Post & Comments Link - http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=2656
# Robert Casady says: February 24th, 2009 at 9:38 am While Rahman's music for `Slumdog' was catchy and modestly interesting, his winning of the award for best score reflects the Academy's infatuation with World Cinema (i.e., anything "different"). The Academy desperately wants to be perceived as open and progressive, even if it's at the expense of genuine craftsmanship. It's a dreadful shame that other, much better scores were bypassed, particularly Thomas Newman's gorgeous "Wall-E." Unforgivable, in my opinion. # Daniel says: February 24th, 2009 at 10:22 am I do not agree with what you are saying. I think that Rahman's score was awesome, and contained enough complexity, and most importantly served the film in a unique proper way. To say that the win is based on the Acedemy's infatuation to become more "world" is kind of an insult to Rahman. 99 percent of the UNited States composer history has been mostly "hollywood" "traditional" caucasion" "european" sounding. The Untied Sates is now more diverse, so we should see this reflected through our cinema and musical scores. Minorities still have a hard time breaking into getting teh top composing jobs, because most studios want what is safe and common. I think that Rahman's win reflects more of where we are as a country (more diverse) and where we are going. I think that it also opens the doors for more different unique composers to get the bigger jobs. Now perhaps directors will take a look at more diverse composers, and more different styles of music. And by the way, I loved teh Wall-E score as well and that it was amazing, and could have definetly won, but I am happy with Rahman's win as well. # Composer says: February 24th, 2009 at 10:33 am Thank you, I could not agree more! I had the pleasure of meeting Thomas Newman and taking the opportunity to let him know how I think he should have won for Shawshank Redemption, at least, and how much I and so many others feel he is highly overdue for the Oscar honor. With all due respect to the, maybe deserved, phenomenon that is "Slumdog Millionaire' and its music, imho it's an over-hyped collection of simple, happy-songs that combine cheesy 80's electronica and otherwise silly synth meanderings (btw, I am largely an electronica artist myself, NOT a typical trad. composer), some cliche ethnic percussion and the worst examples of super mainstream East Indian music, which is, of course, completely beside the point since the score and song votes were clearly decided by people who first and foremost was enamored with the movie's message/story regardless of the score. I happen to think that is often the case and also that many of the voters in the Academy's Music Branch are so out-of-touch with contemporary music that they wouldn't know a deservedly cool electronic composition if it hit them square in the middle-ear. Because, for me, this is NOT about so-called REAL music vs. so-called SYNTH SCORES since I think people who complain about this are equally moronic and reactionary. No no, this is about GREAT music, in whatever way it was created and recorded, and in that respect it is a GREAT shame that the Academy, once again, overlooked Mr. Newmans amazing work! # john says: February 24th, 2009 at 11:23 am Last year the academy chose Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova for best song, this year A.R. Rahman, it seems that composers that also sing the title tracks are on a two year roll. The song Rahman wrote is seemingly contemporary Indian with a good dance beat, it could be the academy has shifted from our traditional western values to bring in the singer/songwriter/composer as a more approachable subject; possibly redefining the catagory for the film audience.
