And the Oscar goes to... Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the original songs that took home top honors at the Academy Awards.
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00:00You're here. There's nothing I fear.
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the original
00:13songs that took home top honors at the Academy Awards.
00:16Somewhere over the rainbow.
00:23Number 30. What Was I Made For? Barbie.
00:26This soulful ballad was a collaboration between Billie Eilish and her long-time
00:31songwriting partner and brother, Phineas O'Connell. It's a fitting anthem for Barbie,
00:36as she spends much of the movie on a journey of self-discovery,
00:39trying to figure out exactly what she was made for.
00:48Eilish's soft, lilting voice gives the tune a melancholy, yet ultimately hopeful quality.
00:54The song also won multiple Grammys, including Song of the Year.
00:58Eilish and O'Connell are no strangers to the Oscar stage.
01:09In 2022, the ultra-talented duo won an Academy Award for No Time to Die,
01:14the theme for the James Bond film of the same name. At this rate,
01:18they're well on their way to becoming the youngest-ever EGOT winners.
01:22Number 29. Natu Natu. Triple R.
01:26This incredibly high energy number is proof of the power of music to reach across cultures.
01:31Originally written in Telugu by Chandra Bose and composer M.M. Kiravani,
01:36Natu Natu translates as native or wild, and was also recorded in four other languages.
01:42Do you know Natu?
01:46What is Natu?
01:50The lyrics speak of sharp daggers, spicy chilies, and dancing until you shake the earth. But you
01:56don't need to understand them to get the message. The song makes its appearance at a key moment in
02:01the film, when heroes Bheem and Raju face off against British colonizers in a dance battle
02:07to end all dance battles. The scene is a microcosm of the movie, over the top and
02:15unbelievably entertaining. Number 28. We Belong Together.
02:20Toy Story 3. Randy Newman has been writing and performing songs since he was 17,
02:25but it was his work with Pixar that really shot him to superstardom. He's written the scores for
02:30nine Disney-Pixar films so far, and earned a slew of Oscar nominations. His first win came in 2002
02:38for If I Didn't Have You, which he wrote for the Monsters, Inc. soundtrack, and which John Goodman
02:43and Billy Crystal performed. That was also Pixar's first win in the Best Original Song category.
02:56Nine years later, he took home another golden statue for We Belong Together.
03:00The song was originally imagined as a duet between John Mayer and either Katy Perry or
03:05Lady Gaga. We're glad the studio decided to go with Newman's classic vocals instead.
03:15Number 27. Chim Chimchurri. Mary Poppins. Disney is known for its brilliant soundtracks,
03:22and this movie features some of the catchiest songs in the studio's repertoire.
03:26Most people probably think of Burt's scenes as a chimney sweep when they think of
03:37Chim Chimchurri, but the melody actually shows up at various points throughout the film.
03:42It serves as a kind of theme for the character, who uses it to introduce us to his many jobs.
03:47Brothers Robert and Richard Sherman composed the song, along with the rest of the Mary Poppins
03:52score, for which they also took home an Oscar. Number 26. Que Sera Sera. Whatever Will Be,
04:06Will Be. The Man Who Knew Too Much. Doris Day and James Stewart play Joe and Ben McKenna,
04:12the parents of a little boy who has been kidnapped by spies and is being held at a foreign embassy.
04:22I asked my mother, what will I be? I'm like a fine doctor. Because the embassy is technically
04:30a sovereign location, the local police can't search it. However, the McKennas finagle an
04:35invitation inside, where, in a pivotal scene, Joe sings Que Sera Sera as a signal to her son.
04:42Que Sera Sera. Whatever Will Be, Will Be. The boy whistles back, enabling his father to find
04:54him. The song has since become a classic, showing up in many other movies and TV shows. Sometimes
05:00it's used for black humor, and other times it conveys a sense of contentment in the face of
05:04despair. Number 25. White Christmas. Holiday Inn. This song has become such a ubiquitous part of the
05:11holiday season, many people probably didn't realize it was originally written for a movie.
05:16Irving Berlin came up with the melody while working on a different film in 1935.
05:29He wrote the lyrics some time later. Although, stories differ as to exactly when,
05:34and Bing Crosby performed it for the first time on Christmas in 1941. The tune has since become
05:39the most recorded Christmas song of all time, having been covered by hundreds of other artists
05:44in multiple languages. More than a decade after Holiday Inn, Berlin capitalized on the song's
06:00continued popularity with the movie White Christmas, again featuring Bing Crosby's famous
06:06vocals. Number 24. You'll Be In My Heart. Tarzan. Phil Collins is best known as a pop and rock
06:13artist, though he's applied his talents to multiple award-winning movie soundtracks.
