Dakota Fanning – “Cherry Bomb”

To be fair, this isn’t the first time this week we’ve felt awkward watching a teen star cross into more mature musical territory. But we think Dakota does a great job capturing Currie, and her courage to tackle such a sexual, gutsy role so early in her career indicates that she’ll more than likely transition into adult roles seamlessly.

How do you think of Dakota’s performance? Here’s the actual Cherie Currie rocking out to “Cherry Bomb” at a 1977 concert in Japan, because we love comparing things with other things:

[Via Buzzfeed]

Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning – “Cherry Bomb”

We’ll admit it—we’re surprised. Can you blame us? It’s not like Kristen and Dakota were featured on any of the Twilight soundtracks like their pal Robert Pattinson. The girls manage to summon a bit of the attitude and grit of the classic Runaways version—though they’re missing the fury of Cherie’s and Joan’s performances. And those deep, throat-full-of-razors vocals are hard to replicate:

The Runaways – “Cherry Bomb”

If you’re not feeling Stewart’s and Fanning’s singing chops—well, you probably won’t want anything to do with the movie or the soundtrack, although the album does include a few original Runaways tracks, some solo Joan Jett, and other notable acts from the 70s to satisfy your punk cravings:

1. Nick Gilder – “Roxy Roller”
2. Suzi Quatro – “The Wild One”
3. MC5 – “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World”
4. David Bowie – “Rebel Rebel”
5. Dakota Fanning – “Cherry Bomb”
6. The Runaways – “Hollywood”
7. Dakota Fanning – “California Paradise”
8. The Runaways – “You Drive Me Wild”
9. Dakota Fanning & Kristen Stewart – “Queens Of Noise”
10. Kristen Stewart & Dakota Fanning – “Dead End Justice”
11. The Stooges – “I Wanna Be Your Dog”
12. The Runaways – “I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are (Live)”
13. Sex Pistols – “Pretty Vacant”
14. Joan Jett – “Don’t Abuse Me”

The Runaways hits theaters March 19 in limited release and opens wide April 9.

In the film, directed by music vid veteran Floria Sigismondi, K-Stew (who can sing) joins a cast that includes all-grown/tarted-up Dakota Fanning playing Cherie Currie. The movie will premiere during the Sundance Film Festival in January, but check out the promising (albeit brief) trailer below — you got nothin’ to lose:

We really don’t think we can handle Dakota Fanning already old enough to wear sexy clothing and convincingly thrash around onstage in a rock band. (The original Churrie joined The Runaways at age 16; Fanning’s 15.). Then again, she was upstaging Sean Penn at age 7 and getting sexually assaulted on camera at age 13, so she’s never really played the part of an adorable innocent tyke.

Kristen Stewart is really singing “Cherry Bomb” in the trailer—not too shabby, although we’ll reserve final judgment until we see the movie. And maybe it’s a good thing, too, that Kristen Stewart is playing the part of a famous musician now that her on-and-off-screen companion Robert Pattinson has been caught slinking around Hollywood with one. Guess the dude’s got a type.