Watch Scarlett Johansson abandon superhero armor for a raw jazz whisper that earns a shocking Oscar nomination mourning Earth’s vanishing Arctic glaciers. Known for her superhero role, Scarlett Johansson surprised the world when composer J. Ralph chose her husky, melancholic voice to mourn the planet’s melting glaciers. Trading the blockbuster stage for a microphone, she delivered the haunting song “Before My Time,” singing like a ’50s Jazz artist about immense loss. The raw emotion of her performance—a final whisper for vanishing Arctic ice—earned her a shocking Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. See the unexpected moment an actress turned into a mournful jazz eulogist.

Most people recognize Scarlett Johansson as a silver screen icon or the powerful ‘Black Widow’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yet, few are aware of her deep artistic side and the powerful, husky voice that captured the attention of musician J. Ralph. Ralph was searching for the perfect ‘soul’ to mourn Earth’s vanishing Arctic glaciers in a documentary about climate change.

An Unexpected Invitation to Mourn the Arctic

The context for this unexpected artistic collaboration was the 2012 documentary Chasing Ice , directed by Jeff Orlowski. The film visually documents massive icebergs in the Arctic collapsing and disappearing at a terrifying rate. Composer J. Ralph needed a voice for the soundtrack that could convey that immense sense of technique loss—not through showy vocals, but through pure, raw emotion. Instead of opting for a professional singer, Ralph immediately thought of Scarlett Johansson. He felt her characteristic husky voice held a faint sadness, reminiscent of the haunting Jazz singers of the 1950s.

A Haunting Eulogy Recorded in the Studio

Scarlett Johansson immediately accepted the invitation. There was no flashy stage and no cinematic effects; she simply entered the studio with only the melody of a piano and violin for accompaniment. She recorded the song “Before My Time.” It was not a Pop anthem, but a slow, atmospheric Jazz/Ballad, sounding like a final whisper from nature itself. The lyrics, “I don’t want to close my eyes, I don’t want to fall asleep, ’cause I’d miss you, babe…” delivered through Johansson’s intimate voice, became a haunting eulogy. It stayed with listeners, mourning the imminent prospect of a world without eternal snow and ice.

The Shocking Oscar Recognition

The performance was so “real” and emotionally resonant that it led to an entirely unexpected result. Scarlett Johansson—an actress primarily known for her action roles—received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song at the 85th Academy Awards. She successfully traded her Black Widow armor for a jazz microphone, delivering a haunting performance that served as a powerful cinematic call to action against climate change.