With the Oscars at a close, it's time to start wrapping up the awards season proper. At this year's Academy Awards gala, Ennio Morricone finally took home a gold statue for his contributions to Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. But, along with #OscarsSoWhite, Mr. David Lang also got snubbed out of a performance for his nominated Best Original Song.
The issue of diversity is not lost among Hollywood. During the Oscars telecast, host Chris Rock didn't stray from making as many allusions to Hollywood's race issue as possible.
Doing everything from polling theatergoers outside a cinema in Harlem to remaking trailers of the nominees starring only black actors, the night was all about the issues of the day.
However, in that conversation, too, is David Lang, who was snubbed from performing his nominated "Simple Song #3" from the Paolo Sorrentino film Youth.
Mr. Lang remarked on the snub:
"We feel like we represent some of the diversity as well. In fairness, letting everyone sing would be a way to show it. I think they're worried that because we come from the opera world, that people won't like opera. But actually, Sumi is one of the great singers of our time. And if people heard her, they would love her."
Mr. Lang's original composition sadly didn't take home a statue and lost to Sam Smith's James Bond record, "Writings on the Wall."
A tragedy, certainly, but nonetheless, the media is a-buzz after DiCaprio's win for The Revenant. DiCaprio, finally, took home the award for be actor.
Regardless, David Lang's contributions to the Sorrentino flick were, at the very least, acknowledged with a nomination.
If you haven't heard it, preview the Lang composition below.
