Lenny Kravitz performs ‘Calling All Angels’ at the Oscars

Lenny Kravitz performed his 2004 song in honor of all those who died during the year.

Lenny Kravitz paid tribute to the many film industry professionals who have passed away over the past year by performing ” Calling All Angels during the Oscars ceremony, Sunday, March 12.

The song was introduced by John Travolta, who slipped in a touching reference to Olivia Newton-John, his late Grease co-star, as he paid tribute to all those who have passed away over the past year: They touched our hearts, they made us smile and became dear friends, to whom we will always remain devoted. »

John Travolta gets emotional as he introduces the “In Memoriam” segment at the #Oscars“They’ve made us smile, and became dear friends who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to. » pic.twitter.com/67NZN8e11d

—Variety (@Variety) March 13, 2023

Kravitz then took the stage to perform his 2004 song, “ Calling All Angels “. John was one of those celebrated during the tribute, alongside Kirstie Alley, Ray Liotta, Angelo Badalamenti, Jean-Luc Goddard, Irene Cara, Julie Reichert, Burt Bacharach, Angela Lansbury, Mary Alice, James Caan and Rachel Welch.

Several personalities were forgotten during the television broadcast, such as Tom Sizemore, Anne Heche, Gilbert Gottfried, Topol and Leslie Jordan. The absence of Charlbi Dean, who starred in Without filter, one of the films nominated for this year’s Best Picture award, and which died suddenly last summer, is arguably the most surprising. However, all of the aforementioned artists (and many more) have been honored in a lengthy photo gallery on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ digital magazine, A.frame (after all, the segment “ In Memoriam only lasts four minutes).

Besides Kravitz, the 2023 Oscars welcomed all five nominees for Best Original Song (as tradition dictates). These include Rihanna, who performed ” Lift Me Up “, taken from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever of Sofia Carson and Diane Warren performing ” Applause ” of Tell It Like a Woman, by David Byrne, Stephanie Hsu and Son Lux collaborating on “This Is a Life” of Everything Everywhere All at Once and Lady Gaga, who performed a stripped down version of ” hold my hand ”, taken from Top Gun: Maverick.

” It’s very personal to me. We all need each other, we need lots of love to get through this life. Sometimes we need heroes. There are heroes all around us, Gaga told the audience before breaking into the song. You might find that you can be your own hero even if you feel broken inside. »

Accompanied by a full group, the singer chose to abandon the glamor with which she had arrived at the ceremony to perform in jeans and a t-shirt, without makeup.

Lady Gaga performs a stripped-down version of “Hold My Hand” at the #Oscars. pic.twitter.com/dLlahLTjht

—Variety (@Variety) March 13, 2023

However, none of these stars won the award for best song: the award this year went to Indian singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava for ” Naatu Naatu from the hit movie RRR.

The list of winners (in bold) at the Oscars 2023

Best film
In the west, nothing is new
Avatar: The Way of the Water
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Fabelmans
Tar
Top Gun: Maverick
Without filter
Women Talking