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...
"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! | |
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