11. Aerosmith – “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” from “Armageddon” (1998)
Rock bands haven’t always faired well on the Oscar stage over the decades (the formal setting of the event certainly doesn’t help), but Stephen Tyler didn’t get that memo. The Aerosmith frontman belted out the Diane Warren-penned ballad as though it was the closing number at a 2-hour Madison Square Garden concert. If anyone had been dozing off in the auditorium beforehand, they certainly weren’t afterward. Watch the performance here.
10. Aretha Franklin, “Nobody Does It Better” from “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1978)
Chances are you have never seen this performance let alone were aware of its existence. Franklin, stepping in for Carly Simon, took the Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sayer 007 ballad and delivered an incredible original version that demands repeat viewings. And that’s not an exaggeration either. We might be obsessed. Watch the performance here.
9. Lionel Richie and Diana Ross – “Endless Love” from “Endless Love” (1982)
Ross has performed on the Oscar stage multiple times over the decades, but she was never better than in this duet with Richie. A massive hit for both artists (it was no. 1 on the Hot 100 for a staggering nine weeks), this performance more than lived up to the pre-ceremony hype. It also made Richie an Oscar winner in the category just as his career was about to explode. Watch the performance here.
8. Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, “When You Believe” from “The Prince of Egypt” (1999)
Sure, Houston steals the show (and the live director made sure to include Carey’s annoyance over it) but did you catch that moment when her voice echo’s in the auditorium? “Aaaah…that’s history” alright. Watch the performance here.
7. Jennifer Holliday – “The Way He Makes Me Feel” from “Yentl” (1984)
In 1984, both Holiday and Donna Summer filled in for Streisand who sang the two “Yentl” nominated tracks on screen. While Summer, a close friend of Streisand, was superb at covering “Papa Can You Hear Me,” Holliday took “Makes Me Feel,” infused it with soul and truly made it her own. And she might have had a little help from the telecast’s musical arranger, Quincy Jones. Watch the performance here.
6. Robin Williams – “Blame Canada” from “South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut” (1999)
When the “South Park” movie came out and an Oscar campaign for Original Song began in earnest, the question of how any of the music from the movie could be performed live had Oscar watchers puzzled. Whoever made the inspired choice to ask Williams to sing “Blame Canada” struck gold. The song is certainly not an easy one to sing live and the Academy Award winner, not previously known for his vocal prowess, charismatically turned the number into an unexpected triumph that had the in-person audience cheering. Watch the performance here.
5. Bruce Springsteen – “Streets of Philadelphia” from “Philadelphia” (1994)
Still packs an emotional punch almost 30 years later. Watch the performance here.
4. Celine Dion – “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic” (1998)
Many legendary vocalists have shrunk under the pressure of the Oscar stage. Dion gave every viewer watching across the globe what they expected and then some. She doesn’t even flinch. Watch the performance here.
3. John Legend and Common – “Glory” From “Selma” (2015)
Already in the pantheon of greatest Original Song winners, Legend, Common, and an incredible chorus took the Dolby Theater to church with this live rendition. To be honest, we’re shocked it’s not on either artist’s official YouTube channels. Watch the performance here.
2. Beyonce – “Be Alive” from “King Richard” (2022)
Might be even no. 1 if it wasn’t pre-recorded. Only a year old and already not appreciated enough. Spectacular. Watch the performance here.
1. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, “Shallow” from “A Star is Born” (2019)
Perhaps the current gold standard of all Oscar performances. Beautifully directed (Emmy-nominated), with Gaga more than making up for a slightly gravelly-sounding Cooper. Her perfection is hard to dismiss. How did she not snag an Emmy nomination out of this? Watch the performance here.
