One of our very favorite writers, Michael Musto, has made a very welcome return to Village Voice, where he contributed an unmissable column for 29 years, to offer his insightful predictions for this Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony. Rather than trot out all the usual predictions for who will or should win, he zeros in on what we all really want to know: all the scandals that are brewing behind the scenes. Musto offers his singular analysis of the brouhaha over the lack of non-Caucasian actors among the nominees, Michael Moore’s spot-on takedown of Spotlight and Leo DiCaprio’s torturous path to victory (Musto writes of his turn as a grizzled frontiersman in The Revenant “it’s the gruntiest Oscar performance since Patty Duke’s in The Miracle Worker”).
Then there’s this gem regarding best song that caught our attention:
I’m “gonna fly now” to a Best Song controversy that started when songwriter Linda Perry (whose tune from the other lesbian film, Freeheld, didn’t get nominated) stirred up some fascinating shit. On January 18, Perry tweeted about a song that did get a nod — “Til It Happens to You,” from The Hunting Ground, the documentary about rape on college campuses. She said that she’d heard the song — credited as co-written by Diane Warren and Lady Gaga — before Gaga was aboard, and that it’s the same exact piece of material that’s now nominated, except for one little line! In other words, said Perry, co-writer Gaga could only have contributed a few words, at most! Responded Warren, “The song is the result of a special collaboration between myself and Lady Gaga. As Lady Gaga and I have said, ‘Til It Happens to You’ was inspired by the countless survivors of abuse who need our support and love so they know they’re not alone.” How’s that for a vague reply? In any case, Perry graciously backed down, no doubt feeling that women-on-women verbal violence would not be advisable when you’re dealing with a rape film. And the song will surely win, with Gaga saying more than one line at the podium. This is fine with me — the fact that Gaga will from now on be identified as “the Oscar-winning singer/actress” will drive Madonna crazy.
It could really happen. Poor Madge is already going through a challenging year while carrying on with her exhausting Rebel Heart tour. If Gaga gets a golden boy, it might just send the Queen of Pop who has never really transitioned to big screen superstardom over the edge. Perhaps this will be the impetus needed for her to finally realize how suitable she is to portray Norma Desmond in the long-gestating Sunset Boulevard musical.
Read the rest of Michael’s forecast here.
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Victor Barry
First world problem of the rich.
Steve Russell
Michael Musto has hated Madonna since the 80’s. He’s just jealous that he’s not her.
Gary Kauffman
Way to try and stir the pot. Madonna has already proven herself many times over. She has more important things to take care of these days. Why don’t you report on the the many humanitarian efforts she is working on all over the world. Let’s see Gaga top that!
gaysagainstjenner
You would think that going to a gay blog, one would be able to escape all the ageist and gay stereotypes.
“Perhaps this will be the impetus needed for her to finally realize how suitable she is to portray Norma Desmond in the long-gestating Sunset Boulevard musical.”
Really, Queerty? And although I’m not a Gaga hater, she is the last person in the world who deserves an award for a song about rape. After all, she is the star of the video “Do What You Want With My Body” with R. Kelly and Terry Richardson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UW60QLSxK8&feature=youtu.be
Furthermore, Gaga had nothing to do with the song except changing a word of it. If she wins, it will highlight how the awards can be bought. Once again, not a Gaga hater or Madge lover, but the truth is the truth.
Kal Astoga
And did Madonna tell you this herself?
Reniel N' Michael
Madonna just hit a net worth of $1 Billion. It seems doubtful she’s too concerned with Michael Musto’s tired “predictions” about how closely she is watching Lady Gaga’s career.
Tnfidalgo
Does not Madonna have 2 Oscars for the songs Sooner or Later and You Must Love Me? I really doesn´t know if the singer of the song is considered a winner…
Paco
Please don’t include “actress” when mentioning Gaga. Her acting skills are just as cringeworthy as Madonna’s. Being surrounded by real actors in AHS made that painfully obvious to anyone that wasn’t just a fan.
Jaime-Arturo Rodriguez Luevano
Please STOP with the Madonna vs Gaga b.s.
Damon Strong
Even Madonna is sick of the comparisons and finds them boring, which means that whoever compares Madonna to Gaga is “boring” in the eyes of Madonna.
Rene Ramirez
What’s the point of this article? Stop trying to pit women against each other for the benefit of catty gay men.
Douglas Cammarota
I dont’ believe so. MADONNA, is the one and only,,,, everyone is 2steps behind! she has more important things to deal with. dlas
XzamiIio
Madonna sucks and her fans suck even more.
Jamie Watkins
Eugh I thought I was reading a daily mail post, just leave it, she’s bored, gaga’s bored and we’re bored.
Billy Budd
Gaga has no talent. Madonna on the other hand is a goddess.
