A Rundown of the 2022 Oscar Nominations for Best Original Song
Mar. 15, 2022
While the Oscars are still a few weeks away, it's never too early to explore the songs nominated for film's most distinguished prize. The nominations feature pieces from films spanning multiple genres and a wide variety of subject matter, and the songs themselves reflect this diversity by exhibiting a broad array of musical elements. Each brings something unique to the table, and here's a rundown of the five nominees for Best Original Song.
"Be Alive"
Composed by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, "Be Alive" is from the soundtrack of King Richard, a biographical drama chronicling Richard Williams' ambitious efforts to shape his daughters, Serena and Venus, into tennis history-makers. With its commanding drum-heavy instrumentation and uplifting lyrics such as "We fought and built this on our own" and "can't nobody knock it if they tried," "Be Alive" echoes the film's themes of determination and resilience. Beyoncé's soaring vocals blend with an intricate lacework of rich harmonies, amplifying the stirring, balladic nature of the song, which is a moving anthem that looks back on the Williams sisters' hard-fought sports journeys. Through inspirational lines like "Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried / That's why I lift my head with pride," and "Got all my sisters by my side," "Be Alive" pays homage to black empowerment, family, and sisterhood, reflecting the central themes of King Richard.
"Dos Oruguitas"
Written by film and theater powerhouse Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra, "Dos Oruguitas" is a poignant folk piece from Disney's Encanto, an animated feature in which Mirabel Madrigal, the only "ordinary" member of the extraordinary Madrigal family, strives to save her family and their magical gifts. Through tender folk instrumentals and sentimental vocals, the song recounts the tragic love story of Mirabel's grandparents and metaphorically illustrates the family's struggles. In an interview with IndieWire, Miranda reveals that "the song is called 'Dos Oruguitas' because it's about two caterpillars who are in love and scared to let each other go. But, of course, they have to let each other go to become their next selves, and that was such a beautiful nature metaphor for what the family is going through. They love each other, but they're hanging on too tight, and they're not seeing each other more fully because they're too scared of going into that next moment."
"Down to Joy"
With music and lyrics by Van Morrison, "Down to Joy" plays during the opening credits of Kenneth Branagh's semi-autobiographical film Belfast, a historical drama documenting the experience of a working-class family amidst the Troubles in 1960s Northern Ireland. While the film, which is told through the eyes of nine-year-old Buddy, follows a poignant and at times heart-wrenching story, the animated saxophone, spirited vocals, and heartening lyrics assure viewers that there are still times when Belfast is "comin' down to joy"; scenes of familial love and glee are sprinkled throughout the film. "Down to Joy" is one of nine Van Morrison songs on the film's soundtrack, and the prevalence of Morrison's music is not merely by chance: Morrison is a Belfast native who spent his juvenile years just three miles away from Branagh's childhood residence and Buddy's abode in the film. In an interview with Screen Daily, Branagh described how Morrison's score "has a very moody, jazzy quality that is behind the haunting music of memory that he seems to provide."
"No Time to Die"
Composed by megastar sibling duo and Grammy award winners Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, "No Time To Die" is the theme song from the namesake 2021 James Bond film. Also the Golden Globe winner for Best Original Song, the provocative piece on love and treachery pays homage to Bond musical traditions through ostinato strings, tremolo guitar lines, creaking brass sounds, and the iconic 'Bond Chord' of E minor Major 9. Dubbed by professional soprano Catherine Bott as "James Bond goes Emo," "No Time to Die" is musically very much 007 – but with a new twist. Eilish is not afraid to weave in her own style, performing the song in her signature pianissimo 'whisper' voice. Eilish's softly reverberating vocals and the dark, wistful instrumentation create a provocative and haunting atmosphere that echoes the song's theme of romantic betrayal and is fitting for a spy film.
"Somehow You Do"
Written by 13-time Academy Award nominee Diane Warren and performed by country superstar Reba McEntire, "Somehow You Do" is the lead single from Four Good Days, a drama documenting a mother's efforts to help her estranged daughter prepare for addiction treatment. With inspirational and uplifting lines like "Oh, the darkest night will find the day" and "You'll find the strength you didn't know you even had," the song is an empowering battle hymn for those feeling beat down, assuring them that even when they "feel like [they're] right on the brink," they will "[s]ome way, somehow" find a way to defeat their demons. The emphatic instrumentals, insistent beat, and McEntire's rich and sweeping vocals reinforce the song's empowering and motivational themes and reflect the characters' tremendous determination in the film. "Somehow You Do" instills hope and courage in listeners, and it is a place where one can find solace and strength.
