Academy Awards: When New Songs Happen to Established Musicals

“Listen” from the film adaptation of Dreamgirls, 2006

Sure, this was really written to serve Beyonce and not the movie itself, but who wants to piss off a queen bee, let alone Queen Bey? Not us. There were actually three new songs nominated for Oscar gold that were not in the original Broadway musical, but we’re going to concentrate on the great big diss of Mrs. Carter. Not only did Jennifer Hudson overshadow her in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls (and win an acting Oscar), poor Bey didn’t even get nominated — as an actress or a songwriter. Oscar failed to acknowledge her as one the “Listen” writers because of a pesky rule that put the number of nominees per song at three. Ouch. “Love You I Do” and “Patience” were also written specifically for the screen, but it’s “Listen” that packs a truly emotional punch, backed by Beyonce’s booming vocals, and it serves the story well by explaining why Deena walks out on her marriage to Curtis at a pivotal point.

Should The Song Have Been Included: Yes!

2006 Best Original Song Oscar Winner: “I Need to Wake Up” from An Inconvenient Truth; Music and Lyrics: Melissa Etheridge