'High School Musical' dominates Oscar song eligibility list
Last year, the best song race at the Academy Awards was loaded with Disney's "Enchanted," which scored three nominations. The studio has a chance to dominate again this year, as 11 songs from "High School Music 3: Senior Year" have made the Oscar eligibility list for best original song.
The Academy has shifted the rules, allowing a film to have only two nominated songs amid the final five, but 11 of the 49 songs eligible for Oscar consideration come from the Disney musical. Two hail from Disney's recently released "Bolt" -- the Golden Globe-nominated "I Thought I Lost You," sung by Miley Cyrus, as well as "Barking at the Moon," from local star Jenny Lewis. Among the other Disney songs eligible include selections from "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," and "Wall-E."
Voting for the Oscar song race will occur on Jan. 6, when the Academy will screen the clips from the eligible films in New York and Los Angeles. Unlike last year, those unable to attend can vote via a mail-in ballot and will be provided a DVD copy of the songs, upon request.
All the heavy hitters are present, from Bruce Springsteen ("The Wrestler," from the film of the same name) to Beyonce ("Once in a Lifetime," from "Cadillac Records") to Peter Gabriel ("Down to Earth," from "Wall-E").
So what's missing? Dance rockers LCD Soundsystem won't be appearing on the Oscar stage, as the act's "Big Mistake" from "21" isn't on the below list. Nor are indie rockers Vampire Weekend, who had a song, "Ottoman," from "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist."
To be considered, a song had to be submitted and then meet the Academy's requirements -- original words and music written specifically for a film, with an audible and substantive rendition of lyrics and melody used in either the film or in the first cue in the end credits.
A full list of eligible songs is below, courtesy of the Academy.
-- Todd Martens
Photo: "High School Musical" stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. Credit: Disney
The 49 songs eligible for an Oscar:
“Another Way to Die” from “Quantum of Solace”
“Barking at the Moon” from “Bolt”
“The Boys Are Back” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Broken and Bent” from “Role Models”
“By the Boab Tree” from “Australia”
“The Call” from “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Can I Have This Dance” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Chase the Morning” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”
“Chromaggia” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”
“The Code of Life” from “My Dream”
“Code of Silence” from “Save Me”
“Count on Me” from “The Women”
“Di Notte” from “The Lodger”
“Djoyigbe” from “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”
“Down to Earth” from “Wall-E”
“Dracula’s Lament” from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”
“Drive” from “Fuel”
“Forever” from “They Killed Sister Dorothy”
“High School Musical” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Gran Torino” from “Gran Torino”
“I Thought I Lost You” from “Bolt”
“I Want It All” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“In Rodanthe” from “Nights in Rodanthe”
“It Ain’t Right” from “Dark Streets”
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
“Just Getting Started” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Just Wanna Be with You” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Little Person” from “Synecdoche, New York”
“The Little Things” from “Wanted”
“A Night to Remember” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Nothing but the Truth” from “Nothing but the Truth”
“Now or Never” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
“Once in a Lifetime” from “Cadillac Records”
“Right Here Right Now” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Right to Dream” from “Tennessee”
“Rock Me Sexy Jesus” from “Hamlet 2”
“Scream” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“The Story” from “My Blueberry Nights”
“Sweet Ballad” from “Yes Man”
“Too Much Juice” from “Dark Streets”
“The Traveling Song” from “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”
“Trouble the Water” from “Trouble the Water”
“Up to Our Nex” from “Rachel Getting Married”
“Walk Away” from “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”
“Waterline” from “Pride and Glory”
“The Wrestler” from “The Wrestler”
“Yes Man” from “Yes Man”
“Zydrate Anatomy” from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”
Seriously - - - awarding anything from "High School Musical" would be a joke. Especially when up against some really amazing songs from well established musical artists with legitimate talent. Although, I will admit "Down to Earth" is a very worthy song from a Disney film - maybe because it wasn't made with "selling seats" or "radio friendliness" as its top priorities.
Posted by: Matthew | December 17, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Did the Forgetting Sarah Marshall people just not bother to submit "Inside of You" or is it ineligible? Because I was rooting for that song. "Dracula's Lament" is supershort.
Posted by: Aura | December 17, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Is "Dressed Up in Love" from Sex and the City not eligible? That song was amazing! I'm sure the Academy would love to see Jennifer Hudson singing on the stage again. What's the reasoning that it is not in the running?
Posted by: Hunter | December 18, 2008 at 01:39 PM
soy un fans de high scool musical
Posted by: Agustina albospino gaona | January 31, 2009 at 03:57 AM