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The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film. The performers of a song are not credited with the Academy Award unless they contributed either to music, lyrics or both in their own right.

The award category was introduced at the 7th Academy Awards, the ceremony honoring the best in film for 1934. Nominations are made by Academy members who are songwriters and composers, and the winners are chosen by the Academy membership as a whole.

Requirement for nomination[link]

The original requirement was only that the nominated song appear in a motion picture during the previous year. This rule was changed after the 1941 Academy Awards, when "The Last Time I Saw Paris", from the film Lady Be Good, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, won. Kern was upset that his song won because it had been published and recorded before it was used in the film. The song was actually written in 1940, after the Germans occupied Paris at the start of World War II. It was recorded by Kate Smith and peaked at number 8 on the best seller list before it was used in the film Lady Be Good. Kern got the Academy to change the rule so that only songs that are "original and written specifically for the film" are eligible to win.^[1][2]

Songs that were published prior to a film's production having nothing to do with the film, such as "Unchained Melody" in the 1990 film Ghost and "I Will Always Love You" in the 1992 film The Bodyguard, cannot qualify (although "Unchained Melody" was nominated when first released for the 1955 film Unchained). In addition, songs that rely on sampled or reworked material, such as "Gangsta's Paradise" in the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, are also ineligible.

When a film is adapted from a previously-written stage musical, none of the songs from the stage version of the musical (and other sources) are eligible. As a result, many recent film adaptations of stage musicals have included original songs which could be nominated, such as "You Must Love Me" in the 1996 film Evita, and "Listen", "Love You I Do" and "Patience" in the 2006 film Dreamgirls.

There was a debate as to whether or not Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who were awarded the Oscar in 2008 for "Falling Slowly", were in fact eligible. "Falling Slowly" has been released on two other albums — The Swell Season, Hansard and Irglova's duo project and The Cost, by Hansard's band The Frames. The Swell Season was released in August 2006, and The Cost in February 2007, before the release of Once. However, the AMPAS music committee determined that, in the course of the film's protracted production, the composers had "played the song in some venues that were deemed inconsequential enough to not change the song's eligibility".^[3] The same issue arose two years earlier with "In the Deep" from Crash, which appeared on Kathleen "Bird" York's 2003 album The Velvet Hour after being written for Crash, but before the film was released.

Rules and Number of nominations[link]

Until the Academy Awards for 1944 (awarded in 1945) any number of songs could be nominated for the award. For the 1944 awards, 14 songs were nominated. Since then only five are nominated each year, except for 2011 when only two were nominated; 1988, 2005, and 2008, when only three were nominated; and 2010 when only 4 were nominated.^[4][5]

While most Oscar categories have a fixed minimum and/or maximum number of nominations (such as the Best Original Score, which always has five nominations), the Best Original Song category can have a number of nominations varying from two to five. This is due to the rules set by the Academy. The rules stipulate that each member of the Music Branch of the Academy is asked to vote for their favourite songs, using a special points system using 10, 9.5, 9, 8.5, 8, 7.5, 7, 6.5 or 6 points.

Only those songs receiving an average score of 8.25 or more are eligible for nomination. If no song receives an average of 8.25 or more, there will be no nominees. If only one song achieves that score, it and the song receiving the next highest score shall be the two nominees (as has been the case in the 2011 Oscars, awarded in 2012).^{[citation needed]}

Not every song used in a film is eligible for this category. According to Academy rules, a song should be "original and specifically written for a motion picture. There must be a clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition (not necessarily visually presented) of both lyrics and melody, used in the body of the motion picture or as the first music cue in the end credits." ^[6]

Though this is one of the few Oscar categories where one film can receive multiple nominations, the first to do so was Fame in 1980. Only four films have featured three nominated songs: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Dreamgirls, and Enchanted. Dreamgirls and Enchanted lost on every nomination: An Inconvenient Truth original song "I Need to Wake Up" defeated all three of the nominated songs from Dreamgirls, while "Falling Slowly" from Once defeated all three of Enchanted's nominations. After these two consecutive defeats, a new rule was instated in June 2008 that a film could have no more than two songs nominated in the Best Original Song category in one year.^[7]

Performances at the awards ceremony[link]

Nominated songs are usually performed live at the televised Academy Awards ceremonies. Although pre-televised ceremonies were broadcast on the radio, the tradition of performing the nominated songs did not begin until 18th Academy Awards in 1946, in which performers included Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Dinah Shore and Dick Haymes.

In the early years, the songs were usually not performed by the original artists as in the film. For example, in 1965, Robert Goulet performed all the nominated songs at the ceremony. However, in recent years, it has become standard to first offer the original artist or artists a chance to perform it at the ceremony. When the artist or artists are unable to do so (or in rare cases where the telecast producers decide to go with someone else), the Academy chooses more well-known entertainers to perform the song at the ceremony. For example, Robin Williams performed "Blame Canada" at the 72nd Academy Awards instead of the South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut voice actors, Trey Parker and Mary Kay Bergman (Bergman actually died a few months before the show). Beyoncé Knowles sang three nominated songs (one of which was a duet with Josh Groban) during the 77th Academy Awards even though she had not performed these songs in any of the respective films.

That same year, song "Al otro lado del río" (On The Other Side Of The River), which was featured in the film The Motorcycle Diaries, won the award, becoming the first song in Spanish and the second in a foreign language to receive such an honor (the first winner being the title tune to Never on Sunday, which was sung in Greek in the film by its star, Melina Mercouri). It was written by Uruguayan composer Jorge Drexler, but the producers would not let Drexler perform the song during the show for fear of losing ratings. Instead, the song was performed by Carlos Santana and Antonio Banderas. Drexler's acceptance speech for the award consisted of him singing a few lines a cappella and closed by simply saying "thank you."