06:22But it was this heartwarming lullaby that scored Collins his only Oscar win. In fact,
06:27he beat out another Disney song, Randy Newman's When She Loved Me from Toy Story 2.
06:33The film version of the track starts with Glenn Close singing softly as baby Tarzan's
06:37mother Kala before Collins' powerful voice takes over. The song would go on to become Collins'
06:51last Top 40 hit in the US. Number 23. The Way You Look Tonight. Swingtime. Like White Christmas,
06:59this song's fame has transcended that of the film it was written for. Swingtime is a rom-com
07:05musical, and one of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' ten films together. Following an argument,
07:10Astaire's character Lucky serenades Rogers with The Way You Look Tonight.
07:23The iconic duo then dance to the tune later in the film. Written and composed by Dorothy Fields
07:29and Jerome Kern, the song was an instant hit. Other artists began recording covers of it the
07:34same year it was released, with Frank Sinatra's version eventually becoming the most popular.
07:49Number 22. Remember Me. Coco. Many of these Oscar-winning songs play a crucial part in
07:56the movies they were made for, but perhaps none more so than Remember Me.
08:05After young Miguel finds himself in the land of the dead, he uncovers the truth about the song
08:10and the singer. Ernesto de la Cruz stole it and murdered its writer. Multiple versions of the
08:15tune appear in the film, including an emotional final performance by Miguel that awakens his
08:20great-grandmother's memory of her late father. Veteran composer Robert Lopez wrote the song
08:31alongside his wife, Kristen Anderson Lopez. With this Oscar win, Lopez became the first-ever double
08:38EGOT, meaning he's won each of the four major awards at least twice. Fans of Coco will probably
08:44agree that he deserves it. Number 21. When You Believe. The Prince of Egypt.
08:50This powerful number is sung by the Hebrew slaves as Moses leads them out of Egypt and
08:55out of bondage. The lyrics tell of the past struggles of the Jewish people,
09:07celebrate their strength, and look to the future with a new sense of hope.
09:11This uplifting song was co-written by Stephen Schwartz and Kenneth Babyface Edmonds,
09:16who between them have an entire trophy case worth of awards.
09:28Schwartz was a veteran film composer and had already taken home two Oscars for his work on
09:33Disney's Pocahontas, but Edmonds had to step outside of his comfort zone to write When You
09:38Believe. The team turned out to be an unqualified success. Number 20. Flashdance What a Feeling.
09:47While the screenplay isn't this 80s staple's strongest element,
09:51music and dance are how the characters truly communicate. This triumphant pop ballad brings
09:57Alex Owens' story full circle as we follow her from a humble steel mill worker to a dancing
10:03star ready to shine. Flashdance bursts on the scene with invigorating music by Giorgio Moroder
10:20and empowering lyrics from Keith Forsey and Irene Cara, the latter of whom also
10:26injects her zealous vocals. This wasn't the first time Cara helped carry a song to Oscar Gold,
10:32performing the titular tune from 1980s fame. Flashdance is another song that'll live forever,
10:46capturing that special feeling when a young adult comes of age and achieves their dream,
10:51encouraging all aspiring artists to reach for the stars.
10:55Number 19. Take My Breath Away. Top Gun. Outside of the thrilling aerial sequences
11:07and the magic of Tom Cruise, the Top Gun franchise is best known for its electrifying music.
11:13With Take My Breath Away, Giorgio Moroder would fly away with another Academy Award,
11:28along with wingman Tom Whitlock. The angelic vocals of new wave band Berlin bring a gravity
11:34defying sentiment to the song that works on two levels. The song makes you feel as if you're
11:39gliding through the air, almost becoming one with the sky above. At the same time,
11:54it conveys the steamy romance between Maverick and Charlie. For a film with a lot of fast-paced
12:00music, this song slows time down, allowing the audience to catch their breath while also taking
12:06it away. Number 18. Let It Go. Frozen. After Tarzan capped off the 90s renaissance with
12:18You'll Be In My Heart, Disney went 14 years without a Best Original Song Oscar.
12:24Frozen ended the dry spell with a snowstorm. Let It Go not only became the film's
12:36breakout hit, but it changed the narrative's course. Although Elsa was originally conceived
12:41as a villain, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez sought to unearth her humanity with this
12:47deeply personal tune. Let It Go establishes that Elsa was never a villain.
