the clip I saw of johnny depp’s singing

All right. I’m watching “Access Hollywood” right now. Don’t judge me. They’re promising a clip from “Sweeney Todd” with Johnny Depp singing.

So let’s wait a moment, shall we? Here it comes ….. waiting …. waiting …. drat! Okay. They’re going to commercial, playing a teeny clip BEFORE they show the actual clip.

And I have to say — in between sobs here — that it does not sound good. Oh, please sound different when you come back from commercial. Please sound like Len Cariou, mmkay?

All right. MB just looked at me and said, “I’m starting to get scared about Johnny Depp.”

Back from commercial. They introduce the scene. It’s a tiny bit from “Epiphany,” which — and I know it’s hard to tell from the title — is Sweeney’s turning point number. I have to say, the clip LOOKS amazing. That dark, sinister Burtonesque feel totally works here. We see Sweeney imagining himself accosting random, well-dressed gentlemen and demanding,

Alright! You sir, you sir, how about a shave?
Come and visit your good friend Sweeney.
You sir, you sir? Welcome to the grave.

I will have vengeance.
I will have salvation.

That first bit — through “welcome to the grave” is spoken, shouted. Sweeney has snapped, basically. He is gone. He was, oh, just a tad edgy before, but now, NOW there is NO HOPE. This song sets the rest of the show in motion, ramps everything up a giant notch. It just might be my favorite song of Sweeney’s. And I have to say, Depp gave me shivers with this — this tiny bit. I’m not surprised, though; I love Depp as an actor and that’s what he’s going to have to rely on as Sweeney because …. wellll .…

… the second bit “I will have vengeance; I will have salvation” is sung. The problem is the part of Sweeney is bass-baritone and I just don’t hear that coming from Depp. The little bit he sang here, those two lines, his voice was thin, more hissy-fit sounding than vengeance sounding. Not the voice I want to hear singing Sweeney, but pretty much the voice I expected to hear from Depp.

Still, it was a 10-second clip and it GOT ME. I was thrilled to be watching even this tiny bit. The room hushed; the blood pounded. So maybe Depp can’t really sing, but he CAN act.

And I remain undaunted in my wiggly anticipation.