Oscar for Best Original Song 2020—Present

[Mooky]

Ah, I get it now. Personally, I'd always go for a ballad as a safe choice, and "Dos Oruguitas" is still a superior song, imo. Nobody could have foreseen that "We Don't Talk About Bruno" would take on a life of its own.

[D82]

It's true that "Dos Oruguitas" seemed like a good choice at first since the Academy tends to prefer ballads and songs that play an important role in the movie, like that one. But I remember that before most of the public discovered the film on Disney+ and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" became so popular, it was already the song that got most praise from critics in their reviews and reactions. On this forum, for example, it was also the most well liked. So, I think there were already some clues that it was the most popular one, if Disney had payed more attention.

[Sotiris]

Apparently, Disney changed its mind regarding what song from The Little Mermaid to submit for the Oscars; now "For the First Time" is the song listed on its awards website.

They clearly got scared of the potential backlash. While I understand Disney's decision, the song is simply not strong enough to garner a nomination. Just submit all three songs, Disney! You don't have to worry about a potential split vote because there's no way more than one would get nominated anyway!

[Disney's Divinity]

I don't think either would win, so it probably doesn't matter, but "Wild, Uncharted Waters" was the best of the original songs. The actor's vocal is rough at points, still it fits in with the original songs moderately well and has an emotional punch at the same time.

The thing is "For the First Time" is a great *scene* and I like the way we finally see Ariel's first touch with fire (call back to "what's the word--burn?") as well as the corsets and the way it all builds up to the prince coming in and her forgetting she sold her voice, that she thought it would all be so simple, just the song itself is, well... From the beginning, I thought it was something that neither fit the sound of the film itself nor played into Halle Bailey's strengths as a singer. Which is a shame, I thought the original song would be written specifically in mind for her the way "Speechless" was for Naomi Scott, and give her a greater chance to shine.

They should've just went for broke and put up "Scuttlebutt."

[D82]

They clearly got scared of the potential backlash. While I understand Disney's decision, the song is simply not strong enough to garner a nomination.

Yes, it's possible that's the reason. They announced the categories they're aiming for very early this year, by the way. If I'm not mistaken, normally they don't do it until November or so. I wonder if they did that so they could have time to change their minds if they saw there was backlash or if some of the other songs suddenly became more popular.

I agree "For the First Time" is probably not strong enough to be nominated. "Wild Uncharted Waters" is better in my opinion, but I don't think it had many chances either considering any of the original songs from the remakes has been nominated yet. So I'm not too upset it was replaced, even though it was the one I preferred.

I don't think either would win, so it probably doesn't matter, but "Wild, Uncharted Waters" was the best of the original songs. The actor's vocal is rough at points, still it fits in with the original songs moderately well and has an emotional punch at the same time.

I agree. I think the new songs for the co-leads ("Evermore," "Speechless" or this one) have been better than the new ones for the leads. I also agree "For the First Time," while nice, stands out more as a scene than for the song itself.

[D82]

It seems Disney is having second thoughts on what song from The Little Mermaid to submit once again. I've checked the Disney awards website, and now they've removed the song category altogether from the list. I don't think that means they aren't submitting any song, but they probably want to think more about it before posting their final candidate.

[Farerb]

They either should submit both songs or Halle's new song because she's the lead of the movie and it's more expected of them. I also think it'll have more chances of being nominated because the academy might want her to sing in the ceremony.

[PatchofBlue]

I think "Wild Uncharted Waters" is more marketable as a song, and I think it would be really easy to get Halle to the ceremony so she perform alongside Jonah, her just vocalizing while he sings the song proper.

[D82]

"For the First Time" is back as the best song candidate from The Little Mermaid on their awards website. We'll see if this is Disney's final decision or not.

[D82]

It seems Disney may have listened to you, Sotiris, as they now have all three Little Mermaid songs up for consideration (at least for now):


Source: https://debut.disney.com/fyc/twds/movie ... categories

[MoonMarc21]

It seems Disney may have listened to you, Sotiris, as they now have all three Little Mermaid songs up for consideration (at least for now):


Source: https://debut.disney.com/fyc/twds/movie ... categories

Nice! PLEASE let it stay that way, Disney; it’s much better to put them all there so that the Oscars can decide for themselves which one they’ll pick. Don’t make the same mistake like what happened to Encanto, do it for your other upcoming musicals as well like Wish.

[PatchofBlue]

Watch "Scuttlebutt" be the song that breaks Menken's Oscar curse ...

[Farerb]

It seems that it won't really matter what song Disney submits for either The Little Mermaid or Wish because it seems that most critics and outlets predict that the winner will be "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie.

[D82]

Watch "Scuttlebutt" be the song that breaks Menken's Oscar curse ...

It would be funny if that was the song from the film that ended up being nominated.

It seems that it won't really matter what song Disney submits for either The Little Mermaid or Wish because it seems that most critics and outlets predict that the winner will be "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie.

I thought the predicted winner was "I'm Just Ken," but I haven't been following the predictions much lately. I think both it and "What Was I Made For?" are good songs. I wouldn't mind if one of the two won. I wonder if Warner Bros. will submit both or just one of them. I still haven't seen Barbie. Does "I'm Just Ken" play an important role in the film? And is "What Was I Made For?" just featured during the end credits or also in the movie itself?

[Farerb]

Both of them play an important role during the film. I guess "What Was I Made For?" feels more like an "Oscar" song. I believe they are going to submit both.
Barbie is also expected to win Production Design and Costumes.

[blackcauldron85]

I literally just watched Barbie night before last all the way through including the credits. I had to Google just now "What Was I Made For?" - obviously that song made no impact on me. From that film, "I'm Just Ken" 109% all the way!!

[Disney Duster]

I love "I'm Just Ken" the most, but "What Was I Made For?" is more emotional and touching. I'd love if either won.

[D82]

Both of them play an important role during the film. I guess "What Was I Made For?" feels more like an "Oscar" song. I believe they are going to submit both.

Oh, interesting. I thought "What Was I Made For?" was probably just featured during the end credits since it's not sung by the characters like "I'm Just Ken." I think the latter is catchier, but I guess the former is more emotional, like Disney Duster said. Interestingly, if any of them wins, it won't be the first Oscar for their composers, as the "I'm Just Ken" writers already won for "Shallow" a few years ago, along with Lady Gaga, and Billie Eilish and Finneas got the award for the Bond song "No Time to Die." The submission deadline ends soon, so I guess we won't have to wait long to know what Warner decides to do.

Barbie is also expected to win Production Design and Costumes.

Yes, I did hear that. They're also expected to get several other nominations like best picture or best supporting actor for Ryan Gosling, right?

[Farerb]

Yes, I did hear that. They're also expected to get several other nominations like best picture or best supporting actor for Ryan Gosling, right?

Yes.

[Disney Duster]

Wow, Barbie and Gosling winning those awards would be awesome!

Yes, D82, catchier is a good way to describe "I'm Just Ken".