In a surprising turn of events, the Oscar race is heating up with the potential nominations of songs from the recent Barbie and Super Mario Bros. movies. “Peaches” from the Super Mario Bros. Movie, performed by Jack Black’s villainous Bowser, and “I’m Just Ken” from the Barbie movie, featuring Ryan Gosling’s stellar performance, are creating quite a buzz.
The Academy Awards’ Best Original Song category is set to feature a fierce competition with a total of 94 original songs in contention. Among them are the highly anticipated tracks by renowned artists such as Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, each contributing to the three Barbie songs in consideration.
One standout moment from the Super Mario Bros. Movie was Jack Black’s unexpected and hilarious rendition of “Peaches.” The power ballad delivered by the fictional character Bowser has garnered attention and is positioned as a strong contender for an Oscar nomination.
However, stealing the spotlight is “I’m Just Ken” from the Barbie movie, a song that has been praised for its brilliance and Ryan Gosling’s compelling performance. The track explores Ken’s struggle with living in Barbie’s shadow, expressing a desire to be recognized as an individual worthy of attention and love. The crescendo of the song features a chorus of Kens, adding a unique and powerful dynamic to the narrative.
Billboard, a leading music outlet, has listed “I’m Just Ken” as a potential front runner for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The publication acknowledges the brilliance of Ryan Gosling’s performance and speculates on whether he will grace the Oscar telecast with a live rendition if the song secures a nomination.
Interestingly, the Barbie movie’s soundtrack has more potential Oscar contenders. Billboard predicts that Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” could also earn a nomination, adding further excitement to the awards season.
Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, known for their previous Oscar win for co-writing “Shallow” from A Star Is Born, are once again in the spotlight for their collaboration on “I’m Just Ken.”
As the anticipation builds, fans and critics alike eagerly await the official Oscar nominations to see if these exceptional songs will indeed make the cut and potentially bring home the coveted golden statuette. The inclusion of such diverse and standout tracks adds an extra layer of excitement to the 2023 Academy Awards.
