Seven songs that were robbed of their Oscar nomination

“THE WRESTLER” from The Wrestler (2008)

Bruce Springsteen had already won a Best Song Oscar when he wrote and sang “The Wrestler” at the end of Darren Aronofsky's touching drama about an aging wrestler. That Oscar came back in 1994 for his song “Streets of Philadelphia.” “Streets of Philadelphia” also won the Golden Globe in 1994, and … stay with me here…his title song from The Wrestler also took home a Golden Globe. But it didn’t even get nominated for an Oscar.

That’s especially galling for two reasons. First, the song provides a brilliant metaphor for the main character in the movie and touchingly sums up his entire journey as the credits role. And second – THERE WERE ONLY THREE NOMINEES THAT YEAR! Two of them came from the year’s most-awarded film Slumdog Millionaire. The other was from WALL-E. I have no problem with any of them. But couldn’t the Academy have included a 4th nomination for a beautiful song that fits its film perfectly and had already won other major awards? Apparently not.

“WE DON’T TALK ABOUT BRUNO” from Encanto (2021)

Everyone knew Lin-Manuel Miranda’s brilliant song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” would get an Oscar nomination in 2021. Most of us thought it would win. It was probably the most talked about and most-sung movie song of the year. The Academy did nominate Miranda’s more romantic “Dos Oruguitas,” but they passed over the witty, insatiable, and deeply mysterious song at the heart of the film about the pluses and minuses of a magical life.

To be fair, 2021 was a strong year, with quality work from Van Morrison, Beyonce, and the ubiquitous Diane Warren, alongside eventual winner “No Time to Die” by Billie Eilish and Finneas. But “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is arguably better than any of them. The Academy could have and should have passed over Miranda’s other number, or the millionth Diane Warren nominee in order to make room.

Read more from AudioPhix