So well done to The Frames man Glen Hansard who won an Oscar on Sunday night for Best Original Song for 'Falling Slowly' from the indie flick 'Once', a song penned with his Czech girlfriend Marketa Irglova.
The latter nearly missed her chance to say her thank yous for the gong after the Oscar show band - famous for striking up to cut off overly long acceptance speeches - started playing after Hansard finished speaking and before Irglova had taken to the mic. But after the commercial break that followed the award presentation Oscars host Jon Stewart broke with convention and invited Irglova back to the stand to say give her speech. She used the opportunity to big up indie musicians the world over, telling the Oscars audience: "This is such a big deal, not only for us but for all other independent musicians and artists who spend most of their time struggling. The fact that we're standing here tonight is proof that no matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible... Hope connects us all, no matter how different we are".
On the win, Hansard later told RTE radio's John Murray: "What was really amazing for me was getting texts from family and friends, it was amazing beforehand, and then I got a text from Bono and I was like 'Ah, my God, that's just amazing'. For me it was just like getting a text off the King of the Tribe".
The other music based Oscar, for Best Original Score, went to Dario Marianelli for his score to 'Atonement', the only win for the seven times nominated British film. In a music related win, Marion Cotillard won the prestigious Best Actress prize for her performance as Edif Piaf in 'La Vie en Rose'.