13:06But rather a vulnerable yet powerful woman, ready to break free after a lifetime in the shadows.
13:12The filmmakers also came to see Elsa in another light, evolving her into one of Disney's most
13:17progressive heroines with the voice of the wickedly talented Idina Menzel.
13:22Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway.
13:31Number 17. Glory. Selma. This historical drama ends on a high note with a march to Montgomery
13:38and Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his How Long, Not Long speech. It's a crucial moment
13:43in the civil rights movement, which is encapsulated in a song from Common and John Legend.
13:56For all the progress that Dr. King made, Glory is just as much about the struggles
14:00that persist 50 years later. In addition to the 1965 Selma marches,
14:06the song references the 2014 Ferguson unrest.
14:18Common and Legend bring a soulful sound to the music. This gives the song a timeless sentiment,
14:24as if it could have been released in the 60s or today. It's a haunting yet hopeful protest anthem,
14:30motivating listeners to continue the pursuit of equality and glory.
14:47Number 16. The Way We Were. The Way We Were. From Barbara Streisand's opening hums,
14:53this song evokes a sense of nostalgia, as if the audience is drifting back in time.
14:58Of course, nobody can go back to the old days. All they can do is reflect on their
15:03precious, fragile memories. Some memories are uplifting and romantic. Others are laced with
15:20heartbreak and regret. Marvin Hamlisch's melancholic melody conveys all of the above,
15:26foreshadowing the star-crossed romance between Streisand's Katie and Robert Redford's Hubble.
15:44The song resurfaces as the film closes, leaving their relationship in the past while also
15:49contemplating what could have been. Alan and Marilyn Bergman's lyrics paint a poetic portrait
15:54of love slipping away, leaving you sad that it's over, yet grateful that it existed in the first
16:00place. Number 15. J-Ho. Slumdog Millionaire.
16:16After everything that Jamal and Latika endure, the audience wants nothing more than to see them
16:28get the happiest ending imaginable. Slumdog Millionaire delivers with Jamal's newfound fortune
16:33and a kiss that'll make you believe in destiny. It's the finale performance of J-Ho, however,
16:39that pushes the film over the top. Choreographed by Longinus Fernandez with the flair of a Bollywood
16:44number, J-Ho translates to a few different meanings, all of which pertain to victory.
17:01While Gulzar's lyrics are written in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and even a bit of Spanish,
17:06the song transcends language barriers. This is further expressed through A.R. Rahman's music
17:12and the principal vocals provided by Sukhwinder Singh, making you want to flash mob the night
17:18away. Number 14. Streets of Philadelphia. Philadelphia. Few Oscar-winning songs epitomize
17:30a place and time quite like Bruce Springsteen's Streets of Philadelphia. The place is, naturally,
17:36the lonely streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The time is the early 90s,
17:41as the HIV-AIDS epidemic continues to plague humanity.
17:55While the disease had been prevalent for over a decade, it remained a taboo subject with few
17:59mainstream movies or songs shining a light on the crisis. Streets of Philadelphia manifests
18:05the isolation of Tom Hanks' Andy as he seeks justice and basic human dignity after being
18:11wrongfully terminated from his job. Springsteen's music and lyrics bring out Andy's pain as his
18:24life slowly but surely drains away. As long as his heart is still beating along with the drums,
18:29though, he'll continue to fight. Number 13. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.
18:43Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid live as if every day
18:50could be their last. Between the shootouts and the plunges off cliffs, there's time for a carefree
18:55bicycle ride set to this joyous tune. Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David,
19:13Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head washes all negative feelings away as singer B.J. Thomas
19:19casts a rainbow of optimism. Although the song is full of lighthearted vibes, it's also kind
19:25of unsettling when you consider Butch and Sundance's ultimate fate. The song leads you
19:41to believe that our anti-heroes will overcome any obstacle that confronts them, but their luck is
19:46bound to run out eventually. Regardless, it's impossible to listen to this song without
19:50immediately being put in a good mood. Number 12. Into the West. The Lord of the Rings,
20:12The Return of the King. Arguably no film brings a greater sense of finality to a trilogy than
20:17The Return of the King. Into the West closes the book on this epic story, reflecting on the end of
20:23one journey and the beginning of another. For Frodo, the next adventure awaits in the Far West,
20:38where the Undying Lands reside. For Sam, it's back in the Shire with his family. Although it's
20:44tear-jerking to see friends part ways, every character is where they should be.
