25 Songs That Made Oscar History Before “Golden”

First Best Song Winner: “The Continental” (1935)

This elegant song debuted in the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film, The Gay Divorcee. The composition was crafted by Con Conrad and Herb Magidson.

First Best Song Winner with Three Writers: “The Windmills of Your Mind” (1969)

The initial 35 winners of the Best Song category were penned by one or two writers. Notable for its collaboration, this ballad from The Thomas Crown Affair was co-written by lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman alongside composer Michel Legrand.

Moreover, “The Windmills of Your Mind” marked the first occasion a married couple, the Bergmans, won an Oscar in this category. They were married from 1958 until Marilyn’s passing in 2022 and garnered a second Oscar in 1974 for “The Way We Were,” co-written with Marvin Hamlisch.

First Best Song Winner with Four Writers: “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” (1982)

This song was a collaborative effort by Christopher Cross (who also performed it), Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen. Sager included a lyric remembered from an earlier unreleased song with Allen, a credit that would not be permissible under today’s Academy guidelines.

In his acceptance speech, Allen humorously referenced the song’s origins, stating, “I want to thank the air traffic controller who put me in a holding pattern for two hours above JFK, and I found myself, like Arthur, caught between the moon and New York City.”

First Best Song Winner Co-Written by a Woman: “The Way You Look Tonight” (1937)

Lyricist Dorothy Fields collaborated with composer Jerome Kern for this classic ballad in another Astaire and Rogers film, Swing Time, marking their sixth partnership.

First Best Song Winner Credited Solely to a Woman: “Let the River Run” (1989)

Carly Simon composed both music and lyrics for this empowering anthem featured in Mike Nichols’ Working Girl. Upon accepting the Oscar, Simon graciously acknowledged her husband, Jim Hart, for “writing the best lines in the song.”

First Best Song Winner Composed by a Woman: “Evergreen (Love Theme From A Star Is Born)” (1977)

While previous Best Song winners featuring women had the lyrics written by them, Barbra Streisand composed the melody for this ballad from her rendition of A Star Is Born, with lyrics by Paul Williams.

Streisand expressed her disbelief upon winning, stating, “In my wildest dreams I never, never could ever imagine winning an Academy Award for writing a song. I’m very honored and excited. Thank you all very much.”

First Best Song Winner Written by a Black Songwriter: “Theme From Shaft” (1972)

Isaac Hayes’ iconic song held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks in 1971. During his acceptance speech, Hayes omitted mention of his groundbreaking win and instead thanked a significant person in his life, noting, “Most of all, I would like to thank a lady who’s here with me tonight… my grandmother. And this is a thrill for me.”

Additionally, this win made Hayes the first Black individual to receive an Oscar in any category other than acting.

The first Best Song winner featuring collaboration from multiple Black songwriters came years later with “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow, which won in 2006.

First Best Song Winner Performed in a Foreign Language: “Mona Lisa” (1951)

An uncredited performer captures this ballad in Spanish for the film Captain Carey, U.S.A.. Nat King Cole notably achieved a hit with it in English in 1950, with lyrics penned by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston.

First and Only Best Song Winner with a Bilingual Title: “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)” (1957)

Doris Day performed this song in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much, contributing to the 1950s familiarity of Spanish phrases among American audiences. This hit was authored by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

First Best Song Winner with a Title in a Foreign Language: “Al Otro Lado Del Río” (2005)

Jorge Drexler both wrote and composed this song for The Motorcycle Diaries. Initially uninvited to perform his nominated piece at the ceremony, he ultimately sang part of it upon winning the award, thus achieving his moment on stage.

First Best Song Winner from an Animated Film: “When You Wish Upon a Star” (1941)

This enduring lullaby was composed by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Disney’s Pinocchio.

First and Only Best Song Winner from a Documentary: “I Need to Wake Up” (2007)

Melissa Etheridge wrote this impactful song for the documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which focuses on Al Gore’s climate change advocacy. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized the nonpartisan nature of environmental care, stating, “This is not Republican or Democrat, it’s not red or blue; we are all green.”

