Oscar 2021 is quite different this year as things have changed quite much due to the global pandemic. The show was highly anticipated with the performances of the original song. The preshow was enriched by all the performances for the Academy Award Nominees for the Best Original Song. It started at 6:30 p.m. ET. However, it was supposed to be interspersed and performed live during the Oscars at the venue of Union Station in Los Angeles.
The nominees for the best original song included H.E.R’s latest blissful ballad from ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’. On the other hand, Will Ferrell was nominated for his dramatically hilarious project with Rachel McAdams, from ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’. Famous songwriter Diane Warren has claimed her place at the 12th nomination for her prolific work in the Italian film, ‘The Life Ahead’. She has already won the Golden Globe award last month.
The show began with a pre-recorded performance of ‘Húsavik’. It was recorded at a dock in Iceland with choir by children and exciting fireworks. The other performances took place at the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Molly Sanden, “Húsavik — My Hometown”
The track’s music and lyrics are taken care of by Savan Kotecha, Rickard Göransson, and Fat Max Gsus.
Will Ferrell’s ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’ is a tribute to all the schmaltz, nitty-gritty, and theatrical sense of the annual music competition that revolves around the continent every year. In the movie, winning this competition was the only goal of Sigrit Ericksdóttir (Rachel McAdams) and Lars Erickssong (Ferrell). These two musicians from Iceland have been striving through their life to occupy the top spot at the competition. The film consists of Ferrell’s extraordinary comedy, misunderstandings, and an amalgamation of all emotions. It also features some cameos by some of the most memorable contestants. The big night comes with the performance on ‘Húsavik – My Hometown’.
Laura Pausini, “Io Sì (Seen)”
Diane Warren has skillfully crafted the music and also helped Laura with the lyrics.
The Italian movie ‘The Life Ahead’ contains a survival story of Madame Rosa (Sophia Loren). She is a holocaust survivor and former sex worker. With her kindness, she looks after several children of other sex workers in Italy’s east coast city. Later on, she was robbed by a 12-year-old boy (Ibrahima Gueye) and she decides to take care of him too. It was a challenge for her to become a role model for him. Italian superstar singer Laura Pausini has collaborated with songwriter Diane Warren to create the soundtrack of the film ‘Io Sì (Seen).’ Laura’s last seven albums have reached the top of Italy’s top song chart. The audience got goosebumps as Laura sang “When you learn to survive and accept the impossible, [and] no one believes you, I will,” in Italian along with acoustic guitar and synthesizer. In the English version of the track, she promises, “I want you to know that you’re seen.”
Celeste, “Hear My Voice”
Daniel Pemberton has handled the music in this track and co-worked with Celeste Waite for the lyrics.
A terrible riot happened in 1968 outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The higher authority arrested a total of eight men that includes the Black Panthers’ Bobby Seale and Abbie Hoffman. They are charged with conspiracy against the authority. The film ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ has dramatically established those weird legal proceedings. The director of the movie, Aaron Sorkin has masterfully explained why it is called ‘The Chicago 7’ when a total of eight men were charged. The soulful soundtrack from the movie ‘Hear My Voice’ has successfully presented the theme of the movie as Celeste sings “These words are of fire, of hope and desire.” The song features a sublime string arrangement and some reminiscence of The Beatles.
Leslie Odom Jr., “Speak Now”
Sam Ashworth and Leslie Odom Jr. have paired up for the music and lyrics of the track.
Regina King’s ‘One Night in Miami’ has garnered much attention by dramatizing an unexpected fictional meeting among Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, Malcolm X, and Jim Brown in the retro setting of 1964. In the film, these four men were forced to stay in a motel together with a clash in their fame. They spend the night discussing intriguing matters of civil rights and their responsibilities as black leaders. Leslie portrayed the character of Sam Cooke and performed the track ‘Speak Now’ with his sheer individuality. The track motivates people to raise their voices as it says, “Listen, listen, to the message of hope and the whispers of ghosts, listen, listen,” complemented by acoustic guitar and tambourine.
H.E.R., “Fight for You”
The music is composed by Dernst Emile II and lyrics by Tiara Thomas. However, H.E.R. also helped them to make it perfect.
In the movie ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’, Bill O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield), an FBI informant joins the Black Panther Party of Illinois chapter in the ‘60s and gets quite close to the leader Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). O’Neal gradually feels stuck between the two worlds and H.E.R.’s song ‘Fight For You’ depicts the exact feeling. The blissful vocal is fused with orchestral improvisations and the song for freedom becomes more intriguing with the lines “Long as I’m standing, we could never lose,” and “I’ma always, always fight for you.” H.E.R. has already won two Grammy awards before this nomination.