Best songs miss out on the gong

THE Academy’s nod to the supporting role of music in film is rarely a chart- topper. Not even Adele’s unleashing her power lungs on the Bond theme Skyfall ( 2013) nor the ubiquitous Frozen theme ( 2014) Let It Go managed to reach No. 1 in Australia.

It is unlikely the 2018 nominees list of Best Original Songs will be on high rotation at your next karaoke night either. The only song to trouble the Australian charts is This Is Me from the Greatest Showman, which peaked at No. 10. The other nominees are Remember Me from Coco, Mystery Of Love from Call Me By My Name, Stand Up For Something from Marshall and Mighty River from Mudbound.

Based on sheer popularity, This Is Me should win but those Frozen writers, who are also behind the Coco tune, have popular history on their side.

Here’s a look at some of this decade’s Best Song winners at the Oscars and who should have won the gong on the night:

2013

Let It Go: Idina Menzel for Frozen The song which drove millions of parents to the brink of insanity was classical musical theatre fodder and peaked at No. 16 on the ARIA charts. The trophy belonged to Pharrell Williams for the infectious and innovative hit Happy from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack which reigned supreme at No. 1 and was the feel- good song of the year.

2015

Sam Smith’s Writing’s On The Wall for Spectre This Bond theme peaked at just 43 on the ARIA charts. And while it didn’t appear on the pop charts, Lady Gaga and Diane Warren’s haunting orchestral ballad Til It Happens To You from documentary The Hunting Ground deserved the gong.

2016

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s City Of Stars for La La Land Another forgettable song which also went nowhere on the pop charts in Australia. Justin Timberlake’s delightfully upbeat Can’t Stop The Feeling from Trolls reached No. 3 and has become one of his biggest hits.