The Various Columns

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Best Song: "Remember Me" (2017)

Scene from Coco
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 2017 and The Academy is celebrating its 90th year. Director Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water won Best Picture, making it the first horror monster movie to win the category. It was the least watched ceremony in Oscar history with only 26.5 million. Mary J. Blige became the first person to be nominated in both Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song for Mudbound. Yance Ford becomes the first transgender director nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary nominee Strong Island. Greta Gerwig became the fifth woman nominated for Best Director with Lady Bird. James Ivory, at 89, became the oldest man to win a competitive Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay's Call Me By Your Name. Rachel Morrison was the first woman nominated for Best Cinematography for Mudbound. Jordan Peele became the first black filmmaker to receive nominations for producing, directing and writing in the same year, and the first to win Best Original Screenplay for Get Out. Christopher Plummer, at age 88, became the oldest actor nominated for Best Supporting Actor for All the Money in the World. Dee Rees is the first black woman nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay  for Mudbound. Agnes Varda, at 89, became the oldest person nominated for a competitive Oscar with Best Documentary's Faces Places. Denzel Washington, with Best Actor nomination for Roman J. Israel, Esq. is now the most honored black actor. Meanwhile, the Best Original Song category, for only the third time, overlapped with Best Animated Film for the third time as Coco demanded that we "Remember Me" on Oscar night.


The Nominees


Song: "Mighty River"
Film: Mudbound
Performers: Mary J. Blige

On the plus side, this is one of the better years for Best Original Song in the modern age, in part because the songs that were nominated actually hold some power behind them. I may not be that much into gospel, but Mary J. Blige is definitely full of a passion that is undeniable here. Somehow she manages to make a song soar through the raptors and creates one of the most passionate songs of the year. It's not my favorite, but the way it's produced is incredibly effective, and I have to admit that this is a great song from one of Netflix's first major Oscar contenders that stuck. I like Mudbound a lot, and this is definitely part of the reason it's resonated.


Song: "Mystery of Love"
Film: Call Me By Your Name
Performers: Sufjan Stevens

In a perfect world, this would've won the Oscar. Of course, I am partial because Sufjan Stevens brought two great songs to the soundtrack of Call Me By Your Name, and it all played beautifully into the composition. To me, this song has a nice lull to it that captures something pure and sweet about love. It may be one of the most ominous nominees since Elliott Smith for Good Will Hunting back in the late 90's. I know that to some this is a bit twee, but there's still a craft to it that's undeniable. With that said, I will be doing a bonus section this time to look at Stevens other song from last year. It's not from Call Me By Your Name, but it has a thematic relevance to a certain little other film that won an Oscar (you can guess or keep scrolling).



Song: "Stand Up for Something"
Film: Marshall
Performers: Andra Day, Common

I think the one thing that's clear is that Andra Day is really talented. Her voice carries this song and has a power to every note she sings. You believe in her cause simply by how earnest she is. However, I do think in general that this song falls into a peevish category of Oscar nominees for me. It's the message song, which isn't terrible in concept, but does seem pretty pandering when judged as having something greater so say. I wasn't wild about Common's other Best Original Song entry with Selma's "Glory," which was equally about motivation without much exciting orchestration. It's a decent song, but I wish there was something more to this song besides Andra Day doing an incredible vocal job and Common giving a gimmicky, familiar verse. 



Song: "This Is Me"
Film: The Greatest Showman
Performers: Kaela Settle

To provide a look into my life, I have a sister who has played The Greatest Showman soundtrack almost every day since seeing the movie. I am familiar enough with it to know that this kooky little musical has a lot going for it. With that said, I think that "This Is Me" is kind of the weak link of the dozen songs from the film, and I honestly believe that this is a repeat of last year's "City of Stars" where one song inexplicably gets pushed to the front because of the impact they think it has compared to what it's actually achieving. It's a fine song and the ensemble does an overpowering job. It's just too vanilla and familiar in that it captures the same sentiments that most empowerment songs are supposed to have. I'm not going to nitpick as to why I feel the song is out of place in the film, but it's only evidence for why this feels like the wrong pick from a solid list of options.


The Winner


Song: "Remember Me"
Film: Coco
Performers: Miguel, Natalia Lafourcade

I guess something needed to win this category. In all honesty, I liked Coco but think in general it's an indictment to how bland 2017's output of animated movies were that it's the only film that really stood out. There's nothing wrong with this song and I think it gets a boost from its emotional text in the film. However, I don't really care for it otherwise. It's a simple ballad that hits all of the right sentimental notes, but without any catchy hook that made the songwriters the first double-EGOT's in history (I doubt this will have the same impact of your "Let it Go"s of the world). It's fine, but I don't see Coco being top tier Pixar in five or 10 years and ironically, I won't remember "Remember Me" either.


