T O P
Saulgoodman1994bis

Both actually


[deleted]

Yes!


jethroguardian

My man!


Swarnim_

Lookin good!


JennyRedpenny

Slow down!


MatsThyWit

Chuck is a good singer, and Jimmy is a really bad one, it's not a one or the other situation.


KarrotMovies

Jimmy is not a singer but he is clearly singing Winner Takes It All poorly to get Chuck to come up with him


MatsThyWit

No...no he isn't. He just is a bad singer. Jimmy sings multiple times, in multiple different scenarios, and the only constant is that Jimmy - like Bob Odenkirk himself is known to be - is a terrible singer. Not everything Jimmy ever did was some 4D Chess move.


KathiePowerBusAd

Didn’t Bob Odenkirk only pretend to sing badly?


MatsThyWit

No, it's a known thing that he's a really bad singer but it's also really funny to hear him trying to sing so as a comedian he's gotten a lot of mileage out of that.


Dark_Eyes

Yeah Bob is a pretty bad singer lol, it's actually kinda endearing :)


MatsThyWit

>Yeah Bob is a pretty bad singer lol, it's actually kinda endearing :) It's his total and earnest commitment to performing despite a complete lack of anything even approaching talent that I find endlessly endearing.


Justin_Cruz19

Bro brought a compliment with a swift back-hand.


KathiePowerBusAd

Thanks for the info.


Ok-Sprinklez

I love that!! Makes him more relatable bc his humor and delivery is untouchable


jleonardbc

Maybe Jimmy isn't intentionally singing WTIA worse than his best, but he knows his naturally poor singing will get Chuck to come up.


MatsThyWit

i really don't think that's what his plan was. I think fans are reading way more subtleties into that particular moment than were necessarily intended.


Rushional

I read that scene differently. I felt like he felt Chuck is taking away his "karaoke glory", his personal moment to shine. Kind of like Chuck was trying to take away his attorney career. I felt bad for Jimmy here, and don't think he did that on purpose. This doesn't look like a bonding moment to me. More like Chuck trying to show everyone how cool Chuck is and how shitty Jimmy is. Their whole dynamic


Hexxorus

Personally I didn’t get that vibe at all. Jimmy still keeps singing and smiling throughout all of it and even all the way home, and with Chuck in bed at the end, he seems like he enjoyed it a ton and just wanted Chuck to come and join him on stage. Jimmy knows he’s a terrible singer but wanted to share the stage and he did


Voiceunderthecovers

It could be interpreted either way, but to say that Jimmy didn’t want to encourage Chuck to come up at all would be ignorance of the scene and of the relationship.


Beginning-Plum-8681

Ya he wanted Chuck to sing he was like come on her up here. I forget the exact words. But chuck is like (no…I couldn’t…..no..not me. Ok fine.) and then we see this sonorous Sinatra and poor jimmy once again in his brothers shadow. But the way he encourages him to come up. For a brief second there is a hint of insecurity or maybe even awkward. Almost like jimmy is putting himself out there to try and get his brother in the spotlight. I really think jimmy wanted chuck to get better, and in this scene just like so many others he haves chuck the stage that his broken character both craves and needs. And then he delivers this profound vocal performance. Never once passing the limelight. It tells a lot about his character. Especially when jimmy carry his shitfaced agonizing brother home to bed. Almost like a boy getting his grandfathers slipppers…..🧐….🤨 idk. There’s a weakness to chuck in that scene. And after an eternity of betrayal. Jimmy finally goes off on his own. All alone. And makes all the money he ever needed to finally feel whole. So when it all comes crashing down….and he sacrifices the last 10 percent when he already lost the 90…..makes me think…. Kim might have actually been, the first person Jimmy ever sacrificed for. Ever. He tries to help his brother. A lot. Over and over. But as that solidifies to a permanent brotherly divide.. jimmy is hardened, and hardened, and hardened. Until the first words that ever truly come out of Saul Goodmans mouth Secretary: He doesn’t do no paperwork! Saul:Fine! Send him in *clap* LETS MAKE SOME MONEY!


moog_gender

i feel like that’s the vibe that’s implied, even though jimmy might not be feeling (or showing) any kind of envy


Number127

Yeah, Jimmy knew what he was doing. He knew that he was terrible, intentionally or otherwise, and he knew that would embarrass Chuck enough to coax him up there. He knew Chuck wouldn't be able to help himself and would steal the spotlight once he got going, and that's exactly what Jimmy wanted. It was manipulative and wholesome at the same time, exactly what we'd expect from Jimmy.


safwan6

Holy shit it's just two brothers bonding it's not that deep


Voiceunderthecovers

“S-stop looking into the show!!!!”