At the 80th Academy Awards, "That's How You Know" from the film Enchanted was performed by Kristin Chenoweth, rather than the film's star, Amy Adams. However, Adams performed "Happy Working Song" which was nominated from the same film.^[8]

In 1985, Phil Collins was passed over to perform his nominated composition "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)". According to representatives of both Collins' record company and Columbia Pictures, this was because the producers of the telecast were not familiar with his work. Ann Reinking performed the song instead, with Collins sitting in the audience.^[9] In 2009, Peter Gabriel, who was originally scheduled to perform his nominated song "Down to Earth" during the live broadcast, declined to perform after learning that he would be allowed to sing only 65 seconds of the song during the ceremony's Best Original Song nominee performance medley.^[10] Gabriel still attended the ceremony, with John Legend performing the song in his place, backed by the Soweto Gospel Choir.

The 2012 award ceremony did not feature performances from either nominated song ("Man or Muppet" from The Muppets and "Real in Rio" from Rio).^[11] No reason for this was given by Oscar producers. This was only the third time that Best Original Song nominees were not performed (the others: 1989 and 2009).

List of winners and nominees[link]

1930s[link]

• 1934 (7th) "The Continental" — The Gay Divorcee • Music: Con Conrad • Lyrics: Herb Magidson
  • "Carioca" — Flying Down to Rio • Music: Vincent Youmans • Lyrics: Edward Eliscu and Gus Kahn
  • "Love in Bloom" — She Loves Me Not • Music: Ralph Rainger • Lyrics: Leo Robin

• 1935 (8th) "Lullaby of Broadway" — Gold Diggers of 1935 • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Al Dubin
  • "Lovely to Look at" — Roberta • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh
  • "Cheek to Cheek" — Top Hat • Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin

• 1936 (9th) "The Way You Look Tonight" — Swing Time • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Dorothy Fields
  • "I've Got You Under My Skin" — Born to Dance • Music and lyrics: Cole Porter
  • "Pennies from Heaven" — Pennies from Heaven • Music: Arthur Johnston • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
  • "When Did You Leave Heaven" — Sing, Baby, Sing • Music: Richard A. Whiting • Lyrics: Walter Bullock
  • "Did I Remember" — Suzy • Music: Walter Donaldson • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
  • "A Melody from the Sky" — The Trail of the Lonesome Pine • Music: Louis Alter • Lyrics: Sidney D. Mitchell

• 1937 (10th) "Sweet Leilani" — Waikiki Wedding • Music and lyrics: Harry Owens
  • "Whispers in the Dark" — Artists and Models • Music: Friedrich Hollaender • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "Remember Me" — Mr. Dodd Takes the Air • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Al Dubin
  • "They Can't Take That Away from Me" — Shall We Dance • Music: George Gershwin (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Ira Gershwin
  • "That Old Feeling" — Vogues of 1938 • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Lew Brown

• 1938 (11th) "Thanks for the Memory" — The Big Broadcast of 1938 • Music: Ralph Rainger • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "Always and Always" — Mannequin • Music: Edward Ward • Lyrics: Chet Forrest and Bob Wright
  • "Change Partners" — Carefree • Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin
  • "The Cowboy and the Lady" — The Cowboy and the Lady • Music: Lionel Newman • Lyrics: Arthur Quenzer
  • "Dust" — Under Western Stars • Music and lyrics: Johnny Marvin
  • "Jeepers Creepers" — Going Places • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Merrily We Live" — Merrily We Live • Music: Phil Craig • Lyrics: Arthur Quenzer
  • "A Mist over the Moon" — The Lady Objects • Music: Ben Oakland • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
  • "My Own" — That Certain Age • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
  • "Now It Can Be Told" — Alexander's Ragtime Band • Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin
• 1939 (12th) "Over the Rainbow" — The Wizard of Oz • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Yip Harburg
  • "Faithful Forever" — Gulliver's Travels • Music: Ralph Rainger • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "I Poured My Heart into a Song" — Second Fiddle • Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin
  • "Wishing" — Love Affair • Music and lyrics: Buddy DeSylva

1940s[link]

• 1940 (13th) "When You Wish upon a Star" — Pinocchio • Music: Leigh Harline • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "Down Argentine Way" — Down Argentine Way • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
  • "I'd Know You Anywhere" — You'll Find Out • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "It's a Blue World" — Music in My Heart • Music and Lyrics: Chet Forrest and Bob Wright
  • "Love of My Life" — Second Chorus • Music: Artie Shaw • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Only Forever" — Rhythm on the River • Music: James V. Monaco • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
  • "Our Love Affair" — Strike Up the Band • Music and Lyrics: Roger Edens and Georgie Stoll
  • "Waltzing in the Clouds" — Spring Parade • Music: Robert Stolz • Lyrics: Gus Kahn
  • "Who Am I?" — Hit Parade of 1941 • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Walter Bullock

• 1941 (14th) "The Last Time I Saw Paris" — Lady Be Good • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
  • "Baby Mine" — Dumbo • Music: Frank Churchill • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "Be Honest With Me" — Ridin' on a Rainbow • Music and Lyrics: Gene Autry and Fred Rose
  • "Blues in the Night" — Blues in the Night • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" — Buck Privates • Music: Hugh Prince • Lyrics: Don Raye
  • "Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Sun Valley Serenade • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
  • "Dolores" — Las Vegas Nights • Music: Lou Alter • Lyrics: Frank Loesser
  • "Out of the Silence" — All-American Co-Ed • Music and Lyrics: Lloyd B. Norlind
  • "Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye" — You'll Never Get Rich • Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter

