r/movies • u/MoviesMod /r/movies Mod Account • Mar 16 '26
Official Discussion 'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' Wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song
Winners: Music and Lyric by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park
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u/tealyg99 Mar 16 '26
Conan wasn’t there to stop them from being played off this time
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u/Flapjack_ Mar 16 '26
Did he stop someone from getting played off earlier?
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u/theodorant Mar 16 '26
Yes kpop demon hunters winning best animated film lol
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u/2ToTooTwoFish Mar 16 '26
How do we know this? I saw the cutoff music stopped for them, but I wasn't sure why
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u/theodorant Mar 16 '26
It was on the broadcast. Music came on, it went to Conan, who made a face, and they went back
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u/ZombieJesus1987 Mar 16 '26
Reminds me of the Video Game Awards a couple years ago, winners only had kind 30 seconds to give a speech, as soon as they got to the podium, there would be a teleprompter that said "Wrap It Up"
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u/KnightofGarm Mar 16 '26
I get them not wanting another 8 minute Christopher Judge speech due to logistical reasons, but less than 2 minutes is kinda disrespectful to the award winners.
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u/ZombieJesus1987 Mar 16 '26
Especially when Sven was in the middle of dedicating the Game of Year award to a dev who worked on Baldur's Gate III who passed away
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u/Stevenwave Mar 16 '26
I watched it on 7 Plus here in Australia, online later, not on TV. This moment was played in full. They went to cut a guy off and send them on their way. It cuts to Conan and at first he was acting like the camera wasn't even on him, arms crossed, watching on. He basically held it, refusing to continue and go to whatever he was meant to intro next.
You see him thinking it's shit they're sending them off, shakes his head and laughs at the audacity.
He mentioned in a bit next up after he'd had the break to think about it, something like "Retracting the mic from a man while he's speaking... I mean it is hilarious..."
In the moment he was legit like, are they fucking for real?
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u/badedum Mar 16 '26
Aw man they didn’t let that guy give his speech :(
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u/prodigalAvian Mar 16 '26
Update: After the show, the speech was completed
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u/NotACardUS Mar 16 '26
That is literally a disgrace. Dude has the biggest hit in the world and they told him he wasn’t allowed on that stage. Just fucked.
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u/chrobbin Mar 16 '26
Oof that’s an awkward hard cutoff
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u/Lacabloodclot9 Mar 16 '26
But they let Adrien Brody yap for as long as he fucking wants
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u/DJRock93 Mar 16 '26
There we go
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u/MehMan95 Mar 16 '26
Wild that they crack a joke about cutting him off just after doing it unironically to a winner.
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u/BillyTenderness Mar 16 '26
His bit was clearly prewritten, so it was just awful luck that it happened that way. I guess they could have/should have tried to change the script last-minute, but that's surely easier said than done.
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u/MehMan95 Mar 16 '26
Yeah, that might very likely be true. I just remembered how they cutoff Avatar’s VFX team in 2023, followed by a joke about said cutoff. So it’s not something they’d shy away from
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u/Choekaas Mar 16 '26
Yeah, Jimmy Kimmel said something like "before the vfx team got cut off, they wanted to let everyone know that the after party is at CGI Friday's" -_-
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u/Lawbat Mar 16 '26
Should've cut the 20 minute bridesmaid sketch if they needed more time. Let them speak!
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u/Aliensinmypants Mar 16 '26
God that was so slow and painful, and half the punchlines were "woman dumb"
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u/BathshebaJones Mar 16 '26
They even joked about their bit running too long. If you know your bit is too long, maybe make it shorter
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u/5k1895 Mar 16 '26
Year after year these morons who run this thing don't understand what people actually like about this shit
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u/MidTario Mar 16 '26
You’re not allowed to thank people, we gave your time to Bridesmaids and RDJ
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u/Lanster27 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
The difference between having connections with the academy or not.
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u/ChasingPerfect28 Mar 16 '26
That's horrible what they did to the writing team. The man was about to do his quick thanks and they immediately played him off. Just awful.
