If you can believe it, this is going to be our final Golden Globes post for a while. This series has focused on the Best Original Song award given by the Hollywood Foreign Press, which is presented to the songwriters who have written an original song specifically for a feature film. Today, we're taking a look back at the award show's sixth and most recently completed decade, starting at the show's 69th showcase in 2012.
2012
The 69th Golden Globe Awards were held January 15th, 2012 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2011. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Ricky Gervais.
Best Original Song - Masterpiece by Madonna (written by M. Ciccone, J. Frost, J. Harry)
Masterpiece, with music & lyrics by Madonna, Julie Frost, & Jimmy Harry, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2012, beating out Hello Hello from Gnomeo & Juliet; The Keeper from Machine Gun Preacher; Lay Your Head Down from Albert Hobbs; and The Living Proof from The Help. The song was featured in Madonna Louise Ciccone's (yes, that's her full legal name) 2011 film W.E. Starring Abbie Cornish and James D'Arcy, Best Original Song was the only win out of two total nominations for the film at this ceremony. Apparently the movie was not great (putting it lightly from what I can find), but I actually thought the song was pretty good. Madonna seems to be a mixed bag when it comes to writing songs for movies, but this one was fairly pleasant to listen to.
If you were the Mona Lisa, you'd be hanging in the Louvre/Everyone would come to see you, you'd be impossible to move/It seems to me it’s what you are, a rare and priceless work of art/Stay behind your velvet rope, but I will not renounce all hope/And I'm right by your side like a thief in the night/I stand in front of the masterpiece/And I can't tell you why it hurts so much/To be in love with the masterpiece/‘Cause after all, nothing's indestructible
2013
The 70th Golden Globe Awards were held January 13th, 2013 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2012. The ceremony was hosted by comedians Tina Fey & Amy Poehler.
Best Original Song - Skyfall by Adele (written by A. Adkins, P. Epworth)
Skyfall, with music & lyrics by Adele & Paul Epworth, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2013, beating out For You from Act of Valor; Not Running Anymore from Stand Up Guys; Safe & Sound from The Hunger Games; and Suddenly from Les Misérables. The song was featured in Sam Mendes's 2012 film Skyfall, based on Sir Ian Fleming's James Bond series. Starring Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film at this ceremony. This felt like an impossible choice for me at the time to choose between Skyfall and Safe & Sound because I love both of these songs so much, even to this day. Skyfall as both a song and a film are masterpieces, and it's absolutely the best Bond theme in my opinion.
This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten/Feel the Earth move and then hear my heart burst again/For this is the end, I’ve drowned and dreamt this moment/So overdue, I owe them, swept away, I'm stolen/Let the sky fall, when it crumbles/We will stand tall, face it all together/Let the sky fall, when it crumbles/We will stand tall, face it all together at Skyfall/At Skyfall
2014
The 71st Golden Globe Awards were held January 12th, 2014 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2013. The ceremony was hosted by comedians Tina Fey & Amy Poehler.
Best Original Song - Ordinary Love by U2 (written by P. Hewson, A. Clayton, B. Burton, D. Evans, L. Mullen)
Ordinary Love, with music by U2 and Brian Burton & lyrics by Bono, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2014, beating out Atlas from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; Let It Go from Frozen; Please Mr. Kennedy from Inside Llewyn Davis; and Sweeter Than Fiction from One Chance. The song was featured in Justin Chadwick's 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which was based on the 1994 Nelson Mandela biography Long Walk to Freedom. Starring Idris Elba and Naomi Harris, Best Original Song was the only win our of three total nominations for the film at this ceremony. I'm sorry, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever that this song should've beaten Let It Go or Sweeter Than Fiction. There's a pretty strong divide about whether or not U2 is overrated, but at the very least this song is incredibly mid and, if I may say so, forgettable.
The sea wants to kiss the golden shore/The sunlight warms your skin/All the beauty that's been lost before wants to find us again/I can't fight you any more, it's you I'm fighting for/The sea throws rock together but time leaves us polished stones/We can't fall any further if/We can't feel ordinary love/And we can't reach any higher/If we can't deal with ordinary love
2015
The 72nd Golden Globe Awards were held January 11th, 2015 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2014. The ceremony was hosted by comedians Tina Fey & Amy Poehler.
