Two years ago composer A.R. Rahman managed to sweep the music categories at the Academy Awards. One of only two nominations “Slumdog Millionaire” didn’t translate into an Oscar was original song “O…Saya” — because the film’s other key track, “Jai Ho,” won instead.
This year Rahman is back in the mix with the vibrant score for Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours,” and specifically, the original song “If I Rise.” Dido provides the vocals on the song, which plays sporadically at key moments during the film’s climax and finally plays in full over the closing credits.
At the end of the day, this could be a formidable contender in the race for Best Original Song. It’s well-placed in the film and that will go over well when voters sit down and watch all of the contenders in context. At the very least, that’s enough for the track seriously threaten a nomination.
Interesting to note: Music was a defining characteristic of Aron Ralston. He was a big Phish fan who traveled around the country to see their shows. But, as James Franco told me, Boyle couldn’t bring himself to put the band’s music in the film. To say the least, he’s no fan.
But some of it survived. The shirt Franco wears in the film is a Phish shirt, and there is one point when the character sings a Phish tune.
Have a listen to “If I Rise” below.
[display_podcast]
[Photo: Wikipedia]
Comments
43 responses to “Listen to Dido and A.R. Rahman’s ‘If I Rise’ from ‘127 Hours’”
“In fact, the only nomination “Slumdog Millionaire” didn’t translate into an Oscar was original song “O…Saya” — because the film’s other key track, “Jai Ho,” won instead.”
It lost sound editing to TDK, unless you were talking about music categories only?
Nope, that’s a goof on my part. Thanks.
Well, it was poorly worded, in any case.
Boyle told me Phish actually offered all of their music for free to use in the film, but as he diplomatically put it, their 20-minute jams couldn’t really fit into what he was going for. As someone forced to listen to a lot of Phish thanks to my brother when we were growing up, I was pretty grateful he left them out.
I can’t imagine this will be nominated, but I have to say I quite like it. Nice, mellow vibe.
It’s not Sting doing to accompanying singing is it? It sounds Sting-y.
I was wondering what the song was near the end of the film..it definitely wasn’t this…it sounds like Sigur Ros – Festival. Anyone know for sure?
Ditto, Katey.
Festival is used in the film, yes.
[…] Boyle’s “127 Hours” opens in theaters today. See it. It’s amazing. Perhaps the year’s best. Then listen to Dido […]
It’s nice and it may well be nominated, but it won’t win.
It really does sound like Sting initially, doesn’t it? I don’t think it’s him though. The voice is too young sounding.
And, honestly, I think this song will win. Sonically it reminds me of “Down to Earth” from “Wall-E” (of all things). It doesn’t matter that it’s mellow or not isn’t very catchy. I think it’s got a lot of things going in it’s favor. First of all, based on what Kris wrote, it’s used in the most key places in the film.
Second, as crazy as it sounds, the song is like “I Need to Wake Up” on sedatives (think about the lyrics). The academy may love this kind of manipulative cr*p (I have little against the song per se but I am NOT a fan of the movie at all and don’t like how the song is used. Guy actually spoke about that too.).
Most importantly, the Academy loves anything that’s at least semi-exotic sounding. The more exotic, the better (and that’s the only point of weakness for this song). Gooing all the way back to “Last Emperor” and “Red Violin”, all through “Frida”, “Crouching Tiger”, anything Santiolalla and, I believe, Rahman. I’m not saying that they were all undeserving but the pace has certainly quickened in the last decade. If they could gave Santiolalla two best score Oscars, you know there’s more than just objectivity at work.
That said, I’ll be laughing pretty hard if Alan Menken walks away with a ninth Oscar. Or tenth. Now, that won’t happen but if it did, it’d be a hoot.
And as for the whole Phish thing, Boyle is not required to like them, but man, their stuff should have been there. It really takes away from the particularity of that character. It would not have been hard to make it work somehow. Not as a score (too meta), but just something he listened to by himself. But I guess that would have required Boyle to make different kind of film and not the one he had made that’s really less about the character and more about his pain.
Might it be Rahman?
It starts off with Dido’s vocals followed by Rahman singing ‘If I Rise…’
I think there is something to be said for including a song by Dido that Ralston wouldn’t listen to in a million years (I’m sure he’s polite enough about the track while doing publicity for 127 Hours).
