by Juan Carlos Ojano
One of the more interesting Oscar trends during the past decade is the increased presence of documentaries in the Best Original Song category. While most award-giving bodies have an aversion to recognizing docs outside of their own category, the Music branch of AMPAS has shown an openness to embrace them. At least in Best Original Song. Six of the eight songs from documentary films nominated came from the 2010s.
Here is the list of eight docs nominated for Best Original Song (with only one winner so far) and this year's contenders...
1962: “More” - Mondo Cane
Music by Nino Oliviero & Riz Ortolani / Lyric by Norman Newell
2006: “I Need to Wake Up” - An Inconvenient Truth *WINNER*
Music and Lyric and Melissa Etheridge
2012: “Before My Time” - Chasing Ice
Music and Lyric by J. Ralph
2014: “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” - Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me
Music and Lyric by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
2015: “Manta Ray” - Racing Extinction
Music by J. Ralph / Lyric by Anohni
2015: “Til It Happens to You” - The Hunting Ground
Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga & Diane Warren
2016: “The Empty Chair” - Jim: The James Foley Story
Music and Lyric by J. Ralph & Sting
2018: “I’ll Fight” - RBH
Music and Lyric and Diane Warren
ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR?
This year, four documentaries made the shortlist of 15 songs contending for this category, with mostly famous musicians at helm.
“Never Break” - Giving Voice
Written by John Stephens, Benjamin 'Mr Hudson' McIldowie, Greg Wells, Nasri Atweh
“See What You’ve Done” - Belly of the Beast
Written by Mary J. Blige, Darhyl Camper, Jr., Denisia Andrews, Brittany Coney
“Show Me Your Soul” - Mr. Soul!
Written by Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway
“Turntables” - All In: The Fight for Democracy
Written by Janelle “Django Jane” Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III, George “George 2.0” A. Peters II
Which of these contenders do you have predicted for Best Original Song?