Lady Gaga, Ludwig Göransson Among Previous Oscar Winners Dominating Original Song Race
variety.comJon Burlingame This year’s Oscar song competition is the usual mix of musical superstars and intriguing unknowns. But for the first time in 30 years, four out of the five entries have a past Oscar winner among their writers.
And for only the 14th time in Oscar history, one of the nominated songs is not sung in English; “Naatu Naatu” is the fourth nominee to be performed in an Indian language (including two from 2008’s “Slumdog Millionaire” and one from 2012’s “Life of Pi”). “Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman”Diane Warren, who recently received an Honorary Oscar for her body of work, earned her 14th competitive nomination for this little-seen anthology of seven short films made by women directors. “I needed a song that could tie it all together,” she says.
Sofia Carson sings what Warren calls “a positive, empowering song. A lot of times we humans don’t love ourselves enough. Look in the mirror for a minute and give yourself some applause, some respect, some love.” “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”Lady Gaga, along with writer-producer BloodPop, collaborated on this appropriately retro power ballad for Tom Cruise’s blockbuster sequel to his 1986 hotshot Navy pilot movie.
Says Paramount motion-picture music president Randy Spendlove: “When we showed the movie to Gaga, early on, she wrote this amazing song, and as that evolved, we asked her to contribute to the score.
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