Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song

Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Name	Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Description	Excellence in original songwriting for film
Presenter	Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Country	United States
Year	1947

Contents

History and background
Eligibility and nomination process
Winners and nominees
Multiple wins and nominations
Notable records and facts
See also

Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song is an honor presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) to recognize the best original song written specifically for a motion picture. The award has been a part of the Golden Globe Awards ceremony since its inception, celebrating the collaborative work of composers and lyricists. It is considered a significant precursor to the Academy Award for Best Original Song, with many winners going on to receive the Oscar.

History and background

The award was first presented at the 4th Golden Globe Awards in 1947, honoring the song "Buttons and Bows" from the Bob Hope film The Paleface. The category has consistently highlighted the integral role of music in cinema, with early winners often coming from major Hollywood studio musicals. Over the decades, the award has reflected changing musical trends, from the orchestral scores of the 1950s to the pop and rock influences that dominated later ceremonies. The presentation of the award is a featured segment during the annual Golden Globe Awards telecast, often including live performances of the nominated songs.

Eligibility and nomination process

Eligibility requires that the song be original and written specifically for a motion picture released in the calendar year. The song must also be prominently featured within the body of the film or as the first song during the end credits. Nominations are determined by the special voting body within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which screens eligible films. The final ballot, typically containing five nominees, is then voted on by the entire HFPA membership. This process is distinct from, though often parallels, the rules set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Winners and nominees

Winners have included some of the most iconic songs in film history, such as Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen" from A Star Is Born and Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. Other notable winners across different eras include "The Way We Were" by Marvin Hamlisch and Alan Bergman from The Way We Were, and "Lose Yourself" by Eminem from 8 Mile. Recent winners have featured songs from major studio productions and acclaimed animated films, such as "Shallow" from A Star Is Born performed by Lady Gaga and "No Time to Die" from the James Bond film of the same name.

Multiple wins and nominations

Composer Alan Menken holds the record for most wins, with four victories for songs from Disney films like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Lyricists Tim Rice and the team of Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman have also received multiple awards. In terms of nominations, prolific composers like Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, and Diane Warren have been recognized numerous times, with Warren holding a notable record for the most nominations without a win in this category.

Notable records and facts

The first winner performed by the film's star was "Buttons and Bows" by Bob Hope. The song "You'll Never Know" from Hello, Frisco, Hello was the first to win both this award and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2005, three songs from the same film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, were nominated, a rare occurrence. The award has also occasionally gone to songs from non-English language films, such as "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire.