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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.”.
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The song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” by thegroup Three 6
Mafia would 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, the Oscar-nominated tunes 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 with outcasts helped 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 a Robert
Behar-designed dress with 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 about
redemption and about people’s feelings,” Parton says.
She struggled until one morning on her tour bus she had the idea for a
spiritual theme and a gospel
feel. 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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