The Academy started to honor music in 1934, when they added both Best Score and Best Song. The eligibility of various songs over the years has always been a little hard to figure out. For a lot of information on eligible songs, I have relied on Inside Oscar. Also, from 1958 to 1979 there were long-lists: a group of 10 semi-finalists before they announced the actual nominees (those long lists can be found below). For that info, I have to thank Scott Bettencourt from filmscoremontly.com.

Trivia Question:  What do Arthur Freed, Dorothy Parker, Al Jolson, Dale Evans, Elvis Presley, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, John Lennon, Roger McGuinn, Curtis Mayfield, Barry Gibb, Jackson Browne, Prince, David Byrne, Patrick Swayze, Tom Petty and Eddie Vedder all have in common?

Answer:  All wrote songs that were eligible for the Academy Award for Best Song and none of them have been nominated in the category.

It took a long time for the Academy to finally recognize changing musical tastes. They were still honoring “The Shadow of Your Smile” in the same year that all the songs from Help were eligible. Rock and roll became a part of film back in 1955 with Blackboard Jungle, and by the next year, eligible rock songs had begun to pop up (“Love Me Tender”), yet in spite of Elvis and the Beatles, the first real rock song to get nominated (and win) was the Theme from Shaft in 1971 (even though A Hard Day’s Night had received a Best Score Adaptation nomination and the Beatles had actually won an Oscar for Best Song Score for Let it Be (but no nomination for Best Song). After that, despite a nomination for Paul McCartney and snubs for Jimmy Cliff, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, it took until 1982 for the next song that even remotely qualifies as rock and roll to win (“Up Where We Belong”). The Academy still likes their music to be softer, or did until they inexplicably passed up U2 (who had already been snubbed several times and finally nominated) to give the Oscar to Eminem.

They also apparently don’t like being told what to nominate.  In 2008, for the 5th year in a row they snubbed the Golden Globe winning song (that time it was Bruce Springsteen’s “The Wrestler”).

The Academy has had some horrible performances of the song nominees over the years, partially because they’ve nominated some horrible songs.  But one of the greatest moments in Oscar history was Jon Stewart bringing Marketa Irglova back out last year to finish her acceptance speech.  Giving them the Oscar and seeing her there, back on stage, it was a moment that did the Academy proud.  I can’t imbed it, but you can view it here.

Best Song is also the category most likely to have a film with only one Oscar nomination. Many years have 4 of the 5 nominees with no other nominations and only 7 times in Oscar history have all the nominees had multiple nominations (1969, 1983, 1985, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008).

The only great songs from pre-1934 are from the Marx Brothers films: “Hooray for Captain Spaulding,” “Everyone Says I Love You,” and “I’m Against It.”  This statement caused some fervor in the comments.  It’s hard to determine which songs from the early musicals were actually written for films.  Inside Oscar doesn’t mention eligible song before 1934, because, of course, there was no category and thus nothing was eligible.

Grades – Winners: B- / Nominees: C- / Seen: 77.48% 94.13% – this is one of my lowest numbers – higher only than Foreign Film – it is very hard to find some of these well forgotten films, including Captain Carey, the most recent Oscar winner I haven’t seen (1950)

Honor Roll: The Princess Bride / Toy Story 2 / Vanilla Sky / A Mighty Wind / Once

Shame Roll: Under Western Stars / Mr. Dodd Takes the Air / The Sandpiper / Casino Royale / Ben / Gold / Thank God It’s Friday / Endless Love / Footloose / Mannequin / Beethoven’s 2nd

The Shame Roll for Best Song is so long because it isn’t that difficult to have a good song from a bad film.

Based on my point system (20 points for an Oscar, 10 for a nomination), these are the leading point-getters for Best Song:

  1. Sammy Cahn  (lyricst) – 300 points  –  4 wins, 26 nominations
  2. Johnny Mercer  (lyricist)  – 220 points  – 4 wins, 18 nominations
  3. Paul Francis Webster  (lyricist)  –  190 points  –  3 wins, 16 nominations
  4. James Van Heusen  (composer)  –  180 points  –  4 wins, 14 nominations

Cahn and Van Heusen were collaborators, sharing 11 of those nominations and 3 of the Oscars.  If Randy Newman wins Best Song for either of his nominations this year, he will move into a tie for 10th place with 130 points.  Cahn was a prolific nominee, with a nomination every year from 1948 to 1961, with the sole exception of 1953.  The next longest streak is the six straight nominations of married couple Alan and Marilyn Bergman from 1968 to 1973 and the six straight loses by Mack David from 1961 to 1966.  While Alan Menken was the king for a short time there, getting eight nominations and 4 Oscars between 89 and 95, it is Newman who currently is on top, with 7 nominations and his only Oscar in the last 12 years (and 3 Score nominations during that same period).

1934 AA: “The Continental” from The Gay Divorcee

  • “Carioca” from Flying Down to Rio
  • “Love in Bloom” from She Loves Me Not

me: “The Continental” from The Gay Divorcee

  • “Love in Bloom” from She Loves Me Not
  • “Cocktails for Two” from Murder at the Vanities

1935 AA: “Lullaby of Broadway” from Gold Diggers of 1935

  • “Cheek to Cheek” from Top Hat
  • “Lovely to Look At” from Roberta

me: I actually agree with all three, except give the win to Top Hat

1936 AA: “The Way You Look Tonight” from Swing Time

  • “Did I Remember” from Suzy
  • “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” from Born to Dance
  • “A Melody from the Sky” from Trail of the Lonesome Pine
  • “Pennies from Heaven” from Pennies from Heaven
  • “When Did You Leave Heaven” from Sing Baby Sing

me: “Pennies from Heaven” from Pennies from Heaven

  • “The Way You Look Tonight” from Swing Time
  • “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” from Born to Dance
  • “San Francisco” from San Francisco

1937 AA: “Sweet Leilani” from Waikiki Wedding

  • “Remember Me” from Mr. Dodd Takes the Air
  • “That Old Feeling” from Vogues of 1938
  • “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” from Shall We Dance
  • “Whispers in the Dark” from Artists and Models

me: “Heigh Ho” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

  • “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” from Shall We Dance
  • “Someday My Prince Will Come” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • “Whistle While You Work” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • “They All Laughed” from Shall We Dance

note:  In the fourth year of the award, Harry Owens becomes the first songwriter to win the Oscar (as opposed to separate lyricist and composer).

