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The music branch’s process of nominating in the Best Original Song category changed a few years ago. Members now screen clips and view contenders as used within the context of their films. It generally means music used organically has a better shot than the usual closing credits fluff of yore.
That rule change has also, I think, altered the perception of the award on the annual Oscar telecast. Last year performances of the contenders were scrapped from the show early on, largely because they weren’t popular hits and the show is all about nailing down a viewership. Could it happen again? This year’s line-up is diverse if underwhelming, but now that I think about it, that seems to frequently be the case.
The nominees are:
“Coming Home” from “Country Strong” (Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey)
“If I Rise” from “127 Hours” (Music by A.R. Rahman; Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong)
“I See the Light” from “Tangled” (Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Glenn Slater)
“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3” (Music and Lyric by Randy Newman)
There wasn’t a lot to pull from to fill out this field, ultimately. Some politicking during submissions probably kept some good songs out. The big shock, naturally, was that a certain diva’s Golden Globe-winning ditty in a big, brash musical was left off. But otherwise, these four represent the outcome largely expected for this category.
An opportunity was missed in “Country Strong” to showcase the film’s most sensational original song, “Me and Tennessee.” It’s relegated to the first closing credits cue, bled in awkwardly to the film’s final reprise of yet another original track. But “Coming Home” (listen), a ballad hinted at throughout the film and unleashed in a defining moment, is nevertheless a worthy competitor. The music on the track is perhaps more remarkable than the lyrics (the songwriters behind hits by Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Miley Cyrus and Martina McBride drew up the material), but those lyrics do nicely wrap up the journey of Gwyneth Paltrow’s character, which makes it understandable that it’s in the hunt. However, the song is facing two tracks from Best Picture nominees and a third that is classic Best Original Song territory.
From “127 Hours,” Dido and A.R. Rahman worked up a soulful ditty in “If I Rise” (listen) that worked organically with Rahman’s original score and, perhaps most importantly, stands out from the field as unique. For those reasons, and to say nothing of the clear popularity of the film in the Academy, I’d be inclined to look here for a potential spoiler. Dido’s breathy vocals meet Rahman’s in a rhythmic pace, and a children’s chorus is a nice touch, but I’ll confess to not really understanding what the lyrics are driving at. The two verses are exactly the same, followed by Rahman’s solo. And the film’s theme is in there — kind of. It’s a trip of a song, really. Fatigued. A reflection of the character’s state of mind? But it could be the beneficiary of Best Picture love.
In “Tangled,” Alan Menken worked his usual musical magic, collaborating this time with lyricist Glenn Slater on Disney’s latest fairytale offering. “I See the Light” (listen) was the only song submitted from the film’s impressive track list, largely to avoid songs canceling each other out if nominated. Now the track is the sole representative of the piece, and it really is a lovely song. It comes at a key moment in the second act break, sung by actors Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, and it has a nostalgic flair that could get it across the finish line. This is also Menken’s 19th nomination, though he already has four Oscars on his mantle. It could be a fifth when you look at it this way: with the film missing out on a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, this is the only place for voters to honor it.
I go back and forth between Menken and 20-time nominee Randy Newman, whose vintage track “We Belong Together” (listen) from “Toy Story 3″ seems to be the best bet right now. But it really could be an intriguing battle between these multi-nominated titans. Newman’s tune has the usual swinging flavor we’ve come to expect. It’s thematically relevant, of course, though it’s difficult not to think of it as derivative. It’s featured in a Best Picture nominee that netted four other nominations, so it’s possible the love for the film carries right on through this category. And Newman’s one Oscar to Menken’s eight (and Rahman’s two) makes easy math on who should get the next tip of the hat (not that anyone is thinking in those terms). It’s a tough call. I imagine I’ll keep going back and forth.
Will win: “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3″
Could win: “If I Rise” from “127 Hours”
Should win: “Coming Home” from “Country Strong”
Should have been here: “Me and Tennessee” from “Country Strong”
Check out my current rankings for this race at its dedicated Contenders page here.
Who do you think deserves to win the award for Best Music (Original Song)? Have your say in today’s sidebar poll!
[Photos: Screen Gems, Walt Disney Pictures]
54 responses so far
1 1-28-2011 at 9:24 am
mikhael said...
Will win: 127 Hours
Could win: If I Rise
Should Win: Dido & A.R Rahman
2 1-28-2011 at 9:28 am
Kel D said...
Will Win: 127 Hours
Could Win: Toy Story 3
Should Win: Tangled
3 1-28-2011 at 9:28 am
Estefan said...
“The big shock, naturally, was that a certain diva’s Golden Globe-winning ditty in a big, brash musical was left off.”
