This is the category that kids usually love most; and this year, everybody should be about the movie life. All of these songs were excellent additions to their films, and in some cases (looking at you, "Let It Go" and "I'm Not Gonna Miss You") far exceeded their film in terms of popularity. The 2015 Best Song Written for Visual Media is, without a doubt, an interesting category this year. But who should win? And who will win? Though the answer is obvious to anyone younger than 12 (Frozen, duh), we'll break it down for you.
Here are the nominees:
- "Everything Is Awesome!!!" written by Joshua Bartholomew, Lisa Harriton, Shawn Patterson, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone (performed by Tegan and Sara and The Lonely Island) [From The LEGO Movie]
- "I See Fire" written by Ed Sheeran (performed by Ed Sheeran) [From The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]
- "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" written by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond (performed by Glen Campbell) [From Glen Campbell, I'll Be Me]
- "Let It Go" written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (performed by Idina Menzel) [From Frozen]
- "The Moon Song" written by Spike Jonze and Karen O (performed by Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix) [From Her]
WHO SHOULD WIN: The LEGO Movie was one of 2014's biggest surprises, and its absence from the Best Animated Picture category at this year's Academy Awards was one of the award season's biggest upsets. But the movie's creators got a little redemption with their nomination here.
Tegan and Sara teamed up with The Lonely Island to create the perfect track for Bricksburg, a community held back by an Orwellian mindset. "Everything Is Awesome" captures the "ignorance is bliss" theme that the creators were going for.
WARNING: This will definitely get stuck in your head.
At first glance, The Hobbit and Ed Sheeran don't really mix, but he did his best to gain some credibility with a different demographic than the one that gobbles up his pop albums like Funyuns.
"I See Fire" has several classical elements, and is a good overall showcase of Sheeran's immense artistic talent.
Few films tugged on the viewers' heartstrings in 2013 as much as Her. Now, the Spike Jonze film's primary musical moment is arriving at the Grammys. "The Moon Song," written by Karen O and Ezra Koening, is a cute little number by Scarlett Johansson.
In the context of the film, Johansson (playing a disembodied operating system) flexes her state-of-the-art AI by composing the song in seconds to impress Phoenix, her human lover.
So, you know, keep that in mind while listening, we guess.
By this time, you've heard "Let It Go" at least a handful of times. Even if you don't know any young children or haven't been to the theater in ages, the song has permeated the mainstream to the point where those who know it outnumber those who don't.
Idina Menzel's blistering vocal is already the soundtrack to a whole generation's childhood, and the song simply won't go away. Get used to it: "Let It Go" is here to stay long past any of us.
In terms of winning the award, is there really a question here? It's the perfect storm of strong theater songwriting, a good vocal performance and a rabid audience with a make-it-viral mindset.
WHAT WILL WIN: If anything is going to upset "Let It Go," it's Glen Campbell's "I'm Not Gonna Miss You."
The country legend who gave us "Gentle On My Mind," "Witchita Lineman" and "Rhinestone Cowboy" returned for one last original track in his documentary I'll Be Mine.
The result is a modern cut that doesn't slow down long enough to fully feel sorry for itself (which is the point). It's not an amazing song, but it's got a lot of "feels" behind it and could ride a sentimental wave to victory.
