Oscars songs uproar: Amy Adams or Kristin Chenoweth?
"I'm really very irritated with the decision to hire Kristin Chenoweth to perform 'That's How You Know'" at the Oscars, gripes our forums poster RichterScale. "I don't have anything against her. She's fabulous. But come on! It's Amy Adams' night to shine! I have faith that Chenoweth will do justice to the song, but it won't have as much magic. It's gonna be different without Amy Adams. Booooooo! "
Instead, Amy Adams will croon a different, Oscar-nominated song from "Enchanted" — "Happy Working Song." That's the one from the scene in the film where she croons cheerfully as rats, cockroaches and other typical New York critters clean up an apartment (which happens to be only a block away from my own digs, by the way — hey, critters, come over to my place next!).
Why? Why doesn't Adams do her big, show-stopping extravaganza number staged so fantastically in Central Park? When I asked Disney exex that question, they said that it's best she sing "Happy Working Song" because it has so many parallels to Julie Andrews in "Mary Poppins," a star to whom she's often compared.
But some of our forum posters suspect there's another, secret reason why producers gave the bigger song to seasoned Broadway musical actress Chenoweth, who won a Tony Award for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (1999) and was nominated for "Wicked" (2004). Now she's most most notably performing a non-singing role (Olive Snook) in "Pushing Daisies" on TV.
Here's a theory put forth by poster Pizzatarian: "As much as I would love to see Amy Adams singing 'That's How You Know,' I don't think she would be able to pull it off. And NOT because I think she can't sing, but because it's a really hard song to do live and would require a lot of practice, which I don't think she has time to at the moment. So, choosing someone who's already trained and is used to singing very difficult songs live is a smart move . . . . At least she won't humiliate herself and we'll still get to see her there."
Read more about the hubbub in our forums — CLICK HERE! Below, see Adams perform "That's How You Know" (top video) and "Happy Working Song" (bottom).
(Photos & videos: Disney/ George Gershwin Theatre)
Peter A: She was in RV, Deck the Halls, Four Christmases, Bewitched, Into Temptation and she just finished a TV movie in Calgary called The Twelve Men of Christmas.
Btw, how could you NOT like Kristin? I mean, I don't understand why you wouldn't want her on the Oscars anyway.
Posted by: Christy W | September 30, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Okay... first of all her name is spelled K-R-I-S-T-I-N C-H-E-N-O-W-E-T-H. can you people not read? well that would make sense because you must be out of your mind to think that Kristin is bad in any way, shape, or form. I am a graduate of Juilliard, and i have had the privelege of meeting Chenoweth, and she is the sweetest, most talented person i know. and knowing her, she wouldn't say anything bad about any of you even if she read this post.
Posted by: Abby | August 21, 2008 at 03:56 PM
GEEZ
WHERE did Kristin get that VOICE!
SO annoying! I think Amy Adams was perfect on "Happy Working Song" EVEN without ANY backup, I mean she was ALL ALONE on that stage, Kristin had a lot of people and a cenario, Geez! What did Amy do to the Oscar Producer!?
Posted by: AG | July 16, 2008 at 10:22 AM
You performed a song from "Enchanted" at the Oscars, but Kristin Chenoweth sang one of the other nominated songs. Were you let down that you didn't get to sing that, too?
"Oh, no. I think it's perfect. It's funny...when I was training, one of the pieces of advice I got is: Pick a voice that you like and that you think is the right tone for Giselle. I got the "Wicked" soundtrack and listened to Kristin, who was a huge inspiration for how I approached Giselle. I met her, actually, while I was rehearsing, and I sang in front of her. I said, "OK, if I can sing in front of Kristin and hold it together, it's a step in the right direction."
-New York Post interview with Amy Adams
Posted by: Rylie James | March 02, 2008 at 07:33 AM
"uproar"? really? it's a song people. lighten up.
Posted by: Scott | February 19, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz are both Broadway composers, so it's not a surprise that they would pick a Broadway singer. Of al the Broadway stars, Kristin is the one I can really picture singing this song, so I think it's a great choice. I know that if Amy wanted to sing it, they would have let her. She's probably nervous about singing live, so I bet that's why she didn't pick the more challenging song. So if it's not gonna be the original singer singing it anyway, why should it matter who they pick to fill in?
Posted by: Jenna Kate | February 19, 2008 at 06:32 AM
Even Amy Adams says Kristin is the best singer in musical theater:
"Nervous Adams says, "If I get through the first one I think I should just count my blessings, but Kristin Chenoweth is singing the second one, so no pressure there! "I mean, did they have to pick the best singer in musical theatre?" "
-from article "Adams Fears Oscars Singing Debut" from pr-inside.com
They'll both do great!
Posted by: Liza | February 19, 2008 at 05:29 AM
First, ALAN MENKEN wrote the music, not Stephen Schwartz (who wrote the lyrics).
