FINAL 2021 Oscar Nomination Predictions: ORIGINAL SONG

We have all of the precursors available for Original Song: the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, Society of Composers and Lyricists and Hollywood Music in Media.

Of the two main precursors, GG and Critics Choice, we are locked in with Diane Warren’s “Io Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead and Leslie Odom, Jr.’s “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami. Both of those are obviously getting in but it’s going to be a real race for the win.

“Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga has been a pretty big fan favorite to get in and although it missed a Globe nomination it’s a song made for this category. “Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah has performed well with nominations so that ostensibly leaves just the 5th spot up for grabs.

It’s wide open for #5 at the moment but I’m giving the edge to “Turntables” from All In: The Fight for Democracy as the music branch often gives a doc song a spot here. Right behind would be “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7, which is going to perform well across the board but I’m definitely keeping my eye out for another Diane Warren tune (“Free” from The One and Only Ivan) and “Wuhan Flu” from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. The music branch doesn’t often go for parody songs but the film’s PGA nomination today could point to it being a player.

Here are my final 2021 Oscar nomination predictions for Original Song.

• 1. “Io Sì” (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (Netflix) – BFCA, HMMA, GG, SCL
  Written by Diane Warren, Laura Pausini and Niccolò Agliardi
• 2. “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios) – BFCA, GG, HMMA
  Written by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
• 3. “Husavik (My Hometown)” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix) – BFCA, HMMA, SCL
  Written by Fat Max Gsus, Rickard Göransson, and Savan Kotecha
• 4. “Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros) – BFCA, HMMA
  Written by H.E.R., D’Mile, Tiara Thomas
• 5. “Turntables” from All In: The Fight for Democracy (Amazon Studios) – HMMA
  Written by Janelle Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III, George “George 2.0.” A. Peters II 

Watch out for: “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7

Oscar shortlist contenders: “Free” from The One and Only Ivan, “Green” from Sound of Metal, “Loyal Brave True” from Mulan, “Make It Work” from Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, “Never Break” from Giving Voice, “Rain Song” from Minari, “See What You’ve Done” from Belly of the Beast, “Show Me Your Soul” from Mr. Soul!, “Wuhan Flu” from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

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Erik Anderson

Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.

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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