[LSPoorEeyorick]

My heart is in the "Original Song" race this year - I've been drawn to it since Pop! went my heart (after watching Music and Lyrics.) Then there was the lovely and terrific Once, with so many wonderful songs that I thought it would fill the category. Then along came Enchanted, with a couple solid possibilities, and the Walk Hard songs I've heard so far have been terrific. (see the walkhardmovie.com EPK clip section for some samples.) (Side note, go Apatow productions! Only two noms, sadly - both for Walk Hard - but noms are noms!)

I was a bit worried when I saw the front-runners for the films were, in my opinion, not the songs that were used best, but which were the most typical. "Walk Hard" from Walk Hard, not "Let's Duet." "That's How You Know" from Enchanted, not "Happy Working Song." "Falling Slowly" from Once, not "When Your Mind's Made Up." In the context of the films, I really thought those songs were more clever, or had more emotional impact.

But, gah! Not a single nominee I wanted. The wrong songs from Enchanted and Walk Hard, and zippo, zero, zilch for Once. Ugh!

But I have a little more faith in the Academy's music taste. Of late, anyway. Some of their more recent choices have been bolder and more interesting. I cite the "Hard Out Here For a Pimp" win - instead of nominating the titular song ("Hustle and Flow") they chose the one that was had the most impact. And it won! So maybe there's still a good chance for the underdog songs. And if AMPAS knows what's good for them, they'll nominate a song from Once. (And if I hope really hard - or, rather, if I rally - maybe even for the right song.)

Alas, though, I think there isn't a snowball's chance in hell for "Pop! Goes My Heart" - which was a terrific parody of 80s pop.