Best Original Song - Glory by John Legend & Common (written by J. Stephens, L. Lynn, C. Smith)
Glory, with music and lyrics by John Legend, Common, and Rhymefest, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2015, beating out Big Eyes from Big Eyes; Mercy Is from Noah; Opportunity from Annie; and Yellow Flicker Beat from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1. The song was featured in Ava DuVernay's 2014 film Selma, which was based on the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Starring David Oyelowo and Tom Wilkinson, Best Original Song was the only win out of four total nominations for the film at this ceremony. While I love Opportunity and Yellow Flicker Beat, this song is very, very good. I'll hand it to John Legend, the man can write a song, and this team of songwriters definitely did deserve this award.
One day when the glory comes/It will be ours, it will be ours/Oh, one day when the war is won/We will be sure, we will be sure/Oh, glory/Oh glory, glory/Hands to the Heavens, no man, no weapon/Formed against, yes glory is destined/Every day, women and men become legends/Sins that go against our skin become blessings/The movement is a rhythm to us/Freedom is like religion to us/Justice is juxtapositionin' us/Justice for all just ain't specific enough/One son died, his spirit is revisitin' us/Truant livin' livin' in us, resistance is us/That's why Rosa sat on the bus/That's why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up/When it go down, we woman and man up/They say, "Stay down", and we stand up/Shots, we on the ground, the camera panned up/King pointed to the mountain top and we ran up
2016
The 73rd Golden Globe Awards were held January 10th, 2016 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2015. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Ricky Gervais.
Best Original Song - Writing's on the Wall by Sam Smith (written by S. Smith, J. Napes)
Writing's on the Wall, with music and lyrics by Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2016, beating out Love Me Like You Do from Fifty Shades of Grey; One Kind of Love from Love & Mercy; See You Again from Furious 7; and Simple Song #3 from Youth. The song was featured in Sam Mendes's 2015 film Spectre, which was based on Sir Ian Fleming's James Bond series. Starring Daniel Craig and Christoph Waltz, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film at this ceremony. I personally would've gone for See You Again here. This song is alright, but definitely doesn't hold a candle to the previous Bond theme winner Skyfall.
I've been here before, but always hit the floor/I’ve spent a lifetime runnin’ and I always get away/But with you, I'm feeling somethin’ that makes me wanna stay/I’m prepared for this, I never shoot to miss/But I feel like a storm is comin’/If I'm gonna make it through the day, then there's no more use in runnin’/This is somethin' I gotta face/If I risk it all, could you break my fall/How do I live, how do I breathe/When you're not here, I'm suffocating/I wanna feel love run through my blood/Tell me, is this where I give it all up/For you, I have to risk it all/‘Cause the writing's on the wall
2017
The 74th Golden Globe Awards were held January 8th, 2017 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2016. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon.
Best Original Song - City of Stars by Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone (written by J. Hurwitz, B. Pasek, J. Paul)
City of Stars, with music by Justin Hurwitz and lyrics by Benji Pasek & Justin Paul, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2017, beating out Can't Stop the Feeling! from Trolls; Faith from Sing; How Far I'll Go from Moana; and Gold from Gold. The song was featured in Damien Chazelle's 2016 film La La Land. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, Best Original Song was one of seven nominations for the film at this ceremony, winning all of them (the other wins being for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy; Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Gosling; Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Stone; Best Director for Chazelle; Best Screenplay; and Best Original Score). This has proven to be a hot take in the past, but I have honestly never had the urge to watch La La Land. This song is ok, but I definitely would've gone with How Far I'll Go or even Can't Stop the Feeling.
City of stars, are you shining just for me/City of stars, there's so much that I can't see/Who knows, I felt it from the first embrace I shared with you/That now our dreams may finally come true/City of stars, just one thing everybody wants/There in the bars and through the smokescreen of the crowded restaurants/It's love, yes, all we're looking for is love from someone else
2018
The 75th Golden Globe Awards were held January 7th, 2018 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2017. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Seth Meyers.
Best Original Song - This Is Me by Keala Settle & Cast (written by B. Pasek, J. Paul)
This Is Me, with music & lyrics by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2018, beating out Home from Ferdinand; Mighty River from Mudbound; Remember Me from Coco; and The Star from The Star. The song was featured in Michael Gracey's 2017 film The Greatest Showman, which was based loosely on the life of P.T. Barnum. Starring Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron, Best Original Song was the only win out of three total nominations for the film at this ceremony. Popular covers of this song include that by Kesha. I recognize it's not the greatest movie ever, but I do love The Greatest Showman, largely in part due to its outstanding soundtrack. I also love Remember Me, but I love that this song took home the win.
I am not a stranger to the dark/“Hide away," they say, “’Cause we don't want your broken parts”/I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars/“Run away," they say, “No one'll love you as you are”/But I won't let them break me down to dust, I know that there's a place for us/For we are glorious/When the sharpest words wanna cut me down/I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em 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
2019
The 76th Golden Globe Awards were held January 6th, 2019 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2018. The ceremony was hosted by actress Sandra Oh and comedian Andy Samberg.
