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May 18, 2013

Changes Coming For Oscar's Best Song Nominees

by Allison Waldman, posted Feb 16th 2010 10:40PM

crazy_heart_jeff_bridges_guitarIn recent years, the songs nominated at the Oscars have not been particularly memorable or worth the time during the broadcast to waste on music that nobody remembers after walking out of the multiplex. This year, ironically, there is at least one very good song that was going to be an Oscar highlight, assuming the producers convinced Jeff Bridges to sing 'The Weary Kind' from 'Crazy Heart' during the March 7th broadcast. That's not going to happen now.

New Oscar producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic have decided to drop the Best Song performances, according Entertainment Weekly. Instead of singers -- either from the movie or good enough to sing the songs from the movies -- we're going to see a montage of images from the picture with the soundtrack recording.

While that sounds cold and heartless, it's not a bad idea. Oftentimes the way the Best Song numbers were staged did nothing to show off the quality of the song. In 2008, Kristin Chenoweth, for instance, did a nice version of 'That's How You Know' from 'Enchanted.' The production number from the movie was better and showing the clip would have probably been better.

But what's lost with this decision is the possibility that you'll get some great performances. In 1982, Lionel Richie and Diana Ross dueted to 'Endless Love,' Sheena Easton sang 'For Your Eyes Only' and Christopher Cross did 'Arthur's Theme.' That's pretty damn good music. Take a look at Barbra Streisand singing 'Evergreen' live in 1977:




Okay, lately we haven't been getting great performances because the songs haven't been that great, although the dance number from 'Slumdog Millionaire' was fun. So, eliminating the performances seems like a rash decision. Let's hope it's not a permanent thing. What's you take on the Best Song situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Shauna

thank you, Jimmy. i was, in fact, referring to the song from "hustle & flow" and not "lose yourself" even though i hate that song, too... for that matter, i don't like country music, either. so does that make me close-minded, too? just because you don't like something doesn't mean you're close-minded. i'm a huge rock music fan, but i can't stand many of the bands that have come out in the last 5 years. that doesn't make me close-minded to rock music. it just means i think panic! at the disco, for instance, are crap...

and btw, dan, don't call me an idiot just because i don't agree with you. how would you like it if i called you an idiot for liking rap music? you probably wouldn't... and the song being "iconic" doesn't mean anything to me. it's only a good song to you if you like it. for me, it's awful! and i'm not an idiot for thinking that any more than you are an idiot for not liking something that i do...

(i've typed this or something like this 3 FREAKIN' TIMES now, if this doesn't go through, i give up...) : )

February 19 2010 at 4:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

How has no one mentioned Robin Williams' rendition of "Blame Canada" from South Park Bigger Longer and Uncut!!!!!

February 17 2010 at 10:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wolverbunny69

wow..this sux ballz...one of the main reasons i watch the oscars is for the performances on the songs..now,i have no reason to see it this year...cuz,i dont really care about avatar or up or inglorius basterds...

February 17 2010 at 1:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Paul

Would've loved to have seen both Jeff Bridges and Randy Newman perform. Oh well, I'll be gone from L.A. by Saturday night and in Vegas for the day of the Oscar telecast , so I might be too busy to watch, anyway. :P

February 17 2010 at 12:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shauna

too bad they didn't come up with idea BEFORE that awful rap song won, whatever year that was... that was pathetic!! rap music has RUINED music. not even "We Are The World" is sacred anymore!!

February 17 2010 at 12:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Shauna's comment
Matt

This is one category that is very inconsistent. Sometimes there are memorable songs that were important to the films they were in... but a lot of the time, they have been throwaway songs that didn't deserve a nomination in the first place.

Hearing all five songs is too much. And it's taken too much time out of previous broadcasts.

This seems like a great idea.

The only downside is that when there ARE decent tunes (Crazy Heart's "The Weary Kind" included), we won't get to see some possibly great performances. But I think it's worth it in the long run.

February 16 2010 at 11:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim

A terrible decision.

Looking over the winners and nominees from the last 10 years, some stand-out performances for me were:

* Once and August Rush in 2007
* Dreamgirls in 2006
* Cold Mountain in 2003

And who can forget Elliott Smith performing in 1998?

February 16 2010 at 11:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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