5 Minute Movie Guy
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
    • The 2015 5MMG Awards
    • The 2014 5MMG Awards
    • Top 5 Lists
  • Blog
  • Contact

The 2014 5MMG Awards - Favorite Song

2/2/2015

Comments

 
I was a little conflicted about how to approach this category since I didn't want to limit myself to only films I had seen. I figured it only takes a few minutes to listen to a song, so I went ahead and listened to nearly all of the eligible songs for this year's Oscars. It turns out that only 2 of the songs I've nominated here are even eligible for the award, and my top 5 choices are all from films I happened to see in theaters. Figures! Anyway, without further delay, these are my 5 favorite songs featured in movies in 2014!

Favorite  Song  Nominees:


The  Hanging  Tree

as performed by Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

Jennifer Lawrence may lack confidence in her singing ability, but I thought her song "The Hanging Tree" was one of the strongest parts of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1. Is there anything that girl can't do? The song itself is simple, but striking, and Lawrence executes it really well. It embodies the pain and suffering inflicted on the people of Panem and serves as the calm before the storm now that rebellion has begun.

Not  About  Angels

as performed by Birdy and featured in The Fault in Our Stars

There's no fault in this song. Birdy's "Not About Angels" from The Fault in Our Stars expertly captures the pain, sorrow, and heartache of The Fault in Our Stars. It's as beautiful and tragic as life and love. Birdy's angelic voice expresses the fear of losing someone and a longing to hold on to them. It's about cherishing the moments and the memories that come from love. It touches on the cruelty of fate and the beauty of life.

So  Now  What

as performed by The Shins and featured in Wish I Was Here

The dreamy, whimsical sounds of "So Now What" by The Shins are a perfect accompaniment to Zach Braff's Wish I Was Here. Braff plays struggling actor Aidan Bloom who has to adapt to some harsh changes in his life, but he sees this as an opportunity to start over and do things differently for him and his family. This song conveys an uplifting and charismatic notion of chasing your dreams and living life to the fullest.

Once  Upon  A  Dream

as performed by Lana Del Rey and featured in Maleficent

Lana Del Rey's reimagining of the classic Disney song "Once Upon A Dream"  for the movie Maleficent is brilliantly realized. It's moody, eerie, and undeniably cool. It's a darker take on one of Disney's most known songs and it matches Maleficent herself in spectacular fashion. Lana Del Ray draws out her voice, adding a rawness and edginess to the vocals, and ultimately creating a song that is as dreary as it is magnificent.

The  Last  Midnight

as performed by Meryl Streep in Into the Woods

I feel foolish for every underestimating Meryl Streep, but did anyone know she could sing this unbelievably well? Her performance of "The Last Midnight" as the Witch in Into the Woods is nothing short of spectacular. I thought it was the highlight of the entire movie. Meryl escalates the song to epic heights, fully demonstrating her legendary and arguably limitless talent.

And  the  Winner  Is...

Picture

"Not  About  Angels"  by  Birdy
(The  Fault  in  Our  Stars)
Favorite  Song

Birdy's "Not About Angels" is painstakingly heartfelt and pure. It's the perfect love song for Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters, the two young star-crossed lovers of The Fault in Our Stars. It emphasizes that life is still worth living, even in the face of death. It's about not giving up, because there is still life to be lived, joy to be had, and memories to be made. Life is short, and it reminds us to make the best of it, even when it hurts. This beautifully stirring song manages to be uplifting, despite its sorrow, leaving in its wake a message full of hopefulness and inspiration.



Tell me what you think! Do you agree or disagree?


Vote for which of these songs is your
Favorite Song of the Year!



Share your own choices in the comments below!

Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    5  Minute
    Movie  Guy

    Here are the nominees and winners in the 1st annual 5MMG Awards!

    Archives

    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.