Why Are the Oscars for Music so Terrible Every Year?

By Paul T. Bradley Thu., Feb. 21 2013 at 8:18 AM

This record has one more Oscar nomination than you do.

Seriously? Of all the music in films in 1987, that was the best you guys could come up with? (See also: Bryan Adams, and Phil motherfucking Collins.)

What's even worse is the pervasive trend of throwing a bunch of people together and having them write some hastily cobbled over-the-credits track. Completely out of the context, Bono has a fucking Oscar nom for merely being inspired enough by The Gangs of New York and related historical suffering to write a rock ballad. One that has little to do with the actual film.

Missing are an astonishing range of musical styles. Never has a punk or metal musician graced the Academy's stage. Only twice has hip hop been involved in any capacity. And until Elliot Smith, no honestly independent musician had ever been involved in the ceremony.

We're not saying we expect reggae, hardcore, screamo, grindcore, sludge, and EDM any time soon. But is it a just world where Nick Cave has zero Oscars and Randy Newman has three? No it isn't.

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Joshua M. Johnson

This is an incredibly ignorant article. Do not knock Randy Newman who has 2, not 3 Oscars. You'd be better going after Giorgio Moroder but no one ever makes fun of him, right? ALSO do NOT knock Evergreen unless you went there. The reason punk or underground hip-hop is not represented well at the Oscars is that it is not well represented in mainstream film. Would you like it to be? Maybe you should spearhead that campaign. "Rap is not pop, if you call it that we stop." You're dumb.

Mathew Ward

Oh God Randy fucking Newman is singing at Jerry Buss' wake right now!!!

Alex Starski

You can'ts fuck with the John Williams

Mathew Ward

Aaron you have terrible taste in music if you think those should have been nominees.

tomauno2

Wait an EFFIN mintue! what about Indie artist Glen Hansard (of the Irish folk rock band The Frames) and Markéta Irglová winning Best Original song for Falling Slowing. And their performance was great as well.

stankonia20

@tomauno2 oh yeah! thats right!

Andrew Erskine Wheeler

@Will huh? What planet are you from where music isn't a part of movies? Haha!!

Will Gara

It's about movies, not music.

Cr Tez

Old farts not wanting to pass the rope to younger talent....that's all.....

Mathew Ward

Randy fucking Newman. Srsly. But how could this writer forget Bjorks nomination and performance for Dancer in the Dark?

stankonia20

You totes left out Bjork's nomination and performance (in swan dress) for Dancer in the Dark.

Jack Hale

Simpletonia still rules unfortunately!

Andrew Erskine Wheeler

Um... Have you been watching the Grammys the past 20 years? If the Music Industry can't reward decent contenders, why on earth should a majority of blue-haired AMPAAS voters know what the hell is good?