The following is the Oscar winning motion picture Song of the Year, 'Falling Slowly,' from Once, performed live at the Oscar ceremony earlier this year. I can't stop watching it. It is a moment of beauty and exceptional grace on network television. Later, after their performance, the performers were delighted and charming as they accepted their Oscar for Best Song. In all of music today, we see an ongoing belittling of grace, and a continuing bastardization of what music is supposed to be - uplifting, inspiring and moving. Over and over again, the programs that supposedly honor music NEVER get it right - hippity hop has all but ruined black music, and other genres are not far behind as they attempt to make 'music' at the lowest common denominator.But these two lovely Irish people followed their muse, recorded their music, made their film, and ended up with an Oscar. And deservedly so - if for no other reason but for their performance here, which is passionate and stripped down, yet full and emotionally giving. Their voices, imperfect yet entirely in sync, grabbed me to watch the TV in another room. I sat motionless, watching them sing their song which I had never heard before. I hoped that they'd win the Oscar just because their simple song moved me.
I hope that, in this little screen that youtube provides, their song moves you. Introduction by actor Colin Ferrel. A delightful and all too rare moment of pure music, on national television.
"Falling Slowly," from the film Once. --JZ