Music at The Oscars, Part 2: A Decade Study

Welcome back to our Decade Study of Academy Award winning music! This week, we'll be looking back on years 11-20 of the Best Original Song category, which is actually years 17-26 for the awards ceremony itself. As a reminder, Best Original Song is presented to the songwriters who have written an original song specifically for a feature film.

1945

The 17th Annual Academy Awards were held March 15th, 1945 in Hollywood, California. Hosted by director John Cromwell and comedian Bob Hope, this awards ceremony was not televised but was the first Academy Awards ceremony to be broadcast live on radio.

Best Original Song - Swinging on a Star by Bing Crosby (written by J. Heusen, J. Burke)

Swinging on a Star, with music by Jimmy Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke, was one of twelve nominees for Best Original Song 1945, beating out I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night from Higher and Higher; I'll Walk Alone from Follow the Boys; I'm Making Believe from Sweet and Lowdown; Long Ago and Far Away from Cover Girl; Now I Know from Up in Arms; Remember Me to Carolina from Minstrel Man; Rio de Janeiro from Brazil; Silver Shadows and Golden Dreams from Lady, Let's Dance; Sweet Dreams Sweetheart from Hollywood Canteen; Too Much in Love from Song of the Open Road; and The Trolley Song from Meet Me in St. Louis. The song was featured in Leo McCarey's 1944 film Going My Way. Starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald, Best Original Song was one of the film's seven Oscar wins that night out of ten total nominations (the other wins included Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor (Bing Crosby); Best Supporting Actor (Barry Fitzgerald); Best Writing, Screenplay; and Best Original Motion Picture Story). Other notable recordings of this song include that by Frank Sinatra.

Would you like to swing on a star/Carry moonbeams home in a jar/And be better off than you are/Or would you rather be a mule/A mule is an animal with long furry ears/He kicks up at anything he hears/His back is brawny but his brain is weak/He’s just plain stupid with a stubborn streak/And by the way, if you hate to go to school/You may grow up to be a mule

1946

The 18th Annual Academy Awards were held March 7th, 1946 in Hollywood, California. Hosted by actor James Stewart and comedian Bob Hope, the live radio broadcasted ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1945.

Best Original Song - It Might as Well Be Spring by Louanne Hogan (written by O. Hammerstein, R. Rodgers)

It Might as Well Be Spring, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, was one of fourteen nominees for Best Original Song 1946, beating out Accentuate the Positive from Here Come the Waves; Anywhere from Tonight and Every Night; Aren't You Glad You're You from The Bells of St. Mary's; The Cat and the Canary from Why Girls Leave Home; Endlessly from Earl Carroll Vanities; I Fall in Love Too Easily from Anchors Aweigh; I'll Buy That Dream from Sing Your Way Home; Linda from The Story of G.I. Joe; Love Letters from Love Letters; More and More from Can't Help Singing; Sleighride in July from Bell of the Yukon; So in Love from Wonder Man; and Some Sunday Morning from San Antonio. The song was featured in Walter Lang's 1945 film State Fair, which was based on the 1932 Phil Stong novel and the 1933 film directed by Sony Levien and Paul Green. Starring Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews, Best Original Song was the only one of the film's two total nominations. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, and Peggy Lee.

I’m as restless as a willow in a windstorm/I’m as jumpy as a puppet on a string/I’d say that I had spring fever/But I know it isn’t spring/I am starry eyed and vaguely discontented/Like a nightingale without a song to sing/Oh, why should I have spring fever/When it isn’t even spring/I keep wishing I were somewhere else/Walking down a strange new street/Hearing words that I have never heard/From a girl I’ve yet to meet

1947

The 19th Annual Academy Awards were held March 13th, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by entertainer Jack Benny, the live radio broadcasted ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1946.

Best Original Song - On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe by Judy Garland (written by H. Warren, J. Mercer)

On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe, with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1947, beating out All Through the Day from Centennial Summer; I Can't Begin to Tell You from The Dolly Sisters; Ole Buttermilk Sky from Canyon Passage; and You Keep Coming Back Like a Song from Blue Skies. The song was featured in George Sidney & Robert Alton's 1946 film The Harvey Girls, which was based on the 1942 Samuel Hopkins Adams novel. Starring Judy Garland and John Hodiak, Best Original Song was the only one of the film's two total nominations. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Bing Crosby, Harry Connick Jr., Mandy Patinkin, Henry Mancini, John Denver, and Rosemary Clooney.

