It’s Best Original Song Barbie! - Awards Outlook
Photo from Warner Bros.
It’s Best Original Song Barbie!
A few weeks after the magical Barbenheimer cinematic weekend, these two films do not seem to be letting up in their box office success. The Oscar prospects of both of these films have been discussed in a previous article, but it seems like the category of Best Original Song and Barbie’s effect on it should be more specifically examined.
There are four songs from this amazing soundtrack that have stood out and have the possibility to be nominated and while multiple songs could be nominated from one film the record at this point is three in one movie from Enchanted and Dreamgirls and therefore there is a chance that some of these films could be nominated.
What is great about these four songs is that all of them are songs that actually take place within the film and not during the credits, because while songs during the credits do qualify for the Oscars, they often don’t have the same impact and do not feel as earned.
The film opens with the song “Pink” sung by Lizzo. This song has a great pep and helps introduce the ridiculous nature of the world. There is of course the problem of the recent allegations against Lizzo which could count against this song. However, Lizzo did not write the song and therefore will not actually receive a nomination if the song were nominated.
The next song that was played in the film was played in the background. “Dance the Night” was sung and written by Dua Lipa who is an accomplished musician and definitely due for an Oscar nomination. While this is not a song that entirely stands out in the film, it is also the one you are most likely to hear on the radio and that popularity definitely could lead to an Oscar nomination.
The next song is the one of the most silly songs but the one that creates a great turning point in this movie and borrows notes from a classic musical with “I’m Just Ken”. Songs that are based around humor will sometimes find themselves in the nomination slot but very seldom a victor but this song is the crux of the message of the film so its importance could be felt enough for a nomination.
One of the most prominent films which make for an amazing ending is the Billie Eilish song, “What Was I Made For?” which is a part of the most heartfelt moment of the film and also is written by both Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell who have deservedly won for their work in No Time to Die and then were undeservedly snubbed for their work in Turning Red and therefore are familiar enough to the awards circuit to definitely return this year.
What’s important to remember with all of these songs is that they are all great, catchy, and benefit the film in story and tone. Therefore, it’s not just a question of whether or not songs from Barbie will be nominated but it’s more of a question of how many and which ones.