#SelmaIsNow

I'm an awards show watcher. There, I said it. And if you're an awards show watcher, like I am, you know that the awards show of the year is The Oscars. It's the only awards show that I'll also watch the red carpet for because, I mean, how can you not. All this to say that yesterday the Oscars Red Carpet started at about 6:30pm and the show ended just after (or before) midnight. That's a lot of TV. With that much TV it might be hard for some to pick a highlight but not for me. Hands down the standout of the Oscars was Common and John Legend's performance of the goose-bump inducing 'Glory.'

 

It was incredible and it's one of those things that I'm so glad I saw "live" because it was really something that just had you glued to the screen. It was powerful. It brought grown men to tears in the audience. So how could a moment that was a 100 out of 10 get any better? When 'Glory' was announced as Best Original Song and they accepted the award, the speech they gave took it from 100 to 1000. It was moving and powerful.

[Common]...Recently, John and I got to go to Selma and perform “Glory” on the same bridge that Dr. King and the people of the civil rights movement marched on 50 years ago. This bridge was once a landmark of a divided nation, but now is a symbol for change. The spirit of this bridge transcends race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social status. The spirit of this bridge connects the kid from the South side of Chicago, dreaming of a better life to those in France standing up for their freedom of expression to the people in Hong Kong protesting for democracy. This bridge was built on hope. Welded with compassion. And elevated by love for all human beings. [John Legend]...We wrote this song for a film that was based on events that were 50 years ago, but we say Selma is now, because the struggle for justice is right now. We know that the voting rights, the act that they fought for 50 years ago is being compromised right now in this country today. We know that right now the struggle for freedom and justice is real. We live in the most incarcerated country in the world. There are more black men under correctional control today than were under slavery in 1850. When people are marching with our song, we want to tell you that we are with you, we see you, we love you, and march on.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the red carpet. My top 5, overall, of the evening goes to (in order of most favourite):
Jennifer Lopez / Emma Stone / Jenna Dewan Tatum / Gwyneth Paltrow / Jennifer Aniston

Favourite beauty looks:
Kerry Washington / Chrissy Teigen / Marion Cotillard / Jamie Chung

Can't forget the men:
Eddie Redmayne / David Oyelowo / Michael Keaton

So, did you watch? What did you think? Any stand out speeches or performances? Best dressed?