The Various Columns

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Best Song: "City of Stars" (2016)

Scene from La La Land
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 2016 and The Academy is celebrating its 89th year. Director Barry Jenkins' Moonlight won Best Picture. It became the first LGBT-related film to win as well as the first with an all-black cast. The night's big winner La La Land took home six awards and was nominated for 14, tying with All About Eve and Titanic for most Oscar nominations. Damien Chazelle also won Best Director for the film and at 32 became the youngest winner in the category. At 467 minutes, O.J.: Made in America became the longest film to win an Academy Award. Meanwhile, La La Land was looking at a "City of Stars" as it won the  Best Original Song category.



The Nominees


Song: "Audition (Fools Who Dream)"
Film: La La Land
Performers: Emma Stone

If one song won from La La Land, I don't understand why it wasn't this one. Not only was it pivotal to the plot, but it also has more of an emotional resonance that sticks with the listener. Speaking as Emma Stone won Best Actress, you can tell why with every note of this song. I'm sure in time we'll realize that this was the better song from the film nominated. It's emotional and manages to have a walking melody that captures the listener and overwhelms their senses. It's beautiful and makes you laugh to think that only 10 years ago, Stone was in Superbad. Weird how two of those actors now are double nominees.



Song: "Can't Stop the Feeling"
Film: Trolls
Performers: Justin Timberlake

All things considered, it's weird that this is only Justin Timberlake's second time around in this category (first as an actual nominee). Speaking as he's one of the modern pop-smiths that can make anything into an infectious beat, it makes sense that he would have quite a few nominations by now. However, I think this song benefits from being played heavily on the radio. It's a thing that I wish more of these songs would do. I admit it's a little repetitive, but it's so well crafted that even if it's annoying, it gets stuck in your head. I personally think it does so in an adequate manner. It's a good pop song, and it's the type of stuff that The Academy should encourage more often.


Song: "The Empty Chair"
Film: Jim:: The James Foley Story
Performers: J. Ralph, Sting

Just when you thought that 2017 would be different, The Academy gives a shout out to Sting. What is it about this guy? He's boring, yet he has been nominated four times now. The only upside is that this song is probably on the more tolerable side of his catalog. It has a sparing and tender tone that makes things go down smooth. I still think that Sting is Ambien jacked to the extreme, but at least this song that doesn't deserve to be nominated isn't as bad as some of his other work.



Song: "How Far I'll Go"
Film: Moana
Performers: Auli'i Cravalho

I love La La Land and all, but I was waiting for them to also announce that they lost Best Original Song. It isn't just because Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote better music, but because "How Far I'll Go" is top Disney caliber work. It sticks with you and overwhelms the senses. There will come a day during the "La La Land is overrated" era when we realize just how much Moana deserved more recognition. This is the "Part of Your World" for the 21st century. It's so well crafted that it reflects the perfect balance of music and craft. Plain and simple, they were smart for nominating this song, but dumb for not noticing its beauty.


The Winner


Song: "City of Stars"
Film: La La Land
Performers: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone

I still think that it's weird that of all songs, this one won. I wouldn't really rank it among the handful of best songs from the film. It's just so melancholic and understated. I wish that there was a little something extra to this song. It's fine as a little ditty and it works as a motif, but I definitely think that if we were to praise Justin Hurwitz's song craft, "Audition" just has so much more going for it. This song doesn't have much beyond a catchy hook going for it. Still, I'd rather have seen "Someone in the Crowd" or "Another Day of Sun" fill this nomination than "City of Stars," which is a little underwhelming and lacks the pizzazz that a Best Original Song winner needs.


