Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Best Original Song - 1999

"Save Me" from Magnolia sung by Aimee Man

Movie Synopsis: An epic mosaic of several interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? N/A.
Is it important to the plot? N/A.
Is it pleasing to the ear? D-.


"Music of My Heart" from Music of the Heart sung by Gloria Estefan and N*SYNC

Movie Synopsis: A schoolteacher struggles to teach violin to inner-city Harlem kids.

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? N/A. 
Is it important to the plot? N/A.
Is it pleasing to the ear? B-.

"Blame Canada" from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut sung by Sheila Broflovski, Sharon Marsh, Liane Cartman and Ms. McCormick

Movie Synopsis: When the four boys see an R-rated movie featuring Canadians Terrance & Phillip, they are pronounced "corrupted", and their parents pressure the United States to wage war against Canada.

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.
Is it important to the plot? I think this song is the plot.
Is it pleasing to the ear? B+.

"You'll Be in My Heart" from Tarzan sung by Glenn Close and Phil Collins 

Movie Synopsis: A man who was raised among gorillas has his life interrupted when human explorers come to his area.

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.
Is it important to the plot? Tarzan and his mother bond.
Is it pleasing to the ear? A- .

"When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2 sung by Sarah McLachlan 

Movie Synopsis: When Woody is stolen by a toy collector, Buzz and his friends vow to rescue him, but Woody finds the idea of immortality in a museum tempting. 

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.
Is it important to the plot? Jessie's back story. 
Is it pleasing to the ear? B.

So what won?
"You'll Be in My Heart" from Tarzan

What would I have voted for? 
"When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2
Wow, it's Randy Newman's lucky day. This is truly a beautiful song and one of the most heartbreaking scenes in cinema history. 

Analysis
For the first time ever, three songs from three different animated features were nominated for BOS. Props to the Academy for "Blame Canada" but fail for "Save Me". Seriously, the first few notes had me cringing. I knew what kind of song it was.

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