1938 AA: “Thanks for the Memory” from Big Broadcast of 1938

  • “Now It Can Be Told” from Alexander’s Ragtime Band
  • “Always and Always” from Mannequin
  • “Change Partners and Dance with Me” from Carefree
  • “The Cowboy and the Lady” from The Cowboy and the Lady
  • “Dust” from Under Western Stars
  • “Jeepers Creepers” from Going Places
  • “Merrily We Live” from Merrily We Live
  • “A Mist Over the Moon” from The Lady Objects
  • “My Own” from That Certain Age

me:  “Jeepers Creepers” from Going Places

  • “Now It Can Be Told” from Alexander’s Ragtime Band
  • “Thanks for the Memory” from Big Broadcast of 1938
  • “Merrily We Live” from Merrily We Live

1939 AA: “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz

  • “Wishing” from Love Affair
  • “Faithful Forever” from Gulliver’s Travels
  • “I Poured My Heart Into a Song” from Second Fiddle

me: “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz

  • “We’re Off to See the Wizard” from The Wizard of Oz
  • “If I Only Had a Brain” from The Wizard of Oz
  • “If I Only Had a Heart” from The Wizard of Oz
  • “If I Only Had the Nerve” from The Wizard of Oz

1940 AA: “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio

  • “Down Argentine Way” from Down Argentine Way
  • “I’d Know You Anywhere” from You’ll Find Out
  • “It’s a Blue World” from Music in My Heart
  • “Love of My Life” from Second Chorus
  • “Only Forever” from Rhythm on the River
  • “Our Love Affair” from Strike Up the Band
  • “Waltzing in the Clouds” from Spring Parade
  • “Who Am I?” from Hit Parade of 1941

me: “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio

  • “Our Love Affair” from Strike Up the Band
  • “Love of My Life” from Second Chorus
  • “Only Forever” from Rhythm on the River

1941 AA: “The Last Time I Saw Paris” from Lady Be Good

  • “Baby Mine” from Dumbo
  • “Be Honest With Me” from Ridin’ on a Rainbow
  • “Blues in the Night” from Blues in the Night
  • “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” from Buck Privates
  • “Chattanooga Choo Choo” from Sun Valley Serenade
  • “Dolores” from Las Vegas Nights
  • “Out of the Silence” from All American Co-Ed
  • “Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye” from You’ll Never Get Rich

me: “Chattanooga Choo Choo” from Sun Valley Serenade

  • “Baby Mine” from Dumbo
  • “Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye” from You’ll Never Get Rich

note:  With the Studio Era at its peak and the same people putting out songs every year, from 1941 until 1973 at least one person will be nominated who was nominated the year before.

1942 AA: “White Christmas” from Holiday Inn

  • “Always in My Heart” from Always in My Heart
  • “Dearly Beloved” from You Were Never Lovelier
  • “How About You?” from Babes on Broadway
  • “It Seems I Heard that Song Before” from Youth on Parade
  • “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo” from Orchestra Wives
  • “Love is a Song” from Bambi
  • “Pennies for Peppino” from Flying with Music
  • “Pig Foot Pete” from Hellzapoppin
  • “There’s a Breeze on Lake Louise” from The Mayor of 44th Street

me:  “How About You?” from Babes on Broadway

  • “White Christmas” from Holiday Inn
  • “April Shower” from Bambi
  • “Moonlight Becomes You” from Road to Morocco
  • “Road to Morocco” from Road to Morocco
  • “Love is a Song” from Bambi

1943 AA: “You’ll Never Know” from Hello, Frisco, Hello

  • “Change of Heart” from Hit Parade of 1943
  • “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” from Cabin in the Sky
  • “My Shining Hour” from The Sky’s the Limit
  • “Saludos Amigos” from Saludos Amigos
  • “Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There” from Hers to Hold
  • “That Old Black Magic” from Star Spangled Rhythm
  • “They’re Either Too Young or Too Old” from Thank Your Lucky Stars
  • “We Mustn’t Say Good Bye” from Stage Door Canteen
  • “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” from Something to Shout About

me: “Watercolor in Brazil” from Saludos Amigos

  • “Saludos Amigos” from Saludos Amigos
  • “You’ll Never Know” from Hello, Frisco, Hello

note:  The peak year for return nominees.  Out of the 10 songs, for which there are 19 nominees, only Charles Wolcoot, the composer of “Saludos Amigos” is a first-time nominee.  Harold Arlen, on the other hand, is nominated for three songs in the same year from three different films.

1944 AA: “Swinging on a Star” from Going My Way

  • “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
  • “The Trolley Song” from Meet Me in St. Louis

me: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from Meet Me in St. Louis

  • “Swinging on a Star” from Going My Way
  • “Long Ago and Far Away” from Cover Girl
  • “The Trolley Song” from Meet Me in St. Louis

note:  The opposite of 1943.  There are 9 first time nominees.

1945 AA: “It Might As Well Be Spring” from State Fair

  • “Aren’t You Glad You’re You” from The Bells of St Mary’s
  • “I Fall in Love Too Easily” from Anchors Aweigh
  • “Accentuate the Positive” from Here Come the Waves
  • “Anywhere” from Tonight and Every Night
  • “The Cat and the Canary” from Why Girls Leave Home
  • “Endlessly” from Earl Carroll Vanities
  • “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 Belle of the Yukon
  • “So in Love” from Wonder Man
  • “Some Sunday Morning” from San Antonio

me: “I Fall in Love Too Easily” from Anchors Aweigh

  • “Aren’t You Glad You’re You” from The Bells of St Mary’s
  • “Three Caballeros” from Three Caballeros
  • “It Might As Well Be Spring” from State Fair
  • “How Little We Know” from To Have and Have Not

1946 AA: “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” from The Harvey Girls

  • “All Through the Day” from Centennial Summer
  • “I Can’t Begin to Tell You” from The Dolly Sisters
  • “Ole Buttermilk Sky” from Canyon Passage
  • “You Keep Coming Back Like a Song” from Blue Skies

me: “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” from The Harvey Girls

