Watching Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman in their new film, Song Sung Blue, as Claire and Mike, real-life musicians who performed Neil Diamond tribute shows as the duo Thunder and Lightning, the chemistry is electric.
But when a video surfaced of the co-stars belting out a victory duet at a New York City pub after snagging a Gotham Award on December 1, it was clear that rapport extends off-screen, too.
WHO sat down with the two stars to discuss their musical magnetism, discovering Diamond’s catalogue and the most vulnerable part of filming.
What did Kate Hudson say to Hugh Jackman before filming Song Sung Blue?
Speaking to WHO, Hugh recalls: “I remember after the read through, Kate turned to me and said, ‘This movie only works if we work.’ And I thought, ‘You’re absolutely right.'”
He goes on to say, “We went literally straight into the recording studio. So, in the movie, we sing things live, but we also recorded everything. When we were in there recording, that’s when we really bonded as people, as actors and, I think, as Lightning and Thunder.”
“My memory of singing his song ‘Holly Holy’ was sitting on the couch, and they just put a microphone in front of us, and that’s how we recorded it. That’s when I got chills when I heard us because that’s when I knew musically we would blend,” he gushed.
What was the most vulnerable part of filming Song Sung Blue?
Kate tells the outlet, “I agree with everything Hugh was saying. Really, ‘Holly Holy’ was one of those moments because, in the movie, we’re looking at each other, but we had just really met, and we were singing next to each other and looking at each other.”
“In the studio, it’s a very vulnerable place because they’re picking up everything of your voice, and as artists, you like things, you don’t like certain things, but you have to try things and be really open. So it was a great kind of entry point for us to break open a bit,” she explains.
What moved Hugh and Kate about Mike and Claire’s relationship?
Speaking about the most moving aspect in the film for him, Hugh told WHO: “This movie is a love letter to ‘tip jar’ musicians. And I say that with such respect.”
“What I loved particularly about Mike was his doggedness. He wouldn’t let it go. And what I loved most about these two together was how they rescue each other,” he says.
Kate adds: “Everybody who has music in them has their own personal love story with music, too. When you meet someone who has that feeling, you can’t explain it unless you know it.”
“I think Mike and Claire – and Hugh and I – have that thing where it moves you so much that you can connect through it without having to say a word, but just sing it. It’s a very special type of connection, and I think Mike and Claire really lived through music, too,” she concludes.
How did Neil Diamond’s music shape Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson’s performance?
Sharing her greatest learnings from the film, Kate reveals she had never even heard the majority of Diamond’s songs.
“I can’t believe how prolific he is as a writer, and the thing that carries through all his songs is this sense of hope. He’s such a hopeful writer, and it was a wonderful discovery. He really wrote music to connect with audiences, and there’s so much joy in his music,” she gushes.
Speaking about how Neil Diamond is as talented now as he was in his youth, Hugh says, “As someone who’s a singer, when I really listened to Neil, I knew he was an amazing singer. I was just with him two weeks ago, and he’s still singing like that now and he sounds amazing.”
Did Hugh Jackman do karaoke with Neil Diamond?
Showing his casual nature, Hugh recalls the time he invited himself to stay in Neil Diamond’s house after he called to congratulate him on the film.
“He rang me with his wife, Katie, and they were very teary after seeing the film.”
“And so I did a very Australian thing and basically invited myself to go over for a cuppa. Katie said, “We live in Colorado.” And I went, “OK,” and I waited. She goes, “So you want to stay the night?” and I said, “That’d be great!” he laughed.
After dinner, Hugh reveals he sang I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis first, and then Can’t Help Falling in Love and Sweet Caroline with Neil.
Showing his inner fan girl, Hugh quips: “At one point, he put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head as we were singing together, and I wished someone had been making a video.”
Is singing a challenging aspect of the role?
Hugh shares that he got into acting before singing, but it still feels “natural” for him.
Speaking about what he learned from playing Mike, he says, “Mike is the guy who would just get up and sing. It doesn’t matter where it was, he would just sing.”
“I dropped Neil Diamond’s name, so now I’ll drop another name – I’d be with Sting at a birthday dinner, and someone would just say sing, and he sang. And it’s not precious at all. Same with Keith Urban, who would always sing because [he] loved music,” he adds.
How did Kate and Hugh train for their duets together?
Explaining that the couple were pretty much always singing or playing guitar together, Hugh says, “I’m a huge fan of Kate and of the music, but when we sang together, it felt magical.”
Kate adds: “That’s my happy place: in the studio. A lot of my challenge throughout the film was how much of me do I bring to the songs? When I’m backing Hugh, that was really important for me to be his support. But then on some of the songs, I’d do my own thing, too.”
Where can I watch Song Sung Blue ?
Song Sung Blue is in cinemas in Australia now.
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