And thank goodness for that!
I wonder if history will repeat itself here and have a Toy Story song lose for the third time to a Disney song. It’s certainly possible, but all four of these have a possible shot.
When you mentioned Menken’s four wins, I thought you were just referring to his song victories (since he also has four other Oscars for score), but then you mention that Rahman has two, even though just one is for song. Colour me confused.
4 1-28-2011 at 9:31 am
Gabriel D. said...
Will win: «We belong together» (Toy Story)
Could Win: I see the light (Tangled)
Should win: Dido «If I Rise» (127 Hours)
Should have been here: You haven’t seen the last of me…Diane Warren, overdue overdue overdue. It is a shame she is not even nominated.
Anyways, since a few years, those songs clearly don’t reflect the popular tendance. The last hit is probably «Lose Yourself»?
5 1-28-2011 at 9:31 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
Yeah, I had a train of thought that shot off in two directions. Adjusted now.
6 1-28-2011 at 9:32 am
Guy Lodge said...
In terms of songcraft, “Coming Home” is the best of this sorry lot, but yeesh. Hope Gwyneth Paltrow performs on the telecast for the sheer curiosity of it.
I echo Kris’s will/could/should trio, with “should have been here” citations for “Welcome to Burlesque” and “Life During Wartime.”
7 1-28-2011 at 9:49 am
Andrej said...
I think they should bring the performances back. Gwyneth Paltrow, Mandy Moore, Dido, A.R. Rahman, Randy Newman… they don’t fall under the radar as much as last year’s nominees and performers.
I don’t really care about “We Belong Together”. It’s just overworked and the lyrics feel like taken out of a greeting card. Despite having a catchy tune and a decent arrangement, I remember more fondly the spanish version of “You’ve got a friend in me”, but that has no way of getting here.
And as for “Coming Home”… not a bad song, but pop-country music isn’t my cup of tea. Plus I think it’s a bit redundant to have this song win after “The Weary Kind”. So…
Will win: “I see the light”, Tangled.
Could win: “If I Rise”, 127 Hours.
Should win: Either one of them.
Should have been here: “Stick and Stones”, How To Train Your Dragon, “You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me”, Burlesque.
♫
8 1-28-2011 at 9:50 am
Ed D. said...
I always hate this category (and original score as well, but to a much lesser extent); I’m majoring in music composition, but for whatever reason when I’m watching a film the music in it is the furthest thing from my mind, so every year all these songs I’ve never REALLY heard (even though I’ve seen the films they’re in) get nominated, and every year, after listening to them on YouTube, I end up hating all but 1 (or occasionally 2) of them.
This year is hardly different. In terms of what -I- think should merit being a “best” original song (like creative harmonic structure, lyrics that fit with the music itself, instrumentation, etc), my favorite is “If I Rise.” “Country Strong” is a close second, but after hearing, like, the first half of it, it started to sound like pretty much any country song I’ve heard before. The other 2 songs are vomit-inducingly clichéd.
9 1-28-2011 at 9:58 am
N8 said...
You didn’t even have “Coming Home” on your if-I-had-a-ballot, and now you think it should win over two songs that were in your top four. Inconsistent much?
10 1-28-2011 at 10:00 am
Sertan said...
For some reason, I really enjoyed Country Strong (especially that surprise ending!). However, the song was not something special!
If I Rise would be my favorite!
11 1-28-2011 at 10:01 am
Ibbs said...
The songs here are all pretty bland to me. In terms of what deserves it, I’d say We Belong Together. What I think will get it? “If I Rise.” It seems like the only place 127 Hours would be rewarded, Dido fits the bill of those kind of stars that used to have bigger careers that the Academy usually likes to reward in this category and I don’t think a lot of people would object to throwing Rahman another Oscar.
12 1-28-2011 at 10:06 am
Graysmith said...
They need to strip this category down to a maximum of three nominees. Years where there are five worthy nominees are increasingly rare, especially now when there’s a limit to how many songs from a film can be nominated. And if you’d have a maximum of three nominees, you could squeeze in live performances for them at the show as well.
13 1-28-2011 at 10:11 am
PaulH said...
No Burlesque, no cred.
14 1-28-2011 at 10:21 am
the other mike said...
easily the least important award.
15 1-28-2011 at 10:24 am
JJ1 said...
Will win – 127 Hours
Could win – Tangled
Should win – Tangled
Should have been nommed and/or won – one of the fun Burlesque songs.
16 1-28-2011 at 10:34 am
forts said...
