Dylan Wins Oscar

Bob Dylan won his first-ever Academy Award last night, as his "Things Have Changed," from the movie Wonder Boys, took the Oscar for Best Original Song. It was the second major win for Dylan and the tune, as it won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in January.

"Good God, this is amazing," Dylan said via satellite from Sydney, Australia, where he is currently on tour. Dylan thanked his label as well as the Academy for being "bold enough to give me this award for this song which, is a song that doesn't pussyfoot around or turn a blind eye to human nature."

Randy Newman tapped Susanna Hoffs to sing "A Fool in Love," from Meet the Parents for the event, while Bjork, decked out in a dress designed like a swan (with the swan neck and head draped around her own) sang "I've Seen It All," from Dancer in the Dark, backed by the orchestra, and Sting sang "My Funny Friend and Me" from The Emperor's New Groove. Tan Dun, who was nominated with Jorge Calandrelli and James Schamus for "A Love Before Time from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, lost Best Original Song, he scored a win in the Best Original Score category for Crouching Tiger.

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Song Stories

“The A Team”

Ed Sheeran | 2011

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.

More Song Stories entries »

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