Music at the Oscars, Part 6: A Decade Study

Hello again, and welcome back to our Oscars series! This week's post will be centered around years 41-50 of the Best Original Song category at the Academy Awards, which is years 57-66 for the ceremony itself. The Best Original Song Award is presented to the songwriters who have written an original song specifically for a feature film.

1985

The 57th Annual Academy Awards were held March 25th, 1985 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actor Jack Lemmon, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1984.

Best Original Song - I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder (written by S. Wonder)

I Just Called to Say I Love You, with music and lyrics by Stevie Wonder, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1985, beating out Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) from Against All Odds; Footloose from Footloose; Let's Hear It for the Boy from Footloose; and Ghostbusters from Ghostbusters. The song was featured in Gene Wilder's 1984 film The Woman in Red, which is based on the 1976 Yves Robert film Pardon Mon Affaire (or An Elephant Can Be Extremely Deceptive). Starring Gene Wilder and Charles Grodin, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film that night. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Pentatonix, Richard Clayderman, and Kina Grannis. This was a stacked category that year, and I could easily see any of these songs deserving this award. Stevie Wonder is such a talented musician, and while this song is undeniably 80s in certain musical aspects it's still a classic today.

No New Year's Day to celebrate/No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away/No first of spring, no song to sing/In fact, here's just another ordinary day/No April rain, no flowers bloom/No wedding Saturday within the month of June/But what it is is something true/Made up of these three words that I must say to you/I just called to say I love you/I just called to say how much I care/I just called to say I love you/And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

1986

The 58th Annual Academy Awards were held March 24th, 1986 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actor Alan Alda, actress Jane Fonda, and actor Robin Williams, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1985.

Best Original Song - Say You, Say Me by Lionel Richie (written by L. Richie)

Say You, Say Me, with music and lyrics by Lionel Richie, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1986, beating out Miss Celie's Blues (Sister) from The Color Purple; The Power of Love from Back to the Future; Separate Lives from White Nights; and Surprise Surprise from A Chorus Line. The song was featured in Taylor Hackford's 1985 film White Nights. Starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines, Best Original Song was the only win out of two total nominations for the film. This is a year of classic films filling up this category, but Say You, Say Me being the winner feels like a solid choice. Lionel Richie is a musical icon, and I'm a sucker for a good dance movie, so White Nights winning the award is a-okay with me.

Say you, say me, say it for always/That's the way it should be/Say you, say me, say it together/Naturally/I had a dream, I had an awesome dream/People in the park playing games in the dark/And what they played was a masquerade/And from behind of walls of doubt, a voice was crying out

1987

The 59th Annual Academy Awards were held March 30th, 1987 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by comedian Chevy Chase, actress Goldie Hawn, and actor Paul Hogan, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1986.

Best Original Song - Take My Breath Away by Berlin (written by T. Whitlock, G. Moroder)

Take My Breath Away, with music by Giorgio Moroder and lyrics by Thomas Whitlock, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1987, beating out Glory of Love from The Karate Kid Part II; Life in a Looking Glass from That's Life; Mean Green Mother from Outer Space from Little Shop of Horrors; and Somewhere Out There from An American Tail. The song was featured in Tony Scott 1986 film Top Gun, which is based on the Ehud Yonay's 1983 article Top Guns. Starring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis, Best Original Song was the only win out of four total nominations for the film. Other notable recordings of this song include those by Jessica Simpson and the cast of Glee. I am so torn with this year: I ADORE Somewhere Out There and would've loved to be able to talk about its win. However, Take My Breath Away and Top Gun are both staples of pop culture, so I really can't be mad.

Watchin' every motion in my foolish lover's game/On this endless ocean, finally lovers know no shame/Turning and returning to some secret place inside/Watchin' in slow motion as you turn around and say/Take my breath away/Take my breath away

1988

The 60th Annual Academy Awards were held April 11th, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by comedian Chevy Chase, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1987.

Best Original Song - (I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (written by J. DeNicola, F. Previte, D. Markowitz)

(I've Had) The Time of My Life, with music and lyrics by John DeNicola, Franke Previte, and Donald Markowitz, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1988, beating out Cry Freedom from Cry Freedom; Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now from Mannequin; Shakedown from Beverly Hills Cop II; and Storybook Love from The Princess Bride. The song was featured in Emile Ardolino's 1987 film Dirty Dancing. Starring Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze, Best Original Song was the only nomination and subsequent win for the film at this ceremony. Damn, another iconic song and movie taking home this award this year. Everyone knows this song at this point, as well as its accompaniment by one of the most recognizable dance sequences of all time.

