Academy Awards 2015: Who Will Win The Oscar For Best Original Song This Weekend?
When it comes to music, you know we’ve got your back, because we cover everything from Beyoncé to Bieber and back again. And that’s because we care. But we love movies, too, and that’s only natural, because we love all things pop…and this includes popcorn, of course!
Today we’re breaking down the Academy Award nominees for you in the category of Best Original Song by taking a closer look at each track, ahead of the Oscars this Sunday (February 22).
Drumroll, please! The Nominees for Best Original Song are:
“Everything is Awesome” from The LEGO Movie Music and Lyrics by Shawn Patterson, performed by Tegan And Sara
“Glory” from Selma Music and Lyrics by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn, performed by John Legend and Common
“Grateful” from Beyond The Lights Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren, performed by Rita Ora
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me Music and Lyrics by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond, performed by Glen Campbell
“Lost Stars” from Begin Again Music and Lyrics by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois, performed by Adam Levine
Thoughts On The Nominees: We’ve got only one repeat from last month’s Golden Globes here (that show’s winner, “Glory”), as the Academy snubbed Lana Del Rey again (this year for “Big Eyes” from Tim Burton’s film of the same name; last year it was “Young And Beautiful” from Gatsby that was overlooked). Likewise, last year’s Grammy-favorite Lorde received no nod for “Yellow Flicker Beat” from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1. But that doesn’t mean the other contenders Oscar did recognize don’t deserve their spots on the list of nominees; it’s just that they’re likely lesser known than Selma’s civil rights anthem, and thus, could be overshadowed by the star power of performers John Legend and Common when it comes to “Glory” and its very timely message—which all but ensures an inevitable march to the podium on Oscar night.
While it’s the writers of the music and lyrics who technically take home the trophies, most people associate the songs with the artists who bring them to life. And the pairing of Legend’s soaring melody with Common’s rap interludes have this category all but wrapped up already.
That’s not to say that the catchy “Everything Is Awesome” from The LEGO Movie couldn’t cast a hypnotic spell on voters like last year’s nominee “Happy” (which inevitably lost to “Let It Go.”) “Awesome” gets stuck in your head in the same way — good or bad — depending on whom you ask.
Diane Warren has been writing Oscar-nominated songs for 100 years (okay, not really — she’s been nominated seven times in the last 28 years), yet she’s never won. Her happy pop is ever-present on “Grateful” from the better-than-you’d-expect Beyond The Lights, but is the Academy really ready to give her a golden guy now for this little seen film? It’s not likely.
If nostalgia plays into the Academy’s voting (which it very regularly does), then Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me may sway voters with its sentimentality, and its heart. “Lost Stars” from Begin Again is a gorgeous, simple little love song that could have been the little engine that could, but um, who actually saw the film?
Who Could Win: Although “Everything Is Awesome” might surprise, it’s really Glen Campbell (with Julian Raymond) who has a sliver of hope with “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” since Campbell, who sadly has advanced Alzheimer’s, says it will be the last song he ever records.
Who Should Win: It makes our blood boil that The LEGO Movie didn’t get a nomination for Best Animated Feature.Everything about it is, well, awesome. But that doesn’t mean the subversive smash should take away from all that Selma’s hopeful, haunting anthem has going for it. “Glory” does deserve it.
Who Will Win: “Glory” from Selma. Since it’s not on the map for any other big awards besides Best Picture — and it’s not going to be victorious there — this will be its winning category.
Who do you think will win in the Best Original Song category this year? Let us know in the comments below!
