THIS WILL BE MY AIN TRUE POST ABOUT IT: Oscar co-producers Adam Shankman and (I forget who the other guy is; Shankman's the one who's beloved here) have announced that finally, we'll have an Academy Awards ceremony without yawn-inducing performances of Best Song nominees that no one cares about.
For 1984 the nominees were "Against All Odds," "Footloose," "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "Ghostbusters" and the winner, "I Just Called To Say I Love You" (which, of course, is sentimental tacky crap, and if you want that you should go to the mall).** It's safe to say -- with apologies to Markéta and Glenn, A.R. and the Three 6 Mafia -- that movie songs just aren't as culturally important as they used to be, and this is a fantastic move to cede more time during the Awards to the films being honored.
** Yes, that's right -- the Academy did not believe any songs from Purple Rain were worthy of individual recognition, though its music as a whole won for Best Original Song Score (over The Muppets Take Manhattan and Songwriter), the final year in which the category existed.
I believe the way "Original Song Score" worked is that you had to opt as to where to submit your songs--either collectively in "Original Song Score" or individually as "Original Songs." It happens this year is an uncommonly bad one for that category (though the Academy passed on songs from U2, McCartney, and Leona Lewis that were eligible). I suspect it'll be back next year, since Taylor Swift is eligible, and her song for "Valentine's Day" is pretty decent and used other than in the credits. (The Academy has been taking a harder line in voting for songs that are integrated into a film rather than just over the credits.)
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was that I'd like to hear "The Weary Kind" performed, but on the other hand I do hear it played on the radio these days, so I suppose that's better.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the idea of removing the song performances to give more time to the films. But if it's about more tributes and "comedy" routines, then bring back the music, please.
I suppose it would be too cruel/demanding/logistically impractical to have all of them prepare to perform but only do a performance of the winner (obviously after the award was announced)?
ReplyDeleteI'm mostly alone in this, I know, but I like the song performances. I usually don't like the Beyonce/Celine sung ballads but they're good ammo for snark, and I like seeing BRUUUCE and Elliott Smith and of course the groups you mention above, and I like the reminder of the full song, especially for movies I didn't see.
ReplyDeleteLove the High Fidelity hat tip!
ReplyDeleteI did love the Marketa/Glenn performance, and the performances from Enchanted -- basically, when songs I like are nominated, I enjoy the song performances. Otherwise I start listening to them and then fast forward when they don't grab me.
I'd happily watch 3 hours worth of a "Falling Slowly" performance, but otherwise, I heartily applaud this move. I suspect Shankman had an easy time of making this happen due to the need to highlight TEN Best Pic nominees.
ReplyDeleteAt my Oscar party (Chicagoans here? Wanna come?) the song performances are usually a good time time to go get more food.
And because he wanted to get as many SYTYCD-ers on stage...according to his tweets, there are quite a few old favorites who'll appear in one of the dance numbers.
ReplyDeleteOh, and DCers who like High Fidelity, the tiny and way cool Landless Theatre is doing a production of the musical, starting this week. The way it should've been on Broadway, which is to say, way off it.
ReplyDeleteI saw the last or next-to-last show of High Fidelity on Broadway. It's actually a pretty engaging show that they marketed poorly against tough competition that year (which also had Spring Awakening).
ReplyDeleteWait, if there aren't song performances, how are they doing dance numbers?
ReplyDeleteBjork was awesome at the Oscars. That is all.
ReplyDeleteI'm in for an Oscar party!
ReplyDeleteI suspect that you weren't going to see Elliott Smith on stage with or without this decision.
ReplyDeleteThat is tough competition indeed.
ReplyDeleteMy thinking (but I have not seen it before, though I've heard some of the songs) is that it will do much better in a tiny shoestring theater, since that's better suited to the style of the book and the show.
I'm gonna dissent, just on the basis of (1) the Elliott Smith "Miss Misery" performance, and (2) the Robin Williams "Blame Canada."
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