For fans of relatively current music and/or shirtless Matthew McConaughey, this year’s Best Original Song category was extra-promising: The list of eligible artists included Fiona Apple (for “Dull Tool,†from This Is 40), Rick Ross (for “100 Black Coffins,†from Django Unchained), Katy Perry (for “Wide Awake,†from her 3-D bio fiesta), and McConaughey himself (for his Magic Mike love song, “Ladies of Tampa†)! Certain individuals may or may not have had visions of a sweaty, yellow-spandex-clad McConaughey giving Rick Ross an Oscars lap dance while Fiona delivered an eloquent Seth MacFarlane rant and K.P. shot sparklers out of her custom-made Oscar bra. Certain individuals may have started letter-writing campaigns in support of this dream.
But in a crushing blow, the Academy nominated exactly none of the aforementioned songs — not even the Top 40–approved “Wide Awake†or the easy-listening “Ladies of Tampa.†No, they went the predictable route, with Adele’s Bond theme (no disrespect to Adele) and the boring new Les Misérables song. The full list:
Best Original Song
“Before My Time,†Chasing Ice
“Pi’s Lullaby,†Life of Pi
“Suddenly,†Les Misérables
“Everybody Needs a Best Friend,†Ted
“Skyfall,†Skyfall
So instead of Matthew McConaughey, you will get Seth MacFarlane serenading himself via talking bear. Let’s just hope the bear does not attempt a lap dance.