This, I can’t go along with. I’ve been one of the biggest supporters of whatever Bill Condon and Laurence Mark can cook up, but crooning during a segment like this? And Queen Latifah of all people (who I love, mind you)? I don’t like it. Maybe it’ll work but I’m skeptical.
From E!:
I can exclusively reveal that Queen has signed on to sing during the awards show’s annual “In Memoriam” montage, paying tribute to Industry leaders who passed away in the last year.
But what will she be singing?
Easy: “I’ll Be Seeing You,” a song with a long run in Hollywood. Originally from the 1938 Broadway musical Right This Way, it became popular as the theme to Liberace’s 1950s TV show, and was used in Crimes and Misdemeanors, Misery and The Notebook and during the closing credits for the last episode of Beavis and Butt-head.
Comments
32 responses to “Wait…Queen Latifah to sing during ‘In Memoriam’ segment?”
As much as I love Bill Condon….don’t ya get the feeling they are trying to shake things up too much…you know…to the point of making things worse? (like that artsy young director who insists on making weird camera angles just to be different)
Absurd. Egos need to be checked at this point.
What’s wrong with paying tribute with a song? They always play a song along with the pictures anyway. I think having someone sing is a bigger tribute, much better than throwing together photos to a boring montage. They do this at funerals.
“I’ll Be Seeing You?” Oh dear. That song will forever remind me of the hilarious scene in “The Good Girl” where it’s played over the supermarket PA system to commemorate an employee’s death. It’s meant to be cringe-worthy in that context, and I fear that will be the case here.
I’m starting to get worried.
I bet she’ll have a wardrobe malfunction when Jack Nicholson comes onstage and sings along.
Ratings are dropping for all TV shows. Revamp the Oscars as much as you like, people are watching less television (or at least network televison). The revamp will fall flat and comedian will be back hosting next year.
I agree with the first post, theres “shaking things up” and then there’s just trying to differ too much.
This telecast will either be incredible or terrible, I don’t see it in between. And the ratings will be low regardless.
It could be bad. It could be heartbreakingly good, if done right – I’m thinking bluesy-jazz mood. I think Queen Latifah is an attempt to appeal to the younger demographic. Isn’t that what the Grammys did? Ratings uber alles (sp?).
JENNIFER HUDSON WOULD BE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE OF AN INSPIRED CHOICE! BILL CONDON!!! SHAME SHAME SHAME ON YOU!! YOU DIRECTED THIS GIRL TO AN OSCAR… SHE HAS HAD A HORRIBLE YEAR AND IS BOUNCING BACK WITH MORE GRACE AND CLASS THEN DANA OWENS HAS IN HER PINKY! DID U SEE THE PEOPLES CHOICE?? SHE IS LOUD AND INCREDIBLY ANNOYING!!! SHAME SHAME SHAME! I NEVER MISS THE OSCARS… BUT THIS YEAR… IVE SAID TO SO MANY PEOPLE i DONT EVEN CARE TO WATCH…. YOUR NOT TELLING US WHO IS PRESENTING….. BUT U WILL TELL US QUEEN LATIFAH IS GOING TO BE SINGING OVER THE LIST OF INDUSTRY GREATS WE HAVE LOST THIS YEAR?? SHAME ON U BILL CONDON!!!!!
Dustin when you write in all caps it’s the same as yelling. What would happen to you if we were all having a conversation and you started yelling like that?
Jennifer Hudson is the fresher, more inspired choice. And not to be crass or cynical about it, but her family tragedy, Heath Ledger’s almost sure thing win and the In Memoriam segment dovetail in a mournful spirit.
Didn’t “I’ll Be Seeing You” play over the closing credits of Dr. Strangelove when all the atom bombs were exploding? Or am I thinking of something else?
