'Once' song eligible for Oscar

"Falling Slowly" from the indie musical "Once" is indeed eligible for an Oscar, according to a spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. An official statement is at the end of this post.

Last night, the blog of the New York Times' David Carr broke the news. Earlier this week, a spokeswoman for the Academy confirmed that the song's eligibility was being investigated after it had been nominated in the best song category, but did not elaborate on what prompted the inquiry.

Composed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, "Falling Slowly" appeared on a 2006 album from Hansard's band, the Frames. The CD, "The Cost," was released prior to "Once," and likely the cause of confusion. A spokesperson for the Academy was not immediately available for comment.

"Falling Slowly" will compete against three songs from Disney's musical "Enchanted," as well as "August Rush's" "Raise It Up." In this blogger's interview with Hansard, he discussed the Oscar nomination, and why it's more meaningful to him than his Grammy nomination.

But now the question: Will this mini-controversy be enough to turn voters off the best song written for a film in 2007?

Here is the full Academy statement:

The Academy's Music Branch Executive Committee has met and endorsed the validity of "Falling Slowly" as a nominated achievement.  The committee relied on written assurances and detailed chronologies provided by the songwriters of "Falling Slowly," the writer/director of ONCE and Fox Searchlight.

The genesis of the picture was unusually protracted, but director John Carney and songwriter Glen Hansard were working closely together in 2002 when the project that became ONCE was first discussed.
"Falling Slowly" began to be composed, but the actual script and financing for the picture were delayed for several years, during which time Mr. Hansard and his collaborator Marketa Irglova played the songs in some European venues.  Such previous uses were deemed local enough and minor enough to be inconsequential to the song's eligibility.

(Photo courtesy Columbia Records)

Comments

[Terry Kovacs]

"falling slowly" is the best put them on VH-1's countdown!!!

http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/top_20_countdown/vote.jhtml

Vote for Glen & Marketa now!!!!!!