For our third Rundown article, we look a category that’s all about words and music. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Original Song as well as general commentary about the race. Tuesday, we look at one of the most accurate forecasters at the Oscars, one that’s become more significant in recent years.

Best Original Song

Winner Predictions

• Mighty River – Mudbound
• Mystery of Love – Call Me by Your Name
• Remember Me – Coco (WL O) (PP O) (TB O) (TL R) [New]
• Stand Up for Something – Marshall
• This Is Me – The Greatest Showman

Runner-Up Predictions

• This Is Me – The Greatest Showman (WL R) [New] (WL R) [New] (TB O) (TL R) [New]

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Wesley Lovell: I’m not the biggest fan of “Remember Me” from Coco. I find the song relatively forgettable. However, it has a significant impact on the film’s plot, which is more than the rest of the songs can say. I feel there are two other songs that probably have a chance of winning. “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman is a modern anthem for living out loud. It has an inspiring message, which could bolster its chances; however, the film has no other nominations, which hurts its chances. The other film that could upset Coco is Mudbound. The song, written by R&B superstar Mary J. Blige, could be boosted by that particular fact. “Mighty River” has the makings of another “Glory,” but I’m not certain that will be enough since, for all intents and purposes, it doesn’t sound like another “Glory.” The other two films have chances, but smaller ones. “Stand Up for Something” could be bolstered by Diane Warren’s longstanding losing streak. “Mystery of Love” could benefit from Call Me by Your Name being the most nominated film in this category and only one other place for the film to be recognized.
Peter J. Patrick: “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman won the Golden Globe, but I think “Remember Me” from Coco, the song we expected to win there, will prevail at the Oscars with either “This Is Me” or “The Mystery of Love” from Call Me By Your Name poised to upset.
Tripp Burton: A month ago, I thought that “Remember Me” would be one of the few winners that you could bet your mortgage on come Oscar time. I still think it is the leader of the pack, but the surprising box office legs of The Greatest Showman, and a surprising enthusiasm for the film in many circles, leads me to think that “This Is Me” could give it a run for its money. The fact that the writers of both songs are recent winners in this category, as is “Stand Up for Something” composer Common, working with nine-time nominee and never-a-winner Diane Warren, only makes things more confusing. Popular performers Sufjan Stevens and Mary J. Blige round out the category and could be dark horse candidates as well. The Pixar song is going on my ballot, but I expect a tough fight and some wonderful performances come Oscar night.
Thomas La Tourrette: I am finding this one of the hardest categories to call. Conventional wisdom has “Remember Me” from Coco winning. The writers recently won for “Let It Go.” Music was integral to the movie, and Disney has done well in this category over the years. I just keep thinking that it was the weakest of the nominees. It’s a decent song, rather sweet, but not that memorable, especially for being the main song from the movie. That said, I think it probably will go on to win. Its strongest competition is from another musical, “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman. This won for best song at the Golden Globes and makes a big impact in the film. It’s a stirring song, telling people to stand up for themselves. I would like to see it win, but the lackluster critical and popular response to the film may doom its chances. It has been rare that songwriters win back to back awards, and they won last year for La La Land. Giving it to “Mighty River” from Mudbound could be a way to give something to both the movie and also to Mary J. Blige who is nominated for Supporting Actress and helped write the song as well as singing it. “Mystery of Love” is a charming lilt, but may be viewed as too light to win. It is the catchiest tune of the bunch, but probably stands little chance to win. “Stand Up for Something” sounds like many of the songs that have won lately, including the Oscar-winning one from Selma also by Common. It’s a good song, but Diane Warren will probably have to wait at least one more time to win, as she is likely to go home winless on her ninth nomination. Cases could be made for all the songs as it was a pretty good year for them. So all said, “Remember Me” wins, though an upset could happen.

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