Bonus!


Song: "Tonya Harding"
Film: N/A
Performers: Sufjan Stevens

Can you imagine if this song was actually in I, Tonya? How much better would the movie be if there was this powerful Sufjan Stevens number accentuating a powerful moment on screen? I don't even like Tonya Harding and feel that the film is largely sloppy. However, this song comes with a tender force that captures how much of a misguided figure Harding actually was. Stevens' affection for her fits the music and it makes you wish that this was nominated, if just because then "Remember Me" would have had some major competition. I'm not sure if I would sacrifice "The Mystery of Love" for it, but at least it would be a nomination the film deserved (sorry Allison Janney). But alas, it wasn't in a film, so that's another piece of misguided history for I, Tonya


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. "The Mystery of Love" - Call Me By Your Name (2017)
52. "Listen" - Dreamgirls (2006)
53. "Life is What You Make It" - Koch (1971)
54. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" - Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
55. "Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog (2009)
56. "Where Love Has Gone" - Where Love Has Gone (1964)
57. "Zing a Little Zong"  - Just For You (1952)
58. "Ready to Take a Chance Again" - Foul Play (1978)
59. "Til It Happens to You" - The Hunting Ground (2015)
60. "Look to Your Path" - The Chorus (2004)
61. "The Hands That Built America" - Gangs of New York (2002)
62. "That Thing You Do" - That Thing You Do (1996)
63. "O... Saya" - Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
64. "Walk on the Wild Side" - Walk on the Wild Side (1962)
65. "Almost in Your Arms (Love Song from Houseboat)" - Houseboat (1958)
66. "Build Me a Kiss to Dream On" - The Strip (1951)
67. "Separate Lives" - White Night (1985)
68. "Star!" - Star! (1968)
69. "Two Hearts" - Buster (1988)
70. "Real in Rio" - Rio (2011)
71. "Wilhemina" - Wabash Avenue (1950)
72. "Travellin' Thru" - Transamerica (2005)
73. "Vanilla Sky" - Vanilla Sky (2001)
74. "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" - Come to the Stable (1949)
75. "Waltzing in the Clouds" - Spring Parade (1940)
76. "Endless Love" - Endless Love (1981)
77. "Strange Are the Ways of Love" - The Young Land (1959)
78. "Ole Buttermilk Sky" - Canyon Passage (1946)
79. "Julie" - Julie (1956)
80. "Dust" - Under Western Stars (1938)
81. "The Woody Woodpecker Song" - Wet Blanket Policy (1948)
82. "I Poured My Heart Into a Song" - Second Fiddle (1939)
83. "Remember Me" - Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937)
84. "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. "Remember Me" - Coco (2017)
50. "You Light Up My Life" - You Light Up My Life (1977)
51. "The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart (2009)
52. "The Days of Wine and Roses" - The Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
53. "Up Where We Belong" - An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
54. "The Shadow of Your Heart" - The Sandpiper (1965)
55. "Take My Breath Away" - Top Gun (1986)
56. "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" - Dick Tracy (1990)
57. "Buttons and Bows" - The Paleface (1948)
58. "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" - Song of the South (1947)
59. "When You Wish Upon a Star" - Pinocchio (1940)
60. "Al otra lado del rio" - The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
61. "The Windmills of Your Mind" - The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
62. "You Must Love Me" - Evita (1996)
63. "Falling Slowly" - Once (2007)
64. "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" - Hustle & Flow (2005)
65. "Last Dance" - Thank God It's Friday (1978)
66. "Secret Love" - Calamity Jane (1953)
67. "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)" - Arthur (1981)
68. "If I Didn't Have You" - Monsters Inc. (2001)
69. "When You Believe" - The Prince of Egypt (1998)
70. "Say You Say Me" - White Night (1985)
71. "Evergreen (Theme From A Star is Born)" - A Star is Born (1976)
72. "Call Me Irresponsible" - Papa's Delicate Condition (1963)
73. "You'll Never Know" - Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943)
74. "On the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe" - Harvey Girls (1946)
75. "The Continental" - The Gay Divorcee (1934)
76. "Let the River Run" - Working Girl (1988)
77. "The Writing's On the Wall" - Spectre (2015)
78. "I Need to Wake Up" - An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
79. "The Lullaby of Broadway" - Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
80. "Man or Muppet" - The Muppets (2011)
81. "Flashdance... What a Feeling" - Flashdance (1983)
82. "We May Never Love Like This Again" - The Towering Inferno (1974)
83. "Sweet Leiulani" - Waikiki Wedding (1937)
84. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" - The Woman in Red (1984)

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