Mark returns to the CinemaHounds Oscars coverage series for the second annual "Nevermind the Oscars Music" crossover special discussing not only this year's crop of Original Song and Original Score nominees but also their musical influences, lookalikes, and others they would have liked to have seen on the ballot. Expect plenty of clips from an eclectic collection of genre with deep-digging analysis of their role in this year's nominated films.
Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.
Links discussed:
- The 2026 Grammys deep dive
- Authenticity in the age of AI
- What is hopepunk? (with Elysia)
- Last year's Nevermind the Oscars Music crossover
Max Richter's "Undiscovered Country" and Hamnet / Arrival (AV Club)
Best Original Song nominees:
- “Golden” – Ejae, Ido, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Mark Sonnenblick, Teddy & 24 (music & lyrics) – KPop Demon Hunters – trailer, info (Netflix)
- “I Lied to You” – Ludwig Göransson & Raphael Saadiq (music & lyrics) – Sinners – trailer, info (HBO Max)
- “Dear Me” – Diane Warren (music & lyrics) – Diane Warren: Relentless – trailer, info (Hoopla, Kanopy)
- “Train Dreams” – Nick Cave & Bryce Dessner (music); Cave (lyrics) – Train Dreams – trailer, info (Netflix)
- “Sweet Dreams of Joy” – Nicholas Pike (music & lyrics) – Viva Verdi! – trailer, info (Jolt)
Also discussed:
- “Free” – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
- “Exile” – Bon Iver/Taylor Swift (album: Folklore, 2020) – produced by Aaron Dessner (etc.)
- “I Need My Girl” – The National (album: Trouble Will Find Me, 2013) – written by Aaron & Bryce Dessner (etc.)
- “Our Love” – The Ballad of Wallis Island (Prime) – from the shortlist
- “Falling Slowly” – Once (2006, to rent)
- “Silver Dagger”, “Here in the Vineyard”, theme – The History of Sound (Mubi)
- “Và pensiero” – Giuseppe Verdi (opera: Nabucco, 1842)
Best Original Score nominees:
- Sinners (Ludwig Göransson) – trailer, info (HBO Max)
- One Battle After Another (Jonny Greenwood) – trailer, info (HBO Max)
- Bugonia (Jerskin Fendrix) – trailer, info (Peacock)
- Hamnet (Max Richter) – trailer, info (to rent, later Peacock)
- Frankenstein (Alexandre Desplat) – trailer, info (Netflix)
Also discussed: Tron: Ares (Disney+) – soundtrack – from the shortlist
The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world
Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.com
Oscars 2026 coverage
Nominations + Best Picture preview
Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts
Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair
Score & Original Song (this episode)
Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound
Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director
Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting
Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings
Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees
One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3
Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”
For subscribers:
Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)
Additional awards coverage
Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes
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