Oscars 2018: Best Original Song nominees
Listen below to the five nominees up for this year's Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Winners of this year's Oscars will be announced on Sunday, March 4, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.
"Mighty River," from "Mudbound"
Music and Lyric by Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson
Time tells no lies
It keeps changing, and ticking, and moving,
then passes by
But if you're lucky, it will be kind
Like a river flowing through time
Singer Mary J. Blige received two Oscar nominations this year – for co-writing this Best Original Song nominee, and for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance as Florence in this period drama about a sharecropping family in the post-war South.
While the film unnecessarily veers at times towards the melodramatic, Blige's acting performance is delicately shaded and real -- and her musical performance of "Mighty River" is soulful and inspiring.
"Mystery of Love," from "Call Me by Your Name"
Music and Lyric by Sufjan Stevens
How much sorrow can I take?
Blackbird on my shoulder
And what difference does it make
When this love is over?
Shall I sleep within your bed
River of unhappiness
Hold your hands upon my head
Till I breathe my last breath
Oh, oh woe-oh-woah is me
The last time that you touched me
Oh, will wonders ever cease?
Blessed be the mystery of love
Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens wrote two songs (including "Mystery of Love") for Luca Guadagnino's Best Picture nominee, "Call Me By Your Name," about a teenage boy spending a summer in Italy who falls into a romance with an older man.
The music captures the idealism, fantasy and disappointments of first love. And while the film is a memory piece, the music is ever-present, keeping the innocence and heartbreak of youth at the fore.
"Remember Me," from "Coco"
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
Remember me
Though I have to say goodbye
Remember me
Don't let it make you cry
For ever if I'm far away
I hold you in my heart
I sing a secret song to you
Each night we are apart
Anderson-Lopez and Lopez previously won for "Let It Go" from the Disney animated film "Frozen." For Pixar's animated tale inspired by Mexico's Day of the Dead, they contributed a lovely bi-lingual song about memory and family that is played in a variety of styles -- including a lullaby, a boisterous ranchera song, and a romantic ballad.
"Stand Up For Something" from "Marshall"
Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Lonnie R. Lynn and Diane Warren
It all means nothing
If you don't stand up for something
You can't just talk the talk
You got to walk that walk, yes you do
It all means nothing
If you don't stand up for something
For Reginald Hudlin's biopic of lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Lonnie R. Lynn and Diane Warren composed a song about ethics and dignity. Andra Day's powerful performance elevates the song beyond the film's 1950s storyline, to make it timeless.
Lynn previously won the Oscar for "Glory" (from "Selma"). Warren has eight previous nominations.
"This Is Me," from "The Greatest Showman"
Music and Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
The song in the video clip above featuring Keala Settle, from the P.T. Barnum musical biopic "The Greatest Showman," exudes pride and defiance about overcoming prejudice and ignorance. Like the film, it makes no apologies about not being subtle.
The songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul previously shared an Oscar win ("City of Stars") and a nomination ("Audition") for "La La Land."
See also:
- Oscars 2018: Best Actress nominees - Watch excerpts of nominated performances
- Oscars 2018: Best Actor nominees - Watch excerpts of nominated performances
- Oscars 2018: Best Supporting Actor nominees - Watch excerpts of nominated performances
- Oscars 2018: Best Supporting Actress nominees - Watch excerpts of nominated performances
- Oscars 2018: Best Visual Effects nominees - Watch behind-the-scenes footage revealing FX secrets from the five Academy Award-nominated films
- Oscars 2018: Best Original Score nominees - Listen to excerpts from the five nominated music scores
For more info:
- oscars.org (Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences)
- oscars.com (Official site of Oscar telecast)
- Complete CBSNews.com coverage: The Academy Awards
- Complete CBSNews.com coverage: Movies