Here are today’s rankings for the 84th Oscar Original Song race, with previous ranking shown in parenthesis after each entry.
This is often a particularly difficult category to predict, partly because so few news stories are written about this race, and partly because some songs get added to the credits after the film has been finished. Additionally, the music branch has a special rule where the composer or songwriter has to submit the work themselves, instead of having them be considered when the film as a whole is submitted. (I trust you have all heard the news about Hans Zimmer by now.)
For today’s predictions, I have included the writer and name of the songs where I could find it, but settled for the performer or score composer when my research didn’t yield that information. I also went out on a limb for a few films (Joyful Noise, My Last Day Without You) that could conceivably receive limited qualifying runs that would make them eligible in this category, the same way that Country Strong did last year.
As always, please let me know in the comments if you think I’ve missed anything!
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Piz5Yd2qPXwL3pj2KKAGQ01tjPTDabJ3spC5NZrHBA2W-cFGkCYW6Ie6kGE0CIB3TXVKnlmH4LOzIXQIRPDuotvB_NVgmUYBzjRRGLKv1Gy8KNp1cJ4)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/v-qoMB8Mrm-GthySdadrYmPBUCd_sNna4mdc-2Ta02EEKcbm71j7qgfzz7MexuE7YhpOmW2b5vd0ZJpiWuDgvsezKkZ69qrJNItJpaFZ5RREDZh7ILk)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/8GVr-wikAq2CoyL4mkX5FpU7UBZa_nVY5Qr0NNAMQfAmcLEe2IePXu_Vsq2datctEm8jeRaZTBBMLTAtbxx4Uzr3FN4q9uK_02qYEajel4We8w1E5Qc)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sY-dAABv_Gzl8sx0XmEYaJkIz36vgOeCFtajIFBRUpjBMq9WFUfV9WCM6640wp-pbd2Wp52Q0OGrlc56FBJZ9x-2-grjwjwfvxLyn_2pZbCufA18n-Y)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/XurRah88vK1jzajNj98t-l26JIVi7gaTKBnSDczw7Ajf9ykhwSkMhGPSSBhhq88P-xtYpLJSugS--01Tgd32dWrOosqkT71fC9bxzJPmU2NVXwB6zNc)
1. Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr. and Thomas Newman for “The Living Proof” from The Help (Predicted Winner) (previous rank 1)
2. Alan Menken and David Zippel for “Star Spangled Man” from Captain America: The First Avenger (previous rank 40)
3. Glenn Close and Brian Byrne for “Lay Your Head Down” from Albert Nobbs (New)
4. Zooey Deschanel for “So Long” from Winnie The Pooh (previous rank 4)
5. Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and Mervyn Warren for Joyful Noise (previous rank 2)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pvzI2Y6i5Xz-qP4rq2p1KDjJy0dXABOYmORbRVuT8A9bDbagc9-bjiwoHG5IgrO_p-5q8cRgTFb34MbZWUE6WgFlBXFLl0jHmondj_tRUb0uIB6qDZw)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ILBoUse9eKAZMd9GvVCVoVgKhRAoz5FySrw6lv3TlRFkYwOTHGDDhQqTEQC8AOPpArbz0dNLSXtLFBDaUnYg57XpkjziD13mvhx09DXuGFygOie8Foc)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mGsiNQAC-VmyqkSl3_ZXHvls5X8hmw94sj8B1JRWCSubhltt70qtFEVuq83pEbVqJd8SSd86s3Xp6zXBits-pory1Md1muiwyHiEQ0TXKu_AsZvDNQ)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Y5GQInX0eamksORskwwElAvBgnEhSnpI9A0mSkGdbTV1ikQWRQ9w9CFLTvLchjPyrghFmj4_xkzAW6ShNp9Ek24JJ9_hQGi-UdduU8mxckUBDlngcyw)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/x1K-5U1-FIsgm_-E_WmD_Cb4nugRMgJ3hqzdF5pJ-zpNl7VawOrPwVI7TsD7UesTTCHe_w6rhnjRVNV97iKM1x1Fk1l7ez3OTq_a7A85fkKu2F_VMxs)
Alternates:
