The Golden Globes have announced the six movie songs nominated for their prize this year. Though there are no jaw-dropping surprises on this year’s list, a couple of selections should put a smile on music fans’ faces.
The front-runners all secured nominations. But a few songs that stood a good chance were bypassed. Most notable was Shakira’s upbeat dance number from Zootopia 2, “Zoo.” A quality rocker from respected award-winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” – could have scored a nomination. Ed Sheeran’s rocker “Drive” could have as well. But rock songs were ignored this year.
Instead, a couple of popular musicals supplied half of the nominees, while the others were split amongst pop, folk, and blues numbers. Here is one critic’s ranking of the nominated tracks, along with a prediction of which will end up with the prize.
Ranking the Golden Globe-nominated songs of 2025
6. “Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash
I may have subbed in a couple of my own favorites for a few of the actual nominees, but I have no real problem with any of them. Except this one. Miley Cyrus teamed up with Marc Ronson and Andrew Wyatt to create this. That’s a lot of talent for a very minimal payoff. The song manages to be overwrought and dull at the same time. I suppose that’s an achievement of some sort.
5. “The Girl in the Bubble” from Wicked: For Good
The Wicked sequel featured two acclaimed songs, one from each of its lead actresses. This is Ariana Grande's lament about life as a good witch, and the song itself, written by veteran Stephen Schwartz, is better than the other entry from the same movie. But I do not care for the production or for Grande’s tortured rendition.
4. “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good
Cynthia Erivo’s big number, also written by Schwartz, is not as good a song. Half of it is introductory overture. But Erivo nails it, and its simple, understated production allows her to shine. Still, there is no “Defying Gravity” in Wicked: For Good.
3. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
This year’s surprise hit is the favorite to win the prize, and if it did, the choice would be reasonable. Though the song itself is not unique, it is a quality K-pop song that performed a difficult task in its movie. It had to be a believable hit, and that can be hard to create on demand. The song itself was crafted by a team of writers and producers and performed by the fictional band Huntrix in the movie.
It was one of four songs to score massive chart success and push the soundtrack album to number one. Personally, I’m just glad it didn’t come from a movie with a colon in its title, which suggests to me that the whole endeavor is at least somewhat original, and not a sequel to anything.
2. “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams
Fans of Nick Cave, rejoice. At 68, your man is finally getting some Golden Globe love. Hard to imagine that would matter much to the unique rocker, who has dabbled in all forms of music throughout his long career. Here, along with guitarist/composer Bryce Dessner, he has created a gorgeous, brooding number that is atmospheric and highly cinematic.
It is a closing credits song in the highly regarded film from Clint Bentley, and it beautifully captures the spirit of the movie.
1. “I Lied to You” from Sinners
The deck is stacked here. This was my favorite movie of the five that got song nominations, and I am a sucker for heartfelt acoustic blues. Miles Caton, a singer and actor who appears in a major role in Sinners, delivers a moody shuffle that is haunting and ethereal at times, gritty and honest at others. The blues in a horror film – that’s a potent mixture.
“I Lied to You” has a chance to win, but I think it's KPop’s year. Barring that, one of the Wicked songs has a good chance. And for the record, I would have dropped that Avatar number and replaced it with Myke Towers’ “Baja California” from F1. It has more life in one beat than the entire lethargic “Dream As One” manages in its three-plus minutes.
The Golden Globe winners will be announced on January 11, 2026.