Adele’s shining performance of “Skyfall” was a rare bright spot in the arduous slog that was the 85th Academy Awards telecast Sunday night (February 24). The song followed two hours of lame one-liners from host Seth MacFarlane (to paraphrase: “Women sure hold grudges, amiright?” / “Hollywood is full of Jews!” and literally: “boobs!”) as well as Anne Hathaway’s overpracticed “unpracticed” acceptance speech. But the wait paid off.
In a sparkling black Burberry gown, Adele swathed her Paul Epworth co-penned Bond theme in a honeyed vocal faithful to the record, those big notes saved for the last few intense bars of orchestra swell. Moments later she took home the Best Song Oscar for “Skyfall,” with a reliably adorable but weepy acceptance speech, included below.
“Skyfall” was nominated with “Before My Time” from Chasing Ice, “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from Ted, and “Pi’s Lullaby” from Life of Pi.