Now I've had the time of my life/No, I never felt like this before/Yes I swear, it's the truth/And I owe it all to you/‘Cause I've had the time of my life/And I owe it all to you/I’ve been waiting for so long, now I've finally found someone to stand by me/We saw the writing on the wall as we felt this magical fantasy/Now with passion in our eyes, there's no way we could disguise it secretly/So we take each other's hand 'cause we seem to understand the urgency/Just remember/You're the one thing I can't get enough of/So I'll tell you something, this could be love, because

1989

The 61st Annual Academy Awards were held March 29th, 1989 in Los Angeles, California. With no official host, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1988.

Best Original Song - Let the River Run by Carly Simon (written by C. Simon)

Let the River Run, with music and lyrics by Carly Simon, was one of three nominees for Best Original Song 1989, beating out Calling You from Bagdad Cafe and Two Hearts from Buster. The song was featured in Mike Nichols' 1988 film Working Girl. Starring Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver, Best Original Song was the only win out of six total nominations for the film. Despite being part of the smallest Best Original Song pool in quite a while, this song is pretty good. Carly Simon is so talented, and it's nice to see her get a win for this one.

Let the river run/Let all the dreamers wake the nation/Come, the New Jerusalem/Silver cities rise/The morning lights, the streets that lead them/And sirens call them on with a song/It's asking for the taking/Trembling, shaking/Oh, my heart is aching/We're coming to the edge/Running on the water/Coming through the fog/Your sons and daughters

1990

The 62nd Annual Academy Awards were held March 26th, 1990 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actor Billy Crystal, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1989.

Best Original Song - Under the Sea by Samuel E. Wright (written by A. Menken, H. Ashman)

Under the Sea, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1990, beating out After All from Chances Are; The Girl Who Used to Be Me from Shirley Valentine; I Love to See You Smile from Parenthood; and Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid. The song was featured in Ron Clements and John Musker's 1989 film The Little Mermaid, which is of course Disney's animated adaptation of the 1837 Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale of the same name. Starring Jodi Benson and Christopher Daniel Barnes, Best Original Song was one of two wins out of three total nominations for the film (the other win being for Best Original Score). Other notable recordings of this song include those by Alvin & the Chipmunks, Tituss Burgess, A*Teens, Raven-Symoné, Booboo Stewart, and Shaggy. Under the Sea is obviously one of the most well-known and beloved Disney songs ever and is well deserving of this award. Samuel E. Wright, may he Rest In Peace, will always be the ultimate Sebastian and is such a huge reason this song is what it is, mixed with the incredible songwriting team of Menken & Ashman.

The seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake/You dream about going up there, but that is a big mistake/Just look at the world around you right here on the ocean floor/Such wonderful things surround you, what more is you lookin' for/Under the sea, under the sea/Darling it's better down where it's wetter, take it from me/Up on the shore they work all day, out in the sun they slave away/While we devotin’ full time to floatin’ under the sea

1991

The 63rd Annual Academy Awards were held March 25th, 1991 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actor Billy Crystal, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1990.

Best Original Song - Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man) by Madonna (written by S. Sondheim)

Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man), with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1991, beating out Blaze of Glory from Young Guns II; I'm Checkin' Out from Postcards from the Edge; Promise Me You'll Remember from The Godfather Part III; and Somewhere in My Memory from Home Alone. The song was featured in Warren Beatty's 1990 film Dick Tracy, which is based on the 1931 Chester Gould comic strip of the same name. Starring Warren Beatty and Al Pacino, Best Original Song was one of three wins out of seven total nominations for the film (the other wins being for Best Art Direction and Best Makeup). Other notable recordings of this song include that by Ashleigh Murray. Sooner or Later actually does a good job showing off Madonna's vocal talent, and its dramatic feel and style make so much sense when you see it was written by the late great Stephen Sondheim. I wasn't familiar with the song before, but I definitely enjoyed listening to it.

