Oscars 2021: Nominees for Best Original Song

As a songwriter and an enthusiast of the motion picture, I have decided to collect some data in regards to the songs that have been nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Song in 2021. I hope it contains information that might be found useful by music and film lovers alike.

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‘Speak Now’ – One Night In Miami It has been written by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth and it was added to the soundtrack of the film One Night in Miami. There is delicateness and power at the same time in Odom’s voice and the track beside pop elements, also contains the attributes of soul music. I think that makes it perfectly fit the narrative of the film which is about the civil right movements of the 1960s.

Husavik – Eurovision Song Contest – The Story of the Fire Saga It is a bright-toned comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams and the song ‘Husavik’ sensationally reflects the message of the movie’s narrative; dreams can come true, indeed. It was written by Icelandic film composer Atli Orvarsson.

‘Io Si’ – The Life Ahead This song has been written by Niccolo Agliardi and Diane Warren, has been performed by Laura Pausini, and was featured in the movie The Life Ahead. It is definitely a pop tune with monumental melancholic melodies that make it quite emotional. Pausini’s vocal performance also deserves credit. In terms of genre, the movie is to be put into the category of drama. Its narrative is quite heavy and this song might not reflect it in my opinion, but maybe that is the main reason it was featured in this movie. The heavy narrative is balanced with a pop song that has a bright tone, yet emotional enough to strengthen the movie’s artistic identity.

‘Fight For You’ – Judas and the Black Messiah It is definitely a protest song that is written and performed by Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson aka H.E.R. She is one of the major upcoming female R&B artists of recent years who was the supporting act for Childish Gambino’s This Is America tour in 2019. It starkly strengthens the narrative and the setting of the movie Judas and the Black Messiah. The biographical drama’s storyline is built around the character of Bill O’Neal who infiltrates the Black Panther Party. It is set in the period of historical civil right movements that went on in the 1960s. The song also has actuality and relevance due to social issues like police brutality or racism that are still not solved, and they also generated mass protests across the U.S. last year.

‘Hear My Voice’ – The Trial of the Chicago 7 The American-born, British soul singer Celeste wrote and performed this tune that has been featured in The Trial of the Chicago 7 that is a movie about mass protestations against the Vietnam War that took place during the National Convention in Chicago, Illinois in 1968. It is directed by Aaron Sorkin, and starring Sacha Cohen Baron, Jeremy Strong and Eddie Redmayne.

‘Husavik’ – Eurovision Song Contest – The Story of the Fire Saga It is a very bright-toned comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams and the song ‘Husavik’ sensationally reflects the message of the movie’s narrative; dreams can come true, indeed. It was written by Icelandic film composer Atli Orvarsson.

Likely Winner(s) All the songs contain value and message. However, according to the previous events that happened all across the U.S. because of police brutality last year, I believe Odom’s ‘Speak Now’, Celeste’s ‘Hear my Voice’ or the tune of H.E.R. ‘Fight For You’ are the ones that have the biggest chances to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Either way, the award ceremony will take place on the 26th of April and I am pretty sure everyone who is a lover of film and music, is eager to see how things are going to unfold at the end.

Credit: Dave_B_