Over the course of her illustrious career, Madonna has become a titan in the music industry, yet a notable incident involving the Oscars deprived her of an additional honor more than a decade ago. With a prolific career spanning over four decades, she is celebrated as one of the most significant recording artists in music history. Many of her iconic songs have found their way into films and television series, while her transition into acting has seen her take on acclaimed roles in movies such as Desperately Seeking Susan and Evita, the latter of which earned her a prestigious Golden Globe award.
In addition to her acting endeavors, Madonna ventured into directing with her 2011 film W. E., which delves into the tumultuous romance between Edward VIII of England and Wallis Simpson, ultimately leading to his controversial abdication in 1936. Despite facing a barrage of criticism upon its release, with cast member David Harbour expressing his doubts about the film during production, W. E. garnered appreciation for its exquisite soundtrack and costume design, culminating in an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design. However, an unexpected twist in the Academy’s rules rendered it ineligible for recognition in another category.
Madonna’s ‘Masterpiece’ Deemed Ineligible for Best Original Song in 2012
A Deep Dive into ‘Masterpiece’
Among the contributions to the W. E. soundtrack was the poignant ballad “Masterpiece, ”which Madonna co-wrote alongside Jimmy Harry and Julie Frost. Describing the essence of the song, Madonna articulated it as “about a woman who has fallen in love with this untouchable thing, this man that was raised to be king, ”reflecting the early dynamics of Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII’s relationship (via Yahoo).The song was met with widespread acclaim, ultimately winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 2012. However, despite this success, “Masterpiece”faced an unfortunate hurdle—it was initially shortlisted for the Oscar, only to be deemed ineligible.
According to the Academy’s regulations, a song must either be featured prominently within the film or serve as the lead music cue during the closing credits to qualify for the Best Original Song award (via Oscars).In the case of “Masterpiece, ”the song played during the end credits, a minute after they commenced, rendering it ineligible (via Spin).Despite enjoying success at the Golden Globes and receiving a nomination at the 2012 World Soundtrack Awards, the disqualification from the Oscars kept Madonna from achieving her first-ever Academy Award nomination.
Other Notable Songs That Missed Out Due to Oscar Rules
Evolution of Oscar Nomination Rules
Since its inception in 1934, the Academy Award for Best Original Song has undergone several significant changes. A pivotal alteration took place in 1941 when “The Last Time I Saw Paris”from Lady Be Good won, despite not being written for the film. This prompted a successful campaign by the composer Jerome Kern, leading to a rule ensuring only songs crafted specifically for a motion picture could be nominated.
Current regulations also indicate that songs must be judged on factors such as creativity, effectiveness, and craftsmanship. A song will be disqualified if it is perceived to be diminished in impact due to the presence of music not composed exclusively for the film. A prime example is “Gangsta’s Paradise”from Dangerous Minds, which lost its film eligibility in 1995 due to its sampling of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise”(via Huffpost).
More recently, the song “Forbidden Road”from the upcoming biopic Better Man was excluded from consideration for the Best Original Song category, severely limiting the film’s chances for Oscar recognition in 2025. Although shortlisted, the song was found to bear too many resemblances to Jim Croce’s “I Got a Name, ”leading to its disqualification. While Better Man did receive a nomination for Best Visual Effects, the disqualification in the song category means that Robbie Williams has similarly missed out on the opportunity for his inaugural Oscar nomination.
Sources: Yahoo, Oscars, Spin, Huffpost
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