1947 AA: “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from Song of the South

  • “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
  • “You Do” from Mother Wore Tights

me: “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from Song of the South

  • “Fun and Fancy Free” from Fun and Fancy Free

1948 AA: “Buttons and Bows” from The Paleface

  • “For Every Man There’s a Woman” from Casbah
  • “It’s Magic” from Romance on the High Seas
  • “This is the Moment” from That Lady in Ermine
  • “The Woody Woodpecker Song” from Wet Blanket Policy

me: “Melody Time” from Melody Time

  • “A Couple of Swells” from Easter Parade

1949 AA: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” from Neptune’s Daughter

  • “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
  • “Through a Long and Sleepless Night” from Come to the Stable

me: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” from Neptune’s Daughter

1950 AA: “Mona Lisa” from Captain Carey

  • “Be My Love” from The Toast of New Orleans
  • “Bibbidy-Bobbidi-Boo” from Cinderella
  • “Mule Train” from Singing Guns
  • “Wilhelmina” from Wabash Avenue

me: “Bibbidy-Bobbidi-Boo” from Cinderella

note:  A perfect example of the frustration of this category.  “Mona Lisa” is a beautiful song and I would definitely nominate it and possibly give it the Nighthawk Award.  But, I’ve never seen the film, so I don’t count it.  The same thing happens in 1955 with “Unchained Melody.”
1951 AA: “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” from Here Comes the Groom

  • “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” from The Strip
  • “Never” from Golden Girl
  • “Too Late Now” from Royal Wedding
  • “Wonder Why” from Rich, Young and Pretty

me: “Very Merry Unbirthday” from Alice in Wonderland

  • “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” from Here Comes the Groom
  • “Too Late Now” from Royal Wedding

1952 AA: “High Noon” from High Noon

  • “Am I in Love” from Son of Paleface
  • “Because You’re Mine” from Because You’re Mine
  • “Thumbelina” from Hans Christian Anderson
  • “Zing a Little Zong” from Just for You

me: “Make Em Laugh” from Singin in the Rain

  • “Moses Supposes” from Singin in the Rain
  • “High Noon” from High Noon
  • “Zing a Little Zong” from Just for You

1953 AA: “Secret Love” from Calamity Jane

  • “The Moon is Blue” from The Moon is Blue
  • “My Flaming Heart” from Small Town Girl
  • “Sadie Thompson’s Song” from Miss Sadie Thompson
  • “That’s Amore” from The Caddy

me: “That’s Entertainment” from The Band Wagon

  • “That’s Amore” from The Caddy
  • “I Can Fly” from Peter Pan
  • “The Moon is Blue” from The Moon is Blue

note:  This year boggles my mind.  I personally think “Secret Love” is a terrible song, and to give it the Oscar over “That’s Amore” is just ridiculous.  But to not even nominate “That’s Entertainment?”  That’s insanity.

1954 AA: “Three Coins in the Fountain” from Three Coins in the Fountain

  • “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” from White Christmas
  • “The High and the Mighty” from The High and the Mighty
  • “Hold My Hand” from Susan Slept Here
  • “The Man That Got Away” from A Star is Born

me: “A Whale of a Tale” from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

  • “The Man That Got Away” from A Star is Born
  • “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” from White Christmas
  • “Three Coins in the Fountain” from Three Coins in the Fountain
  • “The High and the Mighty” from The High and the Mighty

note:  Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn finally win an Oscar with their ninth nomination each.

1955 AA: “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing” from Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

  • “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” from Love Me or Leave Me
  • “Something’s Gotta Give” from Daddy Long Legs
  • “The Tender Trap” from The Tender Trap
  • “Unchained Melody” from Unchained

me: “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing” from Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

  • “The Tender Trap” from The Tender Trap
  • “True Love” from The Lady and the Tramp

1956 AA: “Whatever Will Be, Will Be” from The Man Who Knew Too Much

  • “Friendly Persuasion” from Friendly Persuasion
  • “Julie” from Julie
  • “True Love” from High Society
  • “Written on the Wind” from Written on the Wind

me: “Whatever Will Be, Will Be” from The Man Who Knew Too Much

  • “Friendly Persuasion” from Friendly Persuasion
  • “True Love” from High Society
  • “Written on the Wind” from Written on the Wind

1957 AA: “All the Way” from The Joker is Wild

  • “An Affair to Remember” from An Affair to Remember
  • “April Love” from April Love
  • “Tammy” from Tammy and the Bachelor
  • “Wild is the Wind” from Wild is the Wind

me: “Gunfight at the O.K. Corrall” from Gunfight at the O.K. Corrall

  • “All the Way” from The Joker is Wild
  • “An Affair to Remember” from An Affair to Remember

note:  “An Affair to Remember” has lyrics co-written by director Leo McCarey, already an Oscar winner for both Director and Screenplay.

1958 AA: “Gigi” from Gigi

  • “Almost in Your Arms” from Houseboat
  • “A Certain Smile” from A Certain Smile
  • “To Love and Be Loved” from Some Came Running
  • “A Very Precious Love” from Marjorie Morningstar

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Dormi-Dormi-Dormi” from Sleep Sleep Sleep
  • “The Light in the Forest” from The Light in the Forest
  • “The Night They Invented Champagne” from Gigi
  • “Separate Tables” from Separate Tables
  • “Tonka” from Tonka

me: “I Remember It Well” from Gigi

  • “To Love and Be Loved” from Some Came Running

1959 AA: “High Hopes” from A Hole in the Head

  • “The Best of Everything” from The Best of Everything
  • “The Five Pennies” from The Five Pennies
  • “The Hanging Tree” from The Hanging Tree
  • “Strange are the Ways of Love” from The Young Land

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Beloved Infidel” from Beloved Infidel
  • “Don’t Mention His Name to Me” from Noah’s Ark
  • “Gidget” from Gidget
  • “Happy Anniversary” from Happy Anniversary
  • “Pillow Talk” from Pillow Talk

me: “Once Upon a Dream” from Sleeping Beauty

  • “High Hopes” from A Hole in the Head

1960 AA: “Never on Sunday” from Never on Sunday

  • “The Green Leaves of Summer” from The Alamo
  • “The Facts of Life” from The Facts of Life
  • “Faraway Part of Town” from Pepe
  • “The Second Time Around” from High Time