I keep thinking how Tarzan beat Toy Story 2 in this category and can’t help but think that Disney’s gonna beat Pixar again… Pixar’s only won here once with Monster’s Inc so it’s always tough to predict it here
17 1-28-2011 at 10:36 am
daveylow said...
I think the song from Tangled will win. Or maybe the voters want to honor 127 Hours in some way.
I like Randy Newman but his songs for Toy Story sound very similar from film to film.
18 1-28-2011 at 10:43 am
Estefan said...
“I keep thinking how Tarzan beat Toy Story 2 in this category and can’t help but think that Disney’s gonna beat Pixar again”
Colors of the Wind also beat You’ve Got a Friend in Me. So, it’s certainly possible for this to happen again.
19 1-28-2011 at 10:46 am
Sawyer said...
My favorie song from any film I saw this year was easily the Spanish version of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”.
Meanwhile, The King’s Speech missed out on a 13th nomination by not calling Annie Lennox or Sting to belt out a ballad about courage and love and whatnot.
20 1-28-2011 at 10:47 am
Sawyer said...
Can’t remember the name of the song, but the tune by Sarah MacLachlan in TS2 was lovely. Much better than Phil Collins’ Tarzan junk.
21 1-28-2011 at 10:52 am
Jahanzeb said...
Will win: We Belong Together, Toy Story 3
Could win: If I Rise, 127 Hours
Should win: If I Rise, 127 Hours
22 1-28-2011 at 10:54 am
RealDogBoy said...
My favorite if “I See the Light” and it was used so beautifully in the movie that I hope it wins.
“Express” (from Burlesque, sung by Xtina) was, IMO, the best from that film and my candidate for “Should Have Been There”. I thought Cher looked great but, about her singing… that train left the station long, long ago.
23 1-28-2011 at 11:14 am
A.J said...
If they had to watch all the nominees in context it would be a battle between Coming Home and I See the Light. If they just had to watch the one scene, I See the Light wins hands down. It’s so enthralling and magical in a Disney Magic way. I still think I See the Light because it’s just that good. Plus it seems this year is a throwback to years gone by aka the 90s.
24 1-28-2011 at 11:38 am
Frank Lee said...
Kris,
I thought Taylor Swift wrote all her own songs. Do you know what hit the “Going Home” folks wrote for her?
25 1-28-2011 at 11:43 am
Sam C. said...
Will – Toy Story 3
Could – 127 Hours (realistically, 127 Hour’s only shot of 6 at winning an Oscar this year).
Should – Toy Stroy 3
Should Been Noninated – “To the Sky” by Owl City from That Animated Owl Movie
26 1-28-2011 at 11:55 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
Frank: It may be music, not necessarily lyrics, but Lindsey seems to have had a hand in “Fearless” and Verges on “A Perfectly Good Heart.”
27 1-28-2011 at 12:01 pm
Yogs said...
“and I don’t think a lot of people would object to throwing Rahman another Oscar”
*rise hand* i do…
Will – Toy Story 3
Could – 127 Hours
Should – None (really, the category is a joke :S )
28 1-28-2011 at 12:04 pm
Speaking English said...
I don’t see how “I See the Light” could possibly lose. The scene in the film where it’s used is classic Disney, the showcase sequence of “Tangled,” and the whole thing just soars. It’s a truly powerful moment, akin to “A Whole New World” or “Under the Sea,” and it’s got the Oscar pinned down. It’s also my pick.
29 1-28-2011 at 12:04 pm
Paul Outlaw said...
Will win: “We Belong Together”
Could win: “If I Rise”
Should win: —
Should have been here: “Shine” from “Waiting for Superman”
30 1-28-2011 at 12:06 pm
john said...
Is there any reason the title song for Country Strong was not eligible? To me, that was the strongest of the bunch. It’s more passionate, less repetitive, and less bland (and when country is bland, it’s really bland).
31 1-28-2011 at 12:17 pm
Pablo (BOG) said...
I personally hate the song from 127 hours. It’s a bit annoying. I thinks it’s going to be Toy Story (Newman has not won since Monsters Inc).
I wont be annoyed if Country Strong wins.
32 1-28-2011 at 2:52 pm
a-mad said...
I hope “I See the Light” wins. As someone already mentioned, it truly is utilized in a very key moment in the film – and the scene is breathtaking.
I adore Toy Story 3, but “We Belong Together” sounds like Randy Newman wrote it in his sleep, and feels like a patchwork of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and his song from Monster’s Inc… plus its played over the closing credits. I feel the Best Song winner should be integral to the story of the film.
33 1-28-2011 at 2:57 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
“and it’s got the Oscar pinned down”
Says who?
