With the unveiling of the Academy’s shortlists, we now know the final 15 films in contention for Best Original Song. Given Disney’s history with this category, it was quite surprising to see “This Wish” from Wish fail to be shortlisted. Even with the film’s critical and commercial failure, most still expected to see this track acknowledged, but its failure here doesn’t bode well for the film’s chances of a Best Animated Feature nomination. And sorry to those who hoped for a live performance from Jack Black of The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s “Peaches” on the Oscars stage. The dream is over.
As expected, three songs from Barbie made it onto the shortlist in the form of “What Was I Made For?,” “I’m Just Ken,” and “Dance the Night.” The Academy rules state only two songs from one film can ultimately be nominated, so you’d expect to see Dua Lipa’s disco bop miss out. “What Was I Made For?” remains the leader, but given Billie Eilish and Finneas’ recent win in 2021 for the title track from No Time to Die, could “I’m Just Ken” snatch this one away?
It’s still a wide-open race for what other three tracks will join the Barbie nominees. While Rustin isn’t a major contender outside of a Best Actor nod for Colman Domingo, the star quality of Lenny Kravitz might be enough to get “Road to Freedom” across the line. Dianne Warren made it onto the shortlist with “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot, so expect her to land her perennial nomination.
As for the final spot, it’s a tough one. Many presumed The Color Purple would be a major contender across the board, but, outside of nominations for Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino, it has struggled to get off the ground this season. It did land two song mentions on the shortlist, so that suggests at least one will be nominated.
That being said, John Carney’s Flora and Son also scored two mentions on the shortlist for “High Life” and “Meet In the Middle.” Carney’s filmography has a solid history in this category. Once won the Oscar back in 2007, Begin Again scored a nomination in 2013, and Sing Street was on the cusp of a nod in 2016, so perhaps one of the two Flora and Son tracks will make it into the top five.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG PREDICTIONS:
1. “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas from Barbie (Warner Bros.) – GG, HMMA
2. “I’m Just Ken” by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt from Barbie (Warner Bros.) – GG, HMMA
3. “Road to Freedom” by Lenny Kravitz from Rustin (Netflix) – GG, HMMA
4. “The Fire Inside” by Diane Warren from Flamin’ Hot (Disney) – HMMA
5. “Keep It Movin”” by Halle Bailey, Denisia Andrews, Brittany Coney, and Morten Ristorp from The Color Purple (Warner Bros.) – HMMA
IN CONTENTION
“It Never Went Away” by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson from American Symphony
“Dear Alien (Who Art In Heaven)” by Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley and Wes Anderson from Asteroid City (Focus Features)
“Dance the Night” by Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt from Barbie (Warner Bros.)
“Superpower (I)” by Fantasia Barrino from The Color Purple
“High Life” by Eve Hewson, Gary Clark and John Carney from Flora and Son – HMMA
“Meet In The Middle” by Eve Hewson, Gary Clark, John Carney, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and John Ardiff from Flora and Son
“Can’t Catch Me Now” by Dan Nigro and Olivia Rodrigo from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songs and Snakes – HMMA
“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” by Osage Tribal Singers from Killers of the Flower Moon
“Quiet Eyes” by Zach Dawes and Sharon Von Etten from Past Lives – HMMA
“Am I Dreaming” by Leland Wayne, Rakim Mayers, Michael Dean, Peter Lee Johnson, Landon Wayne from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – HMMA
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