Sunday, February 16, 2020

Best Song: "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)

Scene from Rocketman
Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now but wait until the bad years.

The Preface


The year is 2019 and The Academy is celebrating its 92nd year. Director Bong Joon-ho's Parasite won Best Picture. The film became the first Non-English language film to achieve this honor as well as the first South Korean movie ever nominated for an Oscar. Taika Waititi became the first Indigenous person to win Best Adapted Screenplay for Jojo Rabbit. Hildur Guonadottir was the first woman in over 20 years to win the Best Original Score. Toy Story 4 became the first Best Animated Film winner to be a sequel to a previous winner. Honeyland became the first film nominated for Best International Film and Best Documentary. Meanwhile, Elton John teamed up with Bernie Taupin to say "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from the biopic Rocketman as the Best Original Song winner.



The Nominees


Song: "I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away"
Film Toy Story 4
Performers: Randy Newman


In a year full of underwhelming nominees, it feels disappointing to include Randy Newman on that list. As controversial as it may sound, his music for the Toy Story franchise after the first two has been disappointing to different extents and this feels slapdashed. It works in the context of making for a fun comical moment about a sentient fork attempting suicide, but otherwise, it's a rather halfhearted song that lacks any of the vigor or charm that we're used to from him. Was "When She Loved Me" losing from Toy Story 2 really that debilitating for him? It's hard to say, but I miss when he had more emotional catharsis in his work for these kids' movies.


Song: "I'm Standing With You"
Film: Breakthrough
Performers: Chrissy Metz

As far as out of left-field nominees go, this isn't nearly as bad as many would expect. Yes, it feels like one of Diane Warren's less-deserved Oscar nominations, but at least it hits all of the correct notes for these spiritual styles of songs. Chrissy Metz is a better singer than expected, and the overall sway is beautiful enough to make it tolerable. With that said, it's one of those odd nominees that doesn't have the staying power of every other song on here. It's good, but it does little besides hit the rhythms we all have come to expect from songs like this.


Song: "Into the Unknown"
Film: Frozen II
Performers: Idina Menzel, AURORA

I can understand why this lost, especially since Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez already won two Oscars this decade in this category. Some could argue (which I don't) that it's just trying to ape "Let It Go" and failing. However, it's another case of these films not nominating the best song from a film. Following Mary Poppins Returns the previous year, Frozen II forgets that "Show Yourself" exists (or any other song, really) and goes for the banger that is really good but doesn't fully reflect why the sequel is superior to the first. It's got so much more emotion, with songs doing the go-for-broke Broadway style that is just so powerful. This is a good song and one that has so much journeying emotion that I like. I know that I've bagged on Frozen before, but hearing a fuller sound and rhythmic complexity is just beautiful and makes me like this franchise more.


Song: "Stand Up"
Film: Harriet
Performers: Cynthia Erivo

If there was any song that was deserving of a surprise win, it was this Harriet song. While the film may be fine at best, there is no denying that this year was Cynthia Erivo's coming out party, earning two Oscar nominations after years being great elsewhere. When she's on, there is a power in her voice, and the way that the melody rambles along in the chorus is beautiful accentuated perfectly by her voice. You can't help but buy into this feeling of freedom and the power of what the film wanted to achieve. Among the lackluster nominees this year, this was one of the few that stands out as going for something greater even if it's still a message song that goes a bit long towards the end. Still, it gives hope that Erivo's Oscar is not too far off. 



The Winner


Song: "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again"
Film: Rocketman
Performers: Elton John, Taron Egerton

I mean, sure. There had to be a winner. Elton John hasn't made the rounds in 25 years and it was a big deal that Bernie Taupin finally got that much closer to an EGOT status. However, it's tough to say if there's anything wrong with this song when it's the definition of a Throwback Thursday. Everything about it feels like it was done decades ago in a better song, and yet it still clicks perfectly along. There's nothing wrong with this and it actually is catchy and upbeat in all of the ways that the other songs are lacking. It's just that in a year of mediocre competition, it feels more like a toss-up sort of winner than one that resonated in pop culture at all. We all love Elton John, and that's why it won. Plain and simple. Not much else to say. It's fine, but I wish we had a better year for this category.


Best Loser

A comprehensive list and ranking of the songs that were nominated but did not win. This is a list predicated on which song that was nominated I liked the best.

