Did the best song get overlooked for the Oscars?
Some people seem to think so. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (shown here), from “Elcanto,” wasn’t even nominated — but now it will be performed at the Academy Award ceremony, at 8 p.m. ET Sunday on ABC.
“’Bruno’ is everywhere,” Will Packer, co-producer of the telecast, said at press conference Thursday.
It reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart … the first Disney-animation song to get there since “A Whole New World” in 1993, Ariana Brockington wrote in a Yahoo News story. Even “Let It Go,” which seemed to be omnipresent, only reached No. 5.
Brockington quoted people complaining about the song being stuck in their heads. She explained why it didn’t get nominated, then added: “Unfortunately, that means viewers will not get to watch a live-action version of the elaborate musical number at the ceremony.”
Except … now they will. The song will be done by cast members – Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Carolina Gaitan and Diane Guerrero – plus Becky G and Louis Fonsi.
Ironically, this not-nominated song will be performed … and a nominated one won’t. “Down to Joy” (from “Belfast”) isn’t scheduled, because singer-songwriter Van Morrison isn’t available.
All of the songs from “Encanto” were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, but Oscar submissions were due before “Bruno” soared. Instead, Disney submitted the gorgeous ballad, “Dos Oruguitas.”
That will be performed at the Oscars by Sebastian Yarta. Other nominees will be sung by Beyonce, Billie Eilish and Reba McEntire. “We’re making music a big part of” the show, Packer said. One segment will even have an “all-star” band, with Adam Blackstone (the show’s music director), pianist Robert Glasper and percussionists Travis Barker and Sheila E. Other details include:
–There will be celebrations of movie history, including the 50th anniversary of “The Godfather” and the 60th of James Bond films.
— The three hosts – Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall – will open the show together, with an emphasis on humor. “We know it’s gonna be (at least) three people laughing,” Hall said.
— There will also be serious moments, including a tribute – Packer ducked specifics – to Ukraine. One person repeated Schumer’s suggestion that President Volodymyr Zelensky be included in the show. Sykes then inquired: “Isn’t he real busy now?”
— Producers are planning some surprises, director Glenn Weiss said – and will probably be surprised. “Anything can happen on a live show, which is why we love it and hate it and love it.”
He’s an expert on that. Accepting an Emmy (he has 14 of them) in 2018, Weiss said he wished he could call his girlfriend his wife. Suddenly, she was rushed onstage and he proposed; she said yes.