The Academy Awards are cutting this year’s song performance times down so short that Oscar-nominee Peter Gabriel has pulled the plug on his performance for the telecast. Even though there are only three songs nominated for Oscars this year, Gabriel’s “Down to Earth” from WALL-E, A.R. Rahman’s “Jai Ho” and M.I.A.’s “O Saya” from Slumdog Millionaire, the producers are forcing the singers to perform abridged versions of their tunes in a three-song medley. When Gabriel was only given 65 seconds for his song, that was the last straw. In a letter to the Academy, Gabriel wrote (via AWN): “I don’t feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and I have decided to withdraw from performing. I fully respect and look forward to the producers’ right to revamp the show. Even though song writers are small players in the filmmaking process, they are just as committed and work just as hard as the rest of the team, and I regret that this new version of the ceremony is being created in part at their expense.” 2.12.09 http://www.twentyfourbit.com/post/77865911/oscars-cut-songs-to-65-seconds-peter-gabriel-cancels
