Since 1934, the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has handed out an Oscar for best original song, and lots of of these now-iconic tunes have greater than lived as much as that golden title. It’s unattainable to think about The Wizard of Oz with out listening to “Over the Rainbow”; Soiled Dancing with out singing “(I’ve Had) The Time of my Life”; or Pinocchio with out buzzing “When You Want Upon a Star.”
With musical heavy-hitters like Rihanna, David Byrne, Mitski and former Oscar-winner Girl Gaga all within the working for greatest unique tune in 2023, whoever wins shall be in awfully good firm. (And, who is aware of? Possibly this would be the 12 months that long-time nominee Diane Warren lastly will get her flowers.)
Whether or not it’s Billie Eilish changing into James Bond musical royalty in 2021 with “No Time to Die,” Eminem placing hip-hop on the Oscar map in 2002 with “Lose Your self,” Bruce Springsteen bringing us all to tears in 1993 with the “Streets of Philadelphia,” Isaac Hayes making Oscar historical past as the primary African-American to win the perfect unique tune class in 1971 for “Theme from Shaft” or Irving Berlin making a perennial vacation traditional in 1942 with “White Christmas,” these Academy Award winners have spanned generations — and made for one unimaginable, albeit wildly eclectic, soundtrack.
In no specific order, listed here are the 15 best Oscar-winning songs of all-time. And if you happen to don’t see your private favourite listed right here, nicely, no disrespect is meant. Until, after all, that tune landed on our list of the 15 worst Oscar-winning songs of all time. In that case, nicely, sorry.
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“Over the Rainbow,” Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg from The Wizard of Oz
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Everett Assortment As timeless as they arrive. The legendary Judy Garland singing the sumptuous “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz is just about the gold normal of film magic.
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“Lose Your self,” Eminem from 8 Mile
Eminem’s amped-up anthem made Oscar historical past again in 2002, changing into the first-ever hip-hop monitor to win an Academy Award for greatest unique tune. Whereas different hip-hop artists have been in a position to take house Oscars since, none of them have paid homage to each mother’s spaghetti and Mekhi Pfifer. Pay attention here.
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“Falling Slowly,” Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová from As soon as
Principally each tune from As soon as is Oscar-worthy (yep, even “Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy”), however “Falling Slowly” is the one which made everybody fall head over heels in love with the duo and their little film (and finally, Broadway present) that might. Pay attention here.
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“Take My Breath Away,” Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock from High Gun
Picture Credit score: ©Paramount / courtesy Everett Assortment This hovering, synth-y ballad not solely took Berlin all the best way to the highest of the Billboard Scorching 100, however to the dizzying heights of getting carried out a tune that gained an Academy Award (for songwriters Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock).
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“Theme from Shaft,” Isaac Hayes from Shaft
The grooviest, funkiest and all-around coolest greatest unique tune winner not solely made the Shaft soundtrack an important report, but it surely made Oscar historical past when Isaac Hayes turned the primary African-American to win on this class. Don’t prefer it? Shut your mouth. Pay attention here.
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“White Christmas,” Irving Berlin from Vacation Inn
There are two greatest unique tune Oscar winners that turned bona fide Christmastime necessities: “White Christmas” from 1942’s Vacation Inn and “Child, It’s Chilly Exterior” from 1949’s Neptune’s Daughter. Nonetheless, solely considered one of these classics managed to stay an unproblematic fave. Pay attention here.
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“Raindrops Hold Fallin’ on My Head,” Burt Bacharach and Hal David from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child
The incomparable Burt Bacharach earned 5 Oscar nominations and gained twice on this class over the course of his profession. Has there ever been a greater tune to get you out of a funk than this one? We’d be hard-pressed to seek out it. Pay attention here.
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“Moon River,” Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Everett Assortment Audrey Hepburn plucking her guitar and crooning out of her New York Metropolis window made its mark on cinema in 1961, and numerous covers (from Andy Williams to Frank Ocean) have stored it a popular culture staple over time. Nonetheless, nothing beats the dreamy model seen within the movie.
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“Jai Ho,” A. R. Rahman and Guizar from Slumdog Millionaire
Earlier than Marvel films have been protecting individuals planted firmly of their seats because the credit rolled, Slumdog Millionaire had audiences dancing within the aisles to this Indian pop crowd-pleaser. (It’s additionally the one Oscar-winning tune to this point to get its very personal therapy by The Pussycat Dolls.) Pay attention here.
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“The Method You Look Tonight,” Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields from Swing Time
If anybody might make audiences really feel like they have been floating on air throughout the Nice Despair, it was Fred Astaire. One of the crucial romantic songs ever written, if you happen to haven’t heard considered one of its many iterations on the massive display screen, you’ve most definitely heard it at a marriage or 200. Pay attention here.
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“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” by Franke Previte, John DeNicola & Donald Markowitz from Soiled Dancing
Picture Credit score: ©Vestron Footage/courtesy Everett Assortment No one places Child in a nook. In reality, Child stars in one of the vital satisfying film finales ever set to ’80s pop perfection.
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“Final Dance,” Paul Jabara from Thank God It’s Friday
Positive, it’s from the worst film on this listing by a mile, however this disco staple — carried out by dancefloor queen Donna Summer time — has been telling party-going night time owls to name it a night since 1978. Pay attention here.
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“When You Want Upon a Star,” Leigh Harline and Ned Washington from Pinocchio
Disney is not any stranger to successful on this class, but it surely’s arduous to prime the OG recipient: “When You Want Upon a Star.” Maybe the tune nonetheless most related to the film studio to today, this Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards) tune has been packing an enormous punch since 1940. Pay attention here.
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“Streets of Philadelphia,” Bruce Springsteen from Philadelphia
Neil Younger’s “Philadelphia” (which was additionally nominated that 12 months) may very well pack the larger emotional wallop within the 1993 drama, however you possibly can’t argue with the ability of The Boss and the aching sense of hope misplaced on this highly effective ballad. Pay attention here.
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“Shallow,” Girl Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt from A Star Is Born
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Once you consider “Shallow” and its big night at the 2019 Oscars, it’s all however unattainable to not conjure up horny, smoldering ideas of that swoon-worthy reside efficiency by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Their chemistry actually despatched us all off the deep finish.
