Pop goes the Oscars
The voting for the 2023 Academy Awards is over. The filled ballots are now being tabulated by those stern-looking accountants. We see them every year. They are those required to make an appearance during the awards night lugging along briefcases containing the important envelops.
So, in a few days we will know the names of the winners at the Oscars. Among them will be the Best Original Song Written for a Motion Picture. Now the members of the Academy are known for their penchant for choosing the tested or the traditional. They are often averse to pushing those envelops. No matter how they feel though, this year’s best song choice will surely be very pop.
No. Taylor Swift did not make the cut. Although her song, the country ballad Carolina from the movie When the Crawdads Sing was bruited about as a strong contender, her name is not among the five finalists. But that did not at all affect the pop composition of the line-up. In fact, the song choices are so pop that the titles must have shocked most of the voters. Just take a look and I must say, also have a listen to these nominees.
Applause by the multi-nominated composer of hits, Diane Warren, who still has to win the Academy Award. This time might be it. The song is from the acclaimed Tell It Like a Woman, a film made up of several stories, all of them by female filmmakers. It is performed by Sophie Carson, the young and promising singer-actress from the Disney series Descendants.
Hold My Hand from the Tom Cruise blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick. It is performed by Lady Gaga who also wrote the song with BlindPop. Now, the Gaga already has an Oscar for Shallow from A Star is Born four years ago. But who knows, when all the nominees are on even footing, it helps for the creators to be likeable. And Lady Gaga is very likeable.
Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson with words by Tems and Coogler. Will this one win? Well, it is performed by Rihanna. She may have several co-writers with this one, but it is her name that is prominent. I am sure that it carries a lot of weight. This is also her comeback recording after several years. Besides, it cannot be denied that Hollywood has a soft spot for Black Panther.
Naatu Naatu from the Indian action epic RRR. It is not salsa. It is not flamenco. Naatu Naatu just means dance, dance. And that is just what all those who have seen this highly-entertaining flick have been doing. Composed by M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose, the song is performed by Rahul Sipliguni and Kaala Bhairava. Great job, those two but it is the dance moves with that hook step by the stars of the picture, N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan, taking social media by storm. This is the first Indian song ever nominated for an Academy Award.
This is a Life is composed by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski and performed by Mitski and Byrne for the award-winning Everything, Everywhere All at Once. Just like the movie, this song is such a wonderful surprise. Eerie but at the same time heavenly, it is the most affecting of the nominees. Goosebumps just listening to it.
Now, who do you think will win the Best Song Oscar? I have always been partial to Lady Gaga and Top Gun: Maverick really did bring back the box-office, So Hold My Hand, an emotional rocker might be it. Still, Everything, Everywhere All at Once is the big favorite to win most of the trophies come Sunday, March 12. Maybe the Academy might also throw in the Best Song to the beautiful This is a Life. But don’t forget the rousing Naatu Naatu. Asians might not be welcome on the streets of the US of A but not many can resist the charms of this tune.
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