Best Original Song: A Categorical History (2006-2011)
Yeah…
2006: “I NEED TO WAKE UP,” FROM AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
“Our Town,” from Cars
“Listen,” from Dreamgirls
“Love You I Do,” from Dreamgirls
“Patience,” from Dreamgirls
Analysis: I hate this category and do not care about any of these songs. But I would vote like the Academy did, so, that’s nice.
My Vote: “I Need to Wake Up”
Rankings:
5. “Our Town”
4. “Patience”
3. “Listen”
2. “Love You I Do”
1. “I Need to Wake Up”
2007: “FALLING SLOWLY,” FROM Once
“Happy Working Song,” from Enchanted
“So Close,” from Enchanted
“That’s How You Know,” from Enchanted
“Raise It Up,” from August Rush
Analysis: Oh man, what a category. “Falling Slowly” has to be your winner. But even so, I fucking love all the songs from Enchanted. That is the best songwriting Disney has done since Tarzan. (Alan Menken once again.)
My Vote: “Falling Slowly”
Rankings:
5. “Raise It Up”
4. “So Close”
3. “Happy Working Song”
2. “That’s How You Know”
1. “Falling Slowly”
2008: “JAI HO,” FROM SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
“O…Saya,” from Slumdog Millionaire
“Down to Earth,” from Wall-E
Analysis: See how bad the category is without Springsteen? I’d have accepted “Jai Ho” winning — just give Bruce a chance. Still, with these three — “Jai Ho” the winner. Love “Down to Earth” though. Really do.
My Vote: “Jai Ho”
Rankings:
3. “O…Saya”
2. “Down to Earth”
1. “Jai Ho”
2009: “THE WEARY KIND,” FROM CRAZY HEART
“Almost There,” from The Princess and the Frog
“Down in New Orleans,” from The Princess and the Frog
“Loin de Paname,” from Paris 36
“Take It All,” from Nine
Analysis: “The Weary Kind” is the only thing that even merits a response.
Okay, maybe that’s harsh. But you see what I mean. That’s the only song that comes close to winning here.
My Vote: “The Weary Kind”
Rankings:
5. “Loin de Paname”
4. “Down in New Orleans”
3. “Take It All”
2. “Almost There”
1. “The Weary Kind”
2010: “WE BELONG TOGETHER,” FROM TOY STORY 3
“I See the Light,” from Tangled
“Coming Home,” from Country Strong
“If I Rise,” from 127 Hours
Analysis: I hated this category. Randy Newman was the only person worth voting for. Also, weird how he lost for the first two and won here. I guess all it took was a weak category. Good going, new rules.
My Vote: “We Belong Together”
Rankings:
4. “Coming Home”
3. “If I Rise”
2. “I See the Light”
1. “We Belong Together”
2011: “MAN OR MUPPET,” FROM THE MUPPETS
“Real in Rio,” from Rio
Analysis: Awful.
My Vote: “Man or Muppet”
Rankings:
2. “Real in Rio”
1. “Man or Muppet”
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And we’re done. Wrap up article shortly.
My opening comments about the alternatives being not so much better than the nominees still stands, except for this past years and 2008 with The Wrestler. Anyway, here we go:
2006: Song of the Heart from Happy Feet performed by Prince; Family of Me from Over the Hedge performed by Ben Folds
2007: Le Festin from Ratatouille performed by Camille
2008: The Wrestler from The Wrestler performed by Bruce Springsteen (my winner); Gran Torino from Gran Torino performed by Jamie Cullum
2009: Winter from Brothers performed by U2
2010: You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me from Burlesque performed by Cher
2011: Life’s a Happy Song from The Muppets performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams, and Walter (my winner); Pictures in My Head from The Muppets performed by Kermit and the rest of the Muppets; The Living Proof from The Help performed by Mary J. Blige (I liked the movie and the song); Coeur Volant from Hugo performed by Zaz
July 20, 2012 at 3:08 pm