6. Bebo Valdes for Chico & Rita (previous rank 17)
7. Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman for “Pictures In My Head” from The Muppets (previous rank 3)
8. Josiah Dean and Ryan Tedder for “The World I Knew” from African Cats (previous rank 5)
9. J. Ralph for “Hell And Back” from Hell And Back Again (previous rank 7)
10. Elton John and Bernie Taupin for “Hello, Hello” from Gnomeo & Juliet (previous rank 45)
11. Alecia Moore (Pink) and Billy Mann for “Bridge Of Light” from Happy Feet 2 (previous rank 11)
12. Brad Paisley and Robbie Williams for “Collision Of Worlds” from Cars 2 (previous rank 13)
13. Gregtronic for "A Very Jolly Day (For You To Die)" from A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (New)
14. Chris Cornell for “The Keeper” from Machine Gun Preacher (New)
15. Matt Berninger for “Think You Can Wait” from Win Win (New)
16. Zac Brown for “Where The River Goes” from Footloose (New)
17. Jonsi Birgisson for “Gathering Stories” from We Bought A Zoo (previous rank 33)
18. Mumford And Sons for “Enemy” from Wuthering Heights (previous rank 48)
19. Ludacris, Busta Rhymes and Dan Omar for Fast Five (previous rank 19)
20. Bruno Mars for “It Will Rain” from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (previous rank 35)
21. Bret McKenzie for “Life’s A Happy Song” from The Muppets (previous rank 3)
22. Elton John and Bernie Taupin for “Love Builds A Garden” from Gnomeo & Juliet (previous rank 45)
23. Ben Nichols for “Shelter” from Take Shelter (New)
24. John Williams for War Horse (previous rank 12)
25. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (previous rank 15)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oICNSifV3OdxFoi0h2mJ_gQ9Yt5rUnDiuLhRzqiRyjFJgUY1UHto3-im8JZxSmWcLLYZsAybTYDyiynRQyzhzV6dvLUwIc9A-akCO_vbizhleS4nqmA)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RiN8bRnWSZbVB_yn1U11RIIbVHkPctXU6e9jgD7ikOAB2M4XqRq2DB_bwOFyG-Pn5ViQUB_YNPAti7yJf-Rc7x1361B0UqxvQf_8cWaOBikjZhqNObY)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8BmJQQrV3hXFNClbDxOBNqnsSVuG93QZlpDCFZq8_X510V3K58Ft3DEaOoamoS52sxw69By_xvrTTC1fnqGPAuFdZgVM_9_80CSGFK-T2E62ebxff5k)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TqsPvAJJpSis3VN49cnmy0r4PHERn5crs8pY7Zs4WVWOOahEaYfDoxBQAXhKP4D97X99q-JHeTjCC0qsRBwLBrFFG_MEwEvigNznYkkyeKLIbOAwssI)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/olBpoOKT_iDQnjXq6kXife38_DK1GxamPZlB2NtqTHMyhVnNKA3goZfOYGpuDr-Uf_GKKWDlNPGyj3FbkM73Hl6BTtplqUADUfUQa3DEgv81M-G-WWU)
26. Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez for “The Backson Song” from Winnie The Pooh (previous rank 4)
27. Ester Dean, Carlinhos Brown and Mikael Mutti for “Let Me Take You To Rio (Blu’s Arrival)” from Rio (previous rank 14)
28. Kerris Dorsey for “The Show” from Moneyball (previously ranked 44)
29. Alexandre Desplat for Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (New)
30. Henry Jackman for Puss In Boots (New)
31. OK Go for “The Greatest Song I Ever Heard” from POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (New)
32. Elvis Costello for “Sparkling Day” from One Day (previous rank 37)
33. Nicole Beharie for My Last Day Without You (previous rank 8)
34. Paul Cantelon for ”Summer Song” from The Music Never Stopped (previous rank 24)
35. Benabar (Bruno Nicolini) for “Mon Caeur Fait Vroom (My Heart Goes Vroom)” from Cars 2 (previous rank 13)