Sooner or later, you're gonna be mine/Sooner or later, you're gonna be fine/Baby, it's time that you faced it/I always get my man/Sooner or later, you're gonna decide/Sooner or later, there's nowhere to hide/Baby, it's time, so why waste it in chatter/Let's settle the matter/Baby, you're mine on a platter/I always get my man

1992

The 64th Annual Academy Awards were held March 30th, 1992 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actor Billy Crystal, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1991.

Best Original Song - Beauty and the Beast by Angela Lansbury (written by H. Ashman, A. Menken)

Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1992, beating out Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast; Belle from Beauty and the Beast; (Everything I Do) I Do for You from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves; and When You're Alone from Hook. The song was featured in Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise's 1991 film Beauty and the Beast, Disney's animated interpretation of the 1740 Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont fairy tale of the same name. Starring Paige O'Hara and Robby Benson, Best Original Song was one of two wins out of six total nominations for the film (the other win being for Best Original Score). Other notable recordings of this song include those by Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson, Ariana Grande & John Legend, Paige O'Hara, Kenny Loggins, Jump5, Diamond Rio, Jordin Sparks, and Beth Fowler. Listening to Beauty and the Beast hits different this week after the very recent loss of the incredible Angela Lansbury, but this song will always and forever be a favorite of mine. Menken & Ashman really and truly created magic together on their collaborations, and this being one of Disney's most beloved songs proves it.

Tale as old as time, true as it can be/Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly/Just a little change, small to say the least/Both a little scared, neither one prepared, Beauty and the Beast

1993

The 65th Annual Academy Awards were held March 29th, 1993 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actor Billy Crystal, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1992.

Best Original Song - A Whole New World by Brad Kane & Lea Salonga (written by A. Menken, T. Rice)

A Whole New World, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1993, beating out Friend Like Me from Aladdin; I Have Nothing from The Bodyguard; Run to You from The Bodyguard; and Beautiful Maria of My Soul from The Mambo Kings. The song was featured in John Musker & Ron Clements's 1992 film Aladdin, Disney's animated interpretation of the Arabian folktale Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from the collection One Thousand and One Nights. Starring Scott Weinger and Robin Williams, Best Original Song was one of two wins out of five total nominations for the film (the other win being for Best Original Score). Other notable recordings of this song include those by Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle, Zayn Malik & Zhavia Ward, and Becky G. This is the third huge win for an iconic Disney song and movie in the same decade, so I think it's safe to say Disney knew what they were doing in their famed Renaissance period. Menken & Rice are an incredible team, and I'll take any excuse to hear Lea Salonga sing.

I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splendid/Tell me, Princess, now when did you last let your heart decide/I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder/Over, sideways and under on a magic carpet ride/A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view/No one to tell us no or where to go or say we’re only dreaming/A whole new world, a dazzling place I never knew/But when I’m way up here, it’s crystal clear that now, I’m in a whole new world with you/Now I’m in a whole new world with you

1994

The 66th Annual Academy Awards were held March 26th, 1994 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by actress Whoopi Goldberg, the televised ceremony celebrated film achievements from 1993.

Best Original Song - Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen (written by B. Springsteen)

Streets of Philadelphia, with music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, was one of five nominees for Best Original Song 1994, beating out Again from Poetic Justice; The Day I Fell in Love from Beethoven's 2nd; Philadelphia from Philadelphia; and A Wink and a Smile from Sleepless in Seattle. The song was featured in Jonathan Demme's 1993 film Philadelphia. Starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, Best Original Song was one of two wins out of five total nominations for the film (the other win being for Best Actor for Hanks). Other notable recordings of this song include those by The Fray, Elton John, and Melissa Etheridge. This song's pretty good, even if it has kind of a bland, long intro. Springsteen is another musical icon to win this award, and it's definitely deserved.

I was bruised and battered, I couldn't tell what I felt/I was unrecognizable to myself/Saw my reflection in a window and didn't know my own face/Oh brother, are you gonna leave me wastin' away/On the streets of Philadelphia/I walked the avenue 'til my legs felt like stone/I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone/At night, I could hear the blood in my veins/Just as black and whispering as the rain/On the streets of Philadelphia

Whether you were previously familiar with these songs or not, I hope you had a good time looking at some classic, iconic tunes with this post. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!