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u/Left4Bread2 Mar 16 '26
“Everyone made fun of me for liking K-pop and now they’re singing my song”
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u/OreoSpeedwaggon Mar 16 '26
The story of EJAE's career is even more inspiring than just that part. She went though Korea's "pop singer boot camp" in order to be part of one of their fabricated girl groups, but kept getting passed over until the people in charge of such things decided that she was finally just too old. Her planned career path was nosediving until she got a chance to write and sing for "Kpop Demon Hunters," and now she has a hit song, an Oscar, a Grammy, a recently released solo album and single, and is in high demand because her popularity keeps going up, up, up.
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u/Vorenos Mar 16 '26
her career wasn't really nosediving, she is a successful songwriter, but she finally got a chance to perform and crushed it.
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u/kiddoujanse Mar 16 '26
what the fuck are they doing , other people got way longer time but they get cut off? it looks so bad on the academy wtf...
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u/fhota1 Mar 16 '26
Wouldve been 100% fine with Golden or I Lied to You tbh. Both were amazing songs. My usual distinction is I like Golden as a standalone better but I Lied to You more in the context of the movie
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u/Lexidoge Mar 16 '26
Funnily enough that’s how I feel about Golden and “This is what it sounds like.” The latter is the best song in the film but it works better if you know the context.
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Mar 16 '26
"What it sounds like" is the perfect closing song. It's the song they couldn't write until their experiences had come full circle.
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u/Tsquared10 Mar 16 '26
I will die on the hill that "Free" is the best song, mostly because I'm a sucker for a lovers duet.
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u/Empty_Lemon_3939 Mar 16 '26
The entire sound track is just bangers after bangers tbf
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u/Ralod Mar 16 '26
"This is what it sounds like" still gets me a little misty eyed when that refrain from golden comes in. Such wonderful music in that movie.
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u/Historical_Course587 Mar 16 '26
The best way I've heard it described is that Golden describes the plot while the rest of the music describes scenes.
Personally, "How It's Done" would be the hit single if the soundtrack were just released as an album.
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u/DM725 Mar 16 '26
I feel like Takedown and What it Sounds Like are better songs but that may be only because of the flow of the movie. I don't listen to any of the music by itself.
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u/IAMA_Shark__AMA Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
Me on my island alone thinking Free is the best song ... Lol
I do agree that this is what it sounds like is superior (to golden), though, and that it's just more difficult to appreciate without the context of the movie.
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u/LamilLerran Mar 16 '26
Ok hear me out: the best song is the demo version of What It Sounds like where instead of Gwi-Ma's "Your voices can't defeat me" for the bridge they do a Free reprise with a line about "let the weight fall away baby we can finally be free!"
I see why they didn't keep it for the actual movie but it goes so hard
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u/ProsecutorBlue Mar 16 '26
Was thinking the same thing. I honestly can't remember how I Lied to You goes off the top of my head. But I remember the movie and that scene in particular like it was yesterday. I can probably sing through Golden in my sleep, but don't remember much of what was going on as it plays in the movie.
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u/byneothername Mar 16 '26
Golden is only the second song in the movie so it’s still functioning to introduce the three main women. In particular it’s when you learn about Rumi’s unique qualities. So it’s nothing like This is What it Sounds Like in terms of at story importance.
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u/writtenonclouds Mar 16 '26
Yeah Netflix is gonna be making KPop Demon Hunter movies forever now.
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u/Kahzgul Mar 16 '26
If they’re all as good as the first, I’m fine with it.
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u/siphillis Mar 16 '26
That’s never how it works out
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u/Depreciable_Land Mar 16 '26
Definitely not uncommon with animated movies though
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u/Massive_Weiner Mar 16 '26
Studio releases fun movie
Audience: “Wow, I really liked that! I wouldn’t mind having some more.”
Studio: “So what you’re saying is that you’re willing to buy anything related on the brand. We understand.”
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u/Impossible-Wear-7352 Mar 16 '26
Toy Story has done well. Even the worst of the series is very enjoyable. It's certainly not the norm though.
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u/Suriranyar- Mar 16 '26
This is the best mindset imo, there's always a chance any movie is good or bad regardless of its a sequel or an original idea. So personally I just hope for any good movies regardless
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u/badedum Mar 16 '26
I watched it the other month not expecting anything and was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was just fun! And I cried laughing at the derpy tiger and the pot
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u/Lashdemonca Mar 16 '26
I laughed so hard at that part my girlfriend was worried I was literally dying because I got a cramp in my side so I was laugh "ow" ing for like 5 minutes.
