The-Dream and Halle Bailey are among the songwriters whose songs from The Color Purple have been shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 96th Oscars.
Fantasia’s “Superpower (l),” which was the film’s end credits song, is in the running for one of the five nomination slots.
The song was written and produced by The-Dream, who has worked with everyone from Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey to Beyoncé and Rihanna.
Kuk Harrell also served as vocal producer for the track.
“This isn’t just a song for a movie, but a very personal song about myself,” Fantasia wrote in an Instagram caption for a vignette of scenes from The Color Purple.
“As you all know, Celie is a character that I hold close to my heart. @thekingdream wrote MY song — it’s not only Celie’s journey, but it’s own OWN story. And I am so glad to announce this song is shortlisted for an Oscar. I hope everyone is able to listen to this song and feel the emotions I felt while singing it.”
Fantasia portrays Celie in the musical adaptation of The Color Purple, which is currently playing in U.S. theaters.
“Keep It Movin’,” which Halle, as young Nettie, and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, as young Celie, performed before getting firewood ahead of Mister’s return in The Color Purple, is competing for a place in the Best Original Song race.
Halle collaborated with NOVA Wav, the Grammy-winning songwriting/production duo (Denisia “Blue June” Andrews and Brittany “Chi” Coney), and Morten Jensen to co-write an optimistic tune.
“The list is compiled with a lot of great songs, so just really excited to be even considered,” Andrews told Variety in a recent interview. “But also I feel like it’s a great song, so I feel like we deserve to be there, and hopefully we can advance to the nominations.”
Missy Elliott’s remix of “Keep It Movin’” with Halle is featured on The Color Purple soundtrack (more on that later).
Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” from Netflix’s American Symphony is shortlisted for Best Original Song, in addition to The Color Purple recordings. Batiste produced and co-wrote the track with Dan Wilson.
Voting for the nominations of the 2024 Oscars will begin Thursday, Jan. 11, and end on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The announcement of the nominations will be made on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
The ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be broadcast on ABC.
In other related news, the official soundtrack for The Color Purple is available now.
The star-studded compilation includes additional features from Usher, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, H.E.R., Jennifer Hudson, Keyshia Cole, October London, Coco Jones and more.
Regarding the film, as mentioned previously, The Color Purple is currently showing in theaters across the U.S. Its global release is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2024.
The film is directed by Blitz Bazawule and features an ensemble cast also including Danielle Brooks (as Sophia), Taraji P. Henson (as Shug Avery), Colman Domingo (as Mister), Corey Hawkins (as Harpo), Ciara (as adult Nettie), and H.E.R. (as Squeak), among others.
Here is the list of recordings shortlisted for Best Original Song:
Jon Batiste — “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony
Asteroid City Cast — “Dear Alien (Who Art In Heaven)” from Asteroid City
Dua Lipa — “Dance The Night” from Barbie
Ryan Gosling — “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie
Billie Eilish — “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie
Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi — “Keep It Movin’” from The Color Purple
Fantasia — “Superpower (I)” from The Color Purple
Becky G — “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot
Eve Hewson, Oren Kinlan — “High Life” from Flora and Son
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eve Hewson — “Meet In The Middle” from Flora and Son
Olivia Rodrigo — “Can’t Catch Me Now” from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Osage Tribal Singers — “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon
Sharon Van Etten — “Quiet Eyes” from Past Lives
Lenny Kravitz — “Road To Freedom” from Rustin
Metro Boomin, A$AP Rocky, Roisee — “Am I Dreaming” from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
