The hottest song in America right now just so happens to come from a film in Oscar contention…and it’s not in consideration for Best Original Song. In a move they now surely regret, Disney did not submit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto for Oscar consideration. It’s now only the second song from a Disney animated film to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and one has to think it might have been a shoo-in to win this category…if only it were in contention.
In saying that, the entire Encanto soundtrack has been a roaring success. It spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200 album chart and that naturally bodes well for the song Disney did submit, “Dos Orguitas.” While that success could propel the track an unexpected win as a way of honouring the entire soundtrack, it makes its nomination chances all but a certainty.
Billie Eilish’s “No Time to Die” from No Time to Die and Beyonce’s “Be Alive” from King Richard feel like the other two certainties. The former took out the Golden Globe, though that may or may not have any impact on the race due to the lack of a televised ceremony. The Academy will want some music star power at the ceremony, so these two are safely in the top five.
Belfast is likely going to nab nominations practically everywhere, so Van Morrison’s “Down to Joy” also feels like it’s sitting snuggly in the final five. That leaves that fifth spot open to a number of possibilities. Maybe CODA overperforms and “Beyond the Shore” sneaks in. Perhaps the power of U2 nabs the band their third nomination for “Your Song Saved My Life” from Sing 2. But the Academy has recently shown a penchant for R&B/rap tracks, so I think bodes well for Kid Cudi and JAY-Z’s “Guns Go Bang” from The Harder They Fall.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG PREDICTIONS:
1. “No Time to Die” – No Time to Die (Universal Pictures)
2. “Be Alive” – King Richard (Warner Bros.)
3. “Dos Oruguitas” – Encanto (Disney)
4. “Down to Joy” – Belfast (Focus Features)
5. “Guns Go Bang” – The Harder They Fall (Netflix)
IN CONTENTION
“So May We Start” – Annette (Amazon Studios)
“Right Where I Belong” – Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (Screen Media)
“Automatic Woman” – Bruised (Netflix)
“Dream Girl” – Cinderella (Amazon Studios)
“Beyond the Shore” – CODA (Apple TV+)
“The Anonymous Ones” – Dear Evan Hansen (Universal Pictures)
“Just Look Up” – Don’t Look Up (Netflix)
“Somehow You Do” – Four Good Days (Vertical Entertainment)
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” – Respect (Universal Pictures)
“Your Song Saved My Life” – Sing 2 (Universal Pictures)
