By Lucy Caulkett-
Beyonce has finally landed a nomination for the Oscar Awards after failed attempts over a few decades. The superstar earned her first chance to win a golden statue with her track “Be Alive,” which was written specifically for the film King Richard.
“Be Alive” marked Beyoncé’s first new original music since her 2020 visual album Black Is King, written for the biopic about the father of Serena and Venus Williams. Last year, Beyoncé set a new record at the Grammys for most awards held by a woman, overtaking the singer and bluegrass artist Alison Krauss with her Best R&B Performance win for “Black Parade.”
Beyonce wrote the song with songwriter Dixson for “King Richard,” a biopic about the father of Venus and Serena Williams.
The song is supported by archival footage of the Williams family, reflecting soul piercing lyrics that symbolize the journey the Williams sisters have taken to the top of the tennis world.
Other associated lyrics speak of the importance of Black pride, family and sisterhood, with a chorus that underscores the importance of having the singer’s “family,” “sisters” and “tribe” by her side.
Beyonce is now newbie to big awards, yet the Oscars has eluded her grasp for many years. The U.S star has won 28 trophies, Beyoncé ties with 88-year-old producer Quicy Jones. Beyoncé earned her first Grammys in 2001 as a part of Destiny’s Child, when the group won for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals with “Say My Name.” She was 19 years old at the time.
The shortlist which always throws up some surprises, excluded other record breaking artists likeJay-Z, U2, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King. and Brian Wilson.
Meanwhile, Will Smith was a delightful inclusion in this year’s Oscar nomination, King Richard up for Best Original Song at this year’s Oscars. Billie Eilish’s “No Time to Die” for the James Bond movie of the same name is also nominated in the category, alongside songs penned by Diane Warren (Four Good Days), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Encanto), and Van Morrison (Belfast). Find the list of nominated tracks below.
Will Smith lands Oscar nomination for first time in 15 years Image: biography.com
Eilish’s “No Time to Die” took home the Golden Globe for Best Original Song earlier this year.
Billie Eilish, with her first nomination for the title song of Daniel Craig’s final James Bond film, becomes the youngest-ever nominee in the category at the age of 20. The Bond song (co-written by Eilish’s brother Finneas O’Connell, also a nominee) has already won a Grammy and a Golden Globe.
The song, which plays during the film’s end credits and is accompanied by archival footage of the real Williams family, features inspirational lyrics that recount the journey the Williams sisters have taken to the top of the tennis world.
Backed by a drum-heavy beat and layered vocal harmonies, Beyoncé, in soaring voice, intones:
Other lyrics speak to the importance of Black pride, family and sisterhood, with a chorus that underscores the importance of having the singer’s “family,” “sisters” and “tribe” by her side.
The song, with its blunt, steady beat and vocal pyrotechnics, “insists on the community effort behind the triumph,” The New York Times’s chief pop music critic Jon Pareles wrote. Clayton Davis of Variety compared “Be Alive” to the Common and John Legend song “Glory,” which concluded Ava DuVernay’s 2014 historical drama “Selma.” That song took the Oscar.
She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Deena Jones in the 2006 film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls”; starred as the R&B singer Etta James in the 2008 biopic “Cadillac Records,” about the pioneering Chicago blues label; and voiced Nala in the 2019 live-action remake of “The Lion King,” in addition to recording music for that film’s soundtrack.
Miranda, the “Hamilton” creator who needs only an Oscar to attain EGOT status, was nominated for “Dos Oruguitas,” a Spanish love song about two caterpillars that he wrote for Disney’s animated musical “Encanto.” The other nominees in the category are Billie Eilish and Finneas, for the James Bond song “No Time to Die,” which won the Golden Globe; Van Morrison, for “Down to Joy” from “Belfast”; and “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days.”