Coldplay, Lorde, Lana Del Rey among Oscar Best Song contenders

PanARMENIAN.Net - Coldplay, singer-songwriter Lorde, Lana Del Rey, country icon Glen Campbell and punk priestess Patti Smith are among the contenders for the Oscar for Best Original Song, the Academy announced, according to TheWrap.

Their songs were part of a list of 79 eligible songs that was released by the Academy, four more than last year’s total of 75.

Coldplay is eligible for “Miracles,” a song from the Angelina Jolie film “Unbroken.” Lorde wrote and performed “Yellow Flicker Beat” from “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One.” Del Rey wrote and performed the title track from “Big Eyes.” Campbell cowrote and sings the lament “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from “Glen Campbell … I’ll Be Me,” a documentary about his fight against Alzheimer’s. And Smith wrote “Mercy Is,” a lullaby sung by Russell Crowe in “Noah” and repeated in a closing-credits version by Smith.

Other songs include the mega-catchy “Everything Is Awesome” from “The Lego Movie,” a new tune written for the musical “Annie” by Sia and two songs from Richard Linklater‘s “Boyhood.” John Legend and Common’s “Glory,” a powerful song that is used late in the film “Selma,” is another strong contender, and perhaps even a frontrunner.

Only one song was submitted from “Begin Again,” the music-filled movie directed by John Carney. His last film, “Once,” contained the Oscar-winner “Falling Slowly.” His new film included a number of songs that could have qualified, but only “Lost Stars,” sung in the film in different versions by Adam Levine and Keira Knightley, was submitted.

The animated film “Rio 2″ qualified four songs, while “If I Stay,” “Million Dollar Arm,” “Muppets Most Wanted” and “Rudderless” each qualified three.

Members of the music branch will be sent a DVD containing the scenes in which all of the eligible songs are used, and will vote for their favorites after viewing that compilation. (Or presumably viewing it — they’re on the honor system.)

Nominations will be announced on Jan. 15.