Dueling divas are set to take the competition from the music charts to the OSCARs thanks to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) unveiling its shortlist for all of the 2023 ceremony’s major categories (including Best Original Song).
Look inside to see who made the first-round cut.
Despite the hundreds of movie soundtrack songs released every year, only a handful earn recognition from the Academy – a ballot that’s narrowed down to a shortlist ahead of the reveal of the official nominations’ list.
The lid was recently lifted on the 2023 Best Original Song shortlist and it features 15 tunes including some from expected names like Rihanna (‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘), Taylor Swift (‘Where the Crawdads Sing‘), and Lady Gaga (‘Top Gun‘). No surprise as all three were named in the same category for the year’s Golden Globes.
Surprise listings, however include The Weeknd‘s ‘Nothing is Lost’ (from ‘Avatar: the Way of Water’), Jazmine Sullivan‘s stirring ‘Stand Up‘ (from ‘Till‘), Selena Gomez‘s ‘My Mind & Me,’ and Givēon‘s ‘Time’ (from ‘Amsterdam‘).
Ahead of the official announcements due January 24, 2023, see the full shortlist below.
2023 Academy Awards’ Best Original Song Shortlist
Rita Wilson and Sebastián Yatra — “Til You’re Home” from A Man Called Otto
Sofia Carson — “Applause” from Tell It like a Woman
Jazmine Sullivan — “Stand Up” from Till
Givēon — “Time” from Amsterdam
The Weeknd — “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” from Avatar: The Way of Water
Rihanna — “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Son Lux — “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once
Gregory Mann — “Ciao Papa” from Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Rahul Sipligunj, Kaala Bhairava and M.M. Keeravani — “Naatu Naatu” from RRR
Selena Gomez — “My Mind & Me” from Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell and The Spirited Ensemble — “Good Afternoon” from Spirited
Lady Gaga — “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick
J. Ralph and Norah Jones — “Dust & Ash” from The Voice of Dust and Ash
Taylor Swift — “Carolina” from Where the Crawdads Sing
LCD Soundsystem — “New Body Rhumba” from White Noise
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The 95th annual Academy Awards air March 12, 2023 on ABC.