How does the newest Academy Award winner for Best Original Song fare against this past decade\u2019s winners?<\/p>\n
Awards season has officially come to a close with the 98th Academy Awards last week. \u201cGolden\u201d from the hit film \u201cK-Pop Demon Hunters\u201d has joined a host of other songs in winning the Oscar for Best Original Song.<\/p>\n
Not all Oscar-winning songs are created equal, though. Some are better than others \u2013 sometimes by a large margin. Today, I will be ranking the Best Original Song winners from each year of the 2020s.<\/p>\n
\u201cEl Mal\u201d from \u201cEmilia P\u00e9rez\u201d<\/p>\n
The worst falls out fairly easily here. \u201cEmilia P\u00e9rez\u201d earning twelve nominations was a shock to almost everybody. Even disregarding the controversy surrounding the film, it struggled on a fundamental basis as a musical. The songs were poorly written, lacked any creative visual flair, and were inconsistently performed by the cast. \u201cEl Mal,\u201d to be fair, is on the better side of the soundtrack. Zoe Salda\u00f1a has flashes of energy for the first time in the film and the cinematography offers some visual interest behind it. However, it still isn\u2019t a particularly good or memorable experience. Its odd rap-rock angle is just unpleasant.<\/p>\n
\u201cNaatu Naatu\u201d from \u201cRRR\u201d<\/p>\n
From here on out, all of the entries on this list I consider at the very least a good time. I have yet to see \u201cRRR\u201d; however, this song makes me want to desperately. If there is one word to describe this song it\u2019s electric. There is such a joyful and bouncy feel to this song that demands movement. It drags on slightly in the last third of it, but the rest is a time you won\u2019t regret.<\/p>\n
\u201cGolden\u201d from \u201cK-Pop Demon Hunters\u201d<\/p>\n
The song of the hour. As of writing this, \u201cGolden\u201d is still charting in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. This song is simply euphoric. It is on the simpler side, but it works so well. The way the instrumental builds up and the vocal crescendo makes you feel like you are flying. It is amazing to think this fictional group has created real-world impact mirroring their film.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Time To Die\u201d from \u201cNo Time To Die\u201d<\/p>\n
This entry marks the first of two Billie Eilish songs on this list. Her winning two Oscars at the age of 21 is nothing short of impressive. \u201cNo Time To Die\u201d sounds like pretty standard fare for a James Bond theme, but Eilish\u2019s signature flair still shines through. It has its sharp horns and slow-building orchestral strings to set the tone of a spy thriller. Eilish\u2019s whispery vocals add to the ominous yet grand atmosphere of Daniel Craig\u2019s final Bond outing. Truly great stuff that earns its place amongst some of the best Bond themes.<\/p>\n
\u201cFight For You\u201d from \u201cJudas and the Black Messiah\u201d<\/p>\n
H.E.R. is an artist that almost always delivers and here is no exception. \u201cFight For You\u201d is a groovy mix of modern sounds with classic soul music. It starts off with a choir of horns, almost working as an announcement for the good time you are about to have. The rest of the song has such a laidback yet upbeat vibe that is hard not to connect with. H.E.R. gorgeously delivers lyrics over this instrumental centered on solidarity and resilience in the face of racial injustice. If you haven\u2019t heard this one, it is a must-listen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat Was I Made For?\u201d from \u201cBarbie\u201d<\/p>\n
Due to this song being used in trends so far removed from its original context, such as viral memes and remixes, it may be easy to forget just how powerful it really is. \u201cWhat Was I Made For?\u201d stands out amongst the typical bright pop music of the rest of the \u201cBarbie\u201d soundtrack. Despite being made for the film, it is also a deeply personal song. The lyrics mimic Barbie\u2019s struggle of finding herself, but also Billie Eilish\u2019s own struggle to find passion in her life and career. Stripping back the production to a downtempo piano helps to emphasize her angelic voice and introspective lyrics. It is a song that can resonate with anybody and will most likely go down as a classic.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the quality of all of these songs, it is a wonder to see the variety of styles and voices here. You have songs fully in other languages, from musicals, from animation and from all different genres. The winning songs have something for everybody.<\/p>\n