Second, the Oscars Show is a chance to hear the song performed differently from the film, so I like seeing another performer do a song.
That said, I really can't stand Chenoweth, in any role. Amy Adams was at least charming in the film. But honestly, what's the political here, Disney? They don't make decisions like this based on anyone's talent or to avoid hurt feelings. There's campaigning afoot here.
Posted by: BAH | February 18, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Yay! I love Kristin!!
Why don't you read her Broadway reviews before writing anything bad about her? You think you know more about acting/singing talent than every professional theater critic in New York?
"This is especially true of Ms. Chenoweth, late of "Wicked," whose talent and timing seem to grow in scope and refinement with every new project... No performer in musicals today has her range, and she may be the best argument for cloning that the theater has to offer.
" - Brantley's New York Times Review
Posted by: DeAnna | February 17, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Stephen Schwartz knows, loves, and trusts Kristin and she has the right voice for the song, so if someone other than Amy is going to sing it, why not Kristin? Amy probably could have had it if she wanted it, but probably opted for the safer choice for the sake of nerves. Or she really likes the Julia Andrews comparion....who wouldn't?
So chill out people.
(and Idina's talented, but her voice is not really right for that type of song...)
Posted by: rolling eyes | February 17, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Kristin's amazing and she'll do amazing at the Oscars. Why should it matter to you who sings it? Amy's gonna do a song, and Kristin's gonna do a song. Who cares? They're both great. Kristin's an incredibly sweet and good hearted person and she doesn't desverve to have people insulting her just because someone chose her to sing a song that's usually sung by someone else. It's not like she demanded to sing it or anything. Leave her alone!
And FYI AJ, her name is spelled Kristin Chenoweth and if you only knew the story behind Idina "beating" Kristin for the Tony you certainly wouldn't be able to use that example in an argument. Plus Kristin already had a Tony and she's the one who got the love letter reviews for Wicked.
Posted by: come on | February 17, 2008 at 06:52 PM
I'm actually so happy that Kristin will be performing this song. She's my idol and I know she'll do an amazing job.
Posted by: Ginny | February 17, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Why Kristin? Amy's snubbed, and she can't sing both songs? I can remember Beyonce singing three songs last year.
Kristin isn't even that great of an actress. Maybe a singer, but ugh. She wasn't even in Enchanted. Maybe Idina, partially understood. Amy deserves attention.
Posted by: Lara | February 17, 2008 at 03:40 PM
What do you mean Kristin Chenoweth (first of all, learn how to spell her name if you're going to criticize her!!!) is only performing it because she's on Pushig Daisies... what does that have to do with anything? Kristin is performing it because Schwartz (the composer of Enchanted... oh ya and WICKED) knows how amazing she is and knows that she could do the song justice. Kristin has an incredible voice, the best in a long time and she is going to be great. Amy Adams will do wonderful perfoming the happy working song, but I'm sure she had the choice of which one to sing and knew that this would be the safer choice.
Posted by: lilcheno | February 17, 2008 at 03:24 PM
So is Disney already planning the Broadway show, starring Chenowith perhaps?
Posted by: johnm | February 17, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Amy comes from a long musical theater background. Of course she can sing it.
Posted by: Bill | February 17, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I think its great that Chenoweth is singing. she is an amazing singer and actress. Her voice is better than Amy Adams and knows how to put on a better performance than her.
Posted by: Brandon | February 17, 2008 at 08:31 AM
Honestly, Amy Adams could sing all the songs nominated this year twice and it still wouldn't make up for the fact that she was royally snubbed in the Lead Actress category.
Posted by: Cynthia | February 16, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Ugh...her snub still breaks my heart and now the fact that she won't perform the best song in the show (and, er, the nominees) really irks me!!!
WTF why Chenowith? At least her Wicked counterpart Idina Menzel was in Enchanted. Lame, Oscars....LAME!
Posted by: Starbucks10172 | February 16, 2008 at 01:19 PM
OH and another thing! Beyonce sang THREE songs at the 2004 oscars! And took part in three last year! And it's not like 'Happy Wokring Song' is long or anything.
Posted by: AJ | February 16, 2008 at 07:55 AM
You can't possibly think there is any other reason Kristen Chenoweth is performing besides the fact that shes on Pushing Daisies! I mean if you want to talk about Broadway stars being the only ones who can sing it, why not talk about Kristen's co-star in Wicked (who beat Kristen for the Tony)!? Idina Menzel was IN Enchanted! Plus it would make up for the fact that her song was cut from the end of the film. This is just a marketing tool.
Posted by: AJ | February 16, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Who cares who sings what? Better yet, why not just show the clips from the nominated songs? All of the Enchanted clips are terrific and show the song in its context and how/why it was nominated...and by the way, I personally do not like Chenowith at all and she has no business being on the Oscars,,what are her film credits anyway?
Posted by: Peter A. | February 16, 2008 at 07:47 AM