The 15 Greatest Oscar-Successful Songs of All Time

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Since 1934, the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has handed out an Oscar for finest authentic tune, and plenty of of these now-iconic tunes have greater than lived as much as that golden title. It’s not possible to consider 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 Wish Upon a Star.”

With musical heavy-hitters like Rihanna, David Byrne, Mitski and former Oscar-winner Girl Gaga all within the working for finest authentic tune in 2023, whoever wins might be in awfully good firm. (And, who is aware of? Perhaps this would be the yr 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 Yourself,” 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 very best authentic 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 below are the 15 best Oscar-winning songs of all-time. And should you don’t see your private favourite listed right here, nicely, no disrespect is meant. Except, after all, that tune landed on our checklist of the 15 worst Oscar-winning songs of all time. In that case, nicely, sorry.

“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 customary of film magic.
“Lose Your self,” Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto from 8 Mile

Eminem’s amped-up anthem made Oscar historical past again in 2002, changing into the first-ever hip-hop observe to win an Academy Award for finest authentic tune. Whereas different hip-hop artists have been capable of take residence Oscars since, none of them have paid homage to each mother’s spaghetti and Mekhi Pfifer. Pay attention right here.
“Falling Slowly,” Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová from As soon as

Mainly 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 ultimately, Broadway present) that might. Pay attention right here.
“Take My Breath Away,” Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock from Prime Gun

Picture Credit score: ©Paramount / courtesy Everett Assortment

This hovering, synth-y ballad not solely took Berlin all the way in which to the highest of the Billboard Sizzling 100, however to the dizzying heights of getting carried out a tune that gained an Academy Award (for songwriters Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock).
“Theme from Shaft,” Isaac Hayes from Shaft

The grooviest, funkiest and all-around coolest finest authentic tune winner not solely made the Shaft soundtrack an important file, nevertheless it made Oscar historical past when Isaac Hayes grew to become the primary African-American to win on this class. Don’t prefer it? Shut your mouth. Pay attention right here.
“White Christmas,” Irving Berlin from Vacation Inn

There are two finest authentic tune Oscar winners that grew to become bona fide Christmastime necessities: “White Christmas” from 1942’s Vacation Inn and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” from 1949’s Neptune’s Daughter. Nonetheless, solely one in all these classics managed to stay an unproblematic fave. Pay attention right here.
“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 search out it. Pay attention right here.
“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 varied covers (from Andy Williams to Frank Ocean) have saved it a popular culture staple over time. Nonetheless, nothing beats the dreamy model seen within the movie.
“Jai Ho,” A. R. Rahman and Guizar from Slumdog Millionaire

Earlier than Marvel motion pictures had been preserving folks 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 right here.
“The Way You Look Tonight,” Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields from Swing Time

If anybody might make audiences really feel like they had been floating on air through the Nice Despair, it was Fred Astaire. One of the crucial romantic songs ever written, should you haven’t heard one in all its many iterations on the large display, you’ve most actually heard it at a marriage or 200. Pay attention right here.
“(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 person places Child in a nook. In actual fact, Child stars in one of the satisfying film finales ever set to ’80s pop perfection.
“Final Dance,” Paul Jabara from Thank God It’s Friday

Certain, it’s from the worst film on this checklist by a mile, however this disco staple — carried out by dancefloor queen Donna Summer season — has been telling party-going evening owls to name it a night since 1978. Pay attention right here.
“When You Wish Upon a Star,” Leigh Harline and Ned Washington from Pinocchio

Disney isn’t any stranger to profitable on this class, nevertheless it’s onerous to prime the OG recipient: “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Maybe the tune nonetheless most related to the film studio to this present day, this Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards) tune has been packing a giant punch since 1940. Pay attention right here.
“Streets of Philadelphia,” Bruce Springsteen from Philadelphia

Neil Younger’s “Philadelphia” (which was additionally nominated that yr) may very well pack the larger emotional wallop within the 1993 drama, however you possibly can’t argue with the facility of The Boss and the aching sense of hope misplaced on this highly effective ballad. Pay attention right here.
“Shallow,” Girl Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt from A Star Is Born

Picture Credit score: Courtesy Picture

If you consider “Shallow” and its large evening on the 2019 Oscars, it’s all however not possible to not conjure up attractive, smoldering ideas of that swoon-worthy stay efficiency by Girl Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Their chemistry really despatched us all off the deep finish.