Beginning-Plum-8681

Ya Chuck completely takes over in that scene and leaves jimmmy in the back drop. I’m trying to remember if there was back and forth but jimmy being such an overtly bad singer I’m pretty sure Chuck just takes it away.


_Spektor_

They sing together for a bit before Chuck gets carried away.


ranch_brotendo

It felt to e that even though they were getting on well in that moment- there's always a subtle dynamic of Chuck being better than Jimmy in the background


dylanjones12341234

Yes but he knew that he was a bad singer and that if he started singing, chuck would like to go up there and sing too


Mister_reindeer

It’s crazy to me that Bob is really apparently THAT tone deaf. I’ve attended my fair share of karaoke nights, and usually your average person can at least APPROXIMATE a tune, or be in the general ballpark. Jimmy/Bob (someone whose voice is a major tool of his craft) really feels like a comedian exaggerating, sometimes just shouting. But apparently that’s how he really sings.


MatsThyWit

>It’s crazy to me that Bob is really apparently THAT tone deaf. I’ve attended my fair share of karaoke nights, and usually your average person can at least APPROXIMATE a tune, or be in the general ballpark. Jimmy/Bob (someone whose voice is a major tool of his craft) really feels like a comedian exaggerating, sometimes just shouting. But apparently that’s how he really sings. Sometimes it's not necessarily just being tone deaf. Some people's have voices in which they just physically can't sing well. I think Bob is one of those people. He's got a semi-gruff, often raspy voice that doesn't seem to have a lot of range to it, and he doesn't really seem to be able to modulate it either. It's not just being untalented, I think there's biological factors at play here.


Mister_reindeer

I’m doing a rewatch, and I’d forgotten about Jimmy singing “Bali Ha’i” from South Pacific on Kim’s answering machine. He’s not Sinatra or anything, but he’s certainly way more in tune than he is in the ABBA or Blondie scenes, so it definitely seems like it was a deliberate choice to be as awful as he is in those scenes.


AvatarLebowski

It’s not just singing lol, jimmy can’t even play the right notes in smoke on the water which is the first song that like 95% of people learn to play on guitar


JoanieTightLips

He can't sing the Pina colada song very well either lol


borfmat

Didn’t do a great sammy Hagar either lol


Brewster102

Bob needs to try out for AGT


one_bean_hahahaha

Chuck used to sing in a British rock band.


dddfgggggdddfff

Although they keep having trouble with their drummer.


one_bean_hahahaha

Didn't the last one die?


Tewayel

A mystery best left unsolved, really


Dexippos

You can't really dust for vomit.


A-Fleeting-Glimse

I watched stampy joe die


eltedioso

He ended up being Jimmy’s boss at Davis and Main


NeuroGriperture

And the one before. And


Number127

The first one went on to found a respected law firm in Santa Fe, though.


feedmesweat

He spent some time with a nice little folk trio as well.


AdEffective590

Have some more chicken 🔥🔥🔥 have some more pie 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥


TheMspice

This is the comment I’m here for.


OpoChano

It doesn't matter if it's boiled or fried 🔥🔥🔥


CraigKostelecky

Albuquerque Boiled Turkey?


[deleted]

Doesn’t even matter how hard you try


[deleted]

[удалено]


Chespin4444

In due time, all I know


---cameron

Erin is a complete bitch Decided to go green, she decided to snitch Still want to do unspeakable things while she ties me up dressed like the Grinch ...*Its so unreal*


UriahTheVortigaunt

Didn’t look out below


crugmccrug

no matter what you will always cry


Gredran

I can also go for some mocklate actually! And yes I get your reference, I hope you get mine 😊


my-pal-foot-foot

That's David St. Hubbins you're talking about.


chillasgoldblum

Lenny and the Squigtones?


Calkky

The Thamesmen!


shawnzarelli

I spent a very enjoyable 45 minutes going down a youtube rabbithole of Lenny & The Squigtones video clips about 6 months ago. 😁


Hordaki

I think you made a mistake, obviously this is Jerry Palter from The Folksman


eltedioso

Mister Palter’s got an altar!


