Oscars to Pre-Record Original Song Nominees

BY SCOTTIE KNOLLIN

In an exclusive, Variety is reporting that some of this year’s Oscar nominees for Best Original Song will be pre-recorded prior to the Academy Awards on April 25. Those pre-recorded will be done on the rooftop of the soon-to-open Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The museum, located on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, is a prime location for the recordings as it features a prime backdrop of Hollywood and it allows the Academy to plug the museum, set to open September 30.

The Academy hasn’t responded to Variety’s report.

It isn’t confirmed which contenders will be pre-recorded at the museum, since some of the nominees are not based in the U.S. and it’s not clear if they have traveled to the country for the ceremony. Originally, there were reports that the songs would be performed live during the ceremony, but at the Dolby Theatre instead of Los Angeles’ Union Station, where the bulk of the ceremony will take place.

This will mark the first time the Original Song performances have been pre-recorded.

The Original Song nominees are:

“Fight for You” - Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas (“Judas and the Black Messiah”)

“Hear My Voice” - Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”)

“Húsavík” - Music and lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus, and Rickard Göransson (“Eurovision Song Contest”)

“Io Si (Seen)” - Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini (“The Life Ahead”)

“Speak Now” - Music and lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth