Original Songs By Pharrell, Robbie Williams and More Take Center Stage in Oscar Race
variety.comJon Burlingame This year’s original-song competition features something for everyone: tunes from live-action musicals, animated features, dramas and documentaries, plus the annual entry from 15-time nominee Diane Warren.
The big-screen adaptation of “Wicked” unfortunately, contains no new songs (songwriter Stephen Schwartz will have two in next year’s conclusion of the Broadway-to-film “Wizard of Oz” prequel, however).
The season’s other major musical, “Emilia Perez” contains 16 original songs, two of which are being heavily lobbied: “El Mal,” the showstopping fantasy number where Rita (Zoe Saldana) zeroes in on all the corrupt officials who pretend to support the cause of justice for victims of the Mexican cartel murder; and “Mi Camino,” which Jessi (Selena Gomez) sings in a karaoke bar. “‘El Mal’ was the most work in terms of finding the right tone,” songwriter Camille reports. “We ended up with a good combination of hip-hop feel and rock-style chorus.
It’s very rhythmic.” “Mi Camino” was the last song they wrote, “a very punk song, very fun,” says Camille’s co-writer Clement Ducol.
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