Not so sure about calling it a contender for Original Song. It seems a little too soft and somewhat repetitive if you ask me. If I were to hear this during the telecast, as a viewer I would not be particularly rooting for it to win.
Given the nature of its usage, it’s absolutely a contender.
That it’s Rahman himself singing sounds very plausible considering the song is only credited to Dido. If it were anyone remotely famous they’d share the credit.
Having listened to this a few times now (!) I have to say, it works. I’m still not sure it can compete, but on the other hand it seems like such a lousy year for songs anyway that maybe it has a shot. Being a probable Best Picture nominee can’t hurt it’s chances.
Ya .. being an Indian .. and having listened to hundreds .. of Rahman’s song.. I can guarantee yoo all that .. the voice after Dido’s is actually Rahman himself ..
similar to what he did in O Saya .. with MIA ..
and he does it quite often .. in Hindi songs too .. he mixes his voice so well with the other singer .. it seems just perfect …
In b/w a extremely nice song … I can only pray he wins it again ..
I apologize for the tenuous connection, Kris, but do you think any of the songs from “Scott Pilgrim” have a shot a nomination? I know it wasn’t released in prime season, and it seems like they’ve had a lot less affection for the goofier original songs lately than they used to (I still think “Blame Canada” is my favorite nominee ever). Sorry again that the only link to this is by category, I just wanted to know what you thought?
*at a nomination. Fuck.
I wouldn’t bet on it. I don’t think many members have or will see the film, for starters.
The Original Song category can not seriously be predicted until the enveloped gets opened. It’s a bit silly to speculate on that, even though it’s fun.
And Scott Pilgrim being an Oscar nominee is even worse than Norbit being that.
The score is nothing special, I think it’s a bad approach to the movie. But the the music branch knows nothing about scores so who knows! Maybe it will win!
This song is far better than the score (that’s an easy statement…) but it’s a bit…how do I say this… boring? Rahman best soundtrack in the last two years is ‘Couples Retreat’, check that out.
‘I see the light’ from Tangled is not the best effort of Alan Menken but still the best song of the year so far.
Far from Rahman’s best, but easily the most mesmerizing song of this year so far.
easy win for 127 hours music. no major contenders this year. Hans zimmer score in inception is loud and boring just like TDK
Am I the only one who thinks this song is boring as all get out?
Love the song, especially the children’s chorus toward the end. So haunting!
One of those songs you instantly forget, as soon as it ends. If that’s one of the favourites for a win, wow…
Heavenly, Divine, Spiritual, Soothing Song…A R Rahman Rocks again.
This may be a strong contender for at least a nomination….the score by A R Rahman is not his best (we say that all the time) but it is apt for the movie…which is more important….Couples Retreat soundtrack was fabulous, but it sank without a trace…
For anyone with any doubt as to who the male voice is. as a person who has been following A R Rahman’s music since 1994, i absolutely and utterly guarantee to you that its him! :) Great song. Dido sounds awesome too
I’ve got hooked to this song! But I think one needs extreme hearing to understand the lyrics correctly!! Well who cares, sometimes it even sounds like french!!! :D
This song has won critics choice award for best original song!
A.R. Rahman is the best music composer India has ever produced..I hope he gets an Oscar again..
i always wonder what the name of the song is in 127 hours that Aron is listening to in hes headphones when he parts with two girls.. it’s not in the soundtrack, and no lyrics in the song, it’s so hard to find.. please, anyone who knows? :(
Telperien….even i’ve gone crazy about the song which aron listens to on his headphones..unable to find…please…people…help..!
i gone crazy too about that song aron listens after he left the girls
i couldnt find that song despite i tried to find for a week. please help me folks
so i’m not the only one…been looking for this song for over a month!!
please some one say that song name im searching it for a long time too
Free Blood – Never Hear Surf Music Again
aron headphones song
[…] reason than I doubt enough people have seen the film. The Dido/A.R. Rahman collaboration “If I Rise,” from 127 Hours, is the most interesting and original entry, but there’s no guarantee […]
song is not
Free Blood – Never Hear Surf Music Again