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Ballad of the Alamo” from The Alamo
  • “Cimarron” from Cimarron
  • “La Chanson D’Orphee” from Black Orpheus
  • “My Heart Was an Island” from The Swiss Family Robinson
  • “Somebody” from Cinderfella

me: “Cimarron” from Cimarron

  • “The Green Leaves of Summer” from The Alamo
  • “Never on Sunday” from Never on Sunday

1961 AA: “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s

  • “Bachelor in Paradise” from Bachelor in Paradise
  • “Love Theme from El Cid” from El Cid
  • “Pocketful of Miracles” from Pocketful of Miracles
  • “Town Without Pity” from Town Without Pity

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “All Hands on Deck” from All Hands on Deck
  • “Cry for Happy” from Cry for Happy
  • “For Now For Always” from The Parent Trap
  • “The Guns of Navarone” from The Guns of Navarone
  • “Treu Sein” from The Guns of Navarone

me: “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s

  • “Can’t Help Falling In Love” from Blue Hawaii
  • “Almost Always True” from Blue Hawaii
  • “Let’s Get Together” from The Parent Trap
  • “Sinner Man” from The Young One

1962 AA: “Days of Wine and Roses” from Days of Wine and Roses

  • “Love Song from Mutiny on the Bounty” from Mutiny on the Bounty
  • “Song from Two for the Seasaw” from Two for the Seasaw
  • “Tender is the Night” from Tender is the Night
  • “Walk on the Wild Side” from Walk on the Wild Side

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Boys’ Night Out” from Boys’ Night Out
  • “Enjoy It” from In Search of the Castaways
  • “Little Drops of Rain” from Gay Purr-ee
  • “Love Theme from Taras Bulba” from Taras Bulba
  • “Willing and Eager” from State Fair

me: “Walk on the Wild Side” from Walk on the Wild Side

  • “Days of Wine and Roses” from Days of Wine and Roses
  • “Love Song from Mutiny on the Bounty” from Mutiny on the Bounty

1963 AA: “Call Me Irresponsible” from Papa’s Delicate Condition

  • “Charade” from Charade
  • “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” from It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
  • “More” from Mondo Cane
  • “So Little Time” from 55 Days at Peking

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Bye Bye Birdie” from Bye Bye Birdie
  • “How the West Was Won” from How the West Was Won
  • “Love with the Proper Stranger” from Love with the Proper Stranger
  • “McLintock’s Theme” from McLintock
  • “Summer Magic” from Summer Magic

me: “Ugly Bug Ball” from Summer Magic

  • “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” from It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
  • “Charade” from Charade
  • “Call Me Irresponsible” from Papa’s Delicate Condition

1964 AA: “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins

  • “Dear Heart” from Dear Heart
  • “Hush . . . Hush Sweet Charlotte” from Hush . . . Hush Sweet Charlotte
  • “My Kind of Town” from Robin and the 7 Hoods
  • “Where Love Has Gone” from Where Love Has Gone

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Almost There” from I’d Rather Be Rich
  • “Circus World” from Circus World
  • “Goodbye Charlie” from Goodbye Charlie
  • “He’s My Friend” from The Unsinkable Molly Brown
  • “A Spoonful of Sugar” from Mary Poppins

me: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins

  • “A Hard Day’s Night” from A Hard Day’s Night
  • “Can’t Buy Me Love” from A Hard Day’s Night
  • “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from Mary Poppins
  • “A Spoonful of Sugar” from Mary Poppins

note:  If the authors of Inside Oscar are correct, then there were 14 Beatles songs eligible in these two years between the two films and none of them were even on the Academy longlist.  Nor were the title songs from Goldfinger and Ferry Cross the Mersey.

1965 AA: “The Shadow of Your Smile” from The Sandpiper

  • “The Ballad of Cat Ballou” from Cat Ballou
  • “I Will Wait for You” from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
  • “The Sweetheart Tree” from The Great Race
  • “What’s New Pussycat” from What’s New Pussycat

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Baby the Rain Must Fall” from Baby the Rain Must Fall
  • “Never Too Late” from Never Too Late
  • “That Darn Cat” from That Darn Cat
  • “Where’s the Love” from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
  • “You’re Gonna Hear From Me” from Inside Daisy Clover

me: “Help” from Help!

  • “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” from Help!
  • “Ticket to Ride” from Help!
  • “The Night Before” from Help!
  • “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl” from Help!

1966 AA: “Born Free” from Born Free

  • “Alfie” from Alfie
  • “Georgy Girl” from Georgy Girl
  • “My Wishing Doll” from Hawaii
  • “A Time for Love” from An American Dream

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Any Wednesday” from Any Wednesday
  • “I’ll Be Back” from Spinout
  • “In the Arms of Love” from What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
  • “Moment to Moment” from Moment to Moment
  • “Wish Me a Rainbow” from This Property is Condemned

me: “Georgy Girl” from Georgy Girl

  • “Alfie” from Alfie
  • “Born Free” from Born Free

1967 AA: “Talk to the Animals” from Doctor Dolittle

  • “The Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book
  • “The Eyes of Love” from Banning
  • “The Look of Love” from Casino Royale
  • “Thoroughly Modern Millie” from Thoroughly Modern Millie

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Barefoot in the Park” from Barefoot in the Park
  • “The Happening” from The Happening
  • “In the Heat of the Night” from In the Heat of the Night
  • “Wait Until Dark” from Wait Until Dark
  • “When I Look in Your Eyes” from Doctor Dolittle

me: “Mrs. Robinson” from The Graduate

  • “The Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book
  • “To Sir With Love” from To Sir With Love
  • “Talk to the Animals” from Doctor Dolittle

note:  This is a bit tricker, because Inside Oscar doesn’t list “Mrs. Robinson” as an eligible song.  Of course, their lists aren’t definitive, but it seems an odd omission.  I really wish it were possible to find out complete lists of what songs were eligible in all the years.

1968 AA: “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair

  • “Funny Girl” from Funny Girl
  • “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  • “For Love of Ivy” from For Love of Ivy
  • “Star!” from Star!

