22 Songs You Forgot Were Oscar Nominees

Every 12 months, there are some really distinctive songs featured in movement photos.

Disney and Bond movies are virtually at all times assured nominations from the Academy within the Best Original Song class, usually successful (as “No Time To Die” did final 12 months).

However, there are many songs which have stood the check of time that you could be not even know had been Oscar-nominated — and even that they had been initially from a movie!

Plenty of nominated songs have gone on to outlast tthe movies they got here from.

Here’s a listing to remind you ways random, enduring, and inclusive the Best Original Song class has been over the a long time.

“9 to 5” – 9 to five (1980)

Dolly Parton’s first Academy Award nomination was for her upbeat ode to the working lady from the movie of the identical identify.

That 12 months, Best Original Song was a tricky class, with “Fame” from Fame taking the prize.

Though Parton misplaced the Oscar, “9 to 5” gained her two Grammys and hit #1 on the Billboard Top 100.

“On The Road Again” – Honeysuckle Rose (1980)

Dolly Parton wasn’t the one nation icon to lose to “Fame” on the 53rd Academy Awards.

Willie Nelson’s well-loved basic “On The Road Again” was really written for the movie Honeysuckle Rose (by which he additionally starred) and nominated for Best Original Song the identical 12 months.

Like Parton, Nelson misplaced the Oscar however gained a Grammy for his hit document.

“Theme from Shaft” – Shaft (1971)

Can ya dig it? Not solely was Isaac Hayes’s groovy, funky theme nominated for an Oscar, however it gained!

Hayes was the primary African-American to win an Academy Award n a non-acting class.

His efficiency of the music in the course of the ceremony continues to be one of many coolest issues to ever occur on the Oscars. Right on!

“Unchained Melody” – Unchained (1955)

One of essentially the most well-known, most-covered songs of all time (standard for the Righteous Brothers model that appeared within the 1990’s Ghost) was really from the 1955 jail movie Unchained — therefore the title.

Though it was nominated for the Best Song Oscar, it misplaced to a different massive hit of the day, “Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing.”

It was written by Alex North and Hy Zaret, and initially carried out by Todd Duncan within the movie.

“Accidentally In Love” – Shrek 2 (2004)

This Counting Crows’ hit is endlessly related to the opening sequence of Shrek 2 — with good motive, as that is why they wrote it!

Most individuals do not recall that it was Oscar-nominated, too, although the Counting Crows did carry out it on the telecast (this was the 12 months Beyoncé sang 3/5 of the Best Song nominees on the ceremony).

In a stacked class (together with songwriting titans Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glen Ballard), Jorge Drexler gained for “Al otro lado del rio” from The Motorcycle Diaries.

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” – Neptune’s Daughter (1949)

Frank Loesser’s problematic Christmas commonplace appeared on the silver display screen within the musical comedy Neptune’s Daughter.

What began as a duet Loesser wrote for his spouse and himself went on to win the Academy Award for Best Song.

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” lives in infamy to today, the topic of debate surrounding consent and coercion.

“How Do I Live?” – Con Air (1997)

Sung by Trisha Yearwood for the movie, this aching ballad was additionally a success for singer LeAnn Rimes (it was an entire factor, belief me!).

It has the excellence of additionally being nominated for a Razzie for Worst Original Song.

Though songwriter Diane Warren has been nominated 14 occasions within the Best Original Song class, she has by no means gained — although she is up once more this 12 months for “Applause” from Tell It Like A Woman. Warren additionally obtained an Honorary Oscar in 2022.

“How Do I Live” misplaced to the immortal “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic.

“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” from Cinderella (1950)

Yes, songs from Disney animated options have been getting nominated since approach again — “When You Wish Upon A Star” from Pinocchio gained in 1940. But do you know that the Fairy Godmother’s nonsensical ditty was a contender in 1950?

It’s an everlasting basic, having been coated and parodied endlessly over time.

It misplaced out to that different basic commonplace “Mona Lisa” from Captain Carey, U.S.A.

“Can’t Stop The Feeling!” – Trolls (2016)

Yes, Justin Timberlake is an Oscar nominee, together with Max Martin and Shellback, who co-wrote the infectious dance-pop hit from the primary Trolls film.

Competition within the Best Original Song class was steep that 12 months (with Sting and Lin-Manuel Miranda among the many nominees).

The prize in the end went to Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Justin Hurwitz for his or her music “City of Stars” from La La Land.

“That’s Amore” – The Caddy (1954)

Dean Martin’s first massive hit might have gotten a second likelihood in life due to 1987’s Moonstruck.

It really first appeared within the 1954 movie The Caddy, additionally starring — who else? — Jerry Lewis.