Best Original Song - Shallow by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (written by S. Germanotta, A. Wyatt, A. Rossomando, M. Ronson)
Shallow, with music & lyrics by Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando, and Mark Ronson, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2019, beating out All the Stars from Black Panther; Girl in the Movies from Dumplin'; Requiem for a Private War from A Private War; and Revelation from Boy Erased. The song was featured in Bradley Cooper's 2018 film A Star Is Born, which was the fourth American adaptation of this story following William A. Wellman's 1937 film starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March, George Cukor's 1954 film starring Judy Garland and James Mason, and Frank Pierson's 1976 film starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. Starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, Best Original Song was the only win out of five total nominations for the film at this ceremony. Popular covers of this song include those by Lea Michele & Darren Criss, Lewis Capaldi, Billy Porter, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, and Pentatonix. Hot Take Alert: this song is WILDLY overrated, which I thought even before every American radio station played it into the ground. If you want a way better song from the same movie, check out Always Remember Us This Way.
Tell me somethin', girl/Are you happy in this modern world/Or do you need more/Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for/I’m fallin’/In all the good times, I find myself longin’/For change/And, in the bad times, I fear myself/Tell me something, boy/Aren't you tired tryna fill that void/Or do you need more/Ain't it hard keepin' it so hardcore/I’m falling/In all the good times, I find myself longing/For change/And, in the bad times, I fear myself/I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in/I’ll never meet the ground/Crash through the surface where they can't hurt us/We're far from the shallow now/In the sha-ha, sha-hallow/In the sha-ha, sha-la-la-la-low/In the sha-ha, sha-hallow/We're far from the shallow now
2020
The 77th Golden Globe Awards were held January 5th, 2020 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2019. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Ricky Gervais.
Best Original Song - (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again by Elton John & Taron Egerton (written by E. John, B. Taupin)
(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2020, beating out Beautiful Ghosts from Cats; Into the Unknown from Frozen II; Spirit from The Lion King; and Stand Up from Harriet. The song was featured in Dexter Fletcher's 2019 film Rocketman, which is based on the life and career of Elton John. Starring Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell, Best Original Song was one of two wins out of three total nominations for the film at this ceremony (the other win being Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Egerton). I'm a fan of both Elton John and Taron Egerton, but Into the Unknown or Beautiful Ghosts would've taken it for me. It's a fun new(er) Elton John song, though, which is nice for the fans.
Oh, the joke was never hard to tell/Threw my spare change in the wishing well/The dream alone is always in your hands/If that don't fill the boy and build the man/A heart has many secrets, so I'm told/Through the years, a theory can grow cold/I’m up to be the king, it's gotten clear/The voice inside my head is the one I hear singing/I'm gonna love me again, check in on my very best friend/Find the wind to fill my sails, rise above the broken rails/Unbound by any ties that break or bend, I’m free, and don't you know/No clown to claim he used to know me then, I’m free, and don't you know/And oh-oh-oh, I'm gonna love me again
2021
The 78th Golden Globe Awards were held February 28th, 2021 and celebrated film and television achievements from 2020. The ceremony was hosted by comedians Tina Fey & Amy Poehler.
Best Original Song - Io sì (Seen) by Laura Pausini (written by D. Warren, L. Pausini, N. Agliardi)
Io sì (Seen), with music & lyrics by Diane Warren, Laura Pausini, and Niccolò Agliardi, was one of five total nominees for Best Original Song 2021, beating out Fight for You from Judas and the Black Messiah; Hear My Voice from The Trial of the Chicago 7; Speak Now from One Night in Miami...; and Tigress & Tweed from The United States vs. Billie Holiday. The song was featured in Edoardo Ponti's 2020 film The Life Ahead, which is based on the 1975 Romain Gary novel The Life Before Us and the 1977 Moshé Mizrahi film Madame Rosa. Starring Sophia Loren and Ibrahim Gueye, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film at this ceremony. This is a lovely song, and what a fun change to see a non-English language song take the win here. It's nice to listen to, with a great vocal performance by Pausini. An English translation of the original Italian lyrics is below.
When you run out of words/I’m here, I’m here/Maybe you only need two/I’m here, I’m here/When you learn to survive/And accept the impossible/No one believes it, I do/I don't know/What is your destiny/But if you want/If you want me I'm here/No one hears you, but I do
I hope you enjoyed this series as much as I did, and we'll be back (albeit in a hot minute) when this next decade has completed to look at those winners. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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