All Songs Considered

All Songs Considered: Cruelly ranking the 'Best Original Song' Oscar nominees

March 10, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson are 'cruelly ranking' the five nominees for the 'Best Original Song' Oscar based on song quality, not odds of winning. 
  • Diane Warren's song "Dear Me" is ranked last (fifth place), prompting a discussion about her 17 nominations without a win and the perceived generic nature of her recent work. 
  • The top two songs, "I Lied To You" from *Sinners* and "Golden" from *K-pop Demon Hunters*, are considered exceptionally strong contenders, with "Golden" ultimately being ranked number one due to its massive cultural phenomenon status. 

Segments

Episode Premise and Host Intro
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(00:00:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Stephen Thompson is a host for NPR Music’s New Music Friday and Pop Culture Happy Hour.
  • Summary: The episode of All Songs Considered features Stephen Thompson from NPR Music’s New Music Friday. Thompson has an annual feature ranking the Oscar Best Original Song nominees, which he has been writing since 2019. The hosts plan to cruelly rank this year’s nominees based on song quality.
Diane Warren’s Nomination History
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(00:01:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Diane Warren is on her ninth consecutive Oscar nomination, totaling 17 nominations without a win.
  • Summary: Stephen Thompson notes that Diane Warren has been nominated every year since he started his ranking feature in 2019, marking her ninth consecutive nomination. Thompson believes Warren should have won twice previously, citing her songs “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” and “Till It Happens to You.” He criticizes her recent run of songs for being generic, often repeating themes of overcoming obstacles.
Listing and Ranking Nominees
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(00:02:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The five nominees are “Dear Me,” “I Lied to You,” “Sweet Dreams Of Joy,” “Golden,” and “Train Dreams.”
  • Summary: The hosts list the five nominees: “Dear Me” (from Diane Warren: Relentless), “I Lied to You” (from Sinners), “Sweet Dreams of Joy” (from Via Verdi), “Golden” (from K-pop Demon Hunters), and “Train Dreams” (from Train Dreams). They begin the ranking process starting with fifth place.
Ranking #5: Dear Me
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(00:02:55)
  • Key Takeaway: “Dear Me” by Diane Warren is ranked fifth due to its lyrical similarity to common inspirational messages.
  • Summary: The song ranked fifth is “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, performed by Kesha. The lyrics focus on reassuring a younger self that things will get better. The hosts found the song’s message too generic, comparing the lyrics to throw pillow sentiments, despite appreciating the documentary about Warren.
Ranking #4: Train Dreams
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(00:08:40)
  • Key Takeaway: “Train Dreams” by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner is ranked fourth, praised for its gravitas but penalized for being a closing credits song.
  • Summary: “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams, performed by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner, is placed at number four. The song directly expounds on the film’s themes of trauma and wonder over a vast timeline. Its only deduction is that it functions purely as a closing credits song, rather than being integrated earlier in the film.
Ranking #3: Sweet Dreams of Joy
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(00:18:38)
  • Key Takeaway: “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi is the most left-field entry, an operatic piece capturing awe and grace.
  • Summary: “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from the documentary Viva Verdi is ranked third, noted as the most unexpected nominee. The song, composed by Nicholas Pike and performed by Ana Maria Martinez, is musically grand and sweeping, capturing the awe of a full life lived. The film itself is a slight documentary about a retirement home for musicians founded by Giuseppe Verdi.
Ranking #2: I Lied To You
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(00:27:07)
  • Key Takeaway: “I Lied to You” from Sinners is ranked second due to its brilliant cinematic use in a pivotal, mind-blowing scene.
  • Summary: “I Lied to You” from Sinners, written by Raphael Sadiq and Ludwig Gorinson, is placed at number two. The song is performed during a critical mid-film scene that incorporates thousands of years of musical history, from tribal dances to P-Funk. The host argues this scene elevates the movie from a fun popcorn flick to something mind-blowing.
Ranking #1: Golden
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(00:36:09)
  • Key Takeaway: “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters is ranked number one because it successfully delivered on the film’s promise of creating the biggest song in the world.
  • Summary: “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters, performed by E.J., Audrey Nuna, and Ray Ami, is ranked first and predicted to win the Oscar. The song had the difficult task of sounding like the biggest hit in the world, which it achieved, becoming a massive pop cultural sensation that topped charts for eight weeks. Both Sinners and K-pop Demon Hunters were cultural phenomena released in the same awards cycle.