20:56Singer Annie Lennox, who wrote the song with Howard Shore and Fran Walsh, summons a sense
21:02of loss, drawing inspiration from the untimely death of a young filmmaker named Cameron Duncan.
21:08While bittersweet, the song also provides comfort, leaving us with a peaceful farewell.
21:14Number 11. Skyfall, Skyfall. James Bond has a long history of captivating theme songs,
21:34three of which won Oscars. 2012's Skyfall was the first victor, with Adele bringing a fresh yet
21:40traditional sound to 007's legacy. Co-writing the song with Paul Epworth, Adele's vocals are moody,
22:00fearless, and ready for action, much like Daniel Craig's Bond. The song foreshadows much of what
22:06we're about to see, including a last stand at Bond's childhood home. Somehow, the tune summarizes
22:12the story without actually giving anything away. Just as Bond is forced to revisit his past,
22:32the audience is motivated to go back to the beginning and re-watch the opening title
22:36sequence. Not every Bond song hits it out of the park, but Skyfall is practically ingrained in the
22:42story's DNA. Number 10. Shallow, A Star Is Born. Although it's been remade multiple times,
23:00the plot of A Star Is Born hasn't drastically changed with each incarnation. However, every
23:05adaptation possesses echoes of the decade it was made. Music plays a monumental role in mirroring
23:10the era. Evergreen has a sentimental sound that screams 70s pop. Shallow is a modern
23:29duet fusing Jackson's country rock with Ally's folk pop. The lyrics speak to both singers,
23:35neither of whom is fulfilled in their lives. Together, Jackson and Ally hit all the right
23:54notes, but their union may also be headed for an inevitable shipwreck. Nevertheless,
23:59the chemistry between these two makes the audience want to jump into the deep end with
24:03them. By the time the song concludes, their whirlwind romance is already well out into
24:08deeper waters. Number 9. Falling Slowly, Once. Once is the definition of a little movie that
24:24could. It was produced for only $150,000, and Glenn Hansard used his own childhood guitar for
24:31the film. Although the filmmakers had to scrape together whatever pieces they could find,
24:35the result was a profound musical that culminated in Oscars for Hansard and Marquetta Irglova.
24:42Falling slowly, eyes that know me, and I can't go back.
24:54Through Falling Slowly, Hansard's Guy and Irglova's Girl express what's truly in their
24:59hearts. Although Guy doesn't realize it yet, Girl is already married and will inevitably
25:05return to their husband. As their voices join in a simple musical shop, though,
25:24it's clear that these two are meant for each other. Their time together may fly by,
25:29but their feelings and music are still falling with no end in sight.
25:50Number 8. Can You Feel The Love Tonight? The Lion King. With three Lion King songs nominated,
25:57the odds favored Tim Rice and Elton John, leaving that year's ceremony with statuettes.
26:02Nobody was surprised when they picked up Oscars for Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
26:17While the sweeping ballad is in the tradition of Disney's past love songs,
26:21there's something almost mystical about this one. It's also one that immerses us
26:25in the beauty of nature, as Simba and Nala are reunited, seeing each other through adult eyes.
26:45Of course, you don't have to be a lion to feel the love in the air.
26:49It's a song best experienced on a moonlit evening with your significant other,
26:53letting nature take its course. And to think, this was almost a comedic song
27:04between Timon and Pumbaa. Number 7. I've Had The Time Of My Life. Dirty Dancing. To be fair,
27:22we can understand why Baby's parents would have reservations about their daughter being
27:26romantically involved with Johnny. Dirty Dancing isn't a film that runs on logic, however. It runs
27:31on music. After seeing Baby and Johnny take to the dance floor in the grand finale, it's hard for
27:45even the biggest cynic to deny their connection. While the number is skillfully choreographed by
27:50Kenny Ortega and Miranda Garrison, this ending wouldn't be nearly as iconic without I've Had
27:56The Time Of My Life. The song sees Baby blossom from a sheltered teen to a confident young woman,
28:11ready to publicly display her love for dance and Johnny. As romantic as it is invigorating,
28:17nobody puts this song in the corner. Number 6. Moon River. Breakfast At Tiffany's.
