Pink's Epic 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'

When it was announced two weeks ago that pop singer Pink, a.k.a. Alecia Moore, would be performing at the 2014 Academy Awards, a collective, "Huh?" rose from the Internet. I mean, she's a fabulous live performer, as evidenced by her now legendary high-flying acrobatics at the 2010 Grammy Awards, but the choice just didn't seem to make a ton of sense. That is, until tonight.

Tonight, actress and co-host of The View Whoopi Goldberg briefly graced the Oscar stage to give tribute to The Wizard of Oz, a revolutionary film that continues to inspire and influence the movie industry almost 75 years after its release. Goldberg called for the children of the late, great Judy Garland to stand up in the audience and be recognized (ahh, so that's why the blue-coiffed Liza Minelli is in attendance), and shortly after, she cleared the stage for Pink.

Wearing a gorgeous red gown, Pink stood elegantly on stage against a Wizard of Oz montage and delivered a controlled yet powerful rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." After just the opening verse, it became clear to me that the Oscar producers made the right choice by asking Pink to perform at this year's telecast. Though she's not often recognized for it, Pink truly has one of the most impressive and versatile voices in pop music today. Roaring with youthful angst one moment, dripping with raw, delicate emotion the next, she really can sing anything. When Pink's performance concluded, thunderous applause filled the Dolby Theater and she received a well-deserved standing ovation. While I might have been a little perplexed by the choice at first, Pink proved tonight, yet again, why she is one of the industry's most consistently wonderful live performers. (Although, you have to wonder: why didn't Oscar producers ask Liza Minelli, a legend in her own right, to honor her mother and perform? Curious.)