The Rundown 2019: Original Song

For our second Rundown article, we look at the other musical category. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Original Song as well as general commentary about the race. Friday, we’ll cover the international film category.

Best Original Song

Winner Predictions

I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away – Toy Story 4
(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again – Rocketman (WL O) (PP O) (TB O) (TL O)
I’m Standing with You – Breakthrough
Into the Unknown – Frozen II
Stand Up – Harriet

Runner-Up Predictions

Into the Unknown – Frozen II (PP O)
Stand Up – Harriet (WL O) (TB R) [New] (TL O)

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Wesley Lovell: Until Elton John mentioned it at the Golden Globes, few were aware that John and Bernie Taupin had never won an award together in spite of their decades-long, successful songwriting partnership. That fact should bolster their original song from Rocketman into the winner’s circle. Stand Up could be a spoiler here, but most of the stiffest competition wasn’t even nominated. Disney’s selection of “Into the Uknown” as its sole submission for Frozen II was widely criticized as not even the best song from the film. Diane Warren remains Oscar-less, but I doubt they’ll give her an award for her latest throaway nomination.
Peter J. Patrick: I would be shocked if Elton John and Bernie Taupin don’t win for their first song together in decades for Rocketman. If there is an upset, I suspect it will be in favor of the song from Frozen II which was surprisingly left off the list of nominees for Animated Feature.
Tripp Burton: The consensus would seem to be Elton John picking up his second Oscar, especially after winning the Globe and mentioning that he and Bernie Taupin had never won an award together before. But nostalgia could also lead Diane Warren to win her first award ever for the song from Breakthrough. Double nominee Cynthia Erivo is always a possibility if voters really want to award her something, as are the undefeated Frozen couple of Bobby and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. I’m leaning Elton, but nothing in this category would feel like a surprise.
Thomas La Tourrette: Elton John and Bernie Taupin have never won an Oscar [or any other award prior to the Golden Globes] together, so this seems like a great time to take care of that. The song sounds like a vintage Elton John hit, and I will confess that when I saw the movie, I did not realize it was a new song. It is fun and catchy and is a reasonable winner. The closest competition is probably “Stand Up” which was co-written by Harriet star Cynthia Erivo. It is a stirring anthem and works well over the final credits of the film. With Erivo being the only actor of color nominated for an Oscar this year, that might lend a bit more support to her song winning as well. However, I just do not think that will be enough to carry it to the winner’s circle. The only other song that stands a chance is “Into the Unknown” from Frozen II. It is not as memorable nor as catchy as “Let It Go” was from the original film, so I am just not thinking it will win. The song from Toy Story 4 is nice and fits the movie well, but it does not add anything that new to the mix. Breakthrough was a little seen Christian movie, and I do not see Diane Warren winning for her song in it. This is her 11th nomination, but she will have to wait longer to win. With Golden Globes and Satellites wins already under their collective belts, John and Taupin should plan on adding an Oscar to their collections.