THE LIFE AHEAD

BEST MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

In seaside Italy, a Holocaust survivor with a daycare business, Madame Rosa, takes in 12-year-old Momo, the Senegalese Muslim boy who recently robbed her. The two loners become each other’s protectors, anchoring an unconventional family.

“Io Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead”
Music by Diane Warren
Lyrics by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
Performed by Laura Pausini

Another year, another Oscar nomination for song writer Diane Warren. This is Diane’s twelfth nomination, with zero wins, and fourth year in a row she’s been nominated. That’s the second consecutive four year run she’s had, with the last coming from 1996-1999. I may not predict her to win, but I am hoping she gets to break the losing streak.

“The Life Ahead” is an Italian film starring 86-year-old Sophia Loren. She plays Holocaust survivor, Madame Rosa, who fosters kids in Italy. She’s tasked with fostering the spirited young Momo, who sells drugs and steals from people on the street. As Rosa begins to deteriorate mentally, she forms a bond with Momo that forces him to look at his life moving forward and what he stands for.

Between the consensus coming from Gold Derby and the many wins it received throughout the awards season thus far, “Speak Now” from “One Night In Miami” appears to be the favorite to win. However, beyond that, the race for Best Original Song feels wide open, with “Io Sì (Seen)” probably landing somewhere close to the top of the pile. As the film is in Italian, the song is performed in Italian, and is the first Best Original Song nominee to be so. The song won at the Golden Globes this year and the desire to see Diane Warren finally win could push this into the winning category.

DIANE WARREN

1987 (60th)	Best Original Song	“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from “Mannequin”	NOMINATED
1996 (69th)	Best Original Song	“Because You Loved Me” from “Up Close and Personal”	NOMINATED
1997 (70th)	Best Original Song	“How Do I Live” from “Con Air”	NOMINATED
1998 (71st)	Best Original Song	“I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” from “Armageddon”	NOMINATED
1999 (72nd)	Best Original Song	“Music Of My Heart” from “Music of the Heart”	NOMINATED
2001 (74th)	Best Original Song	“There You’ll Be” from “Pearl Harbor”	NOMINATED
2014 (87th)	Best Original Song	“Grateful” from “Beyond the Lights”	NOMINATED
2015 (88th)	Best Original Song	“Til It Happens To You” from “The Hunting Ground”	NOMINATED
2017 (90th)	Best Original Song	“Stand Up For Something” from “Marshall”	NOMINATED
2018 (91st)	Best Original Song	“I’ll Fight” from “RBG”	NOMINATED
2019 (92nd)	Best Original Song	“I’m Standing With You” from “Breakthrough”	NOMINATED

Laura Pausini

— 1st time Nominee —