• 1942 (15th) "White Christmas" — Holiday Inn • Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin
  • "Always in My Heart" — Always in My Heart • Music: Ernesto Lecuona • Lyrics: Kim Gannon
  • "Dearly Beloved" — You Were Never Lovelier • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "How About You?"– Babes on Broadway • Music: Burton Lane • Lyrics: Ralph Freed
  • "I've Heard That Song Before" — Youth on Parade • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo" — Orchestra Wives • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
  • "Love Is a Song" — Bambi • Music: Frank Churchill (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Larry Morey
  • "Pennies for Peppino" — Flying with Music • Music: Edward Ward • Lyrics: Chet Forrest and Bob Wright
  • "Pig Foot Pete" — Hellzapoppin' • Music: Gene de Paul • Lyrics: Don Raye
  • "There's a Breeze on Lake Louise" — The Mayor of 44th Street • Music: Harry Revel • Lyrics: Mort Greene

• 1943 (16th) "You'll Never Know" — Hello, Frisco, Hello • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
  • "Change of Heart" — Hit Parade of 1943 • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
  • "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe" — Cabin in the Sky • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Yip Harburg
  • "My Shining Hour" — The Sky's the Limit • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Saludos Amigos" — Saludos Amigos • Music: Charles Wolcott • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There" — Hers to Hold • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Herb Magidson
  • "That Old Black Magic" — Star Spangled Rhythm • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" — Thank Your Lucky Stars • Music: Arthur Schwartz • Lyrics: Frank Loesser
  • "We Mustn't Say Good Bye" — Stage Door Canteen • Music: James V. Monaco • Lyrics: Al Dubin
  • "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" — Something to Shout About • Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter

• 1944 (17th) "Swinging on a Star" — Going My Way • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
  • "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" — Higher and Higher • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
  • "I'll Walk Alone" — Follow the Boys • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "I'm Making Believe" — Sweet and Low-Down • Music: James V. Monaco • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
  • "Long Ago (and Far Away)" — Cover Girl • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Ira Gershwin
  • "Now I Know" — Up in Arms • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Ted Koehler
  • "Remember Me to Carolina" — Minstrel Man • Music: Harry Revel • Lyrics: Paul Webster
  • "Rio de Janeiro" — Brazil • Music: Ary Barroso • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "Silver Shadows and Golden Dreams" — Lady, Let's Dance • Music: Lew Pollack • Lyrics: Charles Newman
  • "Too Much in Love" — Song of the Open Road • Music: Walter Kent • Lyrics: Kim Gannon
  • "The Trolley Song" — Meet Me in St. Louis • Music and Lyrics: Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin

• 1945 (18th) "It Might as Well Be Spring" — State Fair • Music: Richard Rodgers • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
  • "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" — Here Come the Waves • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Anywhere" — Tonight and Every Night • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Aren't You Glad You're You" — The Bells of St. Mary's • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
  • "The Cat and the Canary" — Why Girls Leave Home • Music: Jay Livingston • Lyrics: Ray Evans
  • "Endlessly"^{[disambiguation needed ]} — Earl Carroll Vanities • Music: Walter Kent • Lyrics: Kim Gannon
  • "I Fall in Love Too Easily" — Anchors Aweigh • Music:Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "I'll Buy That Dream" — Sing Your Way Home • Music: Allie Wrubel • Lyrics: Herb Magidson
  • "Linda" — The Story of G.I. Joe • Music and Lyrics: Ann Ronell
  • "Love Letters" — Love Letters • Music: Victor Young • Lyrics: Edward Heyman
  • "More and More" — Can't Help Singing • Music: Jerome Kern (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Yip Harburg
  • "Sleighride in July" — Belle of the Yukon • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics:Johnny Burke
  • "So in Love" — Wonder Man • Music: David Rose • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "Some Sunday Morning" — San Antonio • Music: Ray Heindorf and M.K. Jerome • Lyrics: Ted Koehler

• 1946 (19th) "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" — The Harvey Girls • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "All Through the Day" — Centennial Summer • Music: Jerome Kern (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
  • "I Can't Begin to Tell You" — The Dolly Sisters • Music: James V. Monaco (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
  • "Ole Buttermilk Sky" — Canyon Passage • Music: Hoagy Carmichael • Lyrics: Jack Brooks
  • "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song" — Blue Skies • Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin

• 1947 (20th) "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" — Song of the South • Music: Allie Wrubel • Lyrics: Ray Gilbert
  • "A Gal in Calico" — The Time, the Place and the Girl • Music: Arthur Schwartz • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" — The Perils of Pauline • Music and Lyrics: Frank Loesser
  • "Pass That Peace Pipe" — Good News • Music and Lyrics: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin and Roger Edens
  • "You Do" — Mother Wore Tights • Music: Josef Myrow • Lyrics: Mack Gordon

• 1948 (21st) "Buttons and Bows" — The Paleface • Music: Jay Livingston • Lyrics: Ray Evans
  • "For Every Man There's a Woman" — Casbah • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "It's Magic" — Romance on the High Seas • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "This Is the Moment" — That Lady in Ermine • Music: Frederick Hollander • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "The Woody Woodpecker Song" — Wet Blanket Policy • Music and Lyrics: Ramey Idriss and George Tibbles

• 1949 (22nd) "Baby, It's Cold Outside" — Neptune's Daughter • Music and Lyrics: Frank Loesser
  • "It's a Great Feeling" — It's a Great Feeling • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Lavender Blue" — So Dear to My Heart • Music: Eliot Daniel • Lyrics: Larry Morey
  • "My Foolish Heart" — My Foolish Heart • Music: Victor Young • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" — Come to the Stable • Music: Alfred Newman • Lyrics: Mack Gordon

