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Once stars steal show at Oscars
By Jim Welte - MP3.com
February 25, 2008 at 11:44:00 AM | more stories by this author

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, also known as Swell Season, pick up Academy Award for best original song.

The Coen brothers' No Country For Old Men dominated the 80th Academy Awards last night, winning for best picture, best director, best supporting actor, and best adapted screenplay.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

But Once, the little indie musical that could, provided the night's most memorable moments. The film's stars, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who portray aspiring artists whose musical partnership lights a spark within both of them, took home the prize for best original song for "Falling Slowly." The track beat out music from the film Enchanted, which was the favorite with three of the five nominations.

Hansard, who is the frontman for the Irish band the Frames but also pairs with Irglova in a group called the Swell Season, seemed stunned by the win and urged other independent artists to dream.

"This is amazing!" Hansard said. "What are we doing here? This is mad!" He told the crowd that the film was made in three weeks with two handycams and $100,000. He exhorted the audience to "Make art! Make art!"

As Irglova went to say her part, the orchestra cut in to indicate that their time was up, and they were ushered off the stage. But after a commercial break, Oscar host Jon Stewart brought Irglova back out on stage to finish her speech.

"This is such a big deal, not only for us, but for all independent musicians and artists who spend so much of their time struggling," Irglova said. "No matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible...this song was written was from a perspective of hope, and at the end of the day, hope connects us all."

The duo also performed "Falling Slowly" during the telecast, with Handard on acoustic guitar and Irglova on piano, joined by the Oscar orchestra.

In other music-related Oscars, Dario Marianelli won the award for original score for Atonement, while Marion Cotillard won best actress for her portrayal of French singer Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova on the 2008 Oscars - "Falling Slowly"

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