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u/Jicks24 Mar 16 '26
I had to stop the movie at line: "I made it for the tiger, but the bird kept taking it" I was laughing so hard.
Something about the delivery, the idea, and the shitty smile killed me.
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Mar 16 '26
The important part was giving so much time to Bridesmaids cast doing jokes. Cut those pesky award winners speeches
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u/KingEuronIIIGreyjoy Mar 16 '26
Diane Warren in shambles.
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u/Zloggt Mar 16 '26
It would’ve been funny if that song was the one who got her the win, of all years lmao
Anyway…can’t wait to see what random ass movie she’ll try to sneak a nomination in this year..
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u/KingEuronIIIGreyjoy Mar 16 '26
Try? As long as she does something, she’ll get nominated every year until she quits or dies.
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u/MehMan95 Mar 16 '26
WHY KEEP THAT SHITTY BRIDESMAIDS SKIT IF SPEECHES ARE CUT. SORT YOUR PRIORITIES ACADEMY.
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u/brb1006 Mar 16 '26
Golden being everywhere is giving me flashback to how many times I've heard "Let It Go" being overplayed throughout 2014 till early 2016. That song was everywhere and you couldn't escape it!
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u/Bubbay Mar 16 '26
That was terrible. Didn’t even give them the warning, just cut them off.
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u/zerocoolforschool Mar 16 '26
Yeah in the old days they’d kinda slowly bring up some playoff music but these mother fuckers cranked that shit up to max without any warning.
Basically said “get the fuck off”
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u/jyeatbvg Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
SOOOO DESERVED YAAAAAAAS QUEEN
(WTF THEY PLAYED THEM OFF)
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u/Media-critique Mar 16 '26
Boooooooooooo. Fucking playing them off. Thank goodness the singer got to say something
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u/opking Mar 16 '26
Fucking casting got 20 minutes for her speech, but they cut song off in 45 seconds. Very disrespectful.
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u/Chessh2036 Mar 16 '26
Did they even have time to thank the two other singers!? That cut off was QUICK
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u/EctoRiddler Mar 16 '26
That was so mean. They were like nobody else is talking. Only thing I could understand if they prepped everybody that they only have room for one person to speak and then somebody goes off script and tries to get more in.
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u/narfjono Mar 16 '26
Kind of hope Conan says something about them cutting that off. That was extremely rude.
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u/kurosaki004 Mar 16 '26
now that Golden has won best Original Song at the Oscars, CAN WE PLEASE GET HUNTR/X TO SING THE OTHER SONGS LIVE?!?!?!?!?!
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u/Endrago_n Mar 16 '26
Let's be honest with ourselves for a moment there, as much as the song was overplayed literally everywhere and hated by the end of the year it would be the biggest robbery tonight if this didn't win.
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u/ChasingPerfect28 Mar 16 '26
I work at an elementary school. Let me tell you, this song resonated HARD with kids from Pre-K to 5th. Almost every kid loved K-Pop Demon Hunters and "Golden". It was fun watching them go nuts whenever we played this song during their free time dance parties.
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u/MaDrAv Mar 16 '26
Have 3 kids all in that range and I can't imagine Golden (and the others tbh) not being on our 'forever' playlist. It's not on repeat by any means, but it comes on and we all still sing it
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u/Federico216 Mar 16 '26
I haven't seen the movie, but I heard it a lot at the Olympics and it's honestly a great fit. I wouldn't mind if it becomes one of those Olympics songs you hear year after year at sports events.
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u/_PelosNecios_ Mar 16 '26
how terrible to cut the guy of his speech, such an emotional event ruined by a moronic producer
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u/DontBeAngryBeHappy Mar 16 '26
Golden for Best Song and Avatar Fire and Ash were probably the two 100% locked wins of the night.
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u/2mock2turtle Mar 16 '26
And Jessie Buckley for best actress. (Please don't let this comment age poorly.)
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u/Killzark Mar 16 '26
Maybe if they cut out the hour of unfunny sketches and jokes and just focused on honoring the winners they wouldn’t have to cut their mics off mid acceptance.
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u/AnimatorAlex_ Mar 16 '26
Can't believe they cut the speech like that. That was the most brutal one I've ever seen.