1950s[link]

• 1950 (23rd) "Mona Lisa" — Captain Carey, U.S.A. • Music and Lyrics: Ray Evans and Jay Livingston
  • "Be My Love" — The Toast of New Orleans • Music: Nicholas Brodzsky • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" — Cinderella • Music and Lyrics: Mack David, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston
  • "Mule Train" — Singing Guns • Music and Lyrics: Fred Glickman, Hy Heath and Johnny Lange
  • "Wilhelmina" — Wabash Avenue • Music: Josef Myrow • Lyrics: Mack Gordon

• 1951 (24th) "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" — Here Comes the Groom • Music: Hoagy Carmichael • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Never"^{[disambiguation needed ]} — Golden Girl • Music: Lionel Newman • Lyrics: Eliot Daniel
  • "Wonder Why" — Rich, Young and Pretty • Music: Nicholas Brodszky • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Too Late Now" — Royal Wedding • Music: Burton Lane • Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner
  • "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" — The Strip • Music and lyrics: Burt Kalmar (posthumous nomination), Harry Ruby, and Oscar Hammerstein II

• 1952 (25th) "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin')" — High Noon • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "Am I in Love" — Son of Paleface • Music and lyrics: Jack Brooks
  • "Because You're Mine" — Because You're Mine • Music: Nicholas Brodszky • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Thumbelina" — Hans Christian Andersen • Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser
  • "Zing a Little Zong" — Just for You • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Leo Robin

• 1953 (26th) "Secret Love" — Calamity Jane • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "The Moon Is Blue" — The Moon Is Blue • Music: Herschel Burke Gilbert • Lyrics: Sylvia Fine
  • "My Flaming Heart" — Small Town Girl • Music: Nicholas Brodszky • Lyrics: Leo Robin
  • "Sadie Thompson's Song (Blue Pacific Blues)" — Miss Sadie Thompson • Music: Lester Lee • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "That's Amore" — The Caddy • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Jack Brooks

• 1954 (27th) "Three Coins in the Fountain" — Three Coins in the Fountain • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" — White Christmas • Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin
  • "The High and the Mighty" — The High and the Mighty • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Ned Washington
  • "Hold My Hand" — Susan Slept Here • Music and lyrics: Jack Lawrence and Richard Myers
  • "The Man that Got Away" — A Star Is Born • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Ira Gershwin

• 1955 (28th) "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" — Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "I'll Never Stop Loving You" — Love Me or Leave Me • Music: Nicholas Brodszky • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Something's Gotta Give" — Daddy Long Legs • Music and lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "(Love Is) The Tender Trap" — The Tender Trap • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Unchained Melody" — Unchained • Music: Alex North • Lyrics: Hy Zaret

• 1956 (29th) "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Qué Será, Será)" — The Man Who Knew Too Much • Music and lyrics: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
  • "Friendly Persuasion" — Friendly Persuasion • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "Julie" — Julie • Music: Leith Stevens • Lyrics: Tom Adair
  • "True Love" — High Society • Music and lyrics: Cole Porter
  • "Written on the Wind" — Written on the Wind • Music: Victor Young (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

• 1957 (30th) "All the Way" — The Joker Is Wild • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "An Affair to Remember" — An Affair to Remember • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Harold Adamson and Leo McCarey
  • "April Love" — April Love • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "Tammy" — Tammy and the Bachelor • Music and lyrics: Ray Evans and Jay Livingston
  • "Wild Is the Wind" — Wild Is the Wind • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Ned Washington

• 1958 (31st) "Gigi" — Gigi • Music: Frederick Loewe • Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner
  • "Almost in Your Arms (Love Song from Houseboat)" — Houseboat • Music and lyrics: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
  • "A Certain Smile" — A Certain Smile • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "To Love and Be Loved" — Some Came Running • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "A Very Precious Love" — Marjorie Morningstar • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster

• 1959 (32nd) "High Hopes" — A Hole in the Head • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "The Best of Everything" — The Best of Everything • Music: Alfred Newman • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "The Five Pennies" — The Five Pennies • Music and lyrics: Sylvia Fine
  • "The Hanging Tree" — The Hanging Tree • Music: Jerry Livingston • Lyrics: Mack David
  • "Strange Are the Ways of Love" — The Young Land • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Ned Washington

1960s[link]

• 1960 (33rd) "Never on Sunday" — Never on Sunday • Music and lyrics: Manos Hadjidakis
  • "The Facts of Life" — The Facts of Life • Music and lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Faraway Part of Town" — Pepe • Music: Andre Previn • Lyrics: Dory Langdon
  • "The Green Leaves of Summer" — The Alamo • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "The Second Time Around" — High Time • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

• 1961 (34th) "Moon River" — Breakfast at Tiffany's • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Bachelor in Paradise" — Bachelor in Paradise • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Mack David
  • "Love Theme From El Cid (The Falcon and The Dove)" — El Cid • Music: Miklós Rózsa • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "Pocketful of Miracles" — Pocketful of Miracles • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Town Without Pity" — Town Without Pity • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Ned Washington

• 1962 (35th) "Days of Wine and Roses" — Days of Wine and Roses • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Love Song From Mutiny on the Bounty (Follow Me)" — Mutiny on the Bounty • Music: Bronislaw Kaper • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "Song From Two For The Seesaw (Second Chance)" — Two for the Seesaw • Music: Andre Previn • Lyrics: Dory Langdon
  • "Tender Is the Night" — Tender Is the Night • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "Walk on the Wild Side" — Walk on the Wild Side • Music: Elmer Bernstein • Lyrics: Mack David

