Last year’s race for Best Original Song was a wild one. Without a clear frontrunner for the entire season, it was somewhat of a shock upset when D’Mile, H.E.R., and Tiara Thomas’ “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah took it home. As we turn our eyes to this year’s contenders, it could come down to a battle of two popstars. And maybe even three.
While the full track has not yet been released publicly (expect it any day now), “Be Alive” from King Richard is already the assumed frontrunner, named due to the involvement of Beyoncé. Co-written by Queen Bey with DIXSON, the stirring track could be the one to finally nab the Oscar songwriting nom the music megastar has been chasing for years. And quite possibly even the win.
Way back in February 2020, seven-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish unveiled the title track to the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, and immediately became a strong contender for Best Original Song for the 2020 race. That didn’t quite work out, given the film was delayed three times due to the coronavirus pandemic. But No Time to Die has now finally been released and Eilish is eligible for this year’s season. The previous two Bond tracks won this prize. Can Eilish make it three in a row?
Then there’s a third possible diva waiting in the wings to join this battle. While there has been no official confirmation from MGM that House of Gucci will feature an original track from its lead actor Lady Gaga, you’d have to presume she will pen and likely perform something for the closing credits. Then again, Gaga could want audiences to solely focus on her acting for this film, so time will tell.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG PREDICTIONS:
1. “Be Alive” – King Richard (Warner Bros.)
2. “No Time to Die” – No Time to Die (Universal Pictures)
3. “Colombia, Mi Encanto” – Encanto (Disney)
4. “Down to Joy” – Belfast (Focus Features)
5. “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” – Respect (Universal Pictures)
IN CONTENTION
“So May We Start” – Annette (Amazon Studios)
“Beyond the Shore” – CODA (Apple TV+)
“Every Letter” – Cyrano (MGM)
“Don’t Look Up” – Don’t Look Up (Netflix)
“This Was Me” – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Amazon Studios)
“Somehow You Do” – Four Good Days (Vertical Entertainment)
“Guns Go Bang” – The Harder They Fall (Netflix)
“TBC” – House of Gucci (MGM)
“Home All Summer” – In the Heights (Warner Bros.)
“Believe” – The Rescue (National Geographic)