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The2025 Oscarsdidn’t include alive performances of the year ’s Best Original Song nominees , but this particular feature of the ceremonial is almost certain to make its coming back next class . This is n’t the first year the Oscars have foreshorten out the Best Original Song performances , nor will it likely be the last . sentence was or else given tothe Oscars ’ James Bond tribute , as well as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande ’s tribute toThe Wizard of Oz ’s melodious account .
Rounding out the2025 Oscars ’ musical guestswas Queen Latifah , who performed “ Ease on Down the Road ” fromThe Wizas tribute to Quincy Jones . Andhost Conan O’Brien ’s time - wasting soliloquy song bring the show to a tally of eight song carrying out in total . Not all of the 2025 Oscars ’ musical carrying into action were every bit well receive , but the real way out for some was the absence of Best Original Song nominees . Strong contenders such as succeeder “ El Mal ” fromEmilia Pérez , Diane Warren ’s “ The Journey , ” and Elton John ’s “ Never Too Late ” all bomb to receive hands - on realisation .
The Oscars 2025 Cutting The Live Best Original Song Performances Sparked Controversy
It Wasn’t Entirely Clear Why They Needed To Make Room For James Bond
Aside from the candidate themselves , the grown critics of the decision not to feature performances of the Best Original Song nominees at the 2025 Oscars were The Society of Composers and Lyricists . The Society , which include multiple Academy members in its ranks , write a letter republish byGold Derbyreferring to the exclusion of the Best Original Song nominees as “ a devaluation of music , and its creators . ”The ceremonial occasion did let in clips of each of the candidate and their composers , but very little of the birdcall themselves were featured in each video .
2025 Oscar Best Original Song Nominees
picture
Performer(s )
Creator(s )
" El Mal " ( winner )
Emilia Pérez
Zoe Saldaña , Karla Sofía Gascón , Camille
Camille , Clément Ducol , Jacques Audiard
" Mi Camino "
Selena Gomez
Camille , Clément Ducol
The Academy Awards
" The Journey "
The Six Triple Eight
H.E.R.
Universal Pictures
Diane Warren
" Like a fowl "
Sing Sing
Adrian Quesada , Abraham Alexander
" Never Too Late "
Elton John : Never Too Late
Elton John , Brandi Carlile
Elton John , Brandi Carlile , Bernie Taupin , Andrew Watt
Legendary ballad maker Diane Warren , who received her sixteenth Oscar nomination forThe Six Triple Eight ’s “ The Journey , ” noted thatthe Academy has muck up its Best Original Song nominees before . Warren specifically called out the 2021 pre - show performances , which were not powerfully advertised nor pass around to non - American audiences . On a night full ofrecord - break Oscar speeches(that some spectator feel outstay their welcome ) and complaints about theOscars ’ In Memoriam omissions(which are a annual issue ) , the Best Song exclusions were n’t needs the biggest controversy of the Nox . But there ’s one particular complaint that makes them particularly noteworthy .
The Musical Performances At The Oscars 2025 Didn’t Fully Deliver
Nearly Every Performance Had Unique Struggles
While Conan O’Brien ’s joke Song dynasty during the2025 Oscars ' opening monologuereceived a fair number of laugh and struck many fans as an extension of the comedic style Conan established in his lecture show career , the balance of the night ’s melodic performance received much more mixed reviews . A phone number of looker specifically plain about Queen Latifah ’s execution of “ Ease on Down the Road , ” feelingthere were better song pick for honoring Quincy Jones ’ legacywhile this particular selection made pitiable use of Latifah ’s vocal forte .
2025 Oscars Musical Performances
Original Performer(s )
" Over the Rainbow "
Ariana Grande
Judy Garland
The Wizard of Oz
" house "
Cynthia Erivo
Diana Ross
The Wiz
" Defying Gravity "
Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande
Idina Menzel , Kristin Chenoweth
Wicked
" I Wo n’t Waste Time "
Conan O’Brien
N / A
" Live and allow choke "
Lisa
Wings
populate and Let go
" ball field Are everlastingly
Doja Cat
Shirley Bassey
Diamonds Are everlastingly
" Skyfall "
Raye
Adele
Skyfall
" relieve on Down the route "
Queen Latifah
Diana Ross , Michael Jackson
Perhapsmost complaint about the Oscars ’ musical performances were focused on the James Bond protection . Many already felt that the2025 Academy Award ’ James Bond tributewas entirely unneeded , given the moving-picture show series was n’t celebrating any particular milestones aside from a move to Amazon . And as account byVariety , Doja Cat and Raye both admitted to underperform in their covers of Shirley Bassey ’s “ Diamonds Are eternally ” and Adele ’s “ Skyfall . ” Lisa ’s take on Paul McCartney ’s “ Live and lease Die ” was meanwhile competent yet ultimately unremarkable . But the night ’s other three functioning are what hint most powerfully at Best Original Song ’s 2026 tax return .
The 2026 Oscars Are Sure To Bring Back Live Musical Performances For Best Original Song Thanks To Wicked 2
Wicked’s Highly Anticipated Sequel Makes It Nearly Impossible To Cut The Performances Again
The 2025 Oscars get off to a strong jump with a triple feature article beginning with Ariana Grande ’s muscular performance of " Over the Rainbow " fromThe Wizard of Ozand cease with Cynthia Erivo reprisingWicked ’s " Defying Gravity . " away from a few moment in which Erivo felt like she was struggling to get a line her own voice over the orchestra , the performances were generally received well . More significantly , their placement at the very start of the ceremony illustrates just how muchthe Academy clearly wantedWicked ’s stars to be featured , despite the pic find no Best Original Song nominations .
The 2025 Oscars discover Wicked nominated for many award , but its want of profits saw it become this year ’s variant of a extremely successful 2023 moving-picture show .
Although the Academy could n’t likely have worked its tributes toWickedand 007 into the2025 Oscarswithout cut the Best Original Song performances , that should n’t be an issue in 2026 . Upcoming sequelWicked : For Goodis rig to feature two original songsfor both Erivo and Grande , and it ’s likely that one or both will serve as Oscar lure . Since it would be awkward to feature any Best Original Song candidate while ignoring its competition , this should mark a return to constitute as the 2026 Oscars once again feature live performances of the put up songs in their full glory .
Source : Gold Derby , Variety