The 2022 Oscars ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 27, and will be broadcast live on ABC.
"Be Alive"
Composed by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, "Be Alive" is from the soundtrack of King Richard, a biographical drama chronicling Richard Williams' ambitious efforts to shape his daughters, Serena and Venus, into tennis history-makers. With its commanding drum-heavy instrumentation and uplifting lyrics such as "We fought and built this on our own" and "can't nobody knock it if they tried," "Be Alive" echoes the film's themes of determination and resilience. Beyoncé's soaring vocals blend with an intricate lacework of rich harmonies, amplifying the stirring, balladic nature of the song, which is a moving anthem that looks back on the Williams sisters' hard-fought sports journeys. Through inspirational lines like "Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried / That's why I lift my head with pride," and "Got all my sisters by my side," "Be Alive" pays homage to black empowerment, family, and sisterhood, reflecting the central themes of King Richard.
"Dos Oruguitas"
Written by film and theater powerhouse Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra, "Dos Oruguitas" is a poignant folk piece from Disney's Encanto, an animated feature in which Mirabel Madrigal, the only "ordinary" member of the extraordinary Madrigal family, strives to save her family and their magical gifts. Through tender folk instrumentals and sentimental vocals, the song recounts the tragic love story of Mirabel's grandparents and metaphorically illustrates the family's struggles. In an interview with IndieWire, Miranda reveals that "the song is called 'Dos Oruguitas' because it's about two caterpillars who are in love and scared to let each other go. But, of course, they have to let each other go to become their next selves, and that was such a beautiful nature metaphor for what the family is going through. They love each other, but they're hanging on too tight, and they're not seeing each other more fully because they're too scared of going into that next moment."
"Down to Joy"
With music and lyrics by Van Morrison, "Down to Joy" plays during the opening credits of Kenneth Branagh's semi-autobiographical film Belfast, a historical drama documenting the experience of a working-class family amidst the Troubles in 1960s Northern Ireland. While the film, which is told through the eyes of nine-year-old Buddy, follows a poignant and at times heart-wrenching story, the animated saxophone, spirited vocals, and heartening lyrics assure viewers that there are still times when Belfast is "comin' down to joy"; scenes of familial love and glee are sprinkled throughout the film. "Down to Joy" is one of nine Van Morrison songs on the film's soundtrack, and the prevalence of Morrison's music is not merely by chance: Morrison is a Belfast native who spent his juvenile years just three miles away from Branagh's childhood residence and Buddy's abode in the film. In an interview with Screen Daily, Branagh described how Morrison's score "has a very moody, jazzy quality that is behind the haunting music of memory that he seems to provide."
"No Time to Die"
Composed by megastar sibling duo and Grammy award winners Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, "No Time To Die" is the theme song from the namesake 2021 James Bond film. Also the Golden Globe winner for Best Original Song, the provocative piece on love and treachery pays homage to Bond musical traditions through ostinato strings, tremolo guitar lines, creaking brass sounds, and the iconic 'Bond Chord' of E minor Major 9. Dubbed by professional soprano Catherine Bott as "James Bond goes Emo," "No Time to Die" is musically very much 007 – but with a new twist. Eilish is not afraid to weave in her own style, performing the song in her signature pianissimo 'whisper' voice. Eilish's softly reverberating vocals and the dark, wistful instrumentation create a provocative and haunting atmosphere that echoes the song's theme of romantic betrayal and is fitting for a spy film.
"Somehow You Do"
Written by 13-time Academy Award nominee Diane Warren and performed by country superstar Reba McEntire, "Somehow You Do" is the lead single from Four Good Days, a drama documenting a mother's efforts to help her estranged daughter prepare for addiction treatment. With inspirational and uplifting lines like "Oh, the darkest night will find the day" and "You'll find the strength you didn't know you even had," the song is an empowering battle hymn for those feeling beat down, assuring them that even when they "feel like [they're] right on the brink," they will "[s]ome way, somehow" find a way to defeat their demons. The emphatic instrumentals, insistent beat, and McEntire's rich and sweeping vocals reinforce the song's empowering and motivational themes and reflect the characters' tremendous determination in the film. "Somehow You Do" instills hope and courage in listeners, and it is a place where one can find solace and strength.
The 2022 Oscars ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 27, and will be broadcast live on ABC.