With Dame Shirley Bassey confirmed to perform at The 2013 Oscars, alongside fellow songstresses Adele and Barra Streisand, it looks as though we can expect some powerful performances at the Academy Awards come February 24th. 

Having conducted for the 79th and 83rd Oscars, this will be the first time Bassey has performed at the Oscars, and it's been a long time coming. The well-respected composer and arranger has worked for clients like fellow performer Streisand as well as Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Mariah Carey and the late Whitney Houston. Craig Zadan - who is producing the ceremony alongside Neil Meron - says, "We are thrilled to welcome the legendary Dame Shirley Bassey to our Oscar show. Her association with film music is world renowned and we are proud that she will be making her first Oscar appearance on our telecast." The pair refused to divulge any information about her performance, but considering the Academy is set to honour James Bond's 50th anniversary, we can't see anything but her Bond themes to Goldfinger and Moonraker being performed.

Of course, the real attention will be for the on-screen talent set to be recognised for their feats in 2012. Ben Affleck's excellent Argo - which he starred in as well as directing - has recently overtaken Lincoln as favourite for best picture, while Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day Lewis remain favourites to pick up the Best Director and Best Actor in a Lead Role nods respectively.