It irritated me a little bit in 2011 when “Real in Rio” from Rio was nominated for Best Original Song, when it wasn’t even the best song in the film. I’d give that to “Fly Love” or even “Hot Wings (I Wanna Party)”.
I’d also give that distinction to “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins over winner “Chim Chim Cher-ee” in 1964; both “Never Before, Never Again” and “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday” from The Muppet Movie in 1979, “More” over winner “Sooner or Later” from Dick Tracy in 1990, and “You’re Welcome” over “How Far I’ll Go” from this year’s Moana.
Can anyone else think of some examples? This list may help.
Self-reported for a move to Cafe Society. Sorry, that’s where I thought I was!
Tina Turner’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome was nominated for a Golden Globe, though not an Oscar. It pales in comparison to “One of the Living”, which did win a Grammy.
But in 2011 Man or Muppet beat out Real in Rio. I don’t think it was better than Real in Rio, and certainly not as good as Pictures In My Head, which was also in The Muppets.
“You Must Love Me” was added to Evita to be eligible for the Best Song Oscar. ANY other song from that movie is better. My favorite is A New Argentina.
Similarly, “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” was added to Little Shop of Horrors. It’s a good song, but there are several in the original score (and thus ineligible) that were better.
“Thumbelina” was nominated for Hans Christian Andersen, but it’s inferior to the delightful “The King’s New Clothes.”