Did Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga stage their most compelling Oscar-campaign maneuvers for best actor and actress, respectively, during the Academy Awards?

On Sunday night, the A Star Is Born co-stars performed “Shallow” with a panache that can only be described as . . . sultry? Though the night’s other original-song nominees began after brief introductions, Gaga and Cooper simply walked onto the stage from the audience as the guitar backing track for their song began to play, each stopping to stand in front of a piano. Cooper stood at the back, while Gaga stood by the keys—and they kept looking deeply into one another’s eyes as they sang.

Throughout the number, Cooper and Gaga basically never broke eye contact. When Gaga’s vocals kicked in, she sat down and began to play—still holding Cooper’s gaze. Eventually, he sat down to join her behind the piano—his head hovering just above her shoulder as the two shared a mic for the rest of the number. And in the end, they looked into each other’s eyes one last time. By that point, we were all off the deep end. Unsurprisingly, not too long after the two performed, “Shallow” won best original song. “Bradley,” Gaga said onstage. “There is not a single person on the planet who could have sung this song with me but you.”

Cooper and Gaga were both nominated for their performances in the film, although Cooper was snubbed in the direction category. But even if both Cooper and Gaga go home empty-handed in the acting categories, that performance was an Oscar moment to remember. Gaga’s over-the-top, scream-filled Grammys performance might have been too “Pop-Star Ally”—but tonight, she was the soulful Ally that all of us, especially Jack, knew and loved.

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