Best Original Song -1983

"Flashdance...What a Feeling" from Flashdance sung by Irene Cara

Movie Synopsis: A welder by day and an exotic dancer by night longs to be a serious ballerina.

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.

Is it important to the plot? Yes, it's during Alex's final audition.

Is it pleasing to the ear? B+.

"Maniac" from Flashdance sung by Michael Sembello

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.

Is it important to the plot? Not really, it's a work out song.

Is it pleasing to the ear? C+.

"Over You" from Tender Mercies sung by Betty Buckley

Movie Synopsis: A broken-down, middle-aged country singer gets a new wife, reaches out to his long-lost daughter, and tries to put his troubled life back together.


Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.

Is it important to the plot? A song sung on stage.

Is it pleasing to the ear? A.

"Papa, Can You Here Me?" from Yentl sung Barbra Streisand 


Movie Synopsis: A Jewish girl disguises herself as a boy to enter religious training

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.

Is it important to the plot? Yes...but I don't know why.

Is it pleasing to the ear? B+.

"The Way He Makes Me Feel" from Yentl sung by Barbra Streisand

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.

Is it important to the plot? Developing romance.

Is it pleasing to the ear? C.

So what won?
"Flashdance...What a Feeling" from Flashdance

What would I have voted for?
"Over You" from Tender Mercies

Another hidden gem! I'm so excited to find this song!

Analysis
The right song won, definitely. "Over You" is just a stage song and hasn't had the impact that "Flashdance" had. Not a bad year over all, though.