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Dakota” from The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
  • “A Flea in Her Ear” from A Flea in Her Ear
  • “I Love You, Alice B. Toklas” from I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
  • “Springtime for Hitler” from The Producers
  • “The Way That I Live” from The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom

me: “Springtime for Hitler” from The Producers

  • “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair
  • “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  • “Love Power” from The Producers
  • “Prisoners of Love” from The Producers

1969 AA: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

  • “Come Saturday Morning” from The Sterile Cuckoo
  • “Jean” from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
  • “True Grit” from True Grit
  • “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” from The Happy Ending

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Ballad of Easy Rider” from Easy Rider
  • “Fill the World With Love” from Goodbye Mr. Chips
  • “A Lovely Place” from Heaven With a Gun
  • “The Song of Santa Vittoria” from The Secret of Santa Vittoria
  • “There’s Enough to Go Around” from Gaily, Gaily

me: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

  • “Ballad of Easy Rider” from Easy Rider
  • “If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium” from If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
  • “Come Saturday Morning” from The Sterile Cuckoo
  • “Jean” from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
  • “True Grit” from True Grit

1970 AA: “For All We Know” from Lovers and Other Strangers

  • “Pieces of Dreams” from Pieces of Dreams
  • “Thank You Very Much” from Scrooge
  • “Till Love Touches Your Life” from Madron
  • “Whistling Away the Dark” from Darling Lili

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Burning Bridges” from Kelly’s Heroes
  • “Dirty Dingus Magee” from Dirty Dingus Magee
  • “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” from The Aristocats
  • “Let it Be” from Let it Be
  • “Suicide is Painless” from M*A*S*H

me: “Suicide is Painless” from M*A*S*H

  • “Hope for the Best” from The Twelve Chairs
  • “Comin Thru to Me” from Lovers and Other Strangers
  • “For All We Know” from Lovers and Other Strangers
  • “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” from The Aristocats

1971 AA: “Theme from Shaft” from Shaft

  • “The Age of Not Believing” from Bedknobs and Broomsticks
  • “All His Children” from Sometimes a Great Notion
  • “Bless the Beasts and Children” from Bless the Beasts and Children
  • “Life is What You Make It” from Kotch

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Believe in Me” from Believe in Me
  • “Can It Be True” from Marriage of a Young Stockbroker
  • “Chilly Winds” from Pretty Maids All in a Row
  • “Do Your Thing” from Shaft
  • “Girl” from Star Spangled Girl

me: “Won’t Bleed Me” from Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassssss Song

  • “Portabello Road” from Bedknobs and Broomsticks
  • “The Age of Not Believing” from Bedknobs and Broomsticks
  • “The Candy Man” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
  • “Theme from Shaft” from Shaft

1972 AA: “The Morning After” from The Poseidon Adventure

  • “Ben” from Ben
  • “Come Follow, Follow Me” from The Little Ark
  • “Marmalade, Molasses & Honey” from The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
  • “Strange Are the Ways of Love” from The Stepmother

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Freddie’s Dead” from Superfly (later disqualified)
  • “Moreover and Me” from The Biscuit Eater
  • “Serenade of Love” from Travels With My Aunt
  • “Snoopy Come Home” from Snoopy Come Home
  • “Theme from The Heartbreak Kid” from The Heartbreak Kid

me: “Speak Softly Love” from The Godfather

  • “Mein Herr” from Cabaret
  • “Money” from Cabaret
  • “Jeremiah Johnson” from Jeremiah Johnson
  • “The Morning After” from The Poseidon Adventure

1973 AA: “The Way We Were” from The Way We Were

  • “All That Love Went to Waste” from A Touch of Class
  • “Live and Let Die” from Live and Let Die
  • “Love” from Robin Hood
  • “You’re So Nice to Be Around” from Cinderella Liberty

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “I Got a Name” from The Last American Hero
  • “Remembering” from England Made Me
  • “River Song” from Tom Sawyer
  • “Send a Little Love My Way” from Oklahoma Crude
  • “A Touch of Class” from A Touch of Class

me: “Knockin on Heaven’s Door” from Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid

  • “Can We Start Again Please” from Jesus Christ Superstar
  • “The Harder They Come” from The Harder They Come
  • “O Lucky Man” from O Lucky Man
  • “The Way We Were” from The Way We Were

1974 AA: “We May Never Love Like This Again” from The Towering Inferno

  • “Benji’s Theme” from Benji
  • “Blazing Saddles” from Blazing Saddles
  • “Little Prince” from The Little Prince
  • “Wherever Love Take Me” from Gold

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Freedom” from Huckleberry Finn
  • “Gold” from Gold
  • “How to Seduce a Woman” from How to Seduce a Woman
  • “I Never Met a Rose” from The Little Prince
  • “The Next Time Around” from The Dion Brothers

me: “Blazing Saddles” from Blazing Saddles

  • “We May Never Love Like This Again” from The Towering Inferno
  • “The Town of Rockville” from Blazing Saddles

1975 AA: “I’m Easy” from Nashville

  • “How Lucky Can You Get” from Funny Lady
  • “Now That We’re in Love” from Whiffs
  • “Richard’s Window” from The Other Side of the Mountain
  • “Theme from Mahogany” from Mahogany

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Lady of the Wilderness” from Gifts of an Eagle
  • “Let’s Do It Again” from Let’s Do It Again
  • “Once is Not Enough” from Jacqueline Susann’s Once is Not Enough
  • “Only a Dream Away” from Seven Alone
  • “Somewhere” from Mr. Quilp

me: “The Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show

  • “Theme from Mahogany” from Mahogany
  • “Dammit Janet” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
  • “I’m Easy” from Nashville
  • “Knights of the Round Table” from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

note:  The Academy missed a chance to really show a sense of humor with any of the songs from Rocky Horror or Holy Grail.  Instead, they gave Sammy Cahn his final Oscar nomination for Whiffs, a film so forgotten that it only has 73 votes on the IMDb and which I can’t seem to find anywhere.  It would be my most recent missing nominee from this category if not for the nomination the next year for Half a House, another forgotten film that was Paul Francis Webster’s last Oscar nomination.  Clearly the music branch liked their people, even if no one actually saw the films.

