With eleven unsuccessful Oscar nominations, songwriter Diane Warren is beyond overdue for a victory. This year, Warren has not one, not two, but three (!) songs in contention for her twelfth nomination. While The One and Only Ivan, The Life Ahead, and Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story may not be major contenders elsewhere, it’s never stopped Warren from nabbing a spot in the past.
Warren’s major competition stands in the form of Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield, and Helen Park’s show-stopping “Rocket to the Moon” from Netflix’s animated delight Over the Moon. A song that feels like something Disney would normally serve up, the track is the emotional core of the film and could easily join the ranks of stirring animated songs that won this category like “Let It Go,” “Remember Me,” and “A Whole New World.”
With its release way back in June, “Húsavík” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga faces a tough challenge to still be remembered, but one can only hope Netflix gives the song the consideration push it deserves. Yes, it’s stuck in an absurd comedy, but it could be reminiscent of nominee “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” from A Mighty Wind in 2003.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG PREDICTIONS:
1. “Rocket to the Moon” – Over the Moon (Netflix)
Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield & Helen Park
2. “Free” – The One and Only Ivan (Disney)
Diane Warren
3. “Hear My Voice” – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyrics by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
4. “Speak Now” – One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios)
Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
5. “Húsavík” – Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)
Atli Örvarsson
MAJOR CONTENDERS:
“Carried Me With You” – Onward (Disney)
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth
“Just Sing” – Trolls: World Tour (DreamWorks Animation)
Justin Timberlake, Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin and Sarah Aarons
“Lo Si (Seen)” – The Life Ahead (Netflix)
Diane Warren
“Loyal Brave True” – Mulan (Disney+)
Jamie Hartman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rosi Golan and Billy Crabtree
“Only the Young” – Miss Americana (Netflix)
Taylor Swift and Joel Little
“Never Break” – Giving Voice (Netflix)
John Legend, Nasri Atweh, Benjamin Hudson McIldowie, Greg Wells
“Queen Bee – Emma. (Focus Features)
Johnny Flynn
“See What You’ve Done” – Belly of the Beast (Independent Lens)
Mary J. Blige, Darhyl Camper, Jr., Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney
“Turntables” – All In: The Fight for Democracy (Amazon Studios)
Janelle Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III and George “George 2.0.” A. Peters II
“Without a Net” – Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story (Shout! Factory)
Diane Warren