• 1963 (36th) "Call Me Irresponsible" — Papa's Delicate Condition • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Charade" — Charade • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" — It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World • Music: Ernest Gold • Lyrics: Mack David
  • "More" — Mondo Cane • Music: Riz Ortolani and Nino Oliviero • Lyrics: Norman Newell
  • "So Little Time" — 55 Days at Peking • Music: Dimitri Tiomkin • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster

• 1964 (37th) "Chim Chim Cher-ee" — Mary Poppins • Music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
  • "Dear Heart" — Dear Heart • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
  • "Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte" — Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte • Music: Frank DeVol • Lyrics: Mack David
  • "My Kind of Town" — Robin and the 7 Hoods • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
  • "Where Love Has Gone" — Where Love Has Gone • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

• 1965 (38th) "The Shadow of Your Smile" — The Sandpiper • Music: Johnny Mandel • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "The Ballad of Cat Ballou" — Cat Ballou • Music: Jerry Livingston • Lyrics: Mack David
  • "I Will Wait for You" — The Umbrellas of Cherbourg • Music: Michel Legrand • Lyrics: Jacques Demy • English lyrics: Norman Gimbel
  • "The Sweetheart Tree" — The Great Race • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "What's New Pussycat?" — What's New Pussycat? • Music: Burt Bacharach • Lyrics: Hal David

• 1966 (39th) "Born Free" — Born Free • Music: John Barry • Lyrics: Don Black
  • "Alfie" — Alfie • Music: Burt Bacharach • Lyrics: Hal David
  • "Georgy Girl" — Georgy Girl • Music: Tom Springfield • Lyrics: Jim Dale
  • "My Wishing Doll" — Hawaii • Music: Elmer Bernstein • Lyrics: Mack David
  • "A Time for Love" — An American Dream • Music: Johnny Mandel • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster

• 1967 (40th) "Talk to the Animals" — Doctor Dolittle • Music and lyrics: Leslie Bricusse
  • "The Bare Necessities" — The Jungle Book • Music and lyrics: Terry Gilkyson
  • "The Eyes of Love" — Banning • Music: Quincy Jones • Lyrics: Bob Russell
  • "The Look of Love" — Casino Royale • Music: Burt Bacharach • Lyrics: Hal David
  • "Thoroughly Modern Millie" — Thoroughly Modern Millie • Music and lyrics: James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn

• 1968 (41st) "The Windmills of Your Mind" — The Thomas Crown Affair • Music: Michel Legrand • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" — Chitty Chitty Bang Bang • Music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
  • "For Love of Ivy" — For Love of Ivy • Music: Quincy Jones • Lyrics: Bob Russell
  • "Funny Girl" — Funny Girl • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Bob Merrill
  • "Star!" — Star! • Music: Jimmy Van Heusen • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

• 1969 (42nd) "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid • Music: Burt Bacharach • Lyrics: Hal David
  • "Come Saturday Morning" — The Sterile Cuckoo • Music: Fred Karlin • Lyrics: Dory Previn
  • "Jean" — The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie • Music and lyrics: Rod McKuen
  • "True Grit" — True Grit • Music: Elmer Bernstein • Lyrics: Don Black
  • "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" — The Happy Ending • Music: Michel Legrand • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

1970s[link]

• 1970 (43rd) "For All We Know" — Lovers and Other Strangers • Music: Fred Karlin • Lyrics: Robb Royer and Jimmy Griffin
  • "Whistling Away the Dark" — Darling Lili • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "Till Love Touches Your Life" — Madron • Music: Riz Ortolani • Lyrics: Arthur Hamilton
  • "Pieces of Dreams" — Pieces of Dreams • Music: Michel Legrand • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "Thank You Very Much" — Scrooge • Music and lyrics: Leslie Bricusse

• 1971 (44th) "Theme from Shaft" — Shaft • Music and lyrics: Isaac Hayes
  • "The Age of Not Believing" — Bedknobs and Broomsticks • Music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
  • "Bless the Beasts and Children" — Bless the Beasts and Children • Music and lyrics: Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.
  • "Life Is What You Make It" — Kotch • Music: Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
  • "All His Children" — Sometimes a Great Notion • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

• 1972 (45th) "The Morning After" — The Poseidon Adventure • Music and lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn
  • "Ben" — Ben • Music: Walter Scharf • Lyrics: Don Black
  • "Marmalade, Molasses & Honey" — The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean • Music: Maurice Jarre • Lyrics: Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman
  • "Come Follow, Follow Me" — The Little Ark • Music: Fred Karlin • Lyrics: Marsha Karlin
  • "Strange Are the Ways of Love" — The Stepmother • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster

• 1973 (46th) "The Way We Were" — The Way We Were • Music: Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "(You're So) Nice to Be Around" — Cinderella Liberty • Music: John Williams • Lyrics: Paul Williams
  • "Live and Let Die" — Live and Let Die • Music: Paul McCartney and Lyrics: Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney
  • "Love" — Robin Hood • Music: George Bruns • Lyrics: Floyd Huddleston
  • "All That Love Went To Waste" — A Touch of Class • Music: George Barrie • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

• 1974 (47th) "We May Never Love Like This Again" — The Towering Inferno • Music and lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn
  • "Benji's Theme (I Feel Love)" — Benji • Music: Euel Box • Lyrics: Betty Box
  • "Blazing Saddles" — Blazing Saddles • Music: John Morris • Lyrics: Mel Brooks
  • "Wherever Love Takes Me" — Gold • Music: Elmer Bernstein • Lyrics: Don Black
  • "Little Prince" — The Little Prince • Music: Frederick Loewe • Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner

