Movie buffs music lovers award show fanatics gather around! The 97th Academy Awards just wrapped up and as always the Best Original Song category was a highlight. This year we saw some seriously amazing tracks nominated but only one could take home the golden statue. So which song won and what other musical gems were in the running? Let's dive into the world of Oscar-nominated music for 2025 .
'El Mal' from 'Emilia Pérez' Snags Best Original Song Oscar: A Win for Provocative Musical Storytelling
The winner for Best Original Song at the 97th Oscars is "El Mal" from the movie "Emilia Pérez"! This win marks a first Oscar for the French composer duo Clément Ducol and Camille who created this captivating track. "Emilia Pérez" itself is quite a unique film a musical that's generated buzz and discussion for its themes and approach. It's been described as a transgender parable and while some find it controversial its music definitely struck a chord with the Academy.
In their acceptance speech Camille expressed gratitude and highlighted the song's message. She mentioned "We wrote ‘El Mal’ as a song to denounce corruption and we hope it speaks to the role music and art can play and continue to play as a force of good and progress in the world.” Powerful words for a powerful song!
Presenting the award was none other than rock legend Mick Jagger who joked he wasn't the first choice for presenter maybe Bob Dylan was? Adding a bit of rock and roll cool to the Oscar stage.
Who Else Was Nominated? A Look at the Talented Competition 'El Mal' Faced at the Oscars
While "El Mal" took home the prize the competition was strong with other incredibly talented artists and songs in the running. The other nominees for Best Original Song were:
- "The Journey" from "The Six Triple Eight" by Diane Warren
- "Never Too Late" from "Elton John: Never Too Late" by Elton John Bernie Taupin Brandi Carlile and Andrew Watt
- "Like A Bird" from "Sing Sing" by Abraham Alexander Brandon Marcel and Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas
- "Mi Camino" also from "Emilia Pérez" by Clément Ducol and Camille
Notice something interesting? Ducol and Camille were actually nominated twice in the category! "Mi Camino" another song from "Emilia Pérez" was also a contender showcasing their impressive musical contribution to the film. They had a total of three nominations at the 97th Academy Awards including original score. Talk about an Oscar sweep!
Camille in an earlier interview mentioned the range of emotions they experienced upon receiving the nominations. She spoke of going "from anxiety to relief" and feeling "filled up with energy." Ducol added "It’s totally incredible. I was like ‘What?’ It’s three nominations. It’s huge.” They emphasized how deeply integrated the music is within "Emilia Pérez" calling it "not just a musical" but a film where "music and the songs...is the script. It is the story.”
Beyond the Music: Setting the Stage for Sound at the 97th Academy Awards
The Oscars are not just about visuals they are a huge audio undertaking as well. For the 97th Academy Awards Paul Sandweiss returned as Audio Director a role he's held for many years. Imagine the complexity of mixing audio for a global broadcast event like the Oscars! Sandweiss and his team handle everything from the orchestra and musical performances to presenter mics audience sound and international feeds.
Sandweiss utilizes a Calrec Apollo console for the massive routing demands of the show. He appreciates the organized workflow which allows him to start each year from the previous year's setup. It's a huge team effort with sound mixers engineers and assistants all working together to ensure a seamless audio experience for viewers worldwide. They spend days rehearsing and fine-tuning every audio aspect to ensure everything sounds perfect for the big night. From dealing with stage noise to managing countless wireless microphones the sound team works hard behind the scenes to make sure the Oscar ceremony sounds as spectacular as it looks.
Listen to the Nominees: Stream the Oscar-Winning and Nominated Songs Yourself
Want to experience the music magic for yourself? You can actually stream all the nominated songs online. Check out platforms like Apple Music Spotify or YouTube Music to listen to "El Mal" and all the other amazing tracks that were up for Best Original Song at the 97th Oscars. Dive into the sounds of "Emilia Pérez" "The Six Triple Eight" "Elton John: Never Too Late" and "Sing Sing" and decide for yourself which songs you think are award-worthy. It's a great way to appreciate the artistry and skill that goes into crafting music for film.
Source: abc.com go.com net.au mixonline.com