Best Original Songs that Won Oscar

The Academy Awards, also known as Oscar, are the awards given to artists with the most brilliant performances. It is known as the most famous and prestigious award in the entertainment industry. It is a sort of recognition for excellent artistic performances. These award winners get a copy of the golden statuette as a trophy, which is also officially known as the “Academy Award of Merit” or, most commonly, as an Oscar.

The importance of Oscars goes beyond the American film industry. They are universally embraced as the symbol of achievement in global entertainment.

Best Original Oscar-Winning Songs

1. Over the Rainbow

Judy_Garland_Over_the_Rainbow_2

“Over the Rainbow”was featured in the 1939 film “Wizard of Oz.” This beautiful song became the signature song for the film star Judy Garland. Judy sang it throughout her career until she died in 1969. The American Film Institute ranked it as one of the best movie songs of all time that has also been selected for preservation by The Library of Congress.

2. White Christmas

White Christmas

This song was played in the film “Holiday Inn,” which was released in 1942. Christmas may feel incomplete without the signature tune of its season. Bing Crosby sang the song in the movie. Its popularity led to the release of the classic film in 1954 of the same name that also starred Bing Crosby. It is one of the essential films to watch during the holiday season.

3. Moon River

Moon River

“Moon River” was sung in the “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” released in 1961. The adaptation of the story by Truman Capote is known for its music and its iconic wardrobe. Henry Mancini composed the music, and he wrote this song especially for the movie star, Audrey Hepburn. This song won an Oscar as wellas a Grammy Award for the Record of the Year.

4. My Heart Will Go On

My Heart Will Go On

This song was played in the classic “Titanic” movie, known as one of the greatest classic films of all time. Celine Dion’s performance of this song won eleven Oscar awards, and it was debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 100 chart and stayed there for ten weeks. It also won four Grammy awards in the same year, including Song and Record of the Year.

5. The Way We Were

The Way We Were

This song was played in the movie of the same name,“The Way We Were.” The name of the song was similar to the title that became Barbara Streisand’s signature song. It became the number one song of 1974 and won a Grammy Award for the Song of the Year.

6. Swinging On A Star

“Swinging on a Star” was played in the movie “Going My Way,” released in 1944. The song has the catchiest melody and some genuinely memorable lyrics because of Johnny Burke. It was one of the Oscar-winning tunes that became a signature song for the film’s star Bing Crosby, who won the award for his role in the movie.

7. Theme from Shaft

Theme from Shaft is a song from a 1971 film known as “Shaft,” composed and performed by Sir Isaac Hayes. It is a type of funk music of the old times. Sir Isaac Hayes was the first African Oscar award winner for this song.

8. Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast

The Beauty and the Beast by Disney Filmsis also amongst the award-winning original songs. It is a perfect 1991 animated film, and the music vocals were performed by Angela Lansbury, who famously recorded the song in a single take. Other famous pop stars like Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson recorded a radio version of the track that earned multiple Grammy nominations, including Record and Song of the Year.

9. Streets of Philadelphia

Streets of Philadelphia

This song was played in the 1993 movie “Philadelphia” by the Oscar winner Tom Hanks. It proved to be a tremendous commercial success, making Bruce Springsteen an Oscar and four Grammy awards winner, including the Song of the Year award.

10. Thanks for the Memories

Thanks for the Memories

This song has initially been a dialogue between former lovers. Bob Hope and Shirley Ross played it in the 1938 film “The Big Broadcast of 1938”. This song became bob’s signature tune, with the comedian adapting the lyrics for various performances.

11. I’m Easy

“I’m Easy”was composed by Keith Carradine in the 1995 film “Nashville.” The movie was based on country and gospel music’s irony that features more than 24 characters and an hour of musical numbers.

12. Let it Go

Idina_Menzel_-_Let_It_Go

“Let it go” is a popular song from the Disney movie “Frozen.” This song has become an important part of pop culture as it was the first Disney song to hit the Top 5 in the billboard charts in over two decades. The song reflects the movie’s theme perfectly, and it is also an anthem of empowerment for young teenage girls.

13. Lose Yourself

Lose Yourself

“Lose Yourself” is a standout track from the famous rapper Eminem’s film debut.It is one of his career’s most successful singles and the first rap song ever to win the Oscar award for the Best Original Song. It is also one of the few songs listed on Rolling Stone’s all-time’s most excellent song.

14. (I’ve Had)The Time of My Life

(I’ve Had)The Time of My Life

Jennifer Warner composed this song for the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing.” The song won Oscar awards three times because of Jennifer’s excellent voice. She has also contributed vocals to the Oscar-winning tunes of“Norma Rae” and “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

15. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah

This song was composed in a 1947 film,“Song of the South.” Although this film doesn’t have that much of a reputation, its charming tune has still become one of the most commonly used tunes in almost all the Disney Theme Parks worldwide.

16. Arthur’s Theme

Arthur’s Theme

Arthur was one of the biggest film hits of the 1980s in which the soft rock song composed by Christopher Cross, known as “Arthur’s Theme,” became a hit. It is still known as the best song of decades. Cross won five Grammys in 1979 for his self-titled debut album, winning an additional Grammy for this song that became the biggest radio hit of 1981.

17. Falling Slowly

This song is a romance-based soundtrack of a 2007 movie, “Once,” featuring an Irish musician couple. The film’s success led to the long-running Broadway musical theatres that won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

18. Take My Breath Away

Take My Breath Away

This song was recorded by an American group known as “Berlin,” which became one of the top hits. Thus, the movie director decided to film additional love scenes between stars Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. It is impossible to avoid a romantic mood when hearing this song because of the soaring vocals of the band’s lead singer Teri Nunn.

19. All the Way

“All the Way” is a soundtrack from the singer Frank Sinatra’s American musical drama. It is based on his own life, which portrayshis whole career being destroyed by the mobs. This melodious tune became one of Sinatra’s signature tunes. Many musical artists have covered this song, including Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, and Billie Holiday.

20. Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)

Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)

This lovely song was sung by the film star Doris Day, and it mixes nicely with the suspense of Alfred Hitchcock’s film in which the song is featured. The song became Day’s signature and was featured in the star’s long-running CBS comedy series.

21. When You Wish Upon a Star

This song is from the famous 1940 film “Pinocchio.” You will hear some version of this song in one of Disney’s theme Park. It was the first Disney song to win an Oscar Award. You can still hear its melody in the opening of almost all the Disney films. After being recorded by different jazz and pop artists, the song was selected for historic preservation by the Library of Congress.

22. Up Where We Belong

Up Where We Belong

“Up Where We Belong” is a song from the 1982 movie “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Although this song hit #1 on the top Billboard charts and won an Oscar, the film producer still argued for its exclusion from the film. Even after the song’s success, he always believed that the piece was rotten.