First Best Song Winner Performed in the Film by the Songwriter: “I’m Easy” (1976)

Keith Carradine performed this folk ballad in Robert Altman’s Nashville.

First and Only Best Song Award Presented Posthumously: “Beauty and the Beast” (1992)

Lyricist Howard Ashman succumbed to AIDS on March 14, 1991, just over a year before his Oscar-winning song, co-written with composer Alan Menken, received the award. His partner, Bill Lauch, accepted the honor and expressed pride on Ashman’s behalf, noting the bittersweet nature of the occasion.

First Best Song Winner from a Film That Also Won Best Original Score: “Over the Rainbow” (1940)

Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg received the Best Original Song award for “Over the Rainbow,” a cherished ballad introduced by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, which coincidentally earned Herbert Stothart the award for Best Original Score.

First Best Song Winner from a Film That Also Won Best Picture: “Swinging on a Star” (1945)

The amiable tune, performed by Bing Crosby, appeared in Going My Way, which secured seven Oscars, including Best Picture. The song was written by James Van Heusen and Johnny Burke.

Notably, this also marked the first Best Song winner performed by an actor who had won an Oscar for the same performance.

First Best Song Winner from a Film That Received No Other Nominations: “Thanks for the Memory” (1939)

Bob Hope’s theme, introduced alongside co-star Shirley Ross in The Big Broadcast of 1938, became his signature song until his passing in 2003. Despite its impact, the film earned no additional nominations. The piece was crafted by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin.

First Best Song Winner to Also Win the Grammy for Song of the Year: “Moon River” (1962)

This treasured ballad was co-written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer and performed by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The song also captured the Grammy for Song of the Year at the fourth annual ceremony.

Upon receiving the Oscar, Mercer remarked, “I’d like to say that I’m very proud that you like our song. I’d like to thank you, Audrey. Thank you, Andy. And martinis for everybody.”

First Best Song Winner to Top the Billboard Hot 100: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” (1970)

Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, this upbeat track ascended to the top of the Hot 100 for four weeks in January 1970, marking B.J. Thomas’s first number one and delivering the songwriting duo their second, following Herb Alpert’s “This Guy’s in Love With You.”

First Best Song Winner Written by a Pair of Siblings: “Chim Chim Cher-ee” (1965)

The Sherman Brothers, Richard M. and Robert B., wrote this song for Mary Poppins. They won an additional Oscar that night for their original score.

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell followed in their footsteps, becoming the second sibling pair to win in 2022 with “No Time To Die” and subsequently winning again for “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie, solidifying their unique achievement.

First Hip-Hop Song to Win Best Song: “Lose Yourself” (2003)

This empowering anthem was co-written by Eminem, Jeff Bass, and Luis Resto for Eminem’s debut film, 8 Mile. Notably, Eminem was absent from the ceremony, ultimately giving a live performance of the song in 2020.

Resto was the only writer present to accept the Oscar, stating, “Oh my. This all goes to Marshall. It’s a great thing working with Marshall day in, day out.”

First Best Song Winner Performed by a Country Artist: “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’)” (1953)

Tex Ritter, father of late sitcom star John Ritter, performed this song in the film High Noon, showcasing the genre’s crossover appeal. Ritter enjoyed success on the country charts from 1944 to 1974 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1964.

Composed by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington, the song featured prominently throughout the movie, further enhancing its Oscar-winning status.

First Best Song Winner from a James Bond Film: “Skyfall” (2013)

Adele and Paul Epworth wrote this song for the 23rd official installment of the James Bond series. Previous Bond songs had been nominated but had not achieved a win until now.

First Title Song to Win Best Song: “Three Coins in the Fountain” (1955)

An uncredited Frank Sinatra lent his voice to this tune from a film about three American women in Rome. The song was penned by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn.

Notably, “High Noon” was the first Best Song winner to include the movie’s title, making “Three Coins in the Fountain” the inaugural title song in the category.

First Best Song Winner Written or Co-Written by the Film’s Director: “You Light Up My Life” (1978)

Joseph Brooks wrote, directed, and produced You Light Up My Life, crafting a song that provided hope and comfort to countless listeners. Tragically, Brooks took his own life in 2011.