1976 AA: “Evergreen” from A Star is Born

  • “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky
  • “Ave Satani” from The Omen
  • “Come to Me” from The Pink Panther Strikes Again
  • “A World That Never Was” from Half a House

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “I Believe in Love” from A Star is Born
  • “I’d Like to Be You For a Day” from Freaky Friday
  • “Lemon Drops, Lollipops and Sunbeams” from The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox
  • “The Time Has Come” from Joe Panther
  • “With One More Look at You” from A Star is Born

me: “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky

  • “Ave Satani” from The Omen
  • “Evergreen” from A Star is Born
  • “Bugsy Malone” from Bugsy Malone
  • “Come to Me” from The Pink Panther Strikes Again

1977 AA: “You Light Up My Life” from You Light Up My Life

  • “Candle on the Water” from Pete’s Dragon
  • “Nobody Does it Better” from The Spy Who Loved Me
  • “The Slipper and the Rose Waltz” from The Slipper and the Rose
  • “Someone’s Waiting for You” from The Rescuers

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “New York, New York” from New York, New York
  • “What Was” from The Late Show

me: “New York, New York” from New York, New York

  • “Nobody Does it Better” from The Spy Who Loved Me
  • “Stayin Alive” from Saturday Night Fever
  • “You Light Up My Life” from You Light Up My Life
  • “Candle on the Water” from Pete’s Dragon

note:  Clearly the Academy was ignoring the popular taste.  They didn’t bother to include any of the Bee Gees songs from Saturday Night Fever even on the longlist and the song Barry Gibb wrote for Grease was also excluded.  How they could nominate “The Slipper and the Rose Waltz” instead of “New York, New York” has no credible explanation.

1978 AA: “Last Dance” from Thank God It’s Friday

  • “Hopelessly Devoted to You” from Grease
  • “The Last Time I Felt Like This” from Same Time, Next Year
  • “Ready to Take a Chance Again” from Foul Play
  • “When You’re Loved” from The Magic of Lassie

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “Bright Eyes” from Watership Down
  • “Can You Read My Mind” from Superman
  • “Children of Sanchez” from Children of Sanchez
  • “Move em Out” from Revenge of the Pink Panther
  • “The One and Only” from The One and Only

me: “Bright Eyes” from Watership Down

  • “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease
  • “Hopelessly Devoted to You” from Grease
  • “Animal House” from Animal House
  • “The Last Time I Felt Like This” from Same Time, Next Year

1979 AA: “It Goes Like It Goes” from Norma Rae

  • “The Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie
  • “Song from 10” from 10
  • “Theme from Ice Castles” from Ice Castles
  • “Theme from The Promise” from The Promise

Academy longlist but not nominated:

  • “I’m On Your Side” from Chapter Two
  • “Moving Right Along” from The Muppet Movie
  • “Never Before, Never Again” from The Muppet Movie
  • “Something Better” from The Muppet Movie
  • “Sold My Soul to Rock and Roll” from The Rose

me: “The Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie

  • “The Rose” from The Rose
  • “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Monty Python’s Life of Brian
  • “Moving Right Along” from The Muppet Movie
  • “Love on the Run” from Love on the Run

1980 AA: “Fame” from Fame

  • “Out Here on My Own” from Fame
  • “Nine to Five” from Nine to Five
  • “On the Road Again” from Honeysuckle Rose
  • “People Alone” from The Competition

me: “Late in the Evening” from One Trick Pony

  • “I’m Alright” from Caddyshack
  • “America” from The Jazz Singer
  • “One Trick Pony” from One Trick Pony
  • “Fame” from Fame

note:  For the first time since 1935, every nominee is a first-time nominee.

1981 AA: “Arthur’s Theme” from Arthur

  • “Endless Love” from Endless Love
  • “For Your Eyes Only” from For Your Eyes Only
  • “The First Time It Happens” from The Great Muppet Caper
  • “One More Hour” from Ragtime

me: “Arthur’s Theme” from Arthur

  • “One More Hour” from Ragtime
  • “For Your Eyes Only” from For Your Eyes Only
  • “The Inquisition” from The History of the World Part I
  • “The Best of Friends” from The Fox and the Hound

1982 AA: “Up Where We Belong” from An Officer and a Gentleman

  • “It Might Be You” from Tootsie
  • “Eye of the Tiger” from Rocky III
  • “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” from Best Friends
  • “If We Were in Love” from Yes, Giorgio

me: “When the Tigers Broke Free” from Pink Floyd: The Wall

  • “Somebody’s Baby” from Fast Times at Ridgmont High
  • “It Might Be You” from Tootsie
  • “Up Where We Belong” from An Officer and a Gentleman
  • “Eye of the Tiger” from Rocky III

note:  In 1982 and 83, married lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman are nominated 5 times and lose all five.

1983 AA: “Flashdance . . . What a Feeling” from Flashdance

  • “Over You” from Tender Mercies
  • “Maniac” from Flashdance
  • “Papa, Can You Hear Me?” from Yentl
  • “The Way He Makes Me Feel” from Yentl

me: “Every Sperm is Sacred” from Monty Python’s Meaning of Life

  • “The Galaxy Song” from Monty Python’s Meaning of Life
  • “The Penis Song” from Monty Python’s Meaning of Life
  • “Papa, Can You Hear Me?” from Yentl
  • “The Meaning of Life” from Monty Python’s Meaning of Life

1984 AA: “I Just Called To Say I Love You” from The Woman in Red

  • “Against All Odds” from Against All Odds
  • “Footloose” from Footloose
  • “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” from Footloose
  • “Ghostbusters” from Ghostbusters

me: “If You Were Here” from 16 Candles

  • “Against All Odds” from Against All Odds
  • “Big Bottom” from This is Spinal Tap
  • “Stonehenge” from This is Spinal Tap
  • “When Doves Cry” from Purple Rain

1985 AA: “Say You, Say Me” from White Knights

  • “Miss Celie’s Blues” from The Color Purple
  • “Separate Lives” from White Knights
  • “Power of Love” from Back to the Future
  • “Surprise, Surprise” from A Chorus Line

me: “Don’t You” from The Breakfast Club

  • “Power of Love” from Back to the Future
  • “Separate Lives” from White Knights
  • “Say You, Say Me” from White Knights
  • “Into the Groove” from Desperately Seeking Susan