EvitaPuppy

Pearls of wisdom... https://youtu.be/UTpJw_Cabns


oingerboinger

Full time dreamer


Bardmedicine

Well Michael McKean is a terrific singer, we all knew that from Spinal Tap and A Might Wind.


zachotule

And his many broadway credits!


Bardmedicine

Wasn't aware of those, but good for him. One of the early joys of this show was seeing him get a meaty role he had deserved for his whole career. And people thought Squiggy would be the breakout star...


Chris_Jester

Chuck is an amazing singer


Aselleus

He turns it up to 11


B2EU

Well, why don’t you just make 10 louder and make 10 be the top number?


chaosawaits

….. this one goes to eleven….


AdEffective590

Straight up fire


Inevitable_Evening38

I cheer when he pulls the mic away and starts belting 🥹


willywillwilfred

Underrated


Alert-Artichoke-2743

Jimmy is an average singer who aims low because he understands how to make himself more charismatic by singing badly. Chuck is an above average singer who has been choked by social anxiety for basically his entire adult life, even before he developed debilitating psychosomatic pain. So, to everybody in that bar Chuck is the bossman, who people want to like but who doesn't generally make it easy for them, since he defines worthiness for love based on professional merit. He is always telling everybody to raise their standards (so they will be loved), so nobody can really love him since he ends up more of a ruthless master and teacher. What happens in that scene is that Jimmy is able to use their familial bond to force his nervous brother onstage and in fron of a microphone, then sing badly in order to lure his brother into singing better - to set a better example. The crowd LOVES THIS, since seeing Chuck McGill sing ABBA is once-in-a-lifetime stuff, and him having quality pipes is a legit story. When Chuck gets this validation - people, his people, cheering for his singing - he is invigorated, and responds to this by taking the microphone away from Jimmy and singing an impressive solo. This foreshadows the rift between them: that Jimmy will do the hard work of supporting and healing his brother, but that this will engender no loyalty from Chuck.


lahnnabell

Damn. That was a great read.


TheAnt75

Chuck is a professional.


griznag

Yea you can hear immediately when he starts singing, that he has had training before. Great voice


GreatCornolio

I loved that scene, I still do, but I loved it in a more wholesome way when it first came out. Does anybody else get a vibe like Chuck is just flexing with his karaoke instead of just having a good time? Like I feel like the whole song, to the last line, felt like a stressful experience for him to sing perfectly. Like it was the perfect opportunity for him to cut looser and do the karaoke where you're moving, you're hands are moving, and he couldn't operate that way while Jimmy leads the party boat missing every note


Jack_Kegan

I don’t see it as him flexing instead of having a good time. I think this for two reasons: One: he clearly has a big smile on his face and when he returns home with Jimmy he’s drunk and still singing. You don’t do that when you are trying to show off, you do that when you’re having a great time. Two: narratively I think it is less satisfying for him to try and show off. Your interpretation would have the reading of that episode be that Chuck has always been a bastard trying to one up everyone in which case his falling out with Jimmy means nothing as there was no real relationship. 2 it wouldn’t make sense why Chuck would want to save Jimmy from going to jail. Edit: and then why would Jimmy remorse screwing Chuck over if there is literally nothing likeable about him My interpretation is that Jimmy actually shows Chuck he can let go and he has a great time and it shows what an amazing relationship they could have had. Chuck has amazing talent at singing and Jimmy has the charm to bring that talent out. They work amazingly together, which makes Chuck’s eventual deception all the more heartbreaking as you can see in that brief moment (like when they working on the sandpiper case together) that they are an amazing pair. Edit: though this user as an intresting and convincing interpretation which is similar to yours but I still prefer mine https://www.reddit.com/r/betterCallSaul/comments/10fdkaa/comment/j4wodue/


GreatCornolio

Counselor I think I concur


Iron_Chic

Ernesto was the best singer.


[deleted]

Noo, Ernie was ok.


Square_Doctor_7255

"Ernie's really going for it huh?"


Kaseffera

I really liked Chuck’s singing. I’d even pay for the full recorded version of The Winner Takes It All.


m_conductor

Insightful [documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jblhuMxEHw) on Chuck's former stint in a band.