1. "When She Loved Me"  Toy Story 2 (1999)
2. "The Green Leaves of Summer" - The Alamo (1960)
3. "That's Amore" - The Caddy (1953)
4. "A Town Without Pity" - A Town Without Pity (1961)
5. "The Rainbow Connection" - The Muppet Movie (1979)
6. "Somewhere Out There" - An American Tail (1986)
7. "The Circle of Life" - The Lion King (1994)
8. "The Man That Got Away" - A Star is Born (1954)
9. "Ben" - Ben (1972)
10. "How Far I'll Go" - Moana (2016)
11. "You've Got a Friend in Me" - Toy Story (1995)
12. "Somewhere in My Memory" - Home Alone (1990)
13. "I Love to See You Smile" - Parenthood (1989)
14. "The Sweetheart Tree" - The Great Race (1965)
15. "Carioca" - Flying Down to Rio (1934)
16. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" - Buck Privates (1941)
17. "Nobody Does it Better" - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
18. "That's How You Know" - Enchanted (2007)
19. "Belleville Rendez-vous" - The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
20. "Out Here on My Own" - Fame (1980)
21. "Journey Into the Past" - Anastasia (1997)
22. "Belle" - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
23. "I've Seen it All" - Dancer in the Dark (2000)
24. "Ghostbusters" - Ghostbusters (1984)
25. "Friend Like Me" - Aladdin (1992)
26. "The Moon Song" - Her (2013)
27. "I See the Light" - Tangled (2010)
28. "Eye of the Tiger" - Rocky III (1982)
29. "Gonna Fly Now" - Rocky (1976)
30. "Charade" - Charade (1963)
31. "Pieces of Dreams" - Pieces of Dreams (1970)
32. "Wild is the Wind" - Wild is the Wind (1957) 
33. "(Love is) The Tender Trap" - The Tender Trap (1955) 
34. "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" -Mahogany (1975)
35. "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" - Yentl (1983)
36. "Pi's Lullaby" - Life of Pi (2012)
37. "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" - Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (2014)
38. "Pass That Peace Pipe" - Good News (1947)
39. "They're Either Too Young Or Too Old" - Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
40. "Cheek to Cheek" - Top Hat (1935)
41. "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" - Orchestra Wives (1942)
42. "Georgy Girl" - Georgy Girl (1966)
43. "The Trolley Song" - Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
44. "Ac-Cent-U-Ate the Positive" - Here Comes the Wave (1945)
45. "Again" - Poetic Justice (1993)
46. "Come Saturday Morning" - The Sterile Cuckoo (1969)
47. "The Place Where Lost Things Go" - Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
48. "Cry Freedom" - Cry Freedom (1987)
49. "Live and Let Die" - Live and Let Die (1973)
50. "That'll Do" - Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
51. "Blazing Saddles" - Blazing Saddles (1974)
52. "The Mystery of Love" - Call Me By Your Name (2017)
53. "Listen" - Dreamgirls (2006)
54. "Into the Unknown" - Frozen II (2019)
55. "Life is What You Make It" - Koch (1971)
56. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
57. "Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog (2009)
58. "Where Love Has Gone" - Where Love Has Gone (1964)
59. "Zing a Little Zong"  - Just For You (1952)
60. "Ready to Take a Chance Again" - Foul Play (1978)
61. "Til It Happens to You" - The Hunting Ground (2015)
62. "Look to Your Path" - The Chorus (2004)
63. "The Hands That Built America" - Gangs of New York (2002)
64. "That Thing You Do" - That Thing You Do (1996)
65. "O... Saya" - Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
66. "Walk on the Wild Side" - Walk on the Wild Side (1962)
67. "Almost in Your Arms (Love Song from Houseboat)" - Houseboat (1958)
68. "Build Me a Kiss to Dream On" - The Strip (1951)
69. "Separate Lives" - White Night (1985)
70. "Star!" - Star! (1968)
71. "Two Hearts" - Buster (1988)
72. "Real in Rio" - Rio (2011)
73. "Wilhemina" - Wabash Avenue (1950)
74. "Travellin' Thru" - Transamerica (2005)
75. "Vanilla Sky" - Vanilla Sky (2001)
76. "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" - Come to the Stable (1949)
77. "Waltzing in the Clouds" - Spring Parade (1940)
78. "Endless Love" - Endless Love (1981)
79. "Strange Are the Ways of Love" - The Young Land (1959)
80. "Ole Buttermilk Sky" - Canyon Passage (1946)
81. "Julie" - Julie (1956)
82. "Dust" - Under Western Stars (1938)
83. "The Woody Woodpecker Song" - Wet Blanket Policy (1948)
84. "I Poured My Heart Into a Song" - Second Fiddle (1939)
85. "Remember Me" - Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937)
86. "I've Got You Under My Skin" - Born to Dance (1936)


Best Best Song

A comprehensive list and ranking of the songs that won this category. 

