Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 8th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in all categories.

Last year’s nominees: Husavik (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga), Fight for You (Judas and the Black Messiah), Io Si (The Life Ahead), Speak Now (One Night in Miami), Hear My Voice (The Trial of the Chicago 7)

This year’s locks: No Time to Die (No Time to Die), Dos Oruguitas (Encanto)

Very likely: Be Alive (King Richard)

Possible: Here I Am (Singing My Way Home) (Respect), Guns Go Bang (The Harder They Fall), Down to Joy (Belfast), Just Look Up (Don’t Look Up), So May We Start (Annette), Somehow You Do (Four Good Days), Beyond the Shore (CODA)

Unlikely: Automatic Woman (Bruised), Right Where I Belong (Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road), The Anonymous Ones (Dear Evan Hansen), Dream Girl (Cinderella), Your Song Saved My Life (Sing 2)

The rundown: For the fourth year, the contenders in this category have been winnowed down to just fifteen finalists. I can’t imagine a lineup without No Time To Die (No Time to Die) and Dos Oruguitas (Encanto), and I think that Be Alive (King Richard) is also in. But I’m predicting one top contender, Down To Joy (Belfast), to miss. I think that Here I Am (Singing My Way Home) (Respect) and Guns Go Bang (The Harder They Fall) will grab the last two slots, with Just Look Up (Don’t Look Up) and So May We Start? (Annette) also very possible. The rest of the shortlist is also great, and any of them could show up too: Somehow You Do (Four Good Days), Beyond The Shore (CODA), Automatic Woman (Bruised), Right Where I Belong (Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road), The Anonymous Ones (Dear Evan Hansen), Dream Girl (Cinderella), and Your Song Saved My Life (Sing 2).

Forecasted winner: I don’t see anything but No Time to Die taking this.