Chandra_in_Swati

When you watch it turn the volume up to 11, you’ll thank me later.


nmk537

Worth noting that Jimmy was sandbagging it a little in order to con Chuck into joining in and having a good time.


corntownguy

I wish. Jimmy is a horrible singer every time he sings though


Guy_Number_3

Every time he is singing he is conning people though.


corntownguy

Yea you right. I was hustled.


Grooviest_Saccharose

how about when he was driving to the old lady's house, he sang badly to himself


Ssomersocbr1000

https://youtu.be/I-BYzaDwNoE Cliff Main on the skins


abefroman07

Holy shit!


CUNTRY-BLUMPKIN

Chuck wanted to go home. Jimmy knew it but he wanted Chuck to stay. Jimmy knew Chuck couldnt resist the urge to “do it correctly” when Jimmy fell short at doing right. So when Jimmy sang off and incorrectly, in swooped Chuck. So Chuck stayed and had a great time, and Jimmy got to spend time with his brother even if he was the “lesser than” in their time spent. This is their relationship in a nutshell.


fabulo5o

That scene/whole sequence melted my heart


gyroqx

THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL


KarrotMovies

This is my favourite episode. Both the first and last 5 minutes are so good


Not_Pea909

THE LOSER HAS TO FALL


Beginning-Plum-8681

I DID IT MY WAYYYYY


EroticNeurotic61

Michael McKean rocks!!


PoorTwisted_Z3d

Well Michael McKean is the singer/rhythm guitarist from Spinal Tap so it's obvious he's a talented singer.


richardec

Michael McKean has real musical talent. He incorporates it into his other roles in Laverne and Shirley and This Is Spinal Tap.


A_EGeekMom

And A Mighty Wind! Plus in Light Of Day he plays Joan Jett’s guitarist, and he wrote the music for Waiting For Guffman.


cortisolbath

I’m pretty sure this flashback scene was written just so they could have Michael McKean sing in the show somewhere


dmanstoitza

Yes.


JuneBuggyInTheSun

Chuck is the lead singer of Spinal Tap


jamesshine

Chuck is a disciplined musician. Jimmy can barely pluck out the easiest song to play on a guitar (smoke on the water).


Jaybirdy81

Lenny and the Squigtones, David St. Hubbins - Chuck is the bomb diggety!!


Any_Umpire5003

It’s karaoke nobody’s a bad singer for the duration


Mugen4u32

Before this scene someone else was singing and he sounded like someone stepped on a cat's tail.


Any_Umpire5003

Shhhhhhhhhh we’re all good at singing when it’s karaoke, especially after a few beers


nawt_robar

michael mckean knows how to sing and gave a lot in that performance. dude he deserves all the acting awards already


eltedioso

Michael McKean actually has a Grammy, although it’s for songwriting not singing


4Blu

Both. Michael was in *This Is Spinal Tap* and Bob's contemporaries have been lampooning his terrible singing since *Mr. Show* at least.


ArnieAndTheWaves

Jimmy's singing is also pretty bad to Tide is High


Bandito4miAmigo

Both


tinktac

it's both. also personally i think vince and peter wanted to get bob to sing as much as possible but couldn't fit it in many episodes. whenever they talk about a scene where he sings on the podcast they're SO tickled by how bad he is at it.


ScrublyMcMannister

I want to believe that Jimmy’s singing voice isn’t quite that bad but he was lowering the quality to encourage Chuck to outperform him. If there’s one thing that will always motivate Chuck to action, it’s someone doing something “the wrong way.” Jimmy actually does the same trick earlier in the show when he brings Sandpiper paperwork over to Chuck’s house and mentions misfiling them so Chuck will roll his eyes and say “here, let me do it.” In this case though, Jimmy’s manipulation or Chuck’s character flaw is done to help Chuck relax and have a good time. It’s a nice way to show how they could balance each other’s flaws and have a really wholesome relationship, if only it wasn’t for all the bad stuff that happened between them.


Sharkfowl

I’m pretty sure Jimmy was pretty tipsy that night given he was celebrating. Though, if the Gene karaoke scene says anything, he might not exactly have pipes of gold…


Menotme8me

Yes


Square_Doctor_7255

Bob really doesn't need to fake it: https://youtu.be/CVuq3p8lqDM


SuperEvilPackage

Smell the glove


homogenic-

Chuck was a great singer but Jimmy wasn’t that bad.


