The "Best Original Song" category at the Academy Awards has been under fire for some time and many have simply accused it of becoming irrelevant in a significantly musical-less modern film age. In past years, some nominees and even some winners have been embarrassingly tuneless. For the past two years, a single musical has racked up the majority of nods (Dreamgirls followed by Enchanted). By the mercy of angels, though, neither film's hideous pop confections took home a trophy. Lest we forget Beyonce's Oscar plea "Listen" (pronounced "Liiiiiiiiiisteeeeeennnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!). Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's win last year was a mini-triumph of quality over the power of Disney and gave credit to a little film, Once, that probably should have had more recognition anyway (it was #2 on my top 10 last year).This year there are no hit musicals (except the ineligible ABBA recycling Mamma Mia!) but there are at least 5 enjoyable songs that range from stunning to just plain catchy. That, of course, is assuming the Academy makes the right choices. Thus far, it seems at least two worthy tunes will make the cut: Peter Gabriel's delightful "Down to Earth" from Wall-E and Bruce Springsteen's haunting "The Wrestler" from the film of the same name. The Jack White penned bombastic Quantum of Solace rocker "Another Way to Die" is also a solid candidate though no sure thing. And if I had my druthers, the category would be filled out with deserving longshots "Little Person" written by composer Jon Brion for Synecdoche, New York and "Jai Ho," the AR Rahman composition to which Danny Boyle staged his mock Bollywood dance routine in Slumdog Millionaire. Both Brion and Rahman deserve composer nods as well but only Rahman is likely to receive one. Brion is one of the greatest film composers working but mysteriously he has never been nominated. His greatest work can be heard on the scores for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Punch-Drunk Love, and others.
The main threats to the awesomeness of this year's category come from a pair of pop stars whose fame may hold a little too much weight: Miley Cyrus and the perennially Oscar hopeful Beyonce. She is one of 7 (Seven?!?!) credited songwriters on the completely mediocre "Once In A Lifetime" from Cadillac Records and Miley shares writing credit with Jeff Steele on "I Though I Lost You" a duet with John Travolta (gulp) from the Disney movie Bolt (double gulp). That, my friends, just may be a sign of the apocalypse, a trifecta of evil no mortal can defeat. Also keep a lookout for veteran Clint Eastwood stealing a nod for the passable title tune from Gran Torino which he penned with singer Jamie Cullum and son Kyle Eastwood. But by no means would another Oscar for the legendary Eastwood crush the soul like one for Miley Cyrus. The thought alone chills me.
Only time will tell. Meanwhile, check these out:
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