# Which performer's physical appearance didn't match your mental image the most? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193 "2012-04-18T18:41:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/101 "2015-11-12T13:30:27Z")
George Ezra is the most recent one who comes to mind for me. I love the reactions from people when they first see him. I was channel surfing the other day and stopped on a tune that caught my ear. I kind of liked it and the voice made me feel all sexy. I expected the singer to be oh so handsome and just my type. I don’t know if I was more horrified or more amused to learn the singer was James Otto. And for the record, not handsome. He should be, he has all the right elements, but no. Just no. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/102 "2015-11-12T13:50:23Z")
God bless you always!!! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/103 "2015-11-12T14:18:58Z")
Exactly! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/104 "2015-11-12T14:25:28Z")
I haven’t read back through the entire zombie thread to see if he’s already been mentioned, but I recently thought about opening a similar thread after seeing a video of William Elliot Whitmore. Not nearly as old or black as I expected. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/105 "2015-11-12T14:51:13Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > George Ezra is the most recent one who comes to mind for me. I love the reactions from people when they first see him. I first heard him on the radio singing _Budapest_, and I was sure he was a middle-aged black singer from Jamaica. :eek: I expected Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull to be a dark-haired sedate flute player until I saw them in concert. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/106 "2015-11-12T17:18:32Z")
> [@FrigidLizard](#): > > I have no idea why, but when I first heard “Get This Party Started” I pictured Pink as a young light-skinned black woman. The first time I saw a poster of her (shot in blue light with heavy shadows), I thought, “Man, that lighting effect makes her look really white. I wonder if it was deliberate.” 😃 When I first started hearing that song, I thought it was Justin Beiber, or some other wanna-be boy singer. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/107 "2015-11-12T18:48:07Z")
Ah, as long as we’ve revived this thread: Brett Dennen: Singer/Songwriter who, [based solely on the voice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uurrp6JADI0) is at least somewhat androgynous and, would, if he were female, be rather sexy (from my personal point of view). So, finding out he was actually male was a bit disappointing and somewhat unsettling 🙂 Van Morrison: Honestly, didn’t really have a clearly defined mental picture of him, but whatever it was, [it wasn’t this.](http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/1990/article/a-conversation-with-van-morrison-19900809/180941/large_rect/1421269965/1401x788-111568703.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/108 "2015-11-12T18:56:21Z")
I just found out that ‘All About the Bass’ was sun by a solitary White chick–not an all-Black girl group. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/109 "2015-11-12T19:00:38Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > . . . I remember being amused by how much Gross looked like my mental image of her when I finally saw a picture. . . . Yup. Pretty much exactly as I had imagined her. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/110 "2015-11-12T19:14:27Z")
Nick Gilder’s been mentioned, so I’ll have to go with [Terry Kath](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Kath) of Chicago, who I always thought was a tall skinny black guy. (At least I got the male part right!) On the other hand, Supertramp’s [Roger Hodgson](http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=780) looks almost exactly as I pictured him. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/111 "2015-11-12T20:48:56Z")
I was surprised to find out Iggy Azalea was not a black woman. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/112 "2015-11-12T21:02:46Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Van Morrison: Honestly, didn’t really have a clearly defined mental picture of him, but whatever it was, [it wasn’t this.](http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/1990/article/a-conversation-with-van-morrison-19900809/180941/large_rect/1421269965/1401x788-111568703.jpg) To be fair, [Van Morrison didn’t always look like that.](http://cdn1.theodysseyonline.com/files/2015/07/10/635721430785844385-1723976623_van-morrison-4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/113 "2015-11-12T21:53:09Z")
[Christopher Cross](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRpMMC2Fmg). He looks more like a country music good-ol’-boy than a smooth yacht rocker. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/114 "2015-11-13T01:29:22Z")
This one’s not a singer. Back in the 80’s people about to meet Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger would expect someone 6’7" and weighing 275 pounds to come though the door. But women say he’s kinda short. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/115 "2015-11-13T01:38:47Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > I was surprised to find out Iggy Azalea was not a black woman. If it’s any consolation, so is she. ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/116 "2015-11-13T01:45:40Z")
Maybe already mentioned, but for me it has to be Sam Smith. I’m not much of a fan of his music, but when I heard “Stay with Me,” I assumed he was a 20-something black R&B singer. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/117 "2015-11-13T02:53:00Z")
Dicky Barett from the Bostones. Expected him to be a big guy. First time I saw him I was shocked that that voice came from that body. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/118 "2015-11-13T03:06:34Z")
As far as bands,[the animals.](http://images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/79/590x/secondary/9697.jpg). Based on their song [house of the rising sun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2oKRKZnEoA) I thought they were a black jazz style band from the inner city. Garrison Keillor looks nothing like I would’ve thought either. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/119 "2015-11-13T03:23:43Z")
For a single record, one of the greatest mismatches is [Bottle of Wine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZynyHW2hfw) by The Fireballs. They didn’t sound like that all the time - they had another hit record with [Sugar Shack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHzjfGF6MiU) where their sound more closely matched their appearance. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/120 "2015-11-13T04:13:40Z")
I wasn’t surprised by any of these peoples looks. How could you not know what these people look like? Van Morrison, Eric Burdon? They are hermits? Ever read magazines? See “Television” or “TV” as it’s called sometimes? The radio and voice artists I can dig. I saw Billy West open for Jonathan Richman one time. It was a falsetto rock duo, both with guitars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193.md?page=7)