TexturedEdge

Spinal Tap


[deleted]

Both. Michael McKean is an excellent singer. Anyone familiar with Spinal Tap will tell you that. Meanwhile Bob is known for having an awful singing voice, which he used for a long time for comedic effect.


Ternarian

Example: Working on a sex farm / Trying to raise some hard love / Getting out my pitchfork / Poking your hay


Cptn_Shiner

Apparently back in the Mr. Show days, they would occasionally give Bob Odenkirk parts that involved singing just because he was such a hilariously bad singer.


scipio79

Michael McKean was also in Spinal Tap


johnny_mcd

Should’ve sung Stonehenge


A_EGeekMom

I have no idea of Bob Odenkirk’s real-life singing ability but I would hope everyone knows Michael McKean is a bonafide musician.


King_CurlySpoon

This moment is by far the best in the entire series


FinancialSystem1025

Both.


ATOMate

What a fucking banger of a scene.


Mikimao

Yes


Ilovemovies-

Chucks singing is amazing and Jimmy, it sounds like he’s tone deaf, no offense I’m serious


ThatPOCDGuy

Chuck had the talent but not the passion his passion was staying above Jimmy as the ideal brother and lawyer


failbears

Just rewatched this scene and man is it heartbreaking especially considering the time machine aspect of the finale and Jimmy's ultimate regret.


mezpride

Jimmy was singing bad on purpose so he could hype up his brother


eifhse8cn

Yes


ratsad

Chuck was the one with proper music education also he was in spinal tap.


tyrano421

I think that Jimmy was singing bad on purpose to allow Chuck to be the better singer because as long as Chuck believes Jimmy is not as good as him their relationship thrives.


VailArvia

Both. Great singer, great annoyance.


Citizen_Graves

Yes


TotallyFunctional2

Both, probably


SlightlyIncandescent

Chuck is pretty good and Jimmy is singing deliberately badly


KiratheCommie

https://youtu.be/yGqo_yFQoU8


jayboyguy

The one scene in the whole show where I felt a twinge of sympathy for Chuck. Other than that?? #FuckChuck


[deleted]

My favourite Jimmy song is the 7 million dollars in the trunk song, sad he didn’t get to finish it


StillWill18

How come Chuck didn’t just die during this scene? The whole world could’ve been a better place.


SuaveMF

He's actually a musician


ry_fluttershy

Jimmy (or maybe Bob himself lol) is tone deaf as shit


Opalsky

Jimmy (the character not the actor) is singing badly on purpose. He sings better in other scenes. Because it’s funny and takes the pressure off of singing in front of people.


onmelancholyhill_

both tbh


SmackieT

Talk about mud flaps, my girl's got 'em


obama69420duck

Jimmys voice is just so rough it would be impossible for him to be a good singer.


BlakeSiefken

Chuck mixed all his audio in Dublin


Xo0om

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dytxv6XPa3E


Beginning-Plum-8681

Jimmy is clearly horrible. Wether he’s pretending or not. Probably acting. Most actors are actually pretty good singers. In fact a lot of actors had to start off singing somewhere. Not all. But I think chucks performance is actually not that bad.I kinda thought he was suppose to “have a good voice” based on the delivery I interpreted but I could be way off. I wouldn’t know good vocals much more than anyone else. Definitely not in the industry. I like the radio though.


FunkyGabrielle

BOTH!!! I just rewatched this episode last night! And both are true!!


JodGaming

Chuck was actually fire tho 🔥 (literally)


yamanblack

Chuck is very good and Jimmy is very bad


Jjafatprick

What


a_khalid1999

Chuck's one of those people who's an overachiever at everything


Fra06

Have some more chicken


BasedJacket

Yes


friedmaster69

I saw a theory online that jimmy was singing badly because he wanted to annoy chuck to join him and I really like that theory because he started to sing well after chuck went on stage


MattMatt625

both


Chadalien77

Chuck was in Spinal Tap so…


UniqueVast592

David St. Hubbins is a wonderful singer. :-)


careful-sovern

Yes


Lewis-Hamilton_

Well one was in Spinal Tap and the other wasn’t!


Brobagation

Idrc this scene made me smile so much


beFair8842

Look into the actors history. One has a good singing voice and the other doesn't.