Jayson Evan Matias
Really, really??? Some shady queen is bored at Queerty…
Kevin J Desmond
I like Madonna … but she needs to let it go already, her time’s just about over. Time to move over and let some others have their time in the spot light … yes you will still be the Queen.
mastik8
I smoked pot for a month one night.
ScottOnEarth
I thought the same thing when Gaga was nominated. The fact that Madonna is a horrible actress belies her overall brilliance and she will certainly never win an Oscar. And I just looooove Michael Musto!
Omar Arnold
Why? Madonna doesn t know to sing. She has no voice. You can’t compare both. Insane or not she will never be a singer.
Mike
And all the bitter-madonna fans get their panties in a wad…
o.codone
@Reniel N’ Michael:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2015/05/27/madonna-net-worth-in-2015-520-million/#54a031be7a7c
According to Forbes in May, 2015 she was worth half a bil in May, 2015. Don’t tell me the rebel heart tour doubled her net worth, cause it didn’t. Or, maybe her broker is Bernie Madoff. How about you post your source for that info. Sounds fake.
Finally, Madonna, that old bag, is due to have a stroke any minute anyway, so how could you tell if it was Gaga’s fault, or not? hahhahahaaa.
Pistolo
Gaga & her fans are the most flagrant hypocrites. “Don’t bully” “love everyone”, chya right. A few points….
1. At the Golden Globes, one glance from Leo Dicaprio decimated the press that Gags was hoping to generate from her purchase/win.
2. At the Grammys, one TRUTH-TELLING tweet from Bowie’s own son obliterated the coo she was trying to cause.
3. R. Kelly and Terry Richardson in Gaga’s video for “Do What You Want (With My Body)”. Hypocrites! All a yaz.
oilburner
@mastik8: I feel ya. I smoked pot for a night one month.
Dennis Patrick Ellis
Lady Gaga is going to dethrown Madonna
gaysagainstjenner
@Kevin J Desmond: I don’t like Madonna. But, Kevin, why should she just “give it up already?” Do you hear people saying that to Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jaggar, or anyone else? She still has an audience and from a google search she still gets good reviews. I can’t stand the ageism that is in the gay community it makes me sick.
Jay Emerson
Good bow down you old whore
DeWayne Talbert
Bored
Rob91316
Why on earth would this drive Madonna insane? She’s already had two of her own songs win the Oscar for Best Song — in 1991 for “Sooner or Later” (from “Dick Tracy”) and in 1997 for “You Must Love Me” (from “Evita”). Granted, she did not write either of those songs — but neither did Gaga write “Til It Happens To You,” apart from a couple of lyric changes. Not to mention that Madonna’s performance of “Sooner or Later” at the ’91 Oscars easily rates in the top 5 most iconic and memorable moments not just in her own career but in the history of the Academy Awards.
dean089
“I remember you! You used to be big.” LOL!
Sebastián Gaspar
Who is gonna make who insane?
Russell C Stephens
Madonna has an Oscar. Do your research, she won in 1991 for Sooner or Later.
Eel Joulii
jkakajakjkaakjjka this would drive isane not just her, but many many many people on their industry. michael jacskon would resurect right away
Jeremiah Reyna
Sam Smith is gonna win so this is just words.
s312g
@XzamiIio: “Really I haven’t paid attention to Madonna since, like, seventh or eighth grade when she /used/ to be popular.” #Lambily
JessPH
@Russell C Stephens: Stephen Sondheim wrote and won for that song. Madonna just sung it.
JessPH
Let’s stop bitching about who’s better between these two magnificent women and straight allies. There’s nothing wrong in liking both of them. I adore Madonna because she’s creative and her songs are catchy. Lady Gaga on the other hand has incredible pipes and could sing the phone book and make it sound good.
jar
@Russell C Stephens: Madonna has not won an Oscar. I love how you entreat others to do their research when you’re promoting the basic falsehood. Sondheim won that Oscar. The perfromer does not get an Oscar for Best Song, only the writere(s).
On a separate note, the wailing of the Madonna queens is hysterical.
jimmycurry01
@Tnfidalgo: Nope, she does not. Stephen Sondheim won the Oscar for Sooner or Later and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice won for You Must Love Me. You actually have to write the song in order to win the Oscar, she only performed them.
Bill Krauter
I hope she wins… she deserves it more than madonna
noone
I’m just curious how this “lady” can make an entire video with accused rapists that glorifies rape, then get an Oscar for not really writing a song, about rape victims, that is supposed to be a catalyst to help these victims? She’s using rape victims just like she used the gay community for her own selfish needs. If you can’t see through her insincerity and lack of compassion for anything other than what she’s wearing and who is gonna snap a photo, then you deserve her. I hope “it” NEVER happens to you, but if it does, you can be assured that she will not be there to help you. http://www.inquisitr.com/2834830/twitter-calls-lady-gaga-out-on-free-kesha-hypocrisy-after-video-of-simulated-sex-act-with-r-kelly-resurfaces/#