Do you hear that whistle down the line/I figure that it’s Engine Number Forty-Nine/She’s the only one that’ll sound that way/On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe/See the old smoke rising ‘round the bend/I reckon that she knows she’s gonna meet a friend/Folks around these parts get the time of day/From the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe

1948

The 20th Annual Academy Awards were held March 20th, 1948 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actress Agnes Moorehead and actor Dick Powell, the live radio broadcasted ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1947.

Best Original Song - Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah by James Baskett (written by A. Wrubel, R. Gilbert)

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, with music by Allie Wrubel and lyrics by Ray Gilbert, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1948, beating out A Gal in Calico from The Time, the Place and the Girl; I Wish I Didn't Love You So from The Perils of Pauline; Pass That Peace Pipe from Good News; and You Do from Mother Wore Tights. The song was featured in Harve Foster & Winifred Jackson's 1947 Disney film Song of the South, which was based on the 1881 Joel Chandler Harris novel Uncle Remus. Starring James Baskett and Bobby Driscoll, Best Original Song was one of two Oscar wins out of the film's three total nominations (James Baskett, who played Uncle Remus, became the first African American person to ever receive an Oscar when he received an Academy Honorary Award for his role in the film). Other notable recordings of this song include those by Louis Armstrong and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans.

Zip-a-dee-doo-da, zip-a-dee-ay/My, oh my, what a wonderful day/Plenty of sunshine heading my way/Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay/Mister Bluebird’s on my shoulder/It’s the truth, it’s actual, everything is satisfactual/Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zipp-a-dee-ay/Wonderful feeling, wonderful day

1949

The 21st Annual Academy Awards were held March 24th, 1949 in Hollywood, California. Hosted by actor Robert Montgomery, the ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1948 and was not broadcast.

Best Original Song - Buttons and Bows by Bob Hope (written by J. Livingston, R. Evans)

Buttons and Bows, with music by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1949, beating out For Every Man There is a Woman from Casbah; It's Magic from Romance on the High Seas; This is the Moment from That Lady in Ermine; and The Woody Woodpecker Song from Wet Blanket Policy. The song was featured in Norman Z. McLeod's 1948 film The Paleface. Starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Dinah Shore and Gene Autry.

East is east and west is west/And the wrong one I have chose/Let's go where they keep on wearin’/Those frills and flowers and buttons and bows/Rings and things and buttons and bows/Don't bury me in this prairie/Take me where the cement grows/Let's move down to some big town/Where they love a gal by the cut o' her clothes/And you'll stand out in buttons and bows/I’ll love you in buckskin/Or skirts that you've homespun/But I'll love ya' longer, stronger/Where yer friends don't tote a gun

1950

The 22nd Annual Academy Awards were held March 23rd, 1950 in Hollywood, California. Hosted by actor Paul Douglas, the ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1949 and was not broadcast.

Best Original Song - Baby, It's Cold Outside by Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalbán (written by F. Loesser)

Baby, It's Cold Outside, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1950, beating out It's a Great Feeling from It's a Great Feeling; Lavender Blue from So Dear to My Heart; My Foolish Heart from My Foolish Heart; and Through a Long and Sleepless Night from Come to the Stable. The song was featured in Edward Buzzell's 1949 film Neptune's Daughter. Starring Esther Williams and Red Skelton, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film. Other notable recordings of this song (there are over 400!) include those by Doris Day & Bob Hope; Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan; Lynn Garland & Frank Loesser; Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark; Sammy Davis Jr. & Carmen McRae; Ray Charles & Betty Carter; Barry Manilow & K.T. Oslin; Lee Ann Womack & Harry Connick Jr.; and Chris Colfer & Darren Criss.

I really can’t stay, but baby it’s cold outside/I’ve got to go away, but baby it’s cold outside/This evening has been, so happy that you dropped in/So very nice, I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice/My mother will start to worry, beautiful what’s your hurry/My father will be pacing the floor, listen to the fireplace roar/So really I’d better scurry, beautiful please don’t hurry/Well maybe just a half a drink more, put some records on while I pour/The neighbors might think, but baby it’s bad out there/Say what’s in this drink, no cabs to be had out there/I seem to be in, your eyes are like starlight sin/Some crazy spell, I’ll take your hat your hair looks swell/I ought to say no no no sir, ya mind if I move in closer/At least I’m gonna say that I tried, baby make my conscience your guide/I really can’t stay, oh baby don’t hold out/Ah, but it’s cold outside

1951

The 23rd Annual Academy Awards were held March 29th, 1951 in Hollywood, California. Hosted by actor Fred Astaire, the ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1950 and was not broadcast.

