The Academy Awards shortlist for Best Original Song has been unveiled, with some surprising names in the mix.
As Deadline report, among the 15 the contenders for the prize is UK singer Sampha with his track “Treasure”, from the Timothée Chalamet-starring tearjerker Beautiful Boy. Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is also nominated with “Suspirium”, from the cult horror movie reboot Suspiria.
Sampha and Yorke will also be competing against Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “All The Stars” from Black Panther, Troye Sivan and Jonsi’s Boy Erased track “Revelation”, and Sade’s “The Big Unknown” from Widows. Unsurprisingly, they’re also up against Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s “Shallow” from A Star is Born.
According to Variety, the Oscars are trying to expose “lesser known films and give them a better chance of earning a nomination” by a new shortlisting process. This, in turn, would also help spotlight emerging composers and scores from smaller films. Anything is possible here – who can forget Three 6 Mafia taking home the award with “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”?
The Academy Awards ceremony takes place on February 25, 2019. Check out the full list of nominees below.
Best Original Song nominees
Willie Watson, Tim Blake Nelson and Willie Watson, “When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs)
Sampha, “Treasure” (Beautiful Boy)
Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “All The Stars” (Black Panther)
Jónsi and Troye Sivan, “Revelation” (Boy Erased)
Dolly Parton, “Girl in the Movies” (Dumplin’)
Arlissa, “We Won’t Move” (The Hate U Give)
Emily Blunt, “The Place Where Lost Things Go” (Mary Poppins Returns)
Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Trip A Little Light Fantastic” (Mary Poppins Returns)
Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan and Mark Ronson, “Keep Reachin’” (Quincy)
Jennifer Hudson and Diane Warren, “I’ll Fight” (RBG)
Gal Gadot and Sarah Silverman, “A Place Called Slaughter Race” (Ralph Breaks the Internet)
The Coup and Lakeith Stanfield, “OYAHYTT” (Sorry to Bother You)
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, “Shallow” (A Star is Born)
Thom Yorke, “Suspirium” (Suspiria)
Sade, “The Big Unknown” (Widows)