Sunday, June 13, 2010

Best Original Song - 2006

"Our Town" from Cars sung by James Taylor

Movie Synopsis: A hot-shot race-car named Lightning McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family.

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.
Is it important to the plot? Yes, it tells of how Radiator Springs has fallen to ruin...if that's important. I hate Cars.
Is it pleasing to the ear? C+.

"Listen" from Dreamgirls sung by Beyonce Knowles

Movie Synopsis: A trio of black female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960's and dominate music well into the Disco era.

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.
Is it important to the plot? Deena decides to stand up for herself.
Is it pleasing to the ear? B+.

"Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls sung by Jennifer Hudson

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.
Is it important to the plot? Effie expresses her love for Curtis.
Is it pleasing to the ear? A-.

"Patience" from Dreamgirls sung by Eddie Murphy, Anika Noni Rose, and Keith Robinson

Does it appear in the movie (i.e. other than the end credits)? Yes.
Is it important to the plot? Three characters try to make a new sound with a message song.
Is it pleasing to the ear? C- .

"I Need to Wake Up" from An Inconvenient Truth sung by Melissa Etheridge

Movie Synopsis: A documentary on Al Gore's campaign to make the issue of global warming a recognized problem worldwide.

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.



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So what won?
"I Need to Wake Up" from An Inconvenient Truth

What would I have voted for?
"Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls


It's the poppiest and most enjoyable of all these even if it's not socially relevant...ahem.

Analysis
Well, this is a year of firsts. For the first time, a song from a documentary won an Oscar. Secondly, a film with three song nominations failed to win in the category. The votes were split and the fourth place song won. I guess that says something about Cars's poor song. That's what happens when you try to recreate the sentimentality of Toy Story 2.

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