Lisa’s big Hollywood pushand other singers at the Oscars

The Academy Awards chose to do something different this year. Now on its 97th outing, the annual event chose to do away with having the Best Song Nominees performed during the show.  I do not know if this was something unprecedented but it has certainly not been done in recent times.

That was not a bad practice at all, especially when you consider the fact that there might be star-driven hit songs among the nominees that could add up to great musical numbers. Think Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from “A Star is Born” or Let It Go by Idina Menzel from “Frozen” or even Evergreen by Barbra Streisand from an earlier “A Star is Born.”

While this year’s choices do include Never Too Late, a song by the eternal hitmaker Elton John from his documentary film of the same title, the others were not exactly in the Shallow or Frozen territories. El Mal from “Emilia Perez”; The Journey from “The Six Triple Eight”; Like a Bird from “Sing Sing”; and Mi Camino, also from “Emilia Perez.” It was El Mal which won the Oscar.

Now, if I were the producer putting together the show at a time when ratings have steadily gone down every year, I would think of ways to keep viewers not only interested but glued to their screens. I would also know that they will not enjoy watching songs performed that they only heard in a movie soundtrack or not at all. So why not have musical numbers instead that everybody would stay to watch. That will also spare the nominated songs from becoming mere wee-wee breaks for the audience.

And so that was what happened. The Academy Awards held last Sunday, March 2, served up three star-studded musical numbers. These not only kept viewers glued to the ceremonies, they have also been watching the performances again and again online. That means added revenue for the Academy.

There was a lovely “Wizard of Oz” medley featuring songs like Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the first “Wizard of Oz” movie, Home from the R&B musical “The Wiz” and Defying Gravity from the prequel “Wicked.” Coming after a sweet tribute to Los Angeles and performed by great singers and acting nominees Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo that evening, this opener easily brought the audience to its feet.

Also from the soundtrack of “The Wiz” was Ease on Down the Road. Introduced by Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg as a tribute to the late great Quincy Jones, this was sung by the singer, rapper and Oscar nominated actress Queen Latifah. Nice way to get the audience again on its feet and also dancing.

And then there was the “James Bond” medley of songs as a tribute to James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. This one was also big on star power, Bond girl and Oscar winner Halle Berry introduced the number, but actually faltered somewhat. Maybe because no dancer can ever match the opening visuals of a “James Bond” film. That was what “The Maid” star Margaret Qualley tried to do. She danced to the “James Bond” theme.

As for the singers, they were cute and pretty and sounded nice but I must say they all found it difficult taking on Paul McCartney and Wings’ live and Let Die by Blackpink member Lisa; Shirley Bassey’s Diamonds are Forever by Doja Cat; and Adele’s Skyfall by Raye.

By the way, this Lisa of Blackpink is really getting the big Hollywood push as part of the promo for the release of her album Alter Ego. A week or two in the charts and she will be proclaimed as the first Thai pop idol to hit it big in the U.S. of A. and globally. One more Asian in the list! That would be really nice.