28:48Holly Golightly lives the extravagant life of a socialite, partying every night away. Behind the
28:53elegant clothing is a complex soul whose pursuit of wealth and glamour is interrupted by the arrival
28:59of a struggling writer, Paul. Holly may deny that she's developing feelings for Paul, but she sings
29:05the truth through Moon River. Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer wrote the song to accommodate Audrey
29:23Hepburn's vocal range. Unlike the persona that Holly has created for herself, the melody and
29:28lyrics are quite simple. Therein lies the beauty of the song, speaking to Holly's background as
29:34a country girl. The song expresses the spontaneous Holly's yearning for an exciting life, unaware that
29:40the greatest adventure of all is looking down and smiling at her. Number 5. Beauty And The Beast.
29:55Beauty And The Beast. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken ushered in a golden age of animated
30:01Disney musicals with The Little Mermaid, winning the Oscar for Under The Sea. Ashman sadly wouldn't
30:06live to see the release of Beauty And The Beast, which won another Oscar for its titular romantic
30:11ballad. Whether listening to Angela Lansbury's tender rendition as Mrs. Potts, or the pop duet
30:25between Céline Dion and Peebo Bryson, the timeless song is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eyes.
30:32Not because it's sad, but because the union of Belle and The Beast is so heartfelt, demonstrating
30:38how love sometimes flourishes in unexpected places. What Ashman helped start would continue
30:43with Aladdin, winning Menken yet another statuette, along with Tim Rice, for A Whole New World.
30:55Number 4. Lose Yourself. 8 Mile. Although Lose Yourself was an immediate success for Eminem,
31:11some doubted that the Academy would embrace a hip-hop song with lyrics about
31:15vomit and spaghetti. Eminem didn't even bother showing up to the ceremony.
31:26Viewers were pleasantly surprised when Barbra Streisand, of all people, announced this
31:33stimulating rap song as the victor. The song's Oscar journey mirrored the story of B-Rabbit,
31:39an underdog rapper who seizes his shot to bring down the house.
31:50Lose Yourself would be the first hip-hop song to win an Oscar, opening the door for future hits
31:55like It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp. The popularity of Lose Yourself has only endured over the
32:00decades, so much so that Eminem finally performed it at the 2020 ceremony.
32:10Number 3. When You Wish Upon a Star. Pinocchio.
32:14Disney has a way of building upon classic stories to create something unique. For example,
32:26a wishing star doesn't play a significant role in Carlo Collodi's original Pinocchio story.
32:32In Disney's adaptation, the wishing star symbolizes one of the film's key themes of
32:37never losing hope. It also provides the basis for Pinocchio's signature song,
32:42which would have a life well beyond the film it derived from. When You Wish Upon a Star has
32:47developed into Disney's anthem, every bit as synonymous with the company as Mickey Mouse
32:51and Walt himself. Lee Harline's composition and Ned Washington's lyrics are the stuff of dreams,
32:58becoming the first Disney song, as well as the first song from an animated feature,
33:03to take home an Academy Award.
33:12Number 2. My Heart Will Go On. Titanic. An epic love story deserves a theme song
33:28that complements the romance's towering scope.
33:31Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you.
33:40My Heart Will Go On pairs with Titanic so flawlessly that it's hard to believe
33:44James Cameron didn't want a pop song closing out his masterpiece.
33:48Céline Dion was also hesitant about singing another end credits song.
33:53Composer James Horner and lyricist Will Jennings were so passionate about the idea
33:58that they secretly developed My Heart Will Go On, eventually convincing Cameron.
34:03You're here, there's nothing I fear.
34:11We're grateful that they did, as the song elevates what was already a touching finale
34:15to an emotional powerhouse. It's never been confirmed whether Rose is dreaming or departed
34:21in the end. Either way, the song says everything about her undying love for Jack more than 80 years
34:27later.
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34:52It's hard to believe, but MGM seriously considered removing Over the Rainbow due to pacing
34:59and the idea of having Judy Garland perform at a barnyard.
35:15We almost see where they're coming from, as the number has no dancing, effects, or vibrant use
35:19of Technicolor. Without Harold Arlen's soothing melody and Yip Harburg's heartwarming lyrics, though,
35:25Dorothy's character arc would feel incomplete.
35:41Dorothy dreams of escaping Over the Rainbow, but upon arriving in Oz,
35:45she finds that everything she ever wanted was back in Kansas.
35:49The song thus serves a dual purpose, encouraging us to follow our dreams while still finding
35:55comfort in what we have. Fortunately, several key figures convinced MGM to keep the song,
36:01resulting in an Oscar and a cinematic milestone.
36:19Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo,
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