34 1-28-2011 at 2:59 pm
Bradley said...
Should have been here: Threshold from Scott Pilgrim. The music is literally a character that alters the course of the narrative. Anyone know why the sex bob-OMB tracks didn’t make the bake off?
35 1-28-2011 at 3:01 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
john: It’s not original to the film, turns out.
36 1-28-2011 at 5:19 pm
Speaking English said...
***Says who?***
Me. Putting money on it.
37 1-28-2011 at 5:52 pm
Mark said...
“If I Rise” from 127 Hours is winning this; should win this.
38 1-28-2011 at 5:54 pm
Mark said...
“If I Rise” just won Best Song at Denver Film Critics.
This is its second win this Jan after BFCA Critics Choice.
39 1-28-2011 at 10:32 pm
Mike said...
If I Rise is awful. A.R. Rahman needs to give back his Oscars to Alexandre Desplat and Peter Gabriel before he can win another one. I pray he doesn’t.
Tangled is the clear winner for me. And if they truly vote for what was used best in the context of the film, again it is the clear winner.
Why can’t this dumb branch just vote on songs the way the rest of the academy does?
40 1-28-2011 at 10:56 pm
nixon said...
If I rise is the best song in last few years. Amazing melody. Congrats!
41 1-28-2011 at 11:11 pm
LostBoy68 said...
I’ll say it again: Love “Toy Story 3″, but “We Belong Together” is AWFUL. Further proof that Randy Newman can get nominated for ANYTHING (see also songs from “Parenthood”, “The Paper”, “Meet the Parents”).
42 1-28-2011 at 11:58 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
“And if they truly vote for what was used best in the context of the film, again it is the clear winner. ”
Well, they don’t. And actually, it’s not. I mean, it’s on the nose. In a Disney way, yeah, but on the nose. “Coming Home” is also a bit on the nose but it makes sense with that narrative, so I’d say that is much better used.
43 1-28-2011 at 11:59 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
You can put money on it, English. And you can have a conviction. I certainly think it could go that way. Nevertheless, “it’s got the Oscar pinned down” is a silly statement in a race this open. Which is what I was getting at.
44 1-29-2011 at 6:10 pm
Mike said...
“Well, they don’t. And actually, it’s not. I mean, it’s on the nose. In a Disney way, yeah, but on the nose. “Coming Home” is also a bit on the nose but it makes sense with that narrative, so I’d say that is much better used.”
Actually, to me yes it is. Since when is yours the only opinion that matters? I stopped trusting your opinion when you said that Bolt was the second best film of 2008.
45 1-30-2011 at 4:24 am
Glenn said...
This category is disastrous this year. That Dido song that, quite literally, sounds like air and another Randy Newman song that probably took a quick trip to the refrigerator to write just… wow. I’m down with the “Country Strong” nomination, it’s a good one although Kris is right, “Me and Tennessee” is far better, unfairly resigned to a credits song. “I See The Light”… I can see how it got nominated, although it sounds like “A Whole New World ’10″.
That not one song from “Burlesque” got nominated – and in this field – is quite baffling. It’s not like they’ve had any taste before this, why suddenly get some (taste in the sense that Burlesque is apparently a bad movie) when the contender is from a film with ACTUAL musical numbers. Ridiculous.
46 1-30-2011 at 6:40 pm
Elwiz J. said...
A R Rahman $ Dido – “If i rise” should win..!!
47 1-31-2011 at 6:01 am
Arun k.g. said...
“If i rise” should win..!!
ARR Roxxxx
48 1-31-2011 at 6:22 am
Maximo said...
The field this year really isn’t that bad. We are blaing sounds for sounding exactly how htye were supposed to sound, historically speaking.
49 2-03-2011 at 3:57 am
Someone said...
Menken has EIGHT Academy Awards, not (as you claim) four.
50 2-03-2011 at 5:05 am
Guy Lodge said...
Kris is obviously referring to Menken’s victories in this category alone.
51 2-03-2011 at 6:03 am
Someone said...
Yeah, but he writes about 19 nominations which he got both for scores and songs.
52 2-04-2011 at 6:07 pm
bluemoon02 said...
Honestly, this year’s category for Best Original Song is rather bland. I kind of like I See The Light but compared to other Disney classics it seems to fade in comparison. What happened to contemporary songs that are liked by the masses and at the same time, play a part in genuinely enhancing the film’s mood and tone? Remember Up Where We Belong? It Might Be You? A Whole New World? Those were the days….
53 2-06-2011 at 10:00 am
Dinesh ~$~ said...
“If I Rise” will sweep the Oscars..
~$~