BEST ORIGINAL SONG NOMINEES

Every year I like to present the nominees for Best Original Song at the Oscars. This year is no exception with a plethora of strong selections from empowering anthems to Eurovision.

And the Nominees for Best Original Song
“Fight For You,” Judas and the Black Messiah
D’Mile & H.E.R. (music); H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas (lyrics)

“Hear My Voice,” The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Pemberton (music); Celeste & Pemberton (lyrics)

“Husavik,” Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Rickard Göransson, Fat Max Gsus & Savan Kotecha (music & lyrics)

“Io Si (Seen),” The Life Ahead
Diane Warren (music); Laura Pausini & Warren (lyrics)

“Speak Now,” One Night in Miami…
Sam Ashworth & Leslie Odom Jr. (music & lyrics)

It’s worth noting that “Io Si (Seen)” marks Diane Warren’s 12th Oscar nomination. Some believe this may finally be her year. She won the Golden Globe for the song featured in Netflix’s The Life Ahead starring Sophia Loren. It’s a wonderful movie, yet not many people have seen it.  When you look back at some of her nominated songs in the past like “There You’ll Be” (Pearl Harbor) “Because You Loved Me” (Up Close and Personal) or “How Do I Live” (Con Air), it’s hard to believe she hasn’t won yet. “Io Si” is a lesser known song than those soaring anthems, so I think the chances of her winning aren’t as high as Leslie Odom Jr. Odom’s song “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami. Odom is also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Sam Cooke. Odom’s potential Oscar win could get him one step closer to EGOT status having won a Grammy and Tony for his performance as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. Odom won the Critics Choice Award, and there’s more overall buzz for his film than The Life Ahead. I don’t want to count out the other strong nominees, but “Io Si” and “Speak Now” have the strongest momentum at this time.

WILL WIN: “Speak Now” by Leslie Odom, Jr (One Night in Miami)

SHOULD WIN: “Speak Now” by Leslie Odom, Jr (One Night in Miami)