Top 10 Best Emily Blunt Musical Moments
#10: The Surprise Backstreet Boys Performance “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (2003-)
It’s no secret that Emily Blunt can sing. But, performing in a movie musical and performing in front of a live audience are two very different stories - Well, at least for this actress. She confessed to Ellen that she still gets jitters at the very thought of singing live. Of course, this didn’t deter Ellen in the slightest and she pointed Blunt toward the microphone. She didn’t expect the actress to perform alone, though, revealing a surprise appearance from the Backstreet Boys. Singing their 1999 hit, “I Want It That Way” Blunt got to live out the dreams of countless Backstreet Boys-loving Millennials.
#9: Rosemary Sings an Irish Folk Song “Wild Mountain Thyme” (2020)
In 2020, Blunt starred as Rosemary, a star-crossed lover, embroiled in a dispute over land. Although the movie flopped, Blunt left her mark with a heartfelt Irish folk song. In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” she divulged that it wasn’t singing in an Irish accent that left her particularly nervous. It was actually having to sing to her “icon” Christopher Walken. The emotional song serves to pull on the heartstrings of Walken’s Tony Reilly, and remind him about love. In this scene, Tony wells up as he listens to Rosemary’s rendition. However, gazing into Walken’s piercing eyes, Blunt found herself feeling rather affected as well.
#8: “Moments in the Woods” “Into the Woods” (2014)
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Cinderella tells The Baker’s Wife about “A Very Nice Prince” she met at the festival. But, soon we discover that he isn’t so nice after all. His philandering ways assert themselves when he crosses paths with The Baker’s Wife and they share a kiss. This leaves her confused and conflicted between the excitement of the moment and her duty to her sensible married life. As in so many musicals, the song helped lead her to an epiphany. And as traditionally seen in fairytales, the story only ends once the morals have been learned. In this song, The Baker’s Wife learns her lesson, neatly wrapping up her plotline. Well, actually her story then ends rather abruptly.
#7: Lip Sync Battle Against Anne Hathaway “Lip Sync Battle” (2015-)
Who among us wasn’t excited to see “The Devil Wears Prada” co-stars reunite for a lip sync battle? Blunt was up first, nailing her performance of “No Diggity.” Her lip-sync skills are on fire, she grinds up on Anne Hathaway and even gets the entire audience involved. Doesn’t really get much better than that, does it? Oh, wait, yes it does. For her second round, she emerged in full hippie gear, handing out flowers to the audience, while lip-syncing along to Janis Joplin’s “Take Another Little Piece of My Heart.” Her performances were sensational but Hathaway “came in like a wrecking ball” and took the win.
#6: “Can You Imagine That?” “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018)
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John and Annabel are apprehensive about their new nanny but she finds a very compelling way to win them over. This song reminds us that you’re never too old to engage with your imagination. Just like Julie Andrews’ Mary made chores exciting with “A Spoonful of Sugar,” Blunt’s Mary turns bath time into a magical and fantastical adventure. Her performance is full of nostalgia for fans of the original 1964 movie, yet she still puts her own stamp on the role as well. What really stands out is how she captures the wonder and excitement that’s continued to captivate new fans for generations.
#5: Her Musical Apology to Chris Martin “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (2003-)
After Chris Martin divulged that his idea for “A Quiet Place: The Musical” was snubbed by the actress and her husband, John Krasinski responded by identifying Emily as the source of the communication lapse. So when she appeared on “Ellen” a few weeks later, she decided to set the record straight and apologize for the misunderstanding. And what better way to do so than in song form on national television? As we know, Blunt isn’t a fan of live performances but we guess the punishment had to fit the crime. Singing to Coldplay’s “In My Place,” she finally gave the singer a long overdue and very memorable apology.
#4: “It Takes Two” “Into the Woods” (2014)
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This adorable duet is sung by The Baker and his Wife as they acknowledge a shift in their relationship. The song mirrors an earlier number as they continue on their quest to break the Witch’s curse, only this time they acknowledge that they have to work as a team to succeed. Blunt has wonderful chemistry with Corden which only makes their story more compelling. It’s also really sweet how the song ends with them giggling together as they finally become a family unit. The song has quite a simple and soft melody but it’s Blunt’s acting that makes it one of the movie’s highlights.
#3: “The Place Where Lost Things Go” “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018)
If you found yourself getting teary-eyed during this number, you’re not alone. The actress confessed that this was a particularly emotional piece for her as well, and she initially struggled to get through it. Acting as the central ballad of the movie, Mary sings this song to comfort the children who are missing their mother, who died before the film’s events. Blunt felt particularly proud of this number as it showed how in touch Mary is with the children’s needs. She also hoped it would reach out to other children dealing with loss and help them find a glimmer of hope too.
#2: “22 Musicals in 12 Minutes” “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (2015-)
Do you love musical theatre and have 12 minutes to spare? Then this is “The Late Late Show” segment for you. James Corden, Emily Blunt, and Lin-Manuel Miranda perform a medley of 22 musicals in just one take. Watching them transition between show tunes, costumes, and even choreography is simply magical. From “Cabaret” to “Mamma Mia” and everything in between, this sketch is pure joy. We especially love their throwback to Corden and Blunt’s “Into the Woods” days and of course, the hilarious way they incorporate a plug for “Mary Poppins Returns.” Much like the beloved fictional nanny, this skit is “Practically perfect in every way.” Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “On The Street Where You Live,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (2015-) How Musical Theatre Lovers Bond “Something Stupid,” “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (2015-) When These Two Get Together Things Always Seem To Get A Little Musical A Patriotic Scare, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (2003-) How Else Would You Celebrate Becoming An American Citizen? “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Popcorn with Peter Travers” (2009-) We Could Easily Listen To Her Sing The Entire Song
#1: “A Cover Is Not the Book” “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018)
Although this movie isn’t a proper sequel to the 1964 Disney flick, it still had a huge legacy to live up to. Emily proved that she was up to the task with this fun dance hall-style number. Much like Julie Andrews in “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” Blunt’s charm, charisma, and spot-on comic timing have us beguiled. She transitions into a cockney accent, possibly as a nod to her predecessor’s famous Broadway role, and effortlessly nails the choreography. The song is incredibly catchy and you just can’t help but feel elated watching this joyous performance. Emily Blunt is a woman of many talents and this number showcases many of them.
