It’s been an odd journey to the Oscars for Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell. Their title track from No Time to Die was released way back in February 2020 just before the entire world imploded. When the film’s release was postponed from April 2020 to October 2021, its Oscar campaign moved from one awards season to the next. Despite the fact the film had yet to be released, Eilish and O’Connell still won a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media in March 2021. And now they seem destined to add an Oscar to their trophy cabinet.
Over the past few months, Eilish and O’Connell have scored a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award plus wins from the Society of Composers and Lyricists and Hollywood Music in Media. Given the Academy has consecutively awarded the last two Bond films with Best Original Song, Eilish and O’Connell have essentially felt like the presumed frontrunner for the better part of two years.
But there is a formidable contender waiting in the wings to steal this one in the form of Lin-Manuel Miranda. With three Tonys, three Grammys, and two Emmys, Miranda just needs an Oscar to become the 17th EGOT winner in history. While it’s abundantly clear Disney should have submitted “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” for Oscar consideration, “Dos Orguitas” offers the Academy the chance to honour the entire Encanto soundtrack.
Given the soundtrack’s staggering chart success (nine consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hottest 100 chart), could Miranda be bestowed an Oscar regardless of which Encanto song is nominated? It’s certainly plausible and a Miranda victory wouldn’t be a huge shock. But Eilish and O’Connell haven’t missed a beat all season and it’s hard to see them faltering at the last hurdle.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG PREDICTIONS:
1. “No Time to Die” – No Time to Die (Universal Pictures)
Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
2. “Dos Oruguitas” – Encanto (Disney)
Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
3. “Be Alive” – King Richard (Warner Bros.)
Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
4. “Down to Joy” – Belfast (Focus Features)
Music and Lyric by Van Morrison
5. “Somehow You Do” – Four Good Days (Vertical Entertainment)
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
Will win: “No Time to Die”
Should win: “Be Alive”
Possible shocker: “Somehow You Do”
