It’s always a cool part of the Oscars to watch the performances for Best Song.  I’m always amazed at the variety of songs that are nominated.  This year there were several songs from Enchanted this year.  And since it’s a Disney movie (i think), then the productions of the numbers were pretty impressive.  Then it was time for the nominated song from the film “Once.”  The lights come up and there’s a girl sitting at a piano and a guy with a guitar in front of a mic.  They aren’t much to look at (why is that always the first criteria?), and as the music started, it was rather simple.  And at first i was thinking, “this is an Oscar nominated song?” 

But as the song went on, it was just…..well…..real and heartfelt.  It was music performed from the hands of those who wrote it.  So i was thrilled when it was time for the Oscar to be given and they announced that the song from “Once” had won!

The writers come up to the stage.  They seem out of place in the spotlight.  The guy approaches the mic and you can tell he is overwhelmed and amazed.  He gives a short speech and it’s one of those moments when you believe that dreams really do come true!  The girl kind of just stands in the background and doesn’t say much.  So, the music starts and they are supposed to walk off…but the girl goes up to the mic to speak.  But it’s too late, Bill Conti is in the pit directing the orchestra and the show goes to commercial.  I was sick cause i wondered what she might have to say. 

When the commercial is over, the host of the show (John Stewart) says that they’ve decided to take a moment and let the girl come back to the mic!  I was shocked!  She comes out from the behind the curtain and walks past John to the mic.  She graciously thanks the Academy and begins to talk about how unreal all of this is.  That she is just an independent songwriter.  But, at the end of the day, hope is something that we all have in common.