EVERYTHING IS GREAT, EVERYTHING IS GRAND: Three songs from
The Muppets are among
the thirty-nine shortlisted by the Oscars for Best Original Song eligibility. Other possibilities include a song written by Glenn Close for
Albert Nobbs (and she does need the G-O), "The Mighty Sven" from
Happy Feet Too, and submissions from Chris Cornell, OK Go, and Zooey Deschanel.
If I looked these up on YouTube, you can benefit from it: YouTube playlist (of the ones I could find without too much trouble) (WARNING: I didn't vet any of the videos for potential spoilers, I was listening to them in the background without watching.)
ReplyDeleteThat Albert Nobbs song is duh-uhhhhllll. Man, Oscar sure likes its slow, draggy ballads; the majority of these songs bored me almost to the point of anger.
I remember REALLY liking the "Star Spangled Man" number in Captain America when I saw it in the theater, but divorced from the visuals it's not nearly as fun.
I'd go with one of the Muppets songs, probably "Man or Muppet" because it's kind of poking fun at "angsty movie ballad."
As far as straight up good music, I liked Jaymay, The Tulips, and Jonsi.
Well, the Albert Nobbs movie is DUUUHHH-UUULLLLLLL, so it stands to reason that the song is, too. I assume the song is the musical equivalent of a poignant, longing stare.
ReplyDeleteRemember that the nominators vote after watching the film clips attached to the songs in random order. They're supposed to consider "integration into film," which bodes well for Muppets and Cap, where the songs are central to the films. A surprise omission? "Fake ID" from the Footloose remake, which is focal in a big scene.
ReplyDeleteAlan Menken, who wrote Star-Spangled Man, has 8 Oscars. They like him. (A few Grammys too. No Emmys and no Tonys, though.)
ReplyDelete