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| The graphic, hard-edged song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” expresses the frustration felt by Djay, a pimp played by Terrence Howard in the movie “Hustle & Flow.”. |
The song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” by thegroupThree 6 Mafiawould seem to have little in common with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John.
But if all goes according to plan during the 78th Annual Academy Awards on March 5, theOscar-nominatedtunes will share the distinction of songs that have been performed live at the prestigious ceremony.
The graphic, hard-edged song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” expresses the frustration felt by Djay, a pimp played by Terrence Howard in the movie “Hustle & Flow.” But Oscar audiences won’t hear the racier lyrics."The group has agreed to take out language some people might find objectionable,” said Oscar producer Gilbert Cates.
In 2002, Eminem won the golden statue for the hip-hop song “Lose Yourself,” but he passed on appearing on Oscar’s stage.
The other two nominees for best song this year are “In the Deep” from the film “Crash” and “Travelin’ Thru” from “Transamerica,” written and performed by Dolly Parton.
Parton said she has no trouble relating to outsiders. “I’ve always been a weird, out-there freak myself,” she says.
Her ability to identify withoutcastshelped her to an Oscar nomination for the movie “Transamerica.” The main character is a pre-operative transsexual (played by Felicity Huffman) traveling the country with his son.
“Some things are strange to me, and some things are odd,” says Parton, 60. “But I don’t condemn. If you can accept me, I can accept you.”
The ceremony March 5 won’t be Parton’s first Oscar experience; her “9 to 5” was nominated in 1980. But this time, she gets to perform.
She’ll walk the red carpet in aRobert Behar-designed dresswith Duncan Tucker, “Transamerica“’s producer and director. (Of her husband of 40 years, Carl Dean, she says, “I can’t even get him to go for a Big Mac, much less the Oscars.“)
Tucker was instrumental in offering Parton direction for the song. “He wanted the song to be aboutredemptionand about people’s feelings,” Parton says.
She struggled until one morning on her tour bus she had the idea for a spiritual theme and agospelfeel. She wrote: “God made me for a reason, and nothing is in vain/Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain.” She finished in a day.
Parton is considering putting the song on a gospel album and doing a dance club version.
“Having a big gay following, I get hate mail and threats,” she says. “Some people are blind or ignorant, and you can’t be that prejudiced and hateful and go through this world and still be happy. One thing about this movie is that I think art can change minds. It’s all right to be who you are.”
(Agencies)
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Updated: 2006-03-03 13:22