Everybody’s sung this song forever. It should resonate with all ages, especially if it’s been used in a recent movie/commercial/tv show seen by the magic 18-45 demographic. We’re used to big band instrumental versions (Regina Carter’s jazz violin would be very nice, especially live, or a duet with Chris Botti’s trumpet) and there are plenty of vocal versions:
Billie, Sarah, Ella, Little Jimmy Scott, Etta, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, Carmen MacRae, Linda Ronstadt, Gladys Knight, the Five Satins, the Skyliners, Willie Nelson (duet with Queen Latifah?), Johnny Mathis, Frank, Tony, Mel, Bing, Dean, Mario Lanza, Jimmy Durante, Barry Manilow, Engelbert Humperdinck, Rod Stewart, Liberace, Neil Sedaka, Mandy Patinkin, Jackie Gleason, Tallulah Bankhead, Liza Minelli, Tony Danza…
BurmaShave….. Its not the year 2000 anymore… so u honestly think I didnt know that writing in all caps is the same thing as yelling?? I am right in my assessment and very passionate and I hope more people will comment about how right I am!! It should be Jennifer Hudson…. HANDS DOWN!!!
Ligaya: That was Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again.”
Thanks.
While Jennifer Hudson would be a “better” choice, wouldn’t there also be a hint of exploitation of her circumstance? I don’t know. Plus I can’t EVEN IMAGINE how painful it would be for her to sing the In Memoriam segment at the Oscars.
SO how about this? Condon asked her. Hudson said no. He picks Q. Latifah instead.
Ryan…. valid comment indeed! Lets just go ahead and assume thats what happened! In my opinion, Jennifer wouldnt have said no in a million years… but there is no way anyone could imagine what she is going through… I stand corrected!!
In the sense that it doesn’t make me want to listen to what you have to say, yes. But I might be full of it, bad day at work.
she’s actually a REALLY good jazz vocalist, but yeah, it’s a bit too much.
I wonder if they will cut away from the people who have passed to show her performing onstage. wouldn’t put it past them…
Will she throw in a plug for “Pizza Hut” during the refrain?
I always try to guess who will be featured (usually) last in the “In Memoriam” segment, therefore receiving the loudest applause from the audience. This year is pretty easy – Paul Newman, followed closely by Charlton Heston, Pollack and Minghella.
Anyone else play this game?
burmashave….. I had a pretty sucky day at work as well… much apologies for yelling!
I adore Queen Latifah as well, but this is kitschy beyond hell.
I think it might be nice. As pointed out above, there is usually music playing, so why not make it live and more real and heartfelt, especially with all of the high-profile losses this year.
And in regards to Hudson, I would love her to do everything everywhere, but she is still probably too fragile for this. I think Condon is probably being a lot more respectful by having someone else do it.
It will be interesting to see, but I thought the old way was perfectly fine.
This really smacks of people just looking for something to bitch about. It’ll be fine. The In Memorium is always well done and classy, so stop complaining.
They wouldn’t have to do all of this if they just nominated The Dark Knight for Best Picture and Best Director… that alone would get more viewers than whatever they are trying to pull out their asses now.
I’m kind of hoping that, with Queen Latifah singing during the tribute, the audience will resist the annual urge to turn the montage of the deceased into an in-memorium popularity contest, with the most beloved names getting the most applause. Maybe, with vocals added, the Kodak crowd will watch the tribute in silence (as they should) and save their applause for the end. Could this perhaps be Condon’s and Mark’s intention…?
I just saw it on the Oscar’s and it sucked. Queen
Latifah was great but your attention was divided
between trying to watch and listen to her and
trying to watch the actual memoriam. It didn’t
work, it was a mistake.
I completely disagree with Bob. Queen Latifah actually did a really great job in the memoriam, and it even moved me to tears. I absolutely loved her rendition of “I’ll Be Seeing You.” I think that it completely worked out. I can’t believe you didn’t appreciate that at all. She did a stupendous job and I would not have picked any one else to perform.
You’re kidding right?? Queenie was HORRIBLE! Off-key, completely out of her element. Dear God, we didn’t need that distraction. Tried it, now don’t do it again, guys..
I was totally wrong on this and will get into it when I write up the show at length. But I thought this worked really well.
I’m so disappointed in the lack of applause (respect) for Charleton Heston among the Hollywood bunch! Paul Newman received his due… Sean Penn said it all, didn’t he? Even if it was tongue-in-cheek. Shame on you!