By Meredith Nardino
This weekend marked the pinnacle of awards season: the 90th Academy Awards. It’s Hollywood’s biggest night with its most glamorous stars.
Before flying to Twitter with all their red carpet commentary and comments on the Best Picture snubs, people ought to have taken some time to recognize the power of the Best Original Song category.
Though seemingly a minor moment of the night, this category brings together everything that’s beautiful about entertainment, from the inspiring creative process to the stellar live awards performances.
Looking back at the category over the last 90 years, you’d be surprised just how many beloved hits were originally created for the silver screen.
“Glory” – John Legend & Common
“Resistance is us.” These three words are fleeting in Common’s first verse but will continue to replay over and over in your head. This anthem, from the powerful 2014 film Selma, was a Best Original Song frontrunner due to the two powerhouse artists on the record. John Legend brings the passion and heart seen on screen to each verse of this haunting track. The only thing that could top this stunning single is if this duo hit the campaign trail together in 2020.
“Mystery of Love” – Sufjan Stevens
Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of Call Me By Your Name was a Best Picture underdog, but the film had a fair shot at taking home the gold for Best Original Song. Few people could have captured the film’s riveting combination of nostalgic bliss and heartache better than indie sweetheart Sufjan Stevens.
Its gentle guitar melody echoes the listless, sun-kissed days of a summer in northern Italy, its charming lyrics reminiscent of the overwhelming romance that develops swiftly between Elio and Oliver.
“You’ll Be In My Heart” – Phil Collins
The 1990s were filled with Oscars nominations for all your favorite Disney classics, from Hercules to Toy Story, from The Lion King to Tarzan. Former Genesis drummer Phil Collins composed the original soundtrack for the 1999 animated adaptation of Tarzan. These songs will still break your heart into pieces, nearly two decades later. “You’ll Be In My Heart” is a timeless, up-tempo ballad that blends smooth jungle rhythms with poetic emotion.
“Skyfall” – Adele
Adele brings her flawless vocals to this moody orchestrated theme composed for the 2012 film of the same name. The single was released at seven minutes passed midnight on Oct. 5, 2012, which marked Global James Bond Day and the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond film, 1962’s Dr. No. “Skyfall” has all of the characteristics of a classic Bond film: drama, romance and a sinister sense of secrecy.
“Moon River” – Audrey Hepburn
Before you treat yourself to Frank Ocean’s newly-released reinterpretation, take a trip down memory lane and appreciate the beauty of this iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s track. The 1960s classic was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn, and picked up two Grammys along with the Oscar for Best Original Song. Paramount dangerously close to cutting the song from the film altogether, but luckily for us, its legacy of dreamy simplicity lives on.
