It’s just too bad that “Hold My Hand” does not contain the same scorching sense of emotion that’s embedded within the very framework of Gaga’s other Oscar nominees.
at the 2016 Oscars ceremony, she brought out dozens of other survivors to stand courageously next to her on stage, their hands linked with hers. The crowd erupted in a standing ovation, but moments later, the Best Original Song Oscar was awarded to Sam Smith for the worstLady Gaga and Bradley Cooper perform onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on Feb. 24, 2019, in Hollywood, California.
’s mega-hit “Shallow” alongside Bradley Cooper. When she won the Oscar for the song later that night, it felt like justice; a cosmic wrong had finally been righted by the universe. Now, things were level again. Don’t get me wrong, the song sounds technically great. There are firm piano chords, bombastic drums, and sprawling guitars that reach heights as tremendous as Gaga’s epic vocals. But, for Gaga? The instrumentation feels decidedly generic, like she and the song’s producers were just trying to make aI’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Gaga clearly loves the song. She’s made no secret that writing and perfecting “Hold My Hand” gave her a sense of release.
Believe me, I wish I could hear that! I don’t know if I have some sort of Best Original Song Disease or what my problem is, but I listen to this song and think, “Really?” And, to be fair, I think that with every other song in the category too. But Gaga normally brings such a personal intensity to everything she does; “Hold My Hand” just doesn’t feel the same way. It looks, sounds, and feels like a contracted soundtrack single.
“Shallow” is a barn-burner duet that defined an entire year’s worth of cinema. It was inescapable and powerful. It also lent a poignant believability to the film it was a part of. “Til It Happens to You” is sonic catharsis, a dose of healing in a small, five-minute package. “Hold My Hand,” as far as I can tell, is a mad libs song made for a shiny piece of military propaganda. It has all the right parts to get it off the ground, but just can’t seem to fire on all cylinders.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Every Collider Review of the Best Picture Oscar NomineesCheck out everything the Collider staff had to say in our reviews of the Best Picture nominees for this year's Oscars.
Read more »
Academy “Conducting Review Of Campaign Procedures” Days After Oscar Noms RevealedSpeculation about potential Oscar-campaigning irregularities in the wake of this week’s nominations reveal has led the AMPAS to put out a statement today saying it is “conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees”
Read more »
Academy ‘Conducting Review’ After Andrea Riseborough’s Surprise Oscar NominationThe Academy has released a statement after Andrea Riseborough's surprise Oscar nomination, stating that they are 'conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year's nominees.'
Read more »
Orphan: Oscar Nominated Director to Helm Ellen Pompeo MiniseriesAn acclaimed documentary filmmaker has signed on to direct Ellen Pompeo in Hulu's forthcoming scripted Orphan-inspired miniseries
Read more »
Mansion where ‘My Fair Lady’ was written hosts estate saleThe Stamford, Connecticut abode where the famous musical was penned will soon hit the market — and ahead of it listing it’s the site of a multi-day curio fair.
Read more »