2021 Oscar Predictions: ORIGINAL SONG (November)
(John Wilson / Netflix)
With the reveal of the original song, “Wear Your Crown,” recorded for the film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical The Prom revealed – yes, the one with Meryl Streep rapping and rhyming ‘tiara’ with ‘mas-cara,’ the top five for Original Song this month sees a shakeup. You can listen to the song here.
The other big change in the top five is the ascendance of the Diane Warren-penned “lo Sì,” from The Life Ahead. The song is one of FOUR possible original song contenders for the 11-time Oscar nominee, who also remains in the top 5 with another tune, “Free,” from The One and Only Ivan.
The music branch has shown some kindness to mock/satirical songs here and the most likely candidate for that honor would be “Husavik (My Hometown)” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. It sits just outside the top 5 but if it makes the Oscar shortlist for songs (announced February 9) then it’s looking really good for a nomination.
Here are my ranked 2021 Oscar predictions in Original Song for November.
Green – moves up; Red – moves down; Blue – new entry this month
1. “lo Sì” (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (Netflix)
Written by Diane Warren
2. “Rocket to the Moon” from Over the Moon (Netflix)
Written by Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield & Helen Park
3. “Wear Your Crown” from The Prom (Netflix)
Nominees TBD
4. “Free” from The One and Only Ivan (Disney+)
Written by Diane Warren
5. “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Written by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
6. “Husavik (My Hometown)” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)
Written by Atli Örvarsson
7. “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyrics by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
8. “Just Sing” from Trolls: World Tour (DreamWorks Animation)
Written by Justin Timberlake, Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin and Sarah Aarons
9. “Loyal Brave True” from Mulan (Disney+)
Written by Jamie Hartman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rosi Golan and Billy Crabtree, and produced by Jamie Hartman
10. “Carried Me With You” from Onward (Pixar)
Written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth
Other Contenders (alphabetical by song title)
“Come and Play with Me” from Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Written by Romy Flores and Andy Rosen
“Everybody Cries” from The Outpost (Screen Media Films)
Written by Rod Lurie, Larry Groupé and Rita Wilson
“Future” from The Way I See It (Focus Features)
Written by Aloe Blacc
“Identical” from On the Rocks (A24/Apple TV+)
Written by Phoenix
“Last Laugh” from Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Written by Cari Fletcher, Tim Sommers and Jeremy Dussolliet
“Love Myself” from The High Note (Focus Features)
Written by Sarah Aarons and Greg Kurstin
“Make You Mine This Season” from Happiest Season (Hulu)
Written by Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin
“Never Break” from Giving Voice (Netflix)
Written by John Legend, Nasri Atweh, Benjamin Hudson McIldowie, Greg Wells
“Only the Young” from Miss Americana (Netflix)
Written by Taylor Swift and Joel Little
“Poverty Porn” from The Forty-Year Old Version (Netflix)
Written by Radha Blank, Music by Khrysis
“Purify” from Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
Written by Olivia Cooke & Margaret Chardiet
“Queen Bee” from Emma. (Focus Features)
Written by Johnny Flynn
“See What You’ve Done” from Belly of the Beast (PBS Independent Lens)
Written by Mary J. Blige, Darhyl Camper, Jr., Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney
“Staring at the Mountain” from Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Focus Features)
Written by Sharon Van Etten
“Turntables” from All In: The Fight for Democracy (Amazon Studios)
Written by Janelle Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III and George “George 2.0.” A. Peters II
“Uh Oh” from Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Written by Cynthia Nabozny, Matias Mora and Mia Minichiello
“Without a Net” from Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story (Shout! Factory)
Written by Diane Warren
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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