to blame... but I think good writing just hid the bad acting in previous seasons. Looking back, some moments were horribly acted, particularly when Serena was crying over the "murder" and Ed was pissed about his dad dying.

As for singing... I have yet to actually hear Leighton sing. Her voice is always electronically distorted, it is hard to tell what she actually sounds like. But I've only heard Bette Davis Eyes, Body Control, and Somebody to Love. (I loved Bette Davis Eyes and Body Control though)

I've liked Leighton ever since I saw her on Entourage so I hope she has a career after Gossip Girl. But right now, she hasn't done anything to really stand out, acting or singing-wise.

Leighton should have stuck with her original name for her song... it was much more fitting for that music video. The music video was the epitome of trashiness imo, it was indeed embarrassing. I've always loved Leighton's understated sexiness over Blake's much more in your face style. That's not to say she can't change, she's young and experimenting, so of course, she can change. But that MV was just so horribly over-the-top, I thought the parts in the elevator were much more sexy then her crawling on the floor or whatever she was doing in the limo. She's an actress right? So act sexy instead of rubbing your body against random surfaces!

Maybe, but not always. I think that talented actors can still portray their characters even with bad scripts, but it will never be real good. It's true that GG never had that stellar writing, but the writing in S1 was Emmy-worthy in comparison to the following two seasons where they completely threw out continuity, structure, character development and plot. Even The very best acting cannot win against those odds imo. I completely agree with you about those badly acted moments, and I could mention so many more. Even Leighton has her bad days, e.g when she said ILY to Chuck the first time but it was mostly due to the really bad dialogue if you ask me.

I've liked most of Leighton songs, but they are at best, mediocre music. And I always found it oddly suspect that her voice is always so distorted and she has so many collaborations. Truthfully, she is most likely not a very good singer, and I'd really rather see her acting instead.

I disagree that she hasn't done anything stand-out in acting yet. When Blair was at her height, people were talking about Emmy-nominations even though it would never happen as it's a CW show. I really think Leighton is immensely talented, but talent doesn't always equal success. Right now, the two people who's most likely to succeed after GG are actually Chace and Blake. As much as everyone can agree to that Chace is ridiculous on GG, his popularity is undeniable. Blake already has a movie career and connections, and she gets the Vogue covers while Leighton gets Teen Vogue.

[lawaldorf]

You guys honestly don't think you're jumping the shark here? Leighton's first and only meaty role may have been Gossip Girl, but the amazing reception she's gotten from fans and critics is undeniable. Her guest starring on House and Veronica Mars are also memorable among those fans. And where are we getting these "popularity" stats from? From what I know, Chace's movie bombed at the box office. Being a tabloid star because of your sexual ambiguity isn't exactly the goal of any actor who wants longevity. Blake's acting career is pretty much comparable to Leighton's singing one in the light that she's being masked by all of these big names and ensemble casts (Leighton with her collaborations). Elvis and Annabelle was a nice little movie, but it says nothing about how she is as an actress--I already know from from Sisterhood and Gossip Girl that she can make blank faces, pout, and act excited. I don't care about magazine covers since they'll do anything for sales these days and Lindsay Lohan gets them (what exactly is she doing?), but being on September issues of high fashion magazines isn't so shabby either.

As for her music, what have you guys heard really? Two songs and some demos--all of which have a different sound from rock to ballad to dance-pop to speak-singing. How do you even judge? Just throw away, experimental stuff that she didn't release herself--some aren't even finished--to prove or make any statement. Collaborations aside, she's been working with some really amazing producers and her label seems very invested in her. Also, her little stint with a small band went platinum.

[advo]

^"Popularity" stats. How about the the awards determined solely by the public? How come Blake and Chace both take the prizes and Ed gets Choice Villain or whatever. Leighton isn't even nominated this year aside from her song Good Girls Go Bad. Blake has been more well-known longer than Leighton, she's been in Sisterhood which regardless of your opinion of her acting, have been popular among it's target group. I never said that either Chace or Blake are more talented than Leighton, in fact, I very much think the opposite, but it seems very naive to think that there aren't plenty of successful "actors" in Hollywood. Magazines doesn't help movie sales? I don't know anything about that, I'll admit that I know very little of the movie industry. But I would think that the industry would take Vogue covers more serious than Teen Vogue. As for Lindsay Lohan, her career have probably gone downhill due to her other "habits" and mental instability. I very much doubt Blake will follow in her footsteps.

