Best Song: No Elton, Gaga, Madge
Spin says: ‘In the category of Best Original Song, today’s Oscar noms were sparse. Not one of the Golden Globe song nominees garnered a nomination, meaning we won’t get to see Lady Gaga and Elton John, Chris Cornell, Sinead O’Connor, or Mary J. Blige (Madonna was already disqualified from the Oscar noms shortlist due to a technicality). Though up to five songs could have been nominated, only two — the bare minimum, both from animated films — received high enough scores from Academy voters: “Man or Muppet,” a song by Flight of the Conchords half Bret McKenzie from The Muppets, and “Real in Rio,” a song by Brazilian luminaries Sérgio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown for Rio, with lyrics by Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” co-songwriter Siedah Garrett. The Rio track features vocal contributions from will.i.am, which could’ve paved the way for another Three 6 Mafia-style surprise if Black Eyed Peas hadn’t long since gone respectable.’
