Beyoncé can seemingly do absolutely anything — however because it seems, her performing a nominated tune on the Oscars telecast is not any assure of victory. That’s one thing everybody at L.A.’s Kodak Theatre realized 20 years in the past when she sang (or duetted on) three of the 5 tunes nominated for authentic tune. And the winner? A self-acknowledged “totally unknown person.”
Vroom vroom!
Although in 1963 Robert Goulet carried out all of the nominated songs on the Oscars, since 1973 precedence has primarily gone to the unique artists who carried out the tune within the movie. However issues went a bit retro in 2005.
The winner, “Al Otro Lado Del Río” (“The Other Side of the River”) got here from “The Motorcycle Diaries,” with music and lyrics by Uruguayan singer Jorge Drexler. Nevertheless it was carried out onstage by Antonio Banderas and Carlos Santana, neither of whom was concerned with the movie. Because the L.A. Occasions reported after the ceremony, Drexler — a doctor who turned musician at 30 — wasn’t well-known sufficient to sing his personal tune on the present.
That’s to not say he didn’t carry out his tune, although. As an alternative of a speech, Drexler accepted the award from Prince and sang a number of strains from his tune a capella, ending with, “Ciao. Thank you. Gracias. Ciao.”
“I’m very bad at giving speeches, and I just really wanted to sing,” Drexler advised The Occasions the day after his win. “Since they didn’t let me sing on the show, but they gave me 45 seconds to do something, I just decided to do what I do best.”
The model Banderas and Santana carried out of his tune was probably not his first alternative, he stated, however was gracious in victory throughout his interview: “I’m so grateful to the academy for giving us all a lesson in openness. Against all predictions, they voted for a totally unknown person who had no type of lobby behind him and who made no move to even get nominated.”
This was Drexler’s first and solely Oscar, and the one Oscar for “Diaries,” which had additionally been nominated for tailored screenplay. It was the second non-English tune to ever win within the class.
The Bey-list
Drexler wasn’t alone, although, in being pushed apart for extra ratings-friendly performers. Beyoncé duetted with American Boychoir on “Vois sur ton chemin (Look to Your Path)” from “The Chorus.” The tune was written by Bruno Coulais (music) and director Christophe Barratier (lyrics). It was Coulais’ first and solely nomination; first-timer Barratier’s movie was nominated within the international language movie class, although it didn’t win. Within the film, it had been sung by Jean-Baptiste Maunier, from the choir Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc.
Beyoncé went solo on “Learn to Be Lonely” from “The Phantom of the Opera,” written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart. Oscar nominee and “Phantom” actor Minnie Driver carried out the tune in the course of the closing credit and on the soundtrack. Webber had beforehand received an Oscar for 1996’s “Evita” and was nominated for his work on “Jesus Christ Superstar” within the early Seventies; it was Hart’s first and solely nomination. The movie was additionally nominated for cinematography and artwork path however didn’t win both of these trophies .
Beyoncé returned once more to duet with Josh Groban on “Believe” from “The Polar Express”; Groban had carried out the tune within the movie and on the soundtrack. It was written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri; this was Ballard’s first nomination and Silvestri’s second — he had beforehand been acknowledged for his authentic rating on 1994’s “Forrest Gump.”
The one nominees who acquired to carry out their very own tune of their entirety had been the members of Counting Crows. Adam Duritz, Charlie Gillingham, Jim Bogios, David Immerglück, Matt Malley and David Bryson had been nominated for his or her music, whereas Duritz and Dan Vickrey acquired recognition for his or her lyrics. The band carried out “Accidentally in Love” from “Shrek 2,” and had been all first-time nominees. The movie was nominated for animated characteristic however didn’t win.