They write the songs

Recent changes in the voting process and campaigning for music Oscars may be altering old patterns of who wins. Starting this year, contenders are no longer permitted to send audio CDs of songs and scores to members of the academy's music branch; voters now must experience tunes within the visual context of a film. In 2005, voters began determining song nominees by judging three-minute video clips from each film that are strung together at screenings held in Los Angeles and New York. Immediately after the screenings, PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants collect voters' ballots.

ORIGINAL SONG

FAVORITES

"Come So Far (Got So Far to Go)" ("Hairspray"), written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, performed by Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron and Elijah Kelley

"Despedida" ("Love in the Time of Cholera"), written by Shakira and Antonio Pinto, performed by Shakira
"Do You Feel Me" ("American Gangster"), written by Diane Warren, performed by Anthony Hamilton
"Falling Slowly" ("Once"), written and performed by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
"Grace Is Gone" ("Grace Is Gone"), written by Clint Eastwood and Carole Bayer Sager, performed by Jamie Cullum
"Guaranteed" ("Into the Wild"), written and performed by Eddie Vedder
"Happy Working Song" ("Enchanted"), written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, performed by Amy Adams
"A Hero Comes Home" ("Beowulf"), written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, performed by Idina Menzel
"Le Festin" ("Ratatouille"), written by Michael Giacchino, performed by Camille
"Little Wonders" ("Meet the Robinsons"), written and performed by Rob Thomas
"Lullaby for Wyatt" ("Grace Is Gone"), written and performed by Sheryl Crow
"Lyra" ("The Golden Compass"), written and performed by Kate Bush
"Society" ("Into the Wild"), written by Jerry Hannan, performed by Eddie Vedder
"That's How You Know" ("Enchanted"), written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, performed by Amy Adams
"To Be Surprised" ("Dan in Real Life"), written and performed by Sondre Lerche
"Walk Hard" ("Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story"), written by Marshall Crenshaw, John C. Reilly, Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan, performed by John C. Reilly

SPOTLIGHT: Songs from "Enchanted" might have the edge since six Disney films have won this category over the last 20 years ("Tarzan," "Pocahontas," "The Lion King," "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid"), but there's a hubbub over which three tunes the studio submitted.

Missing is the one getting the most radio airplay, "Ever, Ever After," not because it's crooned by Carrie Underwood instead of star Amy Adams, but probably due to a debate over best Oscar strategy. Since voters now judge songs featured in three-minute video clips, some contenders believe it's best to showcase the tune within dramatic action rather than a movie's finale scene or closing credits. "Ever, Ever After" plays over a they-all-lived-happily-ever-after montage just before "Enchanted's" credits roll.

Still, an end-credit song won last year (Melissa Etheridge's "I Need to Wake Up" in "An Inconvenient Truth") and another had been nominated under the new voting procedure (Dolly Parton's "Travelin' Thru" in "Transamerica"). But if dramatic context will really help one song in "Enchanted," the favorite should be "That's How You Know," thanks to its spectacular staging in New York's Central Park.

POSSIBLE

"Baby Don't Cry (The Pie Song)" ("Waitress"), written by Andrew Hollander and Adrienne Shelly, performed by Quincy Coleman and Keri Russell
"The Ballad of Jimmy Carter" ("Jimmy Carter, Man From Plains"), written and performed by Dan Bern
"Beautiful Ride" ("Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story"), written by Dan Bern and Mike Viola, performed by John C. Reilly
"Gravity" ("Nanking"), written and performed by Lou Reed
"Hello (I Love You)"</</b>em> ("The Last Mimzy"), written by Howard Shore and Roger Waters, performed by Rogers Waters
"Huck's Tune" ("Lucky You"), written and performed by Bob Dylan
"If You Want Me" ("Once"), written and performed by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
"King of the Earth" ("August Rush"), written by Mark Mancina and John Ondrasik, performed by Five for Fighting
"Let's Duet" ("Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story"), written by Charlie Wadhams and Benji Hughes, performed by John C. Reilly
"My Hands Are Shaking" ("Dan in Real Life"), written and performed by Sondre Lerche
"Pocket Full of Stars" ("Surf's Up"), written by Sam Forrest and Hayley Hutchinson, performed by Nine Black Alps
"Royal Pain" ("Shrek the Third"), written by Mark Oliver Everett, performed by Eels
"So Close" ("Enchanted"), written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, performed by Amy Adams
"Someday" ("August Rush"), written and performed by John Legend

SPOTLIGHT:

Over the last decade, voters have been getting more edgy in this category, nominating rap songs (by Eminem, Three 6 Mafia) and spoofs ("South Park's" "Blame Canada"). Now they might actually hail tunes from a movie that lampoons Oscar-winner "Walk the Line." "Walk Hard" offers a comedic take on a music artist not unlike Johnny Cash, who is also a tomcat (portrayed by John C. Reilly) destined for prison and rehab. The satiric "Walk Hard" is considered the favorite among the film's three contenders because it's the title track, but don't write off "Beautiful Ride" or "Let's Duet." Two years ago "Hustle & Flow's" title song was considered to be that film's best shot at a nomination, but voters preferred "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," which won.

LONG SHOTS

"Another Believer" ("Meet the Robinsons"), written by Rufus Wainwright and Marius de Vries, performed by Rufus Wainwright
"Back Where You Belong" ("The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep"), written and performed by Sinead O'Connor
"China Doll" ("Honeydripper"), written by John Sayles and Mason Daring, performed by Gary Clark Jr.
"A Dream" ("Freedom Writers"), written by Lonnie Lynn and will.i.am, performed by will.i.am
"First Amendment Blues" ("Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone"), written by Darius de Haas and Walter Marks, performed by Darius de Haas
"Get You Goin'" ("Alvin and the Chipmunks"), written by the DeeTown Syndicate, performed by Alvin and the Chipmunks
"How We Roll" ("Alvin and the Chipmunks"), written by the DeeTown Syndicate, performed by Alvin and the Chipmunks
"I'll Be OK" ("Dan in Real Life"), written and performed by Sondre Lerche
"No More" ("Body of War"), written and performed by Eddie Vedder

NEXT: ORIGINAL SCORE»