• 1975 (48th) "I'm Easy" — Nashville • Music and lyrics: Keith Carradine
  • "How Lucky Can You Get" — Funny Lady • Music and lyrics: Fred Ebb and John Kander
  • "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" — Mahogany • Music: Michael Masser • Lyrics: Gerry Goffin
  • "Richard's Window" — The Other Side of the Mountain • Music: Charles Fox • Lyrics: Norman Gimbel
  • "Now That We're in Love" — Whiffs • Music: George Barrie • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

• 1976 (49th) "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" — A Star Is Born • Music: Barbra Streisand • Lyrics: Paul Williams
  • "A World That Never Was" — Half a House • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
  • "Ave Satani" — The Omen • Music and lyrics: Jerry Goldsmith
  • "Come to Me" — The Pink Panther Strikes Again • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Don Black
  • "Gonna Fly Now" — Rocky • Music: Bill Conti • Lyrics: Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins

• 1977 (50th) "You Light Up My Life" — You Light Up My Life • Music and lyrics: Joseph Brooks
  • "Candle on the Water" — Pete's Dragon • Music and lyrics: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn
  • "Someone's Waiting for You" — The Rescuers • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins
  • "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz (He Danced with Me/She Danced with Me)" — The Slipper and the Rose • Music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
  • "Nobody Does It Better" — The Spy Who Loved Me • Music: Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager

• 1978 (51st) "Last Dance" — Thank God It's Friday • Music and lyrics: Paul Jabara
  • "Ready To Take a Chance Again" — Foul Play • Music: Charles Fox • Lyrics: Norman Gimbel
  • "Hopelessly Devoted to You" — Grease • Music and lyrics: John Farrar
  • "When You're Loved" — The Magic of Lassie • Music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
  • "The Last Time I Felt Like This" — Same Time, Next Year • Music: Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

• 1979 (52nd) "It Goes Like It Goes" — Norma Rae • Music: David Shire • Lyrics: Norman Gimbel
  • "Through the Eyes of Love" — Ice Castles • Music: Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager
  • "Rainbow Connection" — The Muppet Movie • Music and lyrics: Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher
  • "I'll Never Say Goodbye" — The Promise • Music: David Shire • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "It's Easy To Say" — 10 • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Robert Wells

1980s[link]

• 1980 (53rd) "Fame" — Fame • Music: Michael Gore • Lyrics: Dean Pitchford
  • "People Alone" — The Competition • Music: Lalo Schifrin • Lyrics: Will Jennings
  • "Out Here On My Own" — Fame • Music: Michael Gore • Lyrics: Lesley Gore
  • "On the Road Again" — Honeysuckle Rose • Music and lyrics: Willie Nelson
  • "Nine to Five" — Nine to Five • Music and lyrics: Dolly Parton

• 1981 (54th) "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" — Arthur • Music and lyrics: Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen
  • "Endless Love" — Endless Love • Music and lyrics: Lionel Richie
  • "For Your Eyes Only" — For Your Eyes Only • Music: Bill Conti • Lyrics: Mick Leeson
  • "The First Time It Happens" — The Great Muppet Caper • Music and lyrics: Joe Raposo
  • "One More Hour" — Ragtime • Music and lyrics: Randy Newman
• 1982 (55th) "Up Where We Belong" — An Officer and a Gentleman • Music: Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie • Lyrics: Will Jennings
  • "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" — Best Friends • Music: Michel Legrand • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "Eye of the Tiger" — Rocky III • Music and lyrics: Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan
  • "It Might Be You" — Tootsie • Music: Dave Grusin • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "If We Were In Love" — Yes, Giorgio • Music: John Williams • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

• 1983 (56th) "Flashdance... What a Feeling" — Flashdance • Music: Giorgio Moroder • Lyrics: Keith Forsey and Irene Cara
  • "Maniac" — Flashdance • Music and lyrics: Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
  • "Over You" — Tender Mercies • Music and lyrics: Austin Roberts and Bobby Hart
  • "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" — Yentl • Music: Michel Legrand • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "The Way He Makes Me Feel" — Yentl • Music: Michel Legrand • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

• 1984 (57th) "I Just Called to Say I Love You" — The Woman in Red • Music and lyrics: Stevie Wonder
  • "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" — Against All Odds • Music and lyrics: Phil Collins
  • "Footloose" — Footloose • Music and lyrics: Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford
  • "Let's Hear It for the Boy" — Footloose • Music and lyrics: Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford
  • "Ghostbusters" — Ghostbusters • Music and lyrics: Ray Parker Jr.

• 1985 (58th) "Say You, Say Me" — White Nights • Music and lyrics: Lionel Richie
  • "The Power of Love" — Back to the Future • Music: Chris Hayes and Johnny Colla • Lyrics: Huey Lewis
  • "Surprise, Surprise" — A Chorus Line • Music: Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics: Edward Kleban
  • "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)" • The Color Purple • Music: Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton • Lyrics: Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie
  • "Separate Lives" — White Nights • Music and lyrics: Stephen Bishop

• 1986 (59th) "Take My Breath Away" — Top Gun • Music: Giorgio Moroder • Lyrics: Tom Whitlock
  • "Somewhere Out There" — An American Tail • Music: James Horner • Lyrics: Cynthia Weil
  • "Glory of Love" — The Karate Kid, Part II • Music: Peter Cetera and David Foster • Lyrics: Peter Cetera and Diane Nini
  • "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" — Little Shop of Horrors • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Howard Ashman
  • "Life in a Looking Glass" — That's Life! • Music: Henry Mancini • Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse

