The 10 Best Oscar-Nominated Songs

The gay superbowl (aka the Oscars) is hitting television sets everywhere this Sunday. In honor of such a time-honored Hollywood glamour fest, BeatCrave is bringing you our top ten favorite Oscar nominated songs that are worthy of your playlist long after the Oscars have passed. Most of our picks were not winners (in fact, only two of the ten walked away with little golden men) but all of them are excellent songs or, in the case of a one particularly cringe worthy track, were spawned from an awesome movie. Prepare for a night of of over the top self-indulgence with a look at BeatCrave’s 10 best Oscar worthy songs…

10. “In the Deep” from Crash – Music: Kathleen ” Bird” York and Michael Becker. Lyrics: Kathleen “Bird” York.

It’s number ten because the movie from which it came was over-hyped and overrated. It’s on the list because it works well both in the context of the film and on its own. While Kathleen “Bird” York is a little too adult contemporary for many people’s tastes, she proves her music savvy with this melancholy track.

9. “Scarlet Tide” from Cold Mountain – Music and Lyrics: T-Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello.

Sure, this movie was ridiculously long and absurdly depressing and watching Renee Zellweger stomp around basically begging for an Oscar was annoying but, this song is beautiful, timeless and proves the musical mastery of Elvis Costello.

8. “Glory of Love” from Karate Kid II – Music: Peter Cetera and David Foster. Lyrics: Peter Cetera Diane Nini

Who cares that Peter Cetera is a long distant memory. Who cares that this song is super cheesy and dated. Anything associated with Danny LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi deserves a place on any list. The Karate Kid is so badass that every kid who watched it was practicing crane kicks in their backyard for days and were begging to do the next door neighbors chores.

7. “Streets of Philidelphia“ from Philidelphia - Music and Lyrics: Bruce Springsteen. (Winner)

Because The Boss is The Boss. And, if you insist on another reason, this song added a beautiful layer of depth to the heart wrenching film.

6. “Save Me” from Magnolia – Music and Lyrics: Aimee Mann

Aimee Mann created a beautiful soundtrack to a strange and wonderfully crafted epic tale. Many of the songs on the soundtrack were more than deserving of a nomination but this is the only one to make the cut and, therefore, earns a spot on the list. Sadly enough this song lost to Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart” from the awful cartoon, Tarzan.

5. “I’ve Seen it All” from Dancer in the Dark – Music: Bjork. Lyrics: Lars Von Trier and Sjon.

This movie changed the way many thought about musicals with the way it took the sounds of Bjork’s character, Selma Jezkova’s surroundings and transformed them into music.  The way the train becomes the back beat for this particular track is simply awesome. This song was sadly stomped out by Bob Dylan’s “Things Have Changed” from the formulaic Wonder Boys. The swan dress she wears is almost as unforgettable as the song itself.

4. “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle and Flow – Music and lyrics: Jourdan Houston (Juicy J) and Paul Beauregard (DJ Paul) from Three 6 Mafia in collaboration with Cedric Coleman. (Winner)

The second and last winner on our list, this song surprised everyone beating out Oscar-nominated veteran Dolly Parton for the coveted award. The moment when Queen Latifa announced the winner is truly incredible: one could almost feel the usually stoic atmosphere of the awards show being broken with Juicy J and DJ Paul’s excitement over winning. Also, this song is fun to listen to because truly, it’s hard out here for a pimp.

3. “Eye of the Tiger” from Rocky 3 - Music and lyrics: Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan (Survivor)

No other song is so thoroughly connected to the movie from which it was derived. This song is Rocky. And few can deny that were it not for this song he would have lost his match to Clubber Lang and, if it can do that, than this song can help anyone do anything!

2. “Blame Canada” from South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut- Music and lyrics: Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman.

Because this movie is still ridiculously funny and this song is still fun to the last note. It also helps that Robin Williams came out with duct tape over his mouth at the beginning of his performance of this song at the Academy Awards, an image I still treasure.

1. “Miss Misery” from Good Will Hunting - Music and lyrics: Elliot Smith.

This song stands on its own as one of Smith’s best. As a voice for an entire indie-loving generation, it’s a shame Smith lost to the most saturated and nauseatingly commercial song ever: Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Few nominated songs are so poignant and touching as this track from the deeply missed talented of Smith.

Engraged that “Falling Slowly” from Once didn’t make the list? Think we, or the Academy, missed a great song from a movie?  Let us know!