Once wins Oscar for best original song!

Last night was the 80th annual Academy Awards and it was a warm and inspiring moment for all independent artists. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of the movie, Once won best original song beating Enchantment's three nominated songs written by Stephen Schwartz and August Rush's "Raise It Up" by Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack, Tevin Thomas.

It's wonderful that finally, the award goes to artists outside of the Hollywood mainstream circle. There was a glimmer of hope when Elliott Smith's "Miss Misery" was nominated in 1997 for Good Will Hunting, but then it was passed over for Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" for Titanic. Markéta said it best when brought out by the wonderful host Jon Stewart after the commercial break. Her acceptance speech was originally interrupted by the wrap-up music.

Congratulations Glen and Markéta and thank you for such a beautiful movie and music!

Markéta: "Hi everyone, I just want to thank you so much. This is such a big deal not only for us but for all other independent musicians and artists that spend most of their time struggling. The fact that we're standing here tonight, the fact that we're able to hold this, it's just to prove that no matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible. You know, fair play to those who dare to dream and don't give up. and this song was written from the perspective of hope and hope at the end connects us all, no matter how different we are. so thank you so much to those who helped us along the way. Thank you. "

Glen Hansard and Markéta Iglová at the Oscars
by videoyouth

Download + Purchase:

Falling Slowly | Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová


Links:

» The Official Once Website
» Once Soundtrack MySpace
» Swell Season's MySpace
» Billboard: 'Once,' 'Atonement' Triumph In Music Oscars

~anne

Have a Happy (Cat Power Covers) Valentine's Day

*02/14/08 at 10:17pm est, edited: reuploaded "How Can I Tell You" and "Sea of Love"
02/17/08 at 8:05pm est edited: reuploaded "How Can I Tell You"*

how can I tell you, that I love you, I love you
I long to tell you, that I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you
but I can't think of right words to say.

How Can I Tell You (Cat Stevens Cover) | Cat Power

come with me, my love
to the sea, the sea of love
I wanna tell you
how much I love you

do you remember when we met
that's the day I knew you were mine

Sea of Love (Phil Phillips Cover) | Cat Power

I'm gonna find me a reckless man
razor blades and ice in his eyes
just a touch of sadness in his fingers
thunder and lightning in his thighs

Silver Stallion (Highwaymen Cover) | Cat Power

~camera crowd

yes we can

please go out and vote this tuesday.

love,
anne

Christmas time is here...

I'm supposed to be studying for my Art History final, write a nice paper analyzing the signs and symbols of a magazine ad and finish and print that lovely design project. As I was walking around today running errands or was it when I was in the lab hogging the scanner for that end of the semester photo CD?...anyhow I found this Belle & Sebastian song on my iPod. It's nice to slow down and realize it's that time of year. I've been so busy with school that I haven't time to even let the warm fuzzy feelings to sink in.

Though I've been listening to the reliable holiday spirit pick me up aka Sufjan Stevens Christmas songs box set, this B&S Christmas rendition does the trick too. It has an odd bit of a clip at the end that leads into another song, I've no idea what it is.

Anyways it's peaceful, subtle. It makes me think of Charlie Brown and Snoopy and hot chocolate and you know Christmas things. Wouldn't it be nice if the B&S team went around and caroled?
Just a thought.

Download:
Christmas Time Is Here | Belle & Sebastian

I'm back in Texas in six days.
You know we're real sorry we haven't been posting.
We do try, but we haven't exactly had time or found any bands that's worth mentioning.
Wow, that wasn't intended to sound mean.
We'll probably do a 2007 round up post.
monkey see, monkey do I guess.

a rambling list to hold you over:

Ólafur Arnalds:
a band's MySpace I keep going to whenever I'm online.
listen to "Fok".

Yann Orhan:
a photographer in France, his work is dreamlike/surreal.
click on portfolio.

playing "The Kiss", a Judee Sill song, a lot.
reading Nine Stories.
going through Autumn De Wilde's book on Elliott Smith.
reading the usual Time and Newsweek.
somehow have a sudden interest in reading about all the campaigning going on in Iowa right now?
smelling like darkroom chemicals all the time.
looking forward to Cat Power's covers record #2.
other than that, no one's releasing anything exciting too soon,
why is that?
missing texas.

also anyone out there recommend buying the buddha sound machine as a present?

~anne

André Kertész: The Polaroids @ Silverstein Photography

on view October 18 ~ November 24

Silverstein Photography
535 West 24 Street
New York, NY, 10011

***Think we'll start posting about the exhibits, galleries, photography/contemporary art type things happening in New York and San Francisco that we come across and fall in love with. If you know anything that's going on in these two cities that are photography-related and worth checking out, please let us know. I don't know if I want to comment in these posts, because they'll start to sound repetitive partly, because I haven't been to that many galleries to have the right to say anything, but really these posts are more for you and it's up to you to visit the gallery if you wish to see more of the photographer's work. If the photographer is still working, we may provide links + maybe the tiniest bit of info later on. Or leave a comment/email and tell us what you want to know. But right now let's just let the photographs do the talking. Thanks.***

~anne