1. "Moon River" - Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
2. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
3. "My Heart Will Go On" - Titanic (1997)
4. "A Whole New World" - Aladdin (1992)
5. "The Way We Were" - The Way We Were (1973)
6. "The Way You Look Tonight" - Swing Time (1936)
7. "The Morning After" - The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
8. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
9. "Swinging on a Star" - Going My Way (1944)
10. "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" - The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
11. "Under the Sea" - The Little Mermaid (1989)
12. "Lose Yourself" - 8 Mile (2002)
13. "It Goes Like It Goes" - Norma Rae (1979)
14. "You'll Be in My Heart" - Tarzan (1999)
15. "Colors of the Wind" - Pocahontas (1995)
16. "Theme From Shaft" - Shaft (1971)
17. "For All We Know" - Love and Other Strangers (1970)
18. "All the Way" - The Joker is Wild (1957)
19. "Never on Sunday" - Never on Sunday (1960)
20. "Chim Chim Cher-ee" - Mary Poppins (1964)
21. "I'm Easy" - Nashville (1975)
22. "Beauty and the Beast" - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
23. "Talk to the Animals" - Dr. Dolittle (1967)
24. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" - Neptune's Daughter (1949)
25. "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" - Here Comes the Groom (1951)
26. "Born Free" - Born Free (1966)
27. "Fame" - Fame (1980)
28. "Three Coins in the Fountain" - Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
29. "Shallow" - A Star is Born (2018)
30. "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin')" - High Noon (1952)
31. "Love is A Many Splendored Thing" - Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1955)
32. "It Might as Well Be Spring" - State Fair (1945)
33. "White Christmas" - Holiday Inn (1942)
34. "Thanks for the Memory" - The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938)
35. "The Last Time I Saw Paris" - Lady Be Good (1941)
36. "Things Have Changed" - Wonder Boys (2000)
37. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" - The Lion King (1994)
38. "City of Stars" - La La Land (2016)
39. "High Hopes" - A Hole in the Head (1959)
40. "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
41. "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" - Rocketman (2019)
42. "Let It Go" - Frozen (2013)
43. "Into the West" - Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
44. "Gigi" - Gigi (1958)
45. "Mona Lisa" - Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1950)
46. "Skyfall" - Skyfall (2012)
47. "We Belong Together" - Toy Story 3 (2010)
48. "Glory" - Selma (2014)
49. "The Streets of Philadelphia" - Philadelphia (1993)
50. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - Dirty Dancing (1987)
51. "Remember Me" - Coco (2017)
52. "You Light Up My Life" - You Light Up My Life (1977)
53. "The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart (2009)
54. "The Days of Wine and Roses" - The Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
55. "Up Where We Belong" - An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
56. "The Shadow of Your Heart" - The Sandpiper (1965)
57. "Take My Breath Away" - Top Gun (1986)
58. "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" - Dick Tracy (1990)
59. "Buttons and Bows" - The Paleface (1948)
60. "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" - Song of the South (1947)
61. "When You Wish Upon a Star" - Pinocchio (1940)
62. "Al otra lado del rio" - The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
63. "The Windmills of Your Mind" - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
64. "You Must Love Me" - Evita (1996)
65. "Falling Slowly" - Once (2007)
66. "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" - Hustle & Flow (2005)
67. "Last Dance" - Thank God It's Friday (1978)
68. "Secret Love" - Calamity Jane (1953)
69. "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)" - Arthur (1981)
70. "If I Didn't Have You" - Monsters Inc. (2001)
71. "When You Believe" - The Prince of Egypt (1998)
72. "Say You Say Me" - White Night (1985)
73. "Evergreen (Theme From A Star is Born)" - A Star is Born (1976)
74. "Call Me Irresponsible" - Papa's Delicate Condition (1963)
75. "You'll Never Know" - Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943)
76. "On the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe" - Harvey Girls (1946)
77. "The Continental" - The Gay Divorcee (1934)
78. "Let the River Run" - Working Girl (1988)
79. "The Writing's On the Wall" - Spectre (2015)
80. "I Need to Wake Up" - An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
81. "The Lullaby of Broadway" - Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
82. "Man or Muppet" - The Muppets (2011)
83. "Flashdance... What a Feeling" - Flashdance (1983)
84. "We May Never Love Like This Again" - The Towering Inferno (1974)
85. "Sweet Leiulani" - Waikiki Wedding (1937)
86. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" - The Woman in Red (1984)

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