she hasn't much strayed from since her first small role in John Hughes' Pretty in Pink. What's lesser known is that Gershon is also a musician: Her cabaret-inflected debut, In Search of Cleo, is a collection of pleasingly warped nightclub numbers like "Pretty Girls on Prozac." During her recent stint at New York after-hours hotspot the Box, Gershon dropped by our offices. We spun her songs without telling her who the artist was first. She took guesses and explained what she likes and what she doesn't.
Britney Spears "Gimme More" from Black Out, 2007
Is this Pink? No. Wait. "It's Britney, bitch." This is actually Britney Spears? She's saying that about herself? [Laughs] All these girls sound alike to me. Not Pink. But Paris Hilton? Come on. You can't tell what anyone sounds like anyway. This is Britney's new song? She's like a Madonna wannabe. God bless her. I hope she gets it together. Truly. She needs help.
Kanye West, "Stronger" from Graduation, 2007
I don't know this. I never listen to music like this. Who is it? Oh, Kanye West. What's the song? "Stronger," right. I don't listen to rap. I do know the song, though. I know he performed it on Saturday Night Live. I didn't know the opening. Did he change it?
The Psychedelic Furs, "Pretty in Pink" from The Pretty in Pink soundtrack, 1986
Oh, I know who this is. This is David Bowie, right? No. Wait. What's he singing? That's "Pretty in Pink." Who sang it? The Psychedelic Furs. I was in that movie [Pretty in Pink]. It was one of the first movies I ever did. I don't even remember that song being in the movie. It's a good song, though. I'm a little bit clogged in my ears because I'm sick, so it's tough for me to hear. If you listen to it, it sounds like a David Bowie song, but you can tell what it is when you listen closer.
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Patti Smith, "White Rabbit" from Twelve, 2007
I know this song -- "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. Who's singing it? Is it Courtney Love? I thought it was going to be Courtney Love but . . . oh, wait. That's Patti Smith. It sounds like her, but I never thought she would do an electronic-y version of "White Rabbit." I love Patti Smith. That's so crazy. Wow, that's wild. I f*ckin' love her. Courtney Love wishes she were her.
Bruce Springsteen, "Atlantic City," from Nebraska, 1982
It's Bruce Springsteen. Is it from his new album? No. It's from the early '80s. I don't know this song so much. I like Darkness on the Edge of Town. You have to be crazy not to know Bruce Springsteen. I saw him playing at the Stone Pony in Jersey years ago. I mean, how do you not like him? I'm a big fan of him. I think he's a good guy, I think he means well and politically, he's not annoying. He's got a place in my heart. This is Americana music. He's so down-to-earth. He's just like his music.
The Scissor Sisters, "Take Your Mama," from The Scissor Sisters, 2004
It's a retro-recorded song. It sounds like it's from the '60s. It sounds like . . . is this the Scissor Sisters? I'm on this record! It sounds like Elton John and Billy Joel. I love the Scissor Sisters. They're going to come see my show. I met [Scissor Sisters singer Jake Shears] after a really weird day. I was playing Jew's harp for Herbie Hancock and Paul Simon -- I was playing on their album. I met [Jake], and I was like, "I just had the weirdest day!" And he was like, "What are you doing playing with them?" And we just became friends. He invited me to play on their album.
