In case you missed the events of last night’s Oscar ceremony, several show-stopping performances were aired to showcase the best original songs that the 2017 year in movies had to offer. Whether you prefer animated fare, the hottest art house flicks or mind blowing musicals, the biggest night in showbiz had something for just about everyone. All five nominees performed, but which performances were the best of the night?
#5 – “This Is Me” – Keala Settle
As one of the favorites to win the category, and the last musical performance from the nominees to appear, Keala Settle’s rendition of her track from The Greatest Showman was touching and empowering. Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who were attempting to follow up their win last year with La La Land‘s “City of Stars”, the performance didn’t quite make enough of a case for why the song should have won the award however, and just ended up feeling like one of the weaker efforts of the night.
#4 – “Mighty River – Mary J. Blige
In the first performance of the night, this ballad from the Netflix Original film Mudbound showed off Blige’s range as a singer, and the performance itself had some interesting gospel tinges that brought the song in some interesting directions. By the end of the show’s runtime however, the performance became mostly forgettable next to some of the more showstopping musical moments later in the broadcast.
#3 – “Remember Me” – Gael GarcÃa Bernal, Miguel & Natalia Lafourcade
While this was the song that actually took home the winning prize, it didn’t necessarily make for the best performance of the evening. Showing off a colourful backdrop themed to the Day of the Dead, it certainly was the most eye-popping moment of the event. That being said, the song did kick off with some iffy vocals from actor Gael GarcÃa Bernal, but we can let that slide.
#2 – “Mystery of Love” – Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent, Moses Sumney & Chris Thile
In what could only be described as an indie supergroup, Sufjan Stevens backed by some super talented musicians brought a tear to every eye in the Dolby Theatre. The soft vocals of Sufjan pierce right into the hearts of every listener, and while many fans hoped that they would get to hear the whole track live, this will have to do for Mr. Steven’s breakout into the mainstream.
#1 – “Stand Up For Something” – Andra Day & Common
Where did this come from? Common is no stranger to the Oscar stage, having one for his song “Glory” back in 2015. However it’s the incredible vocals of Andra Day that made this a performance not to miss! Common lays down the truth before the song even starts, and the song’s powerful message brought the whole building to their feet!
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