The fact that only two of the five nominees for Best Original Song are being performed at the Oscars ceremony this year tells you everything you need to know about this category. It’s a slap in the face to the other three nominees (especially 17-time nominee Diane Warren), but it does make it clear that even the Academy knows this race is really only between “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters and “I Lied to You” from Sinners.
The former is the undeniable frontrunner after wins at the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics Choice Awards, the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, and the Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards. It’s a huge global hit. It won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media (where it beat “I Lied to You”). The film is undeniably taking Best Animated Feature, and we know these two categories often go hand-in-hand.
Can the KPop smash really be stopped? If Sinners overperforms, there’s a chance Best Original Song gets swept along for the ride. The fact that “Golden” has become unfortunately overexposed could absolutely work against it. Academy members with young children are possibly sick to death of hearing that song for the last six months. But one could say the same of something like “Let It Go” from Frozen, and that didn’t stop it from winning.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG PREDICTIONS:
1. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)- CCA, GG, HMMA (animated), SCL (drama/documentary)
2. “I Lied to You” from Sinners (Warner Bros.) – CCA, GG, HMMA (main), SCL (comedy/musical)
3. “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (Greenwich Entertainment) – HMMA (documentary), SCL (drama/documentary)
4. “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams (Netflix) – CCA, GG
5. “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi! (Viva Verdi!)
Will win: “Golden”
Should win: “Golden”
Possible upset: “I Lied to You”
