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Image via Fan Pop
Music and movies are a mix best left untouched; even in the pre-talkies silent era, most films featured live pianists or other instrumentalists. The Oscars’ Best Original Song category has served as an esteemed channel between the two mediums, and the announcement of this year’s shortlist carries forth that tradition.
The Academy of Arts and Sciences shared the 74 eligible works, of which five will go on to become the official post-vote nominees. It’s a process that often goes overlooked, providing a chance to note how 12 months’ of tracks are whittled down to the top candidates.
Eminem, who won the award in 2003 for 8 Mile‘s “Lose Yourself,” has a possible bid thanks to his contribution to the Southpaw soundtrack. Childish Gambino, Vince Staples, Jhene Aiko, and Ludwig Göransson appear on the shortlist with a Creed original. Likely favorites include The Weeknd’s mega-hit “Earned It” and Wiz Khalifa’s Charlie Puth-assisted “See You Again.” Head below for a full rundown of the potential nominees—no more than two can come from the same film.
Related: From Childish Gambino to Creed: Producer Ludwig Goransson’s Grand Vision
1. Erin Sax — “Happy” (Altered Minds)
2. The Chipmunks & The Chipettes — “Home” (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip)
3. Carter Burwell — “None Of Them Are You” (Anomalisa)
4. Sons of the Sea — “Stem To The Rose” (Becoming Bulletproof)
5. Josh Groban — “The Mystery Of Your Gift” (Boychoir)
6. Jennifer Hudson — “I Run” (Chi-Raq)
7. R. Kelly feat. Tink — “Pray 4 My City” (Chi-Raq)
8. Mali Music — “Sit Down For This” (Chi-Raq)
9. Sonna Rele — “Strong” (Cinderella)
10. Leon Bridges — “So Long” (Concussion)
11. Meek Mill, Jhene Aiko, and Ludwig Goransson — “Fighting Stronger” (Creed)
12. Tessa Thompson — “Grip” (from Creed)
13. Donald Glover, Jhené Aiko, Vince Staples, and Ludwig Göransson — “Waiting For My Moment” (Creed)
14. Al Pacino — “Don’t Look Down” (Danny Collins)
15. Al Pacino — “Hey Baby Doll” (Danny Collins)
16. Nate Heller ft. Amber Coffman — ”Dreamsong” (The Diary of a Teenage Girl)
17. Awreeoh — “It’s My Turn Now” (Dope)
18. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan — “Ya Rahem, Maula Maula” (Dukhtar)
19. The Weeknd — “Earned It” (Fifty Shades of Grey)
20. Ellie Goulding — “Love Me Like You Do” (Fifty Shades of Grey)
21. Sia — “Salted Wound” (Fifty Shades of Grey)
22. Miley Cyrus — “Hands Of Love” (Freeheld)
23. Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth — “See You Again” (Furious 7)
24. RØSE and Jake Goldman — “Brother” (Godspeed: The Story of Page Jones)
25. Rihanna — “As Real As You And Me” (Home)
26. Rihanna — “Dancing In The Dark” (Home)
27. Jennifer Lopez — “Feel The Light” (Home)
28. Charli XCX, “Red Balloon” (Home)
29. Miranda Lambert — “Two Of A Crime” (Hot Pursuit)
30. Lady Gaga — “Til It Happens To You” (The Hunting Ground)
31. Keegan DeWitt —“I’ll See You In My Dreams” (I’ll See You in My Dreams)
32. Eva Dahlgrens — “The Movie About Us” (Ingrid Bergman – In Her Own Words)
33. Ouseppachan — “Bhoomiyilenghanumundo” (Jalam)
34. Shaktisree — “Koodu Vaykkan” (Jalam)
35. Ouseppachan — “Pakalppaathi Chaari” (Jalam)
36. Shakthisree Gopalan — “Yaathra Manoradhamerum” (Jalam)
37. Kristina Train — “Lost In Love” (Jenny’s Wedding)
38. Kristina Train — “True Love Avenue” (Jenny’s Wedding)
39. Damien Rice — “Hypnosis” (Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet)
40. Juanes — “Juntos (Together)” (McFarland, USA)
41. Andra Day — “The Light That Never Fails” (Meru)
42. Paloma Faith — “The Crazy Ones” (Miss You Already)
43. Tyson Ritter — “There’s A Place” (Miss You Already)
44. Miles Kane — “Johanna” (Mortdecai)
45. Lily Allen — “Little Soldier” (Pan)
46. Lily Allen — “Something’s Not Right” (Pan)
47. Javier del Santo — “Paranoid Girl” (Paranoid Girls)
48. Meghan Trainor — “Better When I’m Dancin’” (The Peanuts Movie)
49. Anthony Fedorov — “Pink & Blue” (Pink & Blue: Colors of Hereditary Cancer)
50. Jessie J — “Flashlight” (Pitch Perfect 2)
51. Mark Orton — “Birds Of A Feather” (Poached)
52. Dig the Kid — “Still Breathing” (Point Break)
53. J. Ralph and Antony — “Manta Ray” (Racing Extinction)
54. Meryl Streep — “Cold One” (Ricki and the Flash)
55. Isa Machine & LP — “Torch” (Rock the Kasbah)
56. Mates of State — “Someone Like You” (The Rumperbutts)
57. Various Artists — “Aankhon Me Samaye Dil” (Salt Bridge)
58. Various Artists — “Bachpana Thaa” (Salt Bridge)
59. Various Artists — “Kanpne Lage Tum” (Salt Bridge)
60. Various Artists — “Kyaa Bataaun Tujhe” (Salt Bridge)
61. Various Artists — “Le Jaaye Jo Door Tumse” (Salt Bridge)
62. Various Artists — “Na Jaane Kitni Door” (Salt Bridge)
63. Various Artists — “Sookha Hi Rang Daalo” (Salt Bridge)
64. Tim Wheeler — “Feels Like Summer” (Sheep Movie)
65. Eminem — “Phenomenal” (Southpaw)
66. Sam Smith — “Writing’s On The Wall” (Spectre)
67. N.E.R.D. — “Squeeze Me” (The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water)
68. Tom Kenny and Doug Lawrence — “Teamwork” (The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water)
69. Ivy Levan — “Who Can You Trust” (Spy)
70. Get Fr3e — “Came To Win” (Sweet Micky for President)
71. Amanda Seyfried — “Mean Ol’ Moon” (Ted 2)
72. Kris Fogelmark — “Love Was My Alibi” (The Water Diviner)
73. Priscilla Ahn — “Fine On The Outside” (When Marnie Was There)
74. David Lang — “Simple Song #3″ (Youth)
Here’s a clip of the acceptance speech for “Lose Yourself” at the 2003 Oscars, which sadly came and went without an appearance from Eminem but is still very much worth watching because Luis Resto showed up rocking a Detroit Pistons jersey beneath his suit.