• 1987 (60th) "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" — Dirty Dancing • Music: Franke Previte, John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz • Lyrics: Franke Previte
  • "Shakedown" — Beverly Hills Cop II • Music: Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey • Lyrics: Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey and Bob Seger
  • "Cry Freedom" — Cry Freedom • Music and lyrics: George Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa
  • "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" — Mannequin • Music and lyrics: Albert Hammond and Diane Warren
  • "Storybook Love" — The Princess Bride • Music and lyrics: Willy DeVille

• 1988 (61st) "Let the River Run" — Working Girl • Music and lyrics: Carly Simon
  • "Calling You" — Bagdad Café • Music and lyrics: Bob Telson
  • "Two Hearts" — Buster • Music: Lamont Dozier • Lyrics: Phil Collins

• 1989 (62nd) "Under the Sea" — The Little Mermaid • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Howard Ashman
  • "After All" — Chances Are • Music: Tom Snow • Lyrics: Dean Pitchford
  • "Kiss the Girl" — The Little Mermaid • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Howard Ashman
  • "I Love To See You Smile" — Parenthood • Music and lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "The Girl Who Used To Be Me" — Shirley Valentine • Music: Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

1990s[link]

• 1990 (63rd) "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" — Dick Tracy • Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
  • "Promise Me You'll Remember" — The Godfather Part III • Music: Carmine Coppola • Lyrics: John Bettis
  • "Somewhere in My Memory" — Home Alone • Music: John Williams • Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse
  • "I'm Checkin' Out" — Postcards from the Edge • Music and lyrics: Shel Silverstein
  • "Blaze of Glory" — Young Guns II • Music and lyrics: Jon Bon Jovi

• 1991 (64th) "Beauty and the Beast" — Beauty and the Beast • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Howard Ashman (posthumous winner)
  • "Be Our Guest" — Beauty and the Beast • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Howard Ashman (posthumous nomination)
  • "Belle" — Beauty and the Beast • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Howard Ashman (posthumous nomination)
  • "When You're Alone" — Hook • Music: John Williams • Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse
  • "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves • Music: Michael Kamen • Lyrics: Bryan Adams and Robert John Lange

• 1992 (65th) "A Whole New World" — Aladdin • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Tim Rice
  • "Friend Like Me" — Aladdin • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Howard Ashman (posthumous nomination)
  • "I Have Nothing" — The Bodyguard • Music: David Foster • Lyrics: Linda Thompson
  • "Run to You" — The Bodyguard • Music: Jud Friedman • Lyrics: Allan Rich
  • "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" — The Mambo Kings • Music: Robert Kraft • Lyrics: Arne Glimcher

• 1993 (66th) "Streets of Philadelphia" — Philadelphia • Music and lyrics: Bruce Springsteen
  • "The Day I Fall in Love" — Beethoven's 2nd • Music and lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager, James Ingram and Cliff Magness
  • "Philadelphia" — Philadelphia • Music and lyrics: Neil Young
  • "Again" — Poetic Justice • Music and lyrics: Janet Jackson, James Harris III and Terry Lewis
  • "A Wink and a Smile" — Sleepless in Seattle • Music: Marc Shaiman • Lyrics: Ramsey McLean

• 1994 (67th) "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" — The Lion King • Music: Elton John • Lyrics: Tim Rice
  • "Look What Love Has Done" — Junior • Music and lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager, James Newton Howard, James Ingram and Patty Smyth
  • "Circle of Life" — The Lion King • Music: Elton John • Lyrics: Tim Rice
  • "Hakuna Matata" — The Lion King • Music: Elton John • Lyrics: Tim Rice
  • "Make Up Your Mind" — The Paper • Music and lyrics: Randy Newman

• 1995 (68th) "Colors of the Wind" — Pocahontas • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
  • "Dead Man Walking" — Dead Man Walking • Music and lyrics: Bruce Springsteen
  • "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" — Don Juan DeMarco • Music: Michael Kamen • Lyrics: Bryan Adams and Robert John Lange
  • "Moonlight" — Sabrina • Music: John Williams • Lyrics: Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
  • "You've Got a Friend in Me" — Toy Story • Music and lyrics: Randy Newman

• 1996 (69th) "You Must Love Me" — Evita • Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber • Lyrics: Tim Rice
  • "I Finally Found Someone" — The Mirror Has Two Faces • Music and lyrics: Barbra Streisand, Marvin Hamlisch, Bryan Adams and Robert John Lange
  • "For the First Time" — One Fine Day • Music and lyrics: James Newton Howard, Jud J. Friedman and Allan Dennis Rich
  • "That Thing You Do!" — That Thing You Do! • Music and lyrics: Adam Schlesinger
  • "Because You Loved Me" — Up Close & Personal • Music and lyrics: Diane Warren

• 1997 (70th) "My Heart Will Go On" — Titanic • Music: James Horner • Lyrics: Will Jennings
  • "Journey to the Past" — Anastasia • Music: Stephen Flaherty • Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
  • "How Do I Live" — Con Air • Music and lyrics: Diane Warren
  • "Miss Misery" — Good Will Hunting • Music and lyrics: Elliott Smith
  • "Go the Distance" — Hercules • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: David Zippel

• 1998 (71st) "When You Believe" — The Prince of Egypt • Music and lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
  • "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" — Armageddon • Music and lyrics: Diane Warren
  • "That'll Do" — Babe: Pig in the City • Music and lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "A Soft Place to Fall" — The Horse Whisperer • Music and lyrics: Allison Moorer and Gwil Owen
  • "The Prayer" — Quest for Camelot • Music: Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster • Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster, Tony Renis and Alberto Testa

