Jenny Lewis has released a video for her new song “She’s Not Me”, and it is a glorious thing to behold, especially if you are of a certain age and remember her pre-Rilo Kiley.
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, Jenny made appearances on several popular sitcoms–including The Golden Girls, Roseanne, and Mr. Belvedere–and, if you’re anything like me, you’re totally fangirling right now. Her episode of The Golden Girls revolved around a storyline about Rose’s favorite teddy bear getting mixed in with a bunch of things set out for a rummage sale. When Jenny’s character–who is a Sunshine Cadet–claims the bear for her own, Rose tries everything she can think of to get it back, only to discover that the cute little redhead isn’t so nice after all. It’s one of many classic scenes that Jenny owned over the years before starring in The Wizard opposite Fred Savage, which also gets a shoutout in the video courtesy of her friends. Zosia Mamet, Fred Armisen, and Vanessa Bayer.
Another of Jenny’s projects that gets a nod is Troop Beverly Hills, complete with the Girl Scout-esque uniforms and “Cookie Time” dance. Seriously, if you liked anything she did during her acting days, check it out.
Jenny still shows up on the big screen from time to time, but the majority of her focus is on music, both solo and with her beau, Johnathan Rice. Her new album, Voyager, is a bit different from what she’s done before, but manages to mix the folk and funk vibe that Rilo Kiley experimented with in a way that complements her voice perfectly.
According to her IMDB page, Jenny Lewis once said that a lot of people think she’s a Christian artist due to the religious theme that runs through many of her songs; her first solo album, Rabbit Fur Coat, featured the Watson Twins and contained gorgeous harmonies, particularly on “Born Secular”, which do sound a little like something you might find on an album full of hymns. However, Jenny says she’s just a Jewish girl from L.A.
“I’m not necessarily coming from a religious standpoint, but I guess there is a lot of questioning in my songs. Sometimes people come to my shows and think I’m a Christian artist and they put their hands up in the air, like they do. But first of all I’m a Jewish girl from the valley, and I’m from Los Angeles. It’s funny to be misinterpreted,” Jenny Lewis said.