Musical biographies

I recently caught "Walk the Line" on cable. I watched it through, but was unengaged. The acting was good; the story was compelling. What bothered me?

Joaquin Phoenix was credible as Johnny Cash the man, but he ain't no singer. I never for one moment believed that the person doing the singing, namely Phoenix, would have been a star. The movie would have been better if the singing had been dubbed.

Another example of when dubbing would have helped was Coal Miner's Daughter. It was a wonderful movie. I truly enjoyed it. I was not all that familiar with Loretta Lynn. Certainly not as familiar as I am with Johnny Cash. When it was over, I asked a friend if Loretta Lynn was a better singer than Sissy Spacek. My friend said yes. That explained what bothered me.

Two examples of movies in which dubbing helped are What's Love Got to Do with It and Ray. When Angela Bassett stood on the stage for the first time and opened her mouth, I instantly believed that she would succeed as a singer. Of course, she would. That was Tina Turner singing. The same is true for Ray. No one could sing like Ray Charles. Glad no one tried.

I wonder why actors, who are not singers, sing in movies in which the person being portrayed has a well-known and unmistakable sound. Why do they do it?

I can't possibly be the only one who feels this way, can I? Is dubbing better than actors singing?