Best Original Song - Mona Lisa by Charlie Spivak ft Tommy Lynn (written by J. Livingston, R. Evans)

Mona Lisa, with music by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1951, beating out Be My Love from The Toast of New Orleans; Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo from Cinderella; Mule Train from Singing Guns; and Wilhelmina from Wabash Avenue. The song was featured in Michael Leisen's 1950 film Captain Carey, U.S.A., based on the 1948 Martha Albrand novel After Midnight. Starring Alan Ladd and Wanda Hendrix, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Natalie Cole, Andy Williams, and Willie Nelson.

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you/You are so like the lady with the mystic smile/Is it only ‘cause you’re lonely they have blamed you/For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile/Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa/Or is this your way to hide a broken heart/Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep/They just lie there, and they die there, are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa/Or just a cold and lonely lovely work of art

1952

The 24th Annual Academy Awards were held March 20th, 1952 in Hollywood, California. Hosted by actor Danny Kaye, the ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1951 and was not broadcast.

Best Original Song - In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening by Bing Crosby (written by H. Carmichael, J. Mercer)

In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, with music by Hoagy Carmichael and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1952, beating out A Kiss to Build a Dream On from The Strip; Never from Golden Girl; Too Late Now from Royal Wedding; and Wonder Why from Rich, Young and Pretty. The song was featured in Frank Capra's 1951 film Here Comes the Groom. Starring Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, Best Original Song was the only win out of two total nominations for the film. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire, Crystal Gayle, and Bette Midler.

Sue wants a barbecue, Sam wants to boil a ham/Grace votes for bouillabaisse stew, Jake wants a wienie bake, steak, and a layer cake, he’ll get a tummy ache, too/We’ll rent a tent or teepee, let the town crier cry/And if it’s RSVP, this is what I’ll reply/In the cool, cool, cool of the evening, tell ‘em I’ll be there/In the cool, cool, cool of the evening, you better save a chair/When the party’s getting a glow on, singing fills the air/In the shank of the night when the doings are right, you can tell ‘em I’ll be there

1953

The 25th Annual Academy Awards were held March 19th, 1953 in Hollywood, California & New York City, New York. Hosted by comedian Bob Hope, actor Conrad Nagell, and actor Fredric March, the ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1952 and was the first ever televised Academy Awards.

Best Original Song - High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, O My Darlin') by Tex Ritter (written by D. Tiomkin, N. Washington)

High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, O My Darlin'), with music by Dimitri Tiomkin and lyrics by Ned Washington, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1953, beating out Am I in Love? from Son of Paleface; Because You're Mine from Because You're Mine; Thumbelina from Hans Christian Andersen; and Zing a Little Zong from Just for You. The song was featured in Fred Zinnemann's 1952 film High Noon, based on the 1947 John W. Cunningham short story The Tin Star. Starring Gary Cooper and Thomas Mitchell, Best Original Song was one of four Oscar wins out of seven total nominations for the film (the other wins including Best Actor (Gary Cooper), Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and Best Film Editing). Other notable recordings of this song include those by Frankie Laine, Jimmie Rodgers, Connie Francis, and Walter Brennan.

Do not forsake me, oh my darling on this, our wedding day/Do not forsake me, oh my darling, wait, wait along/I do not know what fate awaits me, I only know I must be brave/And I must face a man who hates me or lie a coward, a craven coward/Or lie a coward in my grave

1954

The 26th Annual Academy Awards were held March 25th, 1954 in Hollywood, California & New York City, New York. Hosted by dancer Donald O'Connor and actor Fredric March, the televised ceremony celebrated achievements in film from 1953.

Best Original Song - Secret Love by Doris Day (written by P. Webster, S. Fain)

Secret Love, with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Webster, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1954, beating out The Moon is Blue from The Moon is Blue; My Flaming Heart from Small Town Girl; Sadie Thompson's Song from Miss Sadie Thompson; and That's Amore from The Caddy. The song was featured in David Butler's 1953 film Calamity Jane. Starring Doris Day and Howard Keel, Best Original Song was the only win out of three total nominations for the film. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Kathy Kirby, Freddy Fender, Frank Sinatra, and Sinéad O'Connor.

Once I had a secret love that lived within the heart of me/All too soon, my secret love became impatient to be free/So I told a friendly star, the way that dreamers often do/Just how wonderful you are and why I’m so in love with you/Now I shout it from the highest hills, even told the golden daffodils/At last my heart’s an open door and my secret love’s no secret anymore

Whether you know these songs from their original film sources or are hearing them for the first time, I hope you enjoyed our list today. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!