36. Linkin Park for “Iridescent” from Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (previous rank 30)
37. Foo Fighter for “Walk” from Thor (previously ranked 45)
38. Bret McKenzie for “Man Or Muppet” from The Muppets (previous rank 3)
39. William James Adams (will.i.am) for “Hot Wings (I Wanna Party)” from Rio (previous rank 14)
40. John Williams for The Adventures Of Tintin: Secret Of The Unicorn (previous rank 6)
41. Sergio Mendes, John Powell, Carlinhos Brown, Mikael Mutti and Siedah Garrett for “Real In Rio” from Rio (previous rank 14)
42. Big & Rich for “Fake I.D.” from Footloose (New)
43. Take That for “When We Were Young” from The Three Musketeers (New)
44. This Will Destroy You for “The Mighty Rio Grande” from Moneyball (previously reanked 44)
45. Young Adult (New)
46. Clint Mansell and Thomas Newman for The Iron Lady (New)
47. Gabriel Yared for In The Land Of Blood And Honey (New)
48. Kasabian for “Turkish Acid Bath” from Killer Elite (New)
49. Take That for “Love Love” from X-Men: First Class (New)
50. Casting Crowns for “Courageous” from Courageous (New)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/v8lIKNfr7Um2hJZIYCJlyp87CILHKox6ALsEUL270_yKrCCzgVxp7NgdlEDyzNTpHWtfre0clBwNlUhcDSHRTFNlk0wD7ah81sLQMhbfWaw-0jkjCh0)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Der_918cxqXtCdOsaVql38-r7S24dWHyREJonA2wPQgXaFdiQvsrFqeRDOBh7OeQDAkeJMrJoYI5JjQxg8d3x2QS6a7XbfJfGxTKGOWbCX3vcD85oDA)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SGT5phVdwzD71md4IuaaAht8ah2clzPJDNbxa0DWID_FIA59HvztdVMZHtCzcWelWkqcqYHExLeopwp3REN9yACAxB16SG8yHjWMJbUloLg0U6Jw37w)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7F0FYJRtJC2xsTmwAq8FzTnfd7RQUC39eQh6ByDVlZ9Z46aHWgaPmGHk3G8aPjjobrBq0hDXPFD4dhBPfjTjNi0scsWfU9ZE_p4ua3a6FstOFLfJG6s)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XTLW0kbMo0g3uJTtbWv_dXlpydvcL_4G83jFeabnntZSYFmTGckd3g8Un7FH7XwRPSh9ttR7X2FWiXOHT080jmHhs2SnqnMjYPGlKEJrr4HpGc6NWTQ)
As always, check the Tracker Pages in the upper right hand corner of this blog for the most updated predictions in all categories!
See Original Song predictions for other years HERE.
If you love music, you might also want to check out the Original Score predictions.
See predictions for other categories at the 84th Oscars HERE.
Switch to another year: 84th, 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th
This is often a particularly difficult category to predict, partly because so few news stories are written about this race, and partly because some songs get added to the credits after the film has been finished. Additionally, the music branch has a special rule where the composer or songwriter has to submit the work themselves, instead of having them be considered when the film as a whole is submitted. (I trust you have all heard the news about Hans Zimmer by now.)
For today’s predictions, I have included the writer and name of the songs where I could find it, but settled for the performer or score composer when my research didn’t yield that information. I also went out on a limb for a few films (Joyful Noise, My Last Day Without You) that could conceivably receive limited qualifying runs that would make them eligible in this category, the same way that Country Strong did last year.
As always, please let me know in the comments if you think I’ve missed anything!
1. Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr. and Thomas Newman for “The Living Proof” from The Help (Predicted Winner) (previous rank 1)
2. Alan Menken and David Zippel for “Star Spangled Man” from Captain America: The First Avenger (previous rank 40)
3. Glenn Close and Brian Byrne for “Lay Your Head Down” from Albert Nobbs (New)
4. Zooey Deschanel for “So Long” from Winnie The Pooh (previous rank 4)
5. Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and Mervyn Warren for Joyful Noise (previous rank 2)
Alternates:
6. Bebo Valdes for Chico & Rita (previous rank 17)
7. Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman for “Pictures In My Head” from The Muppets (previous rank 3)
8. Josiah Dean and Ryan Tedder for “The World I Knew” from African Cats (previous rank 5)
9. J. Ralph for “Hell And Back” from Hell And Back Again (previous rank 7)
10. Elton John and Bernie Taupin for “Hello, Hello” from Gnomeo & Juliet (previous rank 45)
11. Alecia Moore (Pink) and Billy Mann for “Bridge Of Light” from Happy Feet 2 (previous rank 11)
12. Brad Paisley and Robbie Williams for “Collision Of Worlds” from Cars 2 (previous rank 13)
13. Gregtronic for "A Very Jolly Day (For You To Die)" from A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (New)
14. Chris Cornell for “The Keeper” from Machine Gun Preacher (New)
15. Matt Berninger for “Think You Can Wait” from Win Win (New)
16. Zac Brown for “Where The River Goes” from Footloose (New)
17. Jonsi Birgisson for “Gathering Stories” from We Bought A Zoo (previous rank 33)
18. Mumford And Sons for “Enemy” from Wuthering Heights (previous rank 48)
19. Ludacris, Busta Rhymes and Dan Omar for Fast Five (previous rank 19)
20. Bruno Mars for “It Will Rain” from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (previous rank 35)
21. Bret McKenzie for “Life’s A Happy Song” from The Muppets (previous rank 3)
22. Elton John and Bernie Taupin for “Love Builds A Garden” from Gnomeo & Juliet (previous rank 45)
23. Ben Nichols for “Shelter” from Take Shelter (New)
24. John Williams for War Horse (previous rank 12)
25. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (previous rank 15)
26. Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez for “The Backson Song” from Winnie The Pooh (previous rank 4)
27. Ester Dean, Carlinhos Brown and Mikael Mutti for “Let Me Take You To Rio (Blu’s Arrival)” from Rio (previous rank 14)
28. Kerris Dorsey for “The Show” from Moneyball (previously ranked 44)
29. Alexandre Desplat for Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (New)
30. Henry Jackman for Puss In Boots (New)
31. OK Go for “The Greatest Song I Ever Heard” from POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (New)
32. Elvis Costello for “Sparkling Day” from One Day (previous rank 37)
33. Nicole Beharie for My Last Day Without You (previous rank 8)
34. Paul Cantelon for ”Summer Song” from The Music Never Stopped (previous rank 24)
35. Benabar (Bruno Nicolini) for “Mon Caeur Fait Vroom (My Heart Goes Vroom)” from Cars 2 (previous rank 13)
36. Linkin Park for “Iridescent” from Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (previous rank 30)
37. Foo Fighter for “Walk” from Thor (previously ranked 45)
38. Bret McKenzie for “Man Or Muppet” from The Muppets (previous rank 3)
39. William James Adams (will.i.am) for “Hot Wings (I Wanna Party)” from Rio (previous rank 14)
40. John Williams for The Adventures Of Tintin: Secret Of The Unicorn (previous rank 6)
41. Sergio Mendes, John Powell, Carlinhos Brown, Mikael Mutti and Siedah Garrett for “Real In Rio” from Rio (previous rank 14)
42. Big & Rich for “Fake I.D.” from Footloose (New)
43. Take That for “When We Were Young” from The Three Musketeers (New)
44. This Will Destroy You for “The Mighty Rio Grande” from Moneyball (previously reanked 44)
45. Young Adult (New)
46. Clint Mansell and Thomas Newman for The Iron Lady (New)
47. Gabriel Yared for In The Land Of Blood And Honey (New)
48. Kasabian for “Turkish Acid Bath” from Killer Elite (New)
49. Take That for “Love Love” from X-Men: First Class (New)
50. Casting Crowns for “Courageous” from Courageous (New)
As always, check the Tracker Pages in the upper right hand corner of this blog for the most updated predictions in all categories!
See Original Song predictions for other years HERE.
If you love music, you might also want to check out the Original Score predictions.
See predictions for other categories at the 84th Oscars HERE.
Switch to another year: 84th, 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th
If I may kindly ask, why is Joyful Noise up there? I'm pretty sure it's going to have a 2012 release, therefore making the film ineligible.
