After the Barbie soundtrack scored 12 Grammy nominations, it quickly became clear the race for Best Original Song at the Oscars might already be over and we best start preparing for Billie Eilish and Finneas to waltz away with their second Oscar in three years. Is there anything that can really stop “What Was I Made For?” taking this out? Time will tell, but that Grammy nod for Record of the Year makes it a formidable frontrunner.
While the Hollywood Music in Media Awards aren’t exactly the best predictor for this race, Eilish and Finneas did take out Best Original Song – Feature Film just as they did in 2021 for No Time to Die. What remains to be seen is which other song from Barbie will join them in the nominations. HMMA went with “I’m Just Ken,” and that seems to be the consensus choice amongst pundits. Warner Bros. can submit three tracks for consideration, but only two might be nominated.
It’s a wide-open race for what other three tracks will join the expected Barbie nominees. It’s never wise to bet against Disney scoring a nomination in this category, but the disappointing box office and reviews for Wish might see its stirring track “This Wish” headed for a snub. It’s also never wise to bet against Dianne Warren sneaking a nomination for a film few people have heard of. She’s got “The Fire Inside” from the direct-to-Hulu title Flamin’ Hot and “Gonna Be You” from your grandma’s favourite movie of the year, 80 for Brady.
We know the Academy occasionally likes to acknowledge a song from an animated movie that edges more on the more comedic side (“Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie, “Blame Canada” from South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut), so that might bode well for “Peaches” from The Super Mario Bros. Movie. We’ll have a better idea of how this race is shaping up when the Academy unveils its shortlist on December 21.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG PREDICTIONS:
1. “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas from Barbie (Warner Bros.)
2. “Road to Freedom” by Lenny Kravitz from Rustin (Netflix)
3. “I’m Just Ken” by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt from Barbie (Warner Bros)
4. “This Wish” by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice from Wish (Walt Disney Pictures)
5. “Gonna Be You” by Diane Warren from 80 for Brady (Paramount Pictures)
IN CONTENTION
“Better Place” by Justin Timberlake, Amy Allen from Trolls Band Together (DreamWorks Animation)
“Can’t Catch Me Now” by Dan Nigro and Olivia Rodrigo from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songs and Snakes
“Dance the Night” by Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt from Barbie (Warner Bros)
“The Fire Inside” by Diane Warren from Flamin’ Hot (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)
“For the First Time” by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda from The Little Mermaid (Walt Disney Pictures)
“I Am” by Stan Walker, Michael Fatkin, Vince Harder, Te Kanapu Anasta from Origin (NEON)
“It Never Went Away” by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson from American Symphony (Netflix)
“Keep It Movin’” by Halle Bailey, Denisia Andrews, Brittany Coney, and Morten Ristorp from The Color Purple (Warner Bros)
“Peaches” by Jack Black, Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Eric Osmond, and John Spiker from The Super Mario Bros. Movie
“A World of Your Own” by Neil Hannon, Simon Farnabay and Paul King from Wonka (Warner Bros)
