The Academy Awards 2019 revealed its nominations shortlist today (January 22). And there were more reasons than ever for people in the biz to pay close attention this year given the proliferation of hugely successful soundtracks and music-based films.
Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Lady Gaga vehicle A Star Is Born and Black Panther – with its Kendrick Lamar-curated soundtrack – were all nominated for Best Picture. The films will battle it out against Roma, Blackkklansman, The Favourite, Green Book and Vice.
Lady Gaga picked up a nomination for Lead Actress, while Bradley Cooper also scooped a nod for his role in A Star Is Born, as did Rami Malek for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Eyes in the music business were also glued to the Best Original Song category. The shortlist of five songs for the category was:
All The Stars from Black Panther – Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave, SZA and Top Dawg
Shallow from A Star Is Born – Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt
I’ll Fight from RBG – Diane Warren
The Place Where Lost Things Go from Mary Poppins Returns – Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – David Rawlings and Gillian Welch.
Both Black Panther and Mary Poppins were also represented elsewhere, receiving nominations for Original Score. The nominations in full were:
BlacKkKlansman – Terence Blanchard
Black Panther – Ludwig Goransson
If Beale Street Could Talk – Nicholas Britell
Isle of Dogs – Alexandre Desplat
Mary Poppins Returns – Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
You can read Music Week’s reflections on the incredible rise (and dominance) of film soundtracks in 2018 here.
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