Although as an actor Zadora's performances have generated critical hostility, she has attained greater critical success as a singer. Zadora's cover of the Shirley Ellis hit "The Clapping Song," recorded for the film score of "The Lonely Lady" in 1983, reached the U.S. top 40, and in 1984 she had a hit duet with Jermaine Jackson titled "When the Rain Begins to Fall" from the movie "Voyage of the Rock Aliens." In 1985, she received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the song "Rock It Out," losing to Tina Turner's "Better Be Good to Me." Also in 1985, Zadora released "Pia & Phil," an album of standards with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and recorded a follow-up album in 1986 titled "I Am What I Am".