Pop goes the movie awards

It has become obvious. Movie people, particularly those who have something to do with the yearly awards, have developed a taste for pop music by young pop stars. Thanks to this development, several of these songs — used in various films — are now in the running at the yearly film awards like the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and others.

This was already evident three years ago when Adele with Paul Epworth won the Oscar for Best Original Song for Skyfall, the theme from the James Bond movie of the same title that also won at the Globes, the Critics’ Choice Awards and for Best Song from a Visual Media at the Grammy Awards. 

This was followed in 2013 by Let It Go from the blockbuster-animated film Frozen, composed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and sung by Idina Menzel. The Disney song won the Oscar, the Critics’ Choice and the Grammy. The Golden Globe of that year was won by pop icons U2 and Danger Mouse for Ordinary Love from the movie Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

Next came Common and John Legend sharing the honors for Glory, their uplifting song for the movie Selma. It also won at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards and at the Critics’ Choice Awards. It is a nominee in the upcoming Grammy Awards.  

Now, take a look at who are competing in the 2016 Academy Awards for Best Original Song and who do you think might duplicate those previous feats.

Earned It by Belly, Stephen Moccio, Jason “Daheala” Quennville and The Weeknd from Fifty Shades of Grey; Manta Ray by J. Ralph and Antony Hegarty from the documentary Racing Extinction; Simple Song #3, the Michael Caine song from Youth by David Lang; Til It Happens to You by Lady Gaga and Diane Warren from the documentary The Hunting Ground; and Writing’s On The Wall by Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith who also performed it for the James Bond flick Spectre.

Writing’s On The Wall is already a winner. The song bagged the Golden Globe last week. Sam Smith was on hand to receive the trophy. So is the wistful See You Again by DJ Frank E, Andrew Cedar, Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa from Fast and Furious 7. It was this year’s Critics’ Choice for Best Song and was also a nominee at the Globes. 

This is why it was sad to find out that See You Again failed to make the cut at the Academy Awards nominations. Other notable tunes that are now said to have been snubbed by the Oscars are Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding from Fifty Shades of Grey and One Kind of Love by Beach Boy Brian Wilson from his biopic Love and Mercy.

The nominee though that fans are keeping a close watch on is Lady Gaga. Her song Til It Happens To You was not nominated at the Globes but she was. And she won for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for her portrayal of The Countess in American Horror Story. And it felt good to see that unlike the foul-mouthed other females present, Gaga was beautiful, sedate, well-mannered and oozing with old Hollywood glamor. She makes one want to see her win again. 

Speaking of movie theme song Brit nominees Sam and Ellie, fans might be interested to find out that they have both released new, gorgeous and well-packed special editions.    

Sam’s is the two-disc set Drowning Shadows Edition of his Grammy-winning first album In The Lonely Hour. It has all the songs of the original album plus new songs, Drowning Shadows, Love Is A Losing Game, How Will I Know, collaborations like Stay With Me featuring Mary J. Blige and Lay Me Down with John Legend, and live tracks like Latch with Disclosure at the Madison Square Garden. I have one complaint about this one though. It does not include Writing’s On The Wall. But Sam sounds fantastic in every cut.

That is not the case with Ellie’s Delirium. The latest by the powerhouse singer and songwriter includes her Fifty Shades of Grey nominated song Love Me Like You Do. Ellie’s airy atmospheric style and killer vocals have resulted in a series of hits these past few years. But she is at her best in Delirium, which must be her most pop production to date. This new release has the entire album with new additions like I Do What I Love, The Greatest and Winner plus a great collaboration with Calvin Harris, Outside.