Though it is nonetheless broadly identified to today, “That’s Amore” misplaced the Oscar to the attractive however sadly forgotten “Secret Love” from the Doris Day car Calamity Jane.

“The Look of Love” – Casino Royale (1967)

Burt Bacharach (RIP) and Hal David’s dreamy pop hit really got here from the spoofy Bond movie Casino Royale (the 1967 model, which didn’t take itself almost as significantly because the Daniel Craig model).

With Dusty Springfield’s candy, sultry vocals, “The Look of Love” stays a basic.

What’s ridiculous is that it misplaced to “Talk to the Animals” from Doctor Dolittle!

“Everything Is Awesome” – The Lego Movie (2014)

The Lego Movie’s anthem was a high-energy, bubblegum pop earworm that did precisely what it was speculated to do — be simply singable, senseless, and catchy to the purpose of annoying.

It additionally bought the Lonely Island acting on the Oscar stage!

Shawn Patterson’s hit misplaced to Common & John Legend’s “Glory” from Selma.

Warning: If you watch this video, the music WILL be caught in your head for days.

“Eye Of The Tiger” – Rocky III (1982)

Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan of the band Survivor had an authorized hit on their arms and have become ever-associated with the Rocky franchise.

Though their basic music of endurance continues to endure (no shock!), it misplaced the Best Original Song Oscar.

The winner that 12 months was “Up Where We Belong” from An Officer and a Gentleman — additionally, admittedly, an 80s basic.

“Rainbow Connection” – The Muppet Movie (1979)

Kermit the Frog’s endearing, uplifting banjo-based tune (written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher) moved the younger and previous alike.

In 2020, it was chosen for preservation within the National Recording Registry after being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress.

Surprisingly, it misplaced the Best Original Song Oscar to “It Goes Like It Goes” from Norma Rae.

“Endless Love” – Endless Love (1981)

Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love” was declared the best duet of all time by Billboard, and it was additionally the best-selling single of Diana Ross’s profession.

Unfortunately, it was additionally an Academy Award loser, as “Arthur’s Theme” from Arthur took the gold.

Richie would go on to win for “Say You, Say Me” from White Nights in 1985.

“Happy” – Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Pharrell Williams’ crowd-pleaser was so ubiquitous in 2013 and 2014 that some individuals neglect it got here from Despicable Me 2.

It was essentially the most profitable music of 2014, promoting almost 14 million models globally.

Williams might need even pulled out an Oscar win had he not been up in opposition to the Disney phenomenon “Let It Go,” which avalanched the whole lot in its wake (together with U2 and Karen O).

“Ghostbusters” – Ghostbusters (1984)

Yes, the Ghostbusters theme music was Oscar-nominated!

Ray Parker Jr.’s catchy hit continues to be a favourite as we speak, due to the unique movie’s endurance. The music nonetheless will get loads of airplay round Halloween.

It misplaced in a closely aggressive 12 months to Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” from The Woman In Red.

“Footloose” – Footloose (1984)

Another massive hit from 1984 was Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford’s “Footloose” from the basic Kevin Bacon flick of the identical identify.

Pitchford was additionally nominated for “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” together with Tom Snow.

1984 was clearly an amazing 12 months for songs from films!

“Again” – Poetic Justice (1993)

Did you already know Janet Jackson is an Oscar nominee?

Her music “Again” comes from John Singleton’s movie Poetic Justice, by which Jackson starred alongside Tupac Shakur and Regina King.

Jackson misplaced out on Best Original Song to Bruce Springsteen for “Streets of Philadelphia.”

“The Power Of Love” – Back To The Future (1985)

Back To The Future was nominated for a number of Oscars again within the day, successful one for Best Sound Effects Editing.

However, its hit music “The Power Of Love” (by Huey Lewis, Johnny Colla, and Chris Hayes) fell quick, dropping to Lionel Richie for “Say You, Say Me” from White Nights.

“The Power Of Love” is a type of songs that will probably be endlessly related to the movie it got here from, which is not such a nasty factor when that movie is a beloved basic like Back To The Future.

“Hopelessly Devoted To You” – Grease (1978)

Grease’s candy, craving ballad was immortalized by Olivia Newton-John, making it certainly one of her most well-known hits.

Due to Grease’s continued reputation, the music, which was written for the film, is usually now inserted into stage productions of the beloved musical.

However, it misplaced to Donna Summer’s hit “Last Dance” from Thank God It’s Friday, written by Paul Jabara.

“(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” – Dirty Dancing (1987)

One of essentially the most iconic musical numbers from any movie, “The Time Of My Life,” by John DeNicola, Donald Markowitz, and Franke Previte, was not solely nominated for Best Original Song on the sixtieth Academy Awards however gained as nicely!

Sometimes the Academy will get it proper.

The approach Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley’s vocals line up with the dance and feelings of Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze) is film magic.