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. "Cry Freedom" - Cry Freedom (1987)
48. "Live and Let Die" - Live and Let Die (1973)
49. "That'll Do" - Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
50. "Blazing Saddles" - Blazing Saddles (1974)
51. "Listen" - Dreamgirls (2006)
52. "Life is What You Make It" - Koch (1971)
53. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
54. "Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog (2009)
55. "Where Love Has Gone" - Where Love Has Gone (1964)
56. "Zing a Little Zong"  - Just For You (1952)
57. "Ready to Take a Chance Again" - Foul Play (1978)
58. "Til It Happens to You" - The Hunting Ground (2015)
59. "Look to Your Path" - The Chorus (2004)
60. "The Hands That Built America" - Gangs of New York (2002)
61. "That Thing You Do" - That Thing You Do (1996)
62. "O... Saya" - Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
63. "Walk on the Wild Side" - Walk on the Wild Side (1962)
64. "Almost in Your Arms (Love Song from Houseboat)" - Houseboat (1958)
65. "Build Me a Kiss to Dream On" - The Strip (1951)
66. "Separate Lives" - White Night (1985)
67. "Star!" - Star! (1968)
68. "Two Hearts" - Buster (1988)
69. "Real in Rio" - Rio (2011)
70. "Wilhemina" - Wabash Avenue (1950)
71. "Travellin' Thru" - Transamerica (2005)
72. "Vanilla Sky" - Vanilla Sky (2001)
73. "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" - Come to the Stable (1949)
74. "Waltzing in the Clouds" - Spring Parade (1940)
75. "Endless Love" - Endless Love (1981)
76. "Strange Are the Ways of Love" - The Young Land (1959)
77. "Ole Buttermilk Sky" - Canyon Passage (1946)
78. "Julie" - Julie (1956)
79. "Dust" - Under Western Stars (1938)
80. "The Woody Woodpecker Song" - Wet Blanket Policy (1948)
81. "I Poured My Heart Into a Song" - Second Fiddle (1939)
82. "Remember Me" - Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937)
83. "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. "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin')" - High Noon (1952)
30. "Love is A Many Splendored Thing" - Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1955)
31. "It Might as Well Be Spring" - State Fair (1945)
32. "White Christmas" - Holiday Inn (1942)
33. "Thanks for the Memory" - The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938)
34. "The Last Time I Saw Paris" - Lady Be Good (1941)
35. "Things Have Changed" - Wonder Boys (2000)
36. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" - The Lion King (1994)
37. "City of Stars" - La La Land (2016)
38. "High Hopes" - A Hole in the Head (1959)
39. "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
40. "Let It Go" - Frozen (2013)
41. "Into the West" - Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
42. "Gigi" - Gigi (1958)
43. "Mona Lisa" - Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1950)
44. "Skyfall" - Skyfall (2012)
45. "We Belong Together" - Toy Story 3 (2010)
46. "Glory" - Selma (2014)
47. "The Streets of Philadelphia" - Philadelphia (1993)
48. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - Dirty Dancing (1987)
49. "You Light Up My Life" - You Light Up My Life (1977)
50. "The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart (2009)
51. "The Days of Wine and Roses" - The Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
52. "Up Where We Belong" - An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
53. "The Shadow of Your Heart" - The Sandpiper (1965)
54. "Take My Breath Away" - Top Gun (1986)
55. "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" - Dick Tracy (1990)
56. "Buttons and Bows" - The Paleface (1948)
57. "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" - Song of the South (1947)
58. "When You Wish Upon a Star" - Pinocchio (1940)
59. "Al otra lado del rio" - The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
60. "The Windmills of Your Mind" - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
61. "You Must Love Me" - Evita (1996)
62. "Falling Slowly" - Once (2007)
63. "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" - Hustle & Flow (2005)
64. "Last Dance" - Thank God It's Friday (1978)
65. "Secret Love" - Calamity Jane (1953)
66. "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)" - Arthur (1981)
67. "If I Didn't Have You" - Monsters Inc. (2001)
68. "When You Believe" - The Prince of Egypt (1998)
69. "Say You Say Me" - White Night (1985)
70. "Evergreen (Theme From A Star is Born)" - A Star is Born (1976)
71. "Call Me Irresponsible" - Papa's Delicate Condition (1963)
72. "You'll Never Know" - Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943)
73. "On the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe" - Harvey Girls (1946)
74. "The Continental" - The Gay Divorcee (1934)
75. "Let the River Run" - Working Girl (1988)
76. "The Writing's On the Wall" - Spectre (2015)
77. "I Need to Wake Up" - An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
78. "The Lullaby of Broadway" - Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
79. "Man or Muppet" - The Muppets (2011)
80. "Flashdance... What a Feeling" - Flashdance (1983)
81. "We May Never Love Like This Again" - The Towering Inferno (1974)
82. "Sweet Leiulani" - Waikiki Wedding (1937)
83. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" - The Woman in Red (1984)

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