Song of the Week - All Groups - Manta Ray by Anohni & J Ralph

Manta Ray
Written by J. Ralph & Anohni
Produced By: J Ralph
From the album: Racing Extinction (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Tonight the 88th Academy Awards will be handed out in Los Angeles. Among the nominees for Best Song is this lovely ballad from the documentary, Racing Extinction. Written by the soundtrack composer J Ralph and Anohni (Hegarty from the band Antony and the Johnsons), Manta Ray addresses the film's ecological themes.

Anohni is the first transgender person to be nominated for an Oscar but she is boycotting the event after being declined the opportunity to perform the nominated song at tonight's ceremony. The singer/songwriter has written eloquently about her reasons for the boycott on her website http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/news/news.html. This year's Academy Awards has been controversial due to its poor record on diversity.

In the trees
Between the leaves
All the growing
That we did

All the loving
And separating
All the turning
To face each other

I divide
In the sky
In the the seams
Between the beams

All the loving
And separating
All the turning
To face each other

Without biodiversity
I'm nothing
It's like I never
Existed

Without my home
With no reflection
I cease to exist

And my children
Are dying now
Inside me

All I love
All I know
All I've known

I am dying now
Inside me
My children