Naturally, most viewers focus on the big four of the Academy Awards: Best Actor, Actress, Director and Best Picture. However, over the past forty years, Best Original Song has grown into a coveted award for music’s top stars, as evidenced by pop superstar Billie Eilish taking home her second Oscar this year. It’s often a missing piece in a music superstar’s EGOT quest.
Black musicians have received many nominations in the category since its introduction in 1934. The special list includes everyone from music legends like Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and Ray Parker Jr. to contemporary icons such as Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and The Weeknd. Unfortunately, that didn’t translate into an avalanche of Black Best Song winners, with only seven winners in total. The low profit figure almost ignores the contribution of black music to film.
Some outstanding winners captured the hearts and minds of moviegoers, critics and pop culture. So here are the five best Oscar-winning songs by black musicians to listen to this Black Music Month.
“Theme from Shaft” – Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft” was a notable musical change upon its 1971 release, setting the tone for the blaxploitation classic. Shaft. The title song was considered one of the first disco songs.
The iconic tune came about after Hayes was promised an audition for the title role, which he lost to Richard Roundtree. The film’s director, Gordon Parks, contributed the lyrics, and the theme blended soul and funk with live instrumentation and arrangements by Hayes and Johnny Allen, inspired by late soul singer Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness.” The song’s lyrics tapped into John Shaft’s composure, courage, and sex appeal with famous quotes like “a bad mother—” and “you’re damn right!”
Although “Theme from Shaft” is considered one of cinema’s best opening numbers, it didn’t start out that way. Originally a typical movie opener for it, Shaft’s popularity skyrocketed, forcing Stax Records to release it as a single. The film’s theme was successful in both the US and UK, reaching the Top 5.
After winning Best Original Song at the 44th Academy Awards, Hayes became the first black person to receive that award and a non-acting award. He also became the first person to be credited as writer and performer of an Oscar-winning song. The late singer and actor is credited with making his first theater performance during the awards ceremony. The “Theme from Shaft” won two Grammys: Best Instrumental Arrangement and Best Original Score. The hit song’s replay value and impact were included in AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Songs and in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“I Just Called to Say I Love You” – Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” arrived at the height of the singer-songwriter’s popularity when the rom-com in which it appeared, Woman in red, was released in 1984. The soundtrack song eventually became one of Wonder’s biggest hits.
The best-selling song was one of many songs Wonder wrote, produced and sang for the film’s soundtrack. It was the epitome of early 1980s post-disco R&B, with the Grammy winner programming most of its synth-filled production. It sounded like a surprise phone call between lovers and made it sound like a tender, romantic letter full of love and optimism. Unfortunately, the song’s success led to Wonder’s former songwriting partner, Lee Garrett, suing him for credit, which was ultimately dismissed.
“I Just Called to Say I Love You” was released as the lead single from the film and became an instant international hit, reaching the Top 2 in most countries. It became the music icon’s best-selling single to date.
The Motown legend became the second black man to win Best Original Song (at the 57th Academy Awards). Before winning the Oscar, Wonder won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes. He was nominated for three Grammys, including Song of the Year.
“Glory” – Common and John Legend
Common and John Legend’s ‘Glory’ is tailor-made to capture the emotions and heaviness exemplified by the civil rights biopic Selma when it was released in 2014. The anthemic song touched on themes of the past and present.
The big box office anthem came about when co-writer Common was cast in the film as civil rights leader James Bevel. It came about after Legend and rapper Rhymefest came on board to co-write the civil rights song. In the spirit of Martin Luther King and the nonviolent marches, the music echoed the civil rights movements of the past and present with its blend of conscious hip-hop and old-school soul music through Legend’s music production. It captured the song’s lyrics about the connection between the Selma and Montgomery marches and contemporary civil rights efforts. The single came at a pivotal time in American history, following the unrest during the 2014 Ferguson protests.
‘Glory’ stood out as the only single from the Selma soundtrack. It became a minor American and international hit. However, its disappointing chart success did not diminish the song’s impact.
The Grammy-winning duo won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards after their moving performance. Before winning the Oscar, Common and Legend won best song awards at the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards. They followed up these wins with three Grammy nominations, winning Best Song Written for Visual Media.
“Fight for you” – HER
HER’s ‘Fight For You’ channeled the tension surrounding the life and assassination of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton Judas and the Black Messiah when it was released in 2021. The recording was an underdog in awards season.
The heartfelt cinematic anthem came about after director Shaka King asked the Grammy winner to write for the biopic because he wanted something “contemporary with echoes of 1968.” It was specially created as the film’s main song, which she co-wrote with Tiara Thomas. The civil rights song blended soul and R&B music, inspired by Curtis Mayfield and the genre’s vast history. The singer-songwriter and D’Mile’s music production brought to life the lyrics surrounding the film’s exploration of racism, police brutality and inequality. Like “Glory,” the single came at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement and a renewed focus on other issues facing Black Americans.
“Fight for You” served as Judas and the Black Messiah‘s first single. The protest song became a minor American hit.
The Grammy-winning artist won Best Original Song at the 93rd Academy Awards, which many critics considered an Oscar. HER was nominated for several awards, including the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards. She earned three Grammy nominations in music and won best traditional R&B performance.
“Flashdance… What a feeling” – Irene Cara
Irene Cara’s “Flashdance… What a Feeling” took over pop culture when it was released in 1983 as the first version of one of the greatest dance films, Flash dance. The huge pop song became one of the biggest singles of 1983 and one of the first post-disco dance hits.
The stirring pop song started as a strict Giorgio Moroder production with the help of British pop singer Keith Forsey. Irene Cara joined the production after Moroder asked her to fulfill a request from Paramount Pictures for a major artist for the title track. She only agreed after stipulating that she could only perform a song she had written, which she did with Forsey. The soundtrack single drew from early 1980s dance-pop and post-disco with Moroder’s genre-defining music production. The lyrics are influenced by a film scene in which the main character gains musical inspiration while dancing.
“Flashdance… What a Feeling” was originally pushed as a minor single for film promotional purposes before being released commercially, due to the surprising popularity of the film and song. The huge song quickly became a worldwide hit and ended up in the Top 10 or 20.
The late singer and actress won Best Original Song at the 56th Academy Awards, becoming the first Black woman to write and perform a song to win the award. Cara also won the Golden Globe for best song. She earned multiple Grammy nominations in music and won best female pop performance. The song’s impact and popularity earned it a placement on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Songs and induction into the National Recording Registry.
The above songs influenced film and culture in a way that is still felt today. This year, Grammy winner Jon Batiste received his first Best Original Song nomination for American Symphony’s “It Never Went Away.”
Although our next awards season hasn’t started yet, there’s no better time to look for potential Best Original Song nominations. Of course, take a look at our 2024 film schedule to see if there are any potential Oscar-worthy films in the pipeline.
