Ally Maines power ballad now has an official music video. On Friday, Lady Gaga unveiled “Ill Never Love Again,” her show-stopping number from *A Star Is Born.*The video, currently available only on Apple Music, features Gaga-as-Allys performance of the song spliced with footage from the film and flashbacks to happier times with her husband, Jackson (Bradley Cooper).
“Ill Never Love Again” is the most heartrending song on the films soundtrack, a soaring ballad about love and loss. Because of that, the songs a bit more difficult to meme than, say, “Shallow”—Ally and Jacksons twangy stadium bop, which was heavily featured in the films trailer and has been immortalized as the song in which Gaga goes “HAAAA AHH AH AH AH AHHH AH” (direct quote). Thanks to all that buzz, “Shallow” is currently the films front-runner for a best-original-song Oscar. But “Ill Never Love Again” would be a more traditional choice, and serves as a perfect showcase of Gagas impressive vocal range. Who knows—perhaps A Star Is Born will swarm the category and land two original-song nods. Or even three, if the Academy wakes up and realizes the beauty-of-booty anthem, “Why Did You Do That?”
The last two versions of the film have set Oscar precedent: the 1954 version starring Judy Garland was nominated for six Oscars, including a best-original-song nod for “The Man That Got Away.” The 1976 version starring Barbra Streisand was nominated for four Oscars, picking up the trophy for best original song with “Evergreen.” Congratulations are in order for that statuette, which has probably been living a simple but luxe life in Streisands gilded awards den ever since.
“Ill Never Love Again,” which Gaga co-wrote with Hillary Lindsey, Natalie Hemby, and Aaron Raitiere, also has a heartbreaking backstory and deep personal resonance for the singer. In an interview with Zane Lowe, Gaga revealed that right before filming the scene where she sings that song, she learned that her friend Sonja Durham, who had been battling Stage IV cancer, was dying. She immediately left the set. “I didnt even stop to go see Bradley,” Gaga said. “I just got in my car and started driving. And I missed her by 10 minutes.” Encouraged by Sonjas husband, Gaga returned to the set shortly afterward and jumped into the scene. “Bradley was so beautiful with me that day, he was so loving,” Gaga said. “He was like, You don't have to do it too many times. And I just was like, All I wanna do is sing.”
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Yohana DestaYohana Desta is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
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