One of the main things I enjoy during the Oscar ceremony is seeing the performances of the nominated songs. It’s a nice break from the constant back-patting and overlong presentation of awards, and adds a kind of safe, predictable entertainment value to the show. These are evocative top notch songs from films, some familiar and others new, and they’re spread throughout the show so you can relax and enjoy a performance while you’re waiting for the few awards anyone cares about that usually don’t come until the end of the night.

The producers want to cut the Oscars to a more watchable but still too long three hours, so they’re cutting one of the few things that people care about. They’re reducing the nominated song performances to a medley despite the fact that there are only three songs nominated this year! Each song will get just 65 seconds, according to Peter Gabriel. Gabriel has graciously declined an offer to perform a little over a minute of his nominated song from Wall-E, “Down to Earth,” saying it’s not enough to do the song justice and that the songwriters are being shafted with the change in format:

I’m told the producers have slotted 90 seconds in the medley for each song sung by its original performer. But Gabriel said in his letter that he was only being offered 65 seconds for his song. “I don’t feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and I have decided to withdraw from performing,” Gabriel informed AMPAS. “I fully respect and look forward to the producers’ right to revamp the show. Even though song writers are small players in the filmmmaking 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.” I’m told that the medley is the brainchild of the producers in their attempt to get the Oscar show’s running time down to 3 hours — which, frankly, would be a miracle given that it usually runs more than 4 hours. No word yet on whom the producers will choose to sing in place of Gabriel….

Peter Gabriel’s letter to the Academy:
“I was delighted when ‘Down to Earth’ was nominated for an Oscar. I was also pleased to have been asked to perform the song in the Oscar ceremony. However, in recent discussions with the Producers, it became clear that despite there being only three nominees, only 60-65 seconds was being offered, and that was also in a medley of the three songs. I don’t feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and 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 film making 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.”

I still very much look forward to attending the ceremony.”

[From Nikki Finch’s Deadline Hollywood via WeSmirch]

Last year the Oscars included many high production value clip montages, and these were interesting to watch, but they weren’t all worthwhile and they certainly didn’t please everyone like a well performed song can. The only way the Oscars can ensure that they remain relevant and don’t lose viewers is to cut out all of the secondary awards and stick them in another ceremony. It doesn’t seem fair to all the underappreciated people who work behind the scenes like the costume designers, makeup artists, and set designers, but if they want to keep people interested the show has to clock in at less than two hours, not three, and be entertaining.

They’re going about it wrong by smashing the three songs together into some kind of weird medley. This is a ridiculous executive decision that just shows how out of touch the Academy is. They’re cutting less than 15 minutes of the best no-brainer entertainment they can get for the show. Good for Gabriel for refusing to take part and doing it in a measured, thoughtful way.

Peter Gabriel is shown on 11/20/08 at a “Focus for Change: WITNESS” Benefit. Credit: PRPhotos