As for her music, what else can we judge on besides what has been released. All Leighton's songs have been quaint and catchy and that's it. We've heard several of her songs and yet no one claims to know how her real voice sounds like. So either she's not a very good singer and they are trying to disguise it, or they are pushing the collaborations a little too enthusiastic which is still the wrong direction anyway,

I've been a fan of Leighton since she was in Surface, so you could call me a pretty die hard fan. But that doesn't mean I need to think everything she does is one step short of genius.

[Liesl]

Hmm I think Leighton is just experimenting -seems perfectly fine and normal for a young lady her age.

But back to the video...omg, it was embarrassing. Everything is farrr too overdone!

[lawaldorf]

Originally Posted by advo

^"Popularity" stats. How about the the awards determined solely by the public? How come Blake and Chace both take the prizes and Ed gets Choice Villain or whatever. Leighton isn't even nominated this year aside from her song Good Girls Go Bad.

You do know that producers of the networks always have a hand in those "public" awards, right? There's a disclaimer and everything before and after the show and THEY determine the nominees and winners base on how much publicity it could generate. That's why they're all nominated but not in the same categories.

And I personally always hear a consistent tone that's specific to Leighton in her songs. I also personally like to reserve judgment until I hear more than one official song but right now I don't see a problem with her pursuing this career considering the big success her collaboration with CS is. She has friends encouraging her, the professionals she's worked with seems very appraising, and she herself seems very self confident, she wouldn't do this if there were any doubt.

[advo]

^Like you said, the producers have a hand in picking as well. But I'm pretty certain that they will pick the ones the public are most interested in seeing. Of course, there will always be a natural bias, but you can bet on that they will pick people based on, like you said "how much publicity it could generate" which usually also corresponds more or less to their level of popularity. Maybe not exactly, but popularity IS hard to measure. GG doesn't generate as much buzz as it used to, so naturally, the producers chose the stars whom the public is most interested in, combined with the public's actual votes. IF Leighton's level of popularity surpassed Blake, isn't is like shooting yourself in the foot by picking Blake for the category over Leighton? As a general rule, these awards are good measurements of popularity but never quality.

There's only been released one official song, but we've heard several songs. Maybe, they weren't the finished product but it's not like they were incomplete sound pieces. And I really don't know what you mean by anyone seeing a problem in her pursuing a singing career. I've heard people express reservations based on what they have heard so for, and I think the general opinion is that her acting surpasses her singing. Therefore, it's logical that people think she should focus on that right now, it's not like she's already a successful actor and can do as she pleases. Her biggest role so far is Blair Waldorf and she gets press probably 60/40 from GG/her style. But in the end, it's her life and if the end result is good, it will only help her get more fans. I just don't hope we'll get more MVs a la "Somebody To Love" because it was tasteless and beneath Leighton - and I actually like the song!

[lawaldorf]

Publicity as in who is most relevant at the moment. Who has a project coming out. Whose publicist will generate the most buzz. Like Blake won a few TCA a few years ago so they can say "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants II: Starring Teen Choice Fresh Face Blake Lively!" There is no way of determining popularity. I think you mistook my understatement of "having hand in things." And that was just my passive aggressive way of stating they have the final say. It's award shows and most "reality" tv, unfortunately. If you're wondering why some people seem to overstay their welcome in certain competitions like Project Runway, it's not a coincidence or luck. That's not to say that it's always fake and everything should be questioned, but there's definitely a lot of that.

I'm not saying that certain people aren't popular or successful in their own right. I was just wondering where you got your information from and it just so happens it comes from an area I know quite a bit about.

I thought her vocals were great on BDE, but the production was obviously amateur so it's hard to judge on that. Birthday was incomplete if you compare it to the other rendition. Inside the Black isn't autotuned, she sounds great on it but it's old and not Leighton's style. Body Control is perfection if you ask me, but it's just a fun song that's not supposed to be telling of her vocals--neither is Somebody to Love. She's shown potential, but is all over the map--hence why I can't judge. As for the matter of things being "tasteless", that's just a matter of opinion. A lot of people genuinely enjoy it, a lot don't, and a lot just want to nitpick because of the stigma attached to her. In truth, Leighton isn't doing anything out of the ordinary that many of her respected and established successors haven't done.

[LolaSvelt]

I always thought that scene where Serena revealed that she 'murdered' somebody was terrible.

