The Academy Awards have long celebrated excellence in film, and one of the most cherished categories is Best Original Song. Since its introduction in 1934, this award has honored the most memorable and impactful songs written specifically for movies. These songs not only enhance the storytelling in films but also leave a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.
Over the decades, Best Original Song winners have included timeless classics, emotional ballads, and powerful anthems. From Disney’s beloved musical numbers to legendary hits by artists like Elton John, Adele, and Billie Eilish, this category has showcased some of the greatest musical talents in history. Songs like “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, “Let It Go” from Frozen, and “Shallow” from A Star Is Born have become cultural landmarks, transcending their films to become global sensations.
Each year, the nominees reflect the evolving landscape of music and film, bringing fresh perspectives and new sounds to the Oscars stage. In this article, we look back at every Best Original Song winner in history.
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1934: The Continental – Con Conrad
1935: Lullaby of Broadway – Harry Warren
1936: The Way You Look Tonight – Jerome Kern
1937: Sweet Leilani – Harry Owens
1938: Thanks for the Memory – Ralph Rainger
1939: Over The Rainbow – Harold Arlen
1940: When You Wish Upon a Star – Leigh Harline
1941: The Last Time I Saw Paris – Jerome Kern
1942: White Christmas – Irving Berlin
1943: You’ll Never Know – Harry Warren
1944: Swinging on a Star – Jimmy Van Heusen
1945: It Might as Well Be Spring – Richard Rodgers
1946: On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe – Harry Warren
1947: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah – Allie Wrubel
1948: Buttons and Bows – Ray Evans & Jay Livingston
1949: Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Frank Loesser
1950: Mona Lisa – Ray Evans & Jay Livingston
1951: In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening – Hoagy Carmichael
1952: The Ballad of High Noon – Dimitri Tiomkin
1953: Secret Love – Sammy Fain
1954: Three Coins in the Fountain – Jule Styne
1955: Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing – Sammy Fain
1956: Que Sera, Sera – Ray Evans & Jay Livingston
1957: All the Way – Jimmy Van Heusen
1958: Gigi – Frederick Loewe
1959: High Hopes – Jimmy Van Heusen
1960: Never on Sunday – Manos Hatzidakis
1961: Moon River – Henry Mancini
1962: Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini
1963: Call Me Irresponsible – Jimmy Van Heusen
1964: Chim Chim Cher-ee – Robert B. Sherman & Richard M. Sherman
1965: The Shadow of Your Smile – Johnny Mandel
1966: Born Free – John Barry
1967: Talk to the Animals – Leslie Bricusse
1968: The Windmills of Your Mind – Michel Lagrand
1969: Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – Burt Bacharach
1970: For All We Know – Fred Karlin
1971: Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes
1972: The Morning After – Joel Hirschhorn & Al Kasha
1973: The Way We Were – Marvin Hamlisch
1974: We May Never Love Like This Again – Joel Hirschhorn & Al Kasha
1975: I’m Easy – Keith Carradine
1976: Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born) – Barbra Streisand
1977: You Light Up My Life – Joseph Brooks
1978: Last Dance – Paul Jabara
1979: It Goes Like It Goes – David Shire
1980: Fame – Michael Gore
1981: Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Peter Allen, Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross & Carole Bayer Sager
1982: Up Where We Belong – Jack Nietzsche & Buffy Sainte-Marie
1983: Flashdance… What a Feeling – Giorgio Moroder
1984: I Just Called to Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
1985: Say You, Say Me – Lionel Richie
1986: Take My Breath Away – Giorgio Moroder
1987: (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – John DeNicola, Donald Markowitz & Franke Previte
1988: Let the River Run – Carly Simon
1989: Under the Sea – Alan Menken
1990: Sooner or Later – Stephen Sondheim
1991: Beauty and the Beast – Alan Menken
1992: A Whole New World – Alan Menken
1993: Streets of Philadelphia – Bruce Springsteen
1994: Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
1995: Colors of the Wind – Alan Menken
1996: You Must Love Me – Andrew Lloyd Webber
1997: My Heart Will Go On – James Horner
1998: When You Believe – Stephen Schwartz
1999: You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
2000: Things Have Changed – Bob Dylan
2001: If I Didn’t Have You – Randy Newman
2002: Lose Yourself – Jeff Bass, Eminem & Luis Resto
2003: Into the West – Annie Lennox, Howard Shore & Fran Walsh
2004: Al otro lado del río – Jorge Drexler
2005: It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp – Frayser Boy, Juicy J & DJ Paul
2006: I Need to Wake Up – Melissa Etheridge
2007: Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
2008: Jai Ho – A. R. Rahman
2009: The Weary Kind – Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett
2010: We Belong Together – Randy Newman
2011: Man or Muppet – Bret McKenzie
2012: Skyfall – Adele & Paul Epworth
2013: Let It Go – Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez
2014: Glory – Common & John Legend
2015: Writing’s on the Wall – Jimmy Napes & Sam Smith
2016: City of Stars – Justin Hurwitz
2017: Remember Me – Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez
2018: Shallow – Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt
2019: (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again – Elton John
2020: Fight For You – D’Mile & H.E.R.
2021: No Time To Die – Billie Eilish & Finneas
2022: Naatu Naatu – M. M. Keeravani
2023: What Was I Made For? – Billie Eilish & Finneas
2024: El Mal – Camille & Clement Ducol
2025: Golden – Ejae, Ido, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Mark Sonnenblick, Teddy & 24
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