Jai Ho! Peter Gabriel Pulls Out of Performing at 2009 Oscars
Gabriel gets no respect I tell yah
Nikki Finke is reporting Peter Gabriel has written a letter to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences saying he will not be performing at this year's Oscars. Gabriel was set to perform his Oscar nominated tune "Down to Earth" from WALL•E, but apparently believes the nominated songs, and their writers and performers, aren't getting enough respect during this year's Oscars telecast as the show's producers, Larry Mark and Bill Condon, have reduced the song segment to a medley of the three songs nominated.
Along with "Down to Earth," the songs "Jai Ho" and "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire make up the nominees and Finke's sources tell her 90 seconds have been allotted for each song in the medley. "Down to Earth" has a running time of 5:57 while "Jai Ho" and "O Saya" run 5:19 and 3:33 respectively. This tells me the producers see this as an opportunity to save about 10 minutes of time from the telecast, but I am also going to assume they have a couple of video montages and perhaps a speech from AMPAS President Sid Ganis to fill in the saved time. Personally I would rather hear the music.
Gabriel's letter to AMPAS as quoted by Finke goes as follows:
I don't feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and I have decided to withdraw from performing," Gabriel informed AMPAS. "I fully respect and look forward to the producers' right to revamp the show. Even though song writers are small players in the filmmaking process, they are just as committed and work just as hard as the rest of the team, and I regret that this new version of the ceremony is being created in part at their expense."
You can believe someone will be singing in Gabriel's place which I would think he would see as a larger show of disrespect, but when you make a stand on a song at the Oscars I think you have thrown logic out the window.
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Let em sing the whole thing, geez. Cramming all 3 songs into 270 secs? There's only 3 nominees anyway to begin with and not 5. All their attempts over the years to trim the shows' runtime to a "manageable" 3hrs are always proven futile anyway, and this year will be no different because the show will no doubt skirt the 4hr mark once again.
Way to go Pete……..Tell em they can shove it up their pretencious arses!
I think they already did the medley once. And I remember how disappointed I was not to hear all the nominees.
I HATE when they do stupid medley's, the songs never flow well together, it's ridiculous. Good for him for telling them he's not going to perform. Like Shawn said, there is no way they are going to make this show 3 hours, it never is, they can do what they want, interrupt people's speeches all they want, but no matter what, I always feel like the Awards are rushed, and performances are skimmed over. It's just… become such a long process they feel they need to rush through everything, and no one gets a chance to really feel acknowledged.
Specially these 3 songs – A.R.Rahman's songs are so different from Gabriel & Newman, a medley would be wierd.
now the OScars are also coming down to become like erratic bollywood award functions…god save the oscars….
@Jasmine: I agree with you……..
While Songwriting/Songs may not get the same attention as the bigger awards, it's a shame to dis them like this. Let the guy have his time to shine with this his first (maybe only?) Oscar nomination. Would the producers have done the same thing to Bruce Springsteen had he been nominated?
Do the other Categories get 90 seconds each to show off their nominate wares? I dont recall this happening.
While this is a change from past shows… do the various actors complain that a 20sec clip when they announce the nominees is not sufficient to do their performances justice?
The problem is the entire songs should never have been there in the first place and now removal (or limiting) what was preferential treatment to begin with, is suddenly seen as a snub. You don't see actors doing a best actor medley on stage or see shots of a sound effects editor editing away (or a montage of the the sound effects). It is just another sense of entitlement… be happy the music is being given an oscar category(s); the fact that there is a montage gives them more airtime and showtime then say best supporting actor/actress. I would like to see them treat it like every other oscar and remove the performance entirely and just play a clip when going through the nominees like every other Oscar.
I think Peter's being brave standing up; good for him. But I also think the highlights (no offense) this year were the songs from Slumdog Millionaire and obviously that's what everyone is looking forward to. I don't think Peter pulling out from performing Wall-E's song is going to have much a affect on the show. Plus, a medley of these three different songs is very odd seeing as how they're all different. 65 seconds is sure not enough time! and I do respect Peter's decision to pull out. But I personally thought Wall-E was way overrated, and all the excitement should pass right over to Slumdog Millionaire was the biggest winner this year. Biggest achievement, deserves the awards. And, frankly, this is going to be one darn good Oscar this year, despite Wall-E pulling out.
perhaps they should cut off some of those long winded has beens sooner and get them off the damn stage so real talent can perform and be recognized for what they have done for the movie industry. Without song, most of these movies would not be complete.
Imagine Wall-E without music. IT is Music.
I commend Peter for standing up for what he believes in, as that is what makes him such a wonderful humanitarian.
Cheers Peter!