1986 AA: “Take My Breath Away” from Top Gun

  • “Glory of Love” from The Karate Kid II
  • “Life in a Looking Glass” from That’s Life
  • “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” from Little Shop of Horrors
  • “Somewhere Out There” from An American Tail

me: “Wild Wild Life” from True Stories

  • “What Does It Take” from One Crazy Summer
  • “Take My Breath Away” from Top Gun
  • “City of Dreams” from True Stories
  • “It’s in the Way That You Use It” from The Color of Money

1987 AA: “The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing

  • “Cry Freedom” from Cry Freedom
  • “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from Mannequin
  • “Shakedown” from Beverly Hills Cop II
  • “Storybook Love” from The Princess Bride

me: “Storybook Love” from The Princess Bride

  • “Who’s That Girl” from Who’s That Girl
  • “The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing
  • “Hungry Eyes” from Dirty Dancing
  • “Cry Freedom” from Cry Freedom

1988 AA: “Let the River Run” from Working Girl

  • “Calling You” from Bagdad Cafe
  • “Two Hearts” from Buster

me: “Let the River Run” from Working Girl

  • “Two Hearts” from Buster
  • “Why Should I Worry” from Oliver and Company
  • “Zaar” from The Last Temptation of Christ
  • “Hairspray” from Hairspray

1989 AA: “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid

  • “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid
  • “After All” from Chances Are
  • “The Girl Who Used to Be Me” from Shirley Valentine
  • “I Love to See You Smile” from Parenthood

me: “All for Love” from Say Anything

  • “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid
  • “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid
  • “Les Poissons” from The Little Mermaid
  • “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid

note:  For the first time in 10 years, none of the nominees are first-time nominees.

1990 AA: “Sooner or Later” from Dick Tracy

  • “Promise Me You’ll Remember” from The Godfather Part III
  • “Blaze of Glory” from Young Guns II
  • “I’m Checkin’ Out” from Postcards from the Edge
  • “Somewhere In My Memory” from Home Alone

me: “The Post-Mortem Bar” from Longtime Companion

  • “Wicked Game” from Wild at Heart
  • “Blaze of Glory” from Young Guns II
  • “Lucille” from Meet the Feebles
  • “One Leg Missing” from Meet the Feebles

note:  This is one where the Academy just missed the damn boat.  They now have the rule in which all the songs are viewed by the committee in the scene in which they appear.  How many songs could evoke the kind of emotion that “The Post-Mortem Bar” evokes when viewed in the film.  Don’t believe me?  Watch it. It is one of the most powerful endings to any film, the looking back at what has been lost while still looking forward to the hope that there will be a cure, that there will be an end, that perhaps we can be there when it comes.

1991 AA: “Beauty and the Beast” from Beauty and the Beast

  • “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast
  • “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast
  • “I Do It For You” from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
  • “When You’re Alone” from Hook

me: “Something There” from Beauty and the Beast

  • “Sax and Violins” from Until the End of the World
  • “Fretless” from Until the End of the World
  • “Until the End of the World” from Until the End of the World
  • “Beauty and the Beast” from Beauty and the Beast

1992 AA: “Whole New World” from Aladdin

  • “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin
  • “I Have Nothing” from The Bodyguard
  • “Run to You” from The Bodyguard
  • “Beautiful Maria of My Soul” from The Mambo Kings

me: “Breath” from Singles

  • “Whole New World” from Aladdin
  • “State of Love and Trust” from Singles
  • “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin
  • “The Closing of the Year” from Toys

1993 AA: “Streets of Philadelphia” from Philadelphia

  • “Philadelphia” from Philadelphia
  • “Again” from Poetic Justice
  • “The Day I Fall in Love” from Beethoven’s 2nd
  • “A Wink and a Smile” from Sleepless in Seattle

me: “Thief of Your Heart” from In the Name of the Father

  • “Stay” from Faraway, So Close
  • “Streets of Philadelphia” from Philadelphia
  • “What’s This” from The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • “In the Name of the Father” from In the Name of the Father

note:  The Oscars nominated “Again” and “The Day I Fall in Love.”  The Golden Globes nominated “Stay” and “Thief of Your Heart.”  The Academy must hate Bono because he lost his only Oscar nomination to Eminem whereas he has a Golden Globe and they’ve nominated him 6 times.

1994 AA: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King

  • “Circle of Life” from The Lion King
  • “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King
  • “Look What Love Has Done” from Junior
  • “Make Up Your Mind” from The Paper

me: “Can’t Even Tell” from Clerks

  • “Stay” from Reality Bites
  • “Circle of Life” from The Lion King
  • “It Can’t Rain All the Time” from The Crow
  • “I’ll Remember” from With Honors

1995 AA: “Colours of the Wind” from Pocahontas

  • “Dead Man Walking” from Dead Man Walking
  • “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story
  • “Moonlight” from Sabrina
  • “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” from Don Juan DeMarco

me: “Cancion del Mariachi” from Desperado

  • “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story
  • “The Long Road” from Dead Man Walking
  • “Dead Man Walking” from Dead Man Walking
  • “Colours of the Wind” from Pocahontas

1996 AA: “You Must Love Me” from Evita

  • “I Finally Found Someone” from The Mirror Has Two Faces
  • “For the First Time” from One Fine Day
  • “That Thing You Do” from That Thing You Do
  • “Because You Loved Me” from Up Close and Personal

me: “Wise Up” from Jerry Maguire

  • “Walls” from She’s the One
  • “You Must Love Me” from Evita
  • “Welcome to the Dollhouse” from Welcome to the Dollhouse
  • “That Thing You Do” from That Thing You Do

1997 AA: “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic

  • “Miss Misery” from Good Will Hunting
  • “Journey to the Past” from Anastasia
  • “How Do I Live” from Con Air
  • “Go the Distance” from Hercules

me: “The Sweet Hereafter” from The Sweet Hereafter

  • “God Be With You” from The Devil’s Own
  • “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic
  • “Passion and Pain” from Chasing Amy
  • “Once Upon a December” from Anastasia

1998 AA: “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt

  • “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” from Armageddon
  • “That’ll Do” from Babe: Pig in the City
  • “A Safe Place to Fall” from The Horse Whisperer
  • “The Prayer” from Quest for Camelot

me: “The Flame Still Burns” from Still Crazy

  • “He Got Game” from He Got Game
  • “Uninvited” from City of Angels
  • “Happiness” from Happiness
  • “Baby’s on Fire” from Velvet Goldmine

note:  Both “The Flame Still Burns” and “Uninvited” got Golden Globe nominations.  What is this branch of the Academy’s problem?  This is a terrible group of nominees.

