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Around the World in 80 Songs: 2009 Oscar Predictions Edition - Best Song

by Orlando 2/17/2009 - 9:48 pm   |

 

I love all of the nominees in the Best Song category. There are common elements running through the songs that make them sound very similar to each other. All three have syncopated rhythms, a sort of metallic electric sound, and a mournful undercurrent. The two from Slumdog Millionaire (Jai Ho and O Saya) are more up tempo and have the benefit of the natural richness that occurs when modern rock styles are mixed with traditional cultural elements but Down to Earth, from Wall-E, is a top notch rock ballad that you'll be humming all day long.

If I had any sort of prediction to make, it would be that one of the songs from Slumdog would win, because I think Slumdog is poised to clean up on Sunday night. But since there are two entries, Wall-E might just sneak in, taking advantage of a split vote. Whatever way it works out, even if the performances on Sunday night are schmultzy and overdone, the audience will get to hear three great songs before learning which one bested the others.

 

Judge for yourself. In your opinion, which song is taking home the award?

 

Down to Earth

From Wall-E: Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman; Lyrics by Peter Gabriel

 

 

Jai Ho

From Slumdog Millionaire: Music by A.R. Rahman; Lyrics by Gulzar

 

 

 

O Saya

From Slumdog Millionaire: Music by A.R. Rahman; Lyrics by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

 

 

 

 

Note: I mentioned in my predictions for Best Actor that I would be doing Best Actress next, but I'm having some computer issues this evening, so that will have to wait until tomorrow.

I don't really find any of them that great. Down to Earth sounds like a lot of other Gabriel songs, Jai Ho sounds like they're saying "Tally Ho," and O Saya didn't do anything for me, either.

by Donal 2/18/2009 - 11:08 am

Really? I could listen to them over and over. I like them a lot, which is unusual because, with the exception of It's Hard Out There for a Pimp, from Hustle and Flow, I find movie songs cheesy and standard. 

I liked the music of Slumdog Millionaire from the start of the movie. To me it sounds fresh and original, although if I watched more Bollywood, I might not feel that way. I think it will probably win for Best Score.

by Orlando 2/18/2009 - 11:44 am (re: Donal)

I didn't hate them, but I don't exactly see a 'Theme from Shaft' in here. I haven't seen Slumdog, but I saw Wall-E and didn't remember the score at all.

by Donal 2/18/2009 - 7:12 pm (re: Orlando)

I'm going with O Saya, but I still think Springsteen got robbed of a nomination (and probable win) for The Wrestler.  Yes, I know it only played over the end credits, but it really captured the essence of the movie.  Thumbs down to Oscar on this one.

BTW, I hope M.I.A. shows up to perform O Saya at The Oscars with baby in hand.  She killed it at the Grammys performing mere hours before giving birth to her son :)  Every year there's one redeeming performance for why I still watch The Grammys and this was the winner for 2009.

http://www.mahalo.com/M.I.A._Grammy_Performance

by dijamo 2/18/2009 - 11:57 am

That was weird.  MIA was lost in a pastiche of boring, mainstream hip-hop.

by DF 2/18/2009 - 1:42 pm (re: dijamo)

Come on, it's the Grammys!  Compared to giving Will Smith Grammys for Men in Black and Getting Jiggy Wit It, the highlighting of boring, mainstream hip-hop with actual street cred is progress.  That said, this is still one of my fave Grammy moments of all time.  Shaolin :)

by dijamo 2/18/2009 - 3:31 pm (re: DF)

that is truly hilarious. it's like layered on so many levels. 'i went and bought me an outfit today that costed a lot of money" "puffy is good, but wu-tang is the best." "i dont know how y'all sit, but when it comes to the children, wu-tang is for the children" (i think that's what he said)

btw, as for this year's nominees, i like me some bhangra and peter gabriel, but these songs didn't do too much for me on first listen, either.

by Deadman 2/18/2009 - 3:39 pm (re: dijamo)

I guess the funny thing is that MIA got noticed for writing lyrics that are actually about something (namely the perception of immigrants) and admittedly put them to music that could conceivably get the song played in a club or on the radio.  So, having the song sampled for a track featuring Kanye, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne (who appears to be a high-functioning retard) and TI, with the typical hip-hop success formula (read: vapid braggadocio about bennies and bitches), is really the ultimate success for her venture, although it does leave me to wonder whether she held out any hope for anyone ever actually noticing that her tongue-in-cheek club banger was actually about something.  Maybe she really just wrote a club track in the hopes to make it big and, noticing that no one really cares about lyrical content, decided to pretend that she had something to say to get one over on people like me who go in for that sort of thing.

by DF 2/18/2009 - 5:24 pm (re: dijamo)

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