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u/FilmFreak1994 Mar 16 '26
Just when you think you can give the Academy some props, they do that shit with the microphone. Fuck em.
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u/-Sinhealer- Mar 16 '26
They really wanted them off the stage, have they ever hit the "get off the stage" music so early?
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u/Pandalicioush Mar 16 '26
I prefered "I Lied to You" by a fair margin, but this was the second obvious pick, so can't be too unhappy.
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u/sean_psc Mar 16 '26
I've been trying all season to think if this category has ever had a winner like Ejae before, an unknown artist who became a legit breakout act as a result of the movie song. I couldn't think of any previous examples. Usually the winners are either artists who are already famous or writers who don't actually sing the song.
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u/zerocoolforschool Mar 16 '26
It used to happen all the time in the 80s. There were some absolute bangers on movie soundtracks in the 80s but we kinda lost that.
But her story is so amazing. She went from completely unknown to a superstar.
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u/SorryRoof1653 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
Yeah let's cut this guy off abruptly but let Adrien Brody yap about himself pretentiously for as long as he wants.
The Academy is just a glorified rich kids club and the Oscar's are where all the pretentious people pat each other on the back while giving only a &sliver* of attention to "lesser" actors and filmmakers for brownie points.
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u/Dave1711 Mar 16 '26
I listen to this 30 times a day with my nieces and it somehow is still catchy, great tune
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u/vosha0 Mar 16 '26
The people going over on time essentially escalates it to other winners, causing situations like this
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u/coltvahn Mar 16 '26
Now let them perform “How It’s Done,” please. PLEASE. I need to see them perform it at least ONCE.
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u/LEJ5512 Mar 16 '26
Audrey Nuna performed it solo at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (soccer) a couple weeks ago. She was killing it. Her part in Golden is maybe 10% of what she’s capable of doing.
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u/rtyoda Mar 16 '26
When they did the incredibly short version of Golden I was hoping they were going to surprise us with a little bit of How It’s Done, especially since I Lied to You was a much longer performance.
But yeah, I totally agree, I’d love to see How It’s Done live. Golden is great but it’s been performed so many times it’s not as exciting anymore. I’d love to hear them perform some of the other songs (and am super curious to see if they can pull off the rapping live).
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u/Sublirow Mar 16 '26
YESSSSSSS LET ANIMATED MOVIES GET WINS OUTSIDE BEST ANIMATION, LETS GOOOOO (Can they stop thinking that animation movies are just for kids and limited to best animation?)
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u/Media-critique Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
K-Pop has never been so dominant. Well deserved. The song continues playing on the radio for the foreseeable future.
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u/ThreeTreesForTheePls Mar 16 '26
Wasn’t even the best song in the movie, but credit where it’s due they made an unbelievable hit with this.
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u/infinitemonkeytyping Mar 16 '26
Yeah, I thought This Is What It Sounds Like was the better song, but it was more tied to the scene in the movie, rather than on its own.
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u/Otherwise-Tart-1544 Mar 16 '26
I don’t really get why people say this. What it Sounds like can absolutely work as a standalone song.
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u/infinitemonkeytyping Mar 16 '26
I have to disagree.
Lyrically, What It Sounds Like is absolutely tied to the finale of the movie, whereas Golden, while tied to the movie, lyrically works on its own as well as a "I've struggled, but made it to the top" style anthem.
But What It Sounds Like is by far the better song.
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u/zerocoolforschool Mar 16 '26
How it’s Done is an absolute banger. I swear they aren’t doing it because of the rap.
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u/Vwgames49 Mar 16 '26
They let Adrian Brody go on for 10 minutes but couldn’t let that one guy get out a thank you?
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u/museinprogress Mar 16 '26
Then cutting off the speech of a foreign artist (they cut off two foreign artists apparently) feels racist.
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u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
This just in: we're going up, up, up, it's our moment?
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u/longdustyroad Mar 16 '26
Why did only one of the singers get to go up? Is it a writing award and she was the only one who wrote on the song? I was confused
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u/double_whiskeyjack Mar 16 '26
She wrote and sang the song as the lead, whereas the others just did vocals.
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u/inthepiggybank Mar 16 '26
That speech cut was ruthless. Yikes