• 1999 (72nd) "You'll Be in My Heart" — Tarzan • Music and lyrics: Phil Collins
  • "Save Me" — Magnolia • Music and lyrics: Aimee Mann
  • "Music of My Heart" — Music of the Heart • Music and lyrics: Diane Warren
  • "Blame Canada" — South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut • Music and lyrics: Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman
  • "When She Loved Me" — Toy Story 2 • Music and lyrics: Randy Newman

2000s[link]

• 2000 (73rd) "Things Have Changed" — Wonder Boys • Music and lyrics: Bob Dylan
  • "I've Seen It All" — Dancer in the Dark • Music: Björk • Lyrics: Lars von Trier and Sjón
  • "My Funny Friend and Me" — The Emperor's New Groove • Music: Sting and David Hartley • Lyrics: Sting
  • "A Fool in Love" — Meet the Parents • Music and lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "A Love Before Time" — Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon • Music: Jorge Calandrelli and Tan Dun • Lyrics: James Schamus

• 2001 (74th) "If I Didn't Have You" — Monsters, Inc. • Music and Lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "Until..." — Kate & Leopold • Music and Lyrics: Sting
  • "May It Be" — The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring • Music and Lyrics: Enya, Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan
  • "There You'll Be" — Pearl Harbor • Music and lyrics: Diane Warren
  • "Vanilla Sky" — Vanilla Sky • Music and Lyrics: Paul McCartney

• 2002 (75th) "Lose Yourself" — 8 Mile • Music: Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto • Lyrics: Eminem
  • "I Move On" — Chicago • Music: John Kander • Lyrics: Fred Ebb
  • "Burn It Blue" — Frida • Music: Elliot Goldenthal • Lyrics: Julie Taymor
  • "The Hands That Built America" — Gangs of New York • Music and Lyrics: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. (U2)
  • "Father and Daughter" — The Wild Thornberrys Movie • Music and Lyrics: Paul Simon

• 2003 (76th) "Into the West" — The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King • Music and Lyrics: Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox
  • "Scarlet Tide" — Cold Mountain • Music and Lyrics: T-Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello
  • "You Will Be My Ain True Love" — Cold Mountain • Music and Lyrics: Sting
  • "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" — A Mighty Wind • Music and lyrics: Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole
  • "Belleville Rendez-Vous" — The Triplets of Belleville • Music: Benoît Charest • Lyrics: Sylvain Chomet

• 2004 (77th) "Al otro lado del río" — The Motorcycle Diaries • Music and Lyrics: Jorge Drexler
  • "Vois sur ton chemin (Look to Your Path)" — The Chorus • Music: Bruno Coulais • Lyrics: Christophe Barratier
  • "Learn to Be Lonely" — The Phantom of the Opera • Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber • Lyrics: Charles Hart
  • "Believe" — The Polar Express • Music and Lyrics: Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri
  • "Accidentally in Love" — Shrek 2 • Music: Adam Duritz, Charlie Gillingham, Jim Bogios, David Immerglück, Matthew Malley and David Bryson • Lyrics: Adam Duritz and Daniel Vickrey (all of Counting Crows)

• 2005 (78th) "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" — Hustle & Flow • Music and Lyrics: Juicy J, Frayser Boy and DJ Paul (Juicy J & DJ Paul are members of Three 6 Mafia. Frayser Boy has collaborated with Three 6 Mafia but is not a member.)
  • "In the Deep" — Crash • Music: Kathleen York and Michael Becker • Lyrics: Kathleen York
  • "Travelin' Thru" — Transamerica • Music and lyrics: Dolly Parton

• 2006 (79th) "I Need to Wake Up" — An Inconvenient Truth • Music and Lyrics: Melissa Etheridge
  • "Our Town" — Cars • Music and Lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "Listen" — Dreamgirls • Music: Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler • Lyrics: Anne Preven
  • "Love You I Do" — Dreamgirls • Music: Henry Krieger • Lyrics: Siedah Garrett
  • "Patience" — Dreamgirls • Music: Henry Krieger • Lyrics: Willie Reale

• 2007 (80th) "Falling Slowly" — Once • Music and Lyrics: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
  • "Happy Working Song" — Enchanted • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
  • "So Close" — Enchanted • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
  • "That's How You Know" — Enchanted • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
  • "Raise It Up" — August Rush • Music and lyrics: Jamal Joseph, Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas

• 2008 (81st) "Jai Ho" — Slumdog Millionaire • Music: A. R. Rahman • Lyrics: Gulzar
  • "O…Saya" — Slumdog Millionaire • Music and Lyrics: A. R. Rahman and M.I.A.
  • "Down to Earth" — WALL-E • Music: Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman • Lyrics: Peter Gabriel

• 2009 (82nd) "The Weary Kind" — Crazy Heart • Music and Lyrics: Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett
  • "Almost There" — The Princess and the Frog • Music and Lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "Down in New Orleans" — The Princess and the Frog • Music and Lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "Loin de Paname" — Paris 36 • Music: Reinhardt Wagner • Lyrics: Frank Thomas
  • "Take It All" — Nine • Music and Lyrics: Maury Yeston

2010s[link]

• 2010 (83rd) "We Belong Together" — Toy Story 3 • Music and Lyrics: Randy Newman
  • "I See the Light" — Tangled • Music: Alan Menken • Lyrics: Glenn Slater
  • "Coming Home" — Country Strong • Music and Lyrics: Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey and Troy Verges
  • "If I Rise" — 127 Hours • Music: A. R. Rahman • Lyrics: Dido and Rollo Armstrong
• 2011 (84th) "Man or Muppet" - The Muppets • Music and Lyrics: Bret McKenzie
  • "Real in Rio" - Rio • Music: Sérgio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown • Lyrics: Siedah Garrett

Records[link]

Most awards won[link]