If Waltons staff hear that song Once more, they'll...
Press Association
Independent film 'Once' may have made Waltons music store famous, but it seems staff are sick of hearing customers sing the film's hit song in their store.
A Dublin music store which featured in the film Once has banned customers from singing its Oscar-winning hit Falling Slowly.
Staff at Waltons in North Frederick Street claim hundreds of people have come into the shop to sing the tune since the film's release over a year and a half ago -- and now the store has said enough is enough.
Once is about a busker, played by The Frames' front man Glen Hansard, who sings on Grafton Street.
He makes friends with Marketa Irglova's character, who is an immigrant rose-seller.
Amazing
In one scene, Irglova takes Hansard to Waltons so he can hear her play.
In February last year, Dubliner Hansard and Irglova from the Czech Republic were among the winners at the Oscars.
The duo won for Best Original Song for Falling Slowly. The film was directed by Glen's former bandmate in The Frames John Carney.
In his acceptance speech, Hansard said: "This is amazing... Me and Marketa... What are we doing here?"
He added: "This has made our night. We made this film two years ago and shot it on two handycams. It took us three weeks to make. We made it for a hundred grand. We never thought we'd come into a room like this and be in front of you amazing people. It is amazing. Thanks for taking this film seriously. It means a lot to us."
Irglova, who was about to make her acceptance speech when she was cut off by music, was later brought back out on stage by host Jon Stewart to make her speech.
She said: "I just want to thank you so much. This is such a big deal, not only for us, but for all other independent musicians and artists that spend most of their time struggling."
Hansard and Irglova nearly didn't make it to the ceremony, as questions were raised about the eligibility of the song.
But an investigation cleared the hit for consideration by the Academy.
The film pulled in millions of dollars at the US box office after becoming a surprise hit.
The love story won the World Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for two Grammys.
comurphy@herald.ie
- Cormac Murphy