ReplyDeletehow about a thousand years by christina perri??the song sounds great although i dont like the movie
ReplyDeletei hope mary j blige wins she deserves it
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 1: Because Joyful Noise is coming out on January 13, I am thinking that it will be similar to Country Strong last year, which came out on January 7, but received a qualifying run in Los Angeles in December so that it would be eligible. This happens all the time for January releases with big names attached, and if they would do it for Gwyneth Paltrow, I think it is very likely that Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton will get the same treatment.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 2: Thanks for this tip. I hadn't heard of that song before, but now that I have it looks like a good possibility!
@Anonymous 3: Indeed, I think she is the clear front runner at this point in the race.
Thanks all!
I went and google the thousand years after seeing the comment here by the anon 2....it is a good song,leaving the twilight factor aside,I felt Christina Perri sung it well and i do like the song
ReplyDeleteI have updated my November Oscar predictions, if you are interested. I have officially put my very first 100% (aka Locks) in few categories.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kino-mania.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1486:-2012--oscar-2012-year-early-predictions&catid=68:the-academy-of-motion-picture-oscars&Itemid=65
@F.Franklin, I just looked up the soundtrack list, and it looks like this song is number 6, so will probably show during the film and be eligible, as opposed to being hidden in the end credits.
ReplyDelete@lime_vortep. Cool! I'll check them out in more detail later today, but was excited to see that you have Chico & Rita predicted in the animated film race!
Thanks all!
BTW, I have updated my 2013 Oscar predictions also
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kino-mania.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1687:-2013-oscars-2013-2-years-in-advance-guide-predictions&catid=68:the-academy-of-motion-picture-oscars&Itemid=65
Very cool lime_vortep. I'll try to give some time to studying them this week. (Sorry that I'm slow to respond. It's been a hectic one at work!)
ReplyDeleteI want to see Linkin Park win for "Iridescent". It seems like an eternity since I was happy with an Oscar winning song. "Transformers :Dark Of The Moon" was awesome! And since I love Linkin Park, and I want a cool song to win, I believe if there is any justice, and I'm sorry if this is too strong, but I hope the Oscar voters do the right thing and award Linkin Park accordingly. This is the best movie song I ever heard this year in my opinion. If I was part of the voting academy I would have declared that song the winner.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous. I agree that it's a great song. My fear is that the Academy won't be cool enough to go for it, but perhaps they'll surprise us!
ReplyDeleteOh! Don't forget the Muppets! "Pictures In My Head" and "Muppet or Man"
ReplyDeleteWhat about the Theme From Rango? What a great song!
ReplyDelete@quertsquirt, I've got The Muppets on my list three times at #7, #21 and #38 for different songs. Did you see the film already? If so, which one do you think has the best chances?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous, I had the Rango Theme Song on an earlier list, but took it off of this one because I read somewhere that it isn't eligible because it doesn't show during the movie, and isn't the first song during the credits (second, third and fourth songs during the credits don't qualify.) But perhaps I was led astray?
Thanks for the great tips all!
"Life's a Happy Song" is infectious Oscarbait from a movie that likely won't garner nominations in many other categories. And outside of the context of the movie, it's just a great song.
ReplyDeleteJust listened to "Living Proof" for the first time. Nothing against the great Mary J. Blige, but this song is banal, overproduced, trite, and way too long. Reminds me of the song that was nominated from "August Rush" a few years ago.
Thanks Anonymous. It sounds like I should maybe switch out "Pictures In My Head" (which I currently have as number 7) for "Life's A Happy Song" (which I currently have at 21). Or do you think they could both get in?
ReplyDeleteJaymay’s “Never Be Daunted” from HappyThankYouMorePlease is incredible & actually eligible.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_xcOItRBLY
Thanks for the link. I just listened for the first time and it is indeed good. Somehow I completely missed this film when it came out (or maybe it didn't pay near me). Thanks for the great tip!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill if Enton John was nominated and had to perform... with Ms GaGa!
ReplyDelete@Casper, Having Lady Gaga especially would certainly help the show draw a larger audience.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that they'll release the long list of eligible entries this week, and am pretty sure that Elton & Gaga will be on it.
That´s why I enjoy your blog, it´s always exciting and full of life. Thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Online! Now that the eligibility list is out, I hope to have a new post on the original songs sometime this week. I hope to even provide links so that people can listen this time!
ReplyDelete