[advo]

Originally Posted by lawaldorf

Publicity as in who is most relevant at the moment. Who has a project coming out. Whose publicist will generate the most buzz. Like Blake won a few TCA a few years ago so they can say "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants II: Starring Teen Choice Fresh Face Blake Lively!" There is no way of determining popularity. I think you mistook my understatement of "having hand in things." And that was just my passive aggressive way of stating they have the final say. It's award shows and most "reality" tv, unfortunately. If you're wondering why some people seem to overstay their welcome in certain competitions like Project Runway, it's not a coincidence or luck. That's not to say that it's always fake and everything should be questioned, but there's definitely a lot of that.

I'm not saying that certain people aren't popular or successful in their own right. I was just wondering where you got your information from and it just so happens it comes from an area I know quite a bit about.

I thought her vocals were great on BDE, but the production was obviously amateur so it's hard to judge on that. Birthday was incomplete if you compare it to the other rendition. Inside the Black isn't autotuned, she sounds great on it but it's old and not Leighton's style. Body Control is perfection if you ask me, but it's just a fun song that's not supposed to be telling of her vocals--neither is Somebody to Love. She's shown potential, but is all over the map--hence why I can't judge. As for the matter of things being "tasteless", that's just a matter of opinion. A lot of people genuinely enjoy it, a lot don't, and a lot just want to nitpick because of the stigma attached to her. In truth, Leighton isn't doing anything out of the ordinary that many of her respected and established successors haven't done.

I'm actually not wondering about why certain people overstay their welcome. I may not be able speak with as much authority on the subject as you claim, but I'm not naive enough to think that "reality" shows etc. aren't largely just as scripted and staged. However, when it's award shows such as these which are supposedly determined by public voting, they do count and like you said, the producers ALSO have a say. Perhaps, probably even the final say. But it's pretty much common sense that they also build up their show around what and especially whom, people want to see. And that is determined by who and what is currently popular. Of course, there are other factors such as who has what coming out, but they both have movie projects coming out. Another factor could be who/what would create controversy, but since Blake's as clean as a baby, I don't think that's why she was "picked". Of course, when talking popularity, it's strictly in the sense of what/who is popular at the moment. I have never tried to claim otherwise, and I think it's pretty difficult to predict who/what will be popular next. Twilight is all the rage at the moment, but who really believes it will continue forever? Basically, I highly disagree with you that there's no way to determind popularity. There is no way to prove exact popularity. I can say that I think Blake is more popular than Leighton, but I can't say by exactly how much. It's my understanding that Blake and Chace are more popular. And popularity is definitely a tool for success.

And all I ever meant by saying the MV is tasteless, is that I think it's tasteless. I'm sure there are people who think it was great too, I'm just not one of them. Hence, I hope she comes out with something "better" next time.

And that was really all I had to say on the subject. My apologies for getting a bit off topic, though it is related to Leighton's work.

[Boomer]

Big news from the New York Post, all you UESers!!

American Eagle is so square. Next Thursday, the cargo short and denim haven opens its brand-spankin’-new Times Square flagship location (1551 Broadway; 212-205-7260), complete with a “denim library” stocked with more than 20,000 pairs of jeans and a “bra conservatory” featuring more than 7,000 bras. Haute List has the scoop on Tuesday night’s opening party. We hear that Gossip Girl Leighton Meester is providing the entertainment — she’s scheduled to sing — and that she’ll be performing “Good Girls Go Bad,” “Somebody To Love,” “Playing Games” and “Your Love’s a Drug.” Word on the street is that Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz will deejay.

[ladyflash]

GQ Magazine photoshoot.




source: gossipgirlworld.org

I'm not liking this sexy new image for her pop career AT ALL. But she's undeniably hot and I'll... probably buy this issue.

[advo]

Eh, the leather corsage and spreading legs are way too over-the-top for me, but I'm sure plenty of guys will... eh "like" it. The others look sexy without being too much.

[thehappyhippyyy]

yayyyy for Leighton performing new songs and for the first time!

wow GQ.. way to sex LM up..

[lawaldorf]

^She didn't need it, but WOW indeed. !!

[ponytrot]

Caroliine and Advo

karma for your brilliant posts - I initially raised the point that it appears that the GG cast is incredibly lighttweight with their "talent" and has little to show - particularly in regards to Leighton for what I do believe is talent behind the hype.

The point is that we're all fans of this girl but seeing AS we are fans, we do analyse what she has done and its relation to an actual interesting, sustainable career. Unlike what some fangirls think - where the celebrity is worshipped for all and everything, I think abit of intelligent analysis and criticism goes a long way rather than blind worship.

I say that with awareness that this is a style thread - however in a celebrity thread, I'd like to think that beyond style there is substance to substantiate praise of said celebrity.