1999 AA: “You’ll Be In My Heart” from Tarzan

  • “Music of My Heart” from Music of the Heart
  • “Save Me” from Magnolia
  • “Blame Canada” from South Park
  • “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2

me: “The Great Beyond” from Man on the Moon

  • “Blame Canada” from South Park
  • “What Would Brain Boitano Do” from South Park
  • “Save Me” from Magnolia
  • “Still” from Dogma

2000 AA: “Things Have Changed” from Wonder Boys

  • “A Love Before Time” from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
  • “I’ve Seen It All” from Dancer in the Dark
  • “A Fool in Love” from Meet the Parents
  • “My Funny Friend and Me” from The Emperor’s New Groove

me: “A Love Before Time” from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

  • “Things Have Changed” from Wonder Boys
  • “Someday Out of the Blue” from The Road to El Dorado
  • “Fever Dog” from Almost Famous
  • “Cvalda” from Dancer in the Dark

2001 AA: “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters Inc.

  • “May It Be” from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  • “There You’ll Be” from Pearl Harbor
  • “Until” from Kate and Leopold
  • “Vanilla Sky” from Vanilla Sky

me: “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” from The Million Dollar Hotel

  • “May It Be” from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  • “Stateless” from The Million Dollar Hotel
  • “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters Inc.
  • “Vanilla Sky” from Vanilla Sky

note:  Because the lyrics to “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” were written for the novel, I have doubts as to the eligibility of the song (the same with “Home is Behind” in 2003).

2002 AA: “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile

  • “I Move On” from Chicago
  • “The Hands That Built America” from Gangs of New York
  • “Burn It Blue” from Frida
  • “Father and Daughter” from The Wild Thornberrys Movie

me: “The Hands That Built America” from Gangs of New York

  • “Always Be With Me” from Spirited Away
  • “Gollum’s Song” from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
  • “Father and Daughter” from The Wild Thornberrys Movie
  • “Stepdad’s Not Mean, He’s Adjusting” from Death to Smoochy

2003 AA: “Into the West” from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

  • “I Will Be Your Ain True Love” from Cold Mountain
  • “Scarlet Tide” from Cold Mountain
  • “Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” from A Mighty Wind
  • “Belleville Rendezvous” from The Triplets of Belleville

me: ” A Mighty Wind” from A Mighty Wind

  • “Home is Behind” from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • “Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” from A Mighty Wind
  • “Man of the Hour” from Big Fish
  • “Into the West” from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2004 AA: “Al Otro Lado del Rio” from The Motorcycle Diaries

  • “Learn to Be Lonely” from Phantom of the Opera
  • “Believe” from Polar Express
  • “Look to Your Path” from The Chorus
  • “Accidentally in Love” from Shrek 2

me: “Al Otro Lado del Rio” from The Motorcycle Diaries

  • “Million Voices” from Hotel Rwanda
  • “America Fuck Yeah” from Team America: World Police
  • “Warriors” from Hero
  • “Shelter from My Soul” from Ned Kelly

note:  An odd year.  In most years, there are a couple of nominees who get a nomination, lose, and never receive another nomination.  However, because of the presence of the Counting Crows, in 2004, we have 12 out of the 14 nominees who fit that description.  And even the winner, Jorge Drexler, has never received another nomination.  It’s possible that some of these nominees will be heard from again, but for the moment, only Andrew Lloyd Webber has another nomination.

2005 AA: “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle and Flow

  • “In the Deep” from Crash
  • “Travellin Thru'” from Transamerica

me: “Remains of the Day” from Corpse Bride

  • “In the Deep” from Crash
  • “Dicholo” from The Constant Gardener
  • “Wunderkind” from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
  • “A Love That Will Never Grow Old” from Brokeback Mountain

note:  “A Love That Will Never Grow Old” was actually disqualified because it was felt it didn’t appear in the film long enough.  Also from this year would be “Gabriella’s Sang” from As It Is in Heaven, which never got a U.S. release in spite of a 2004 Best Foreign Film nomination and didn’t finally come out on DVD until yesterday.

2006 AA: “When Will I Wake Up” from An Inconvenient Truth

  • “Listen” from Dreamgirls
  • “Love You I Do” from Dreamgirls
  • “Patience” from Dreamgirls
  • “Our Town” from Cars

me: “Kickapoo” from Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny

  • “Upside Down” from Curious George
  • “The Pick of Destiny” from Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny
  • “You Know My Name” from Casino Royale
  • “Classico” from Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny

note:  None of the Tenacious D were actually on the Academy eligible list, though I am not certain why, as they all seem to have been written for the film.

2007 AA: “Falling Slowly” from Once

  • “Happy Working Song” from Enchanted
  • “That’s How You Know” from Enchanted
  • “So Close” from Enchanted
  • “Raise It Up” from August Rush

me: “Falling Slowly” from Once

  • “Walk Hard” from Walk Hard
  • “Rise” from Into the Wild
  • “Beautiful Ride” from Walk Hard
  • “Happy Working Song” from Enchanted

2008 AA:   “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire

  • “Down to Earth” from Wall-E
  • “O Saya” from Slumdog Millionaire

me: “The Wrestler” from The Wrestler “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire

  • “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire “The Wrestler” from The Wrestler
  • “Down to Earth” from Wall-E
  • “O Saya” from Slumdog Millionaire
  • “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” from Hamlet 2

note:  I ended up reconsidering and deciding that I really felt “Jai Ho” was not only the better song, but is used so well, that it sweeps everything else away.

2009 AA:

  • “The Weary Kind” from Crazy Heart
  • “Loin de Paname” from Paris 36
  • “Take it All” from Nine
  • “Down in New Orleans” from The Princess and the Frog
  • “Almost There” from The Princess and the Frog

me:  “The Weary Kind” from Crazy Heart

  • “Winter” from Brothers
  • “The Other Father Song” from Coraline
  • “9000 Days” from Invictus
  • “Take it All” from Nine

Honorable Mentions:

  • 1964: “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins
  • 1991: “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast
  • 2003: “Old Joe’s Place” from A Mighty Wind
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