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This list was originally published on March 8, 2024.
Diane Warren is the most important songwriter of her generation and the greatest Oscar loser of all time.
(Yet another Oscar race Bradley Cooper cannot win.)
The songwriter first emerged in the mid-1980s for her work on DeBarges iconic single Rhythm of the Night.
Warren has made a career from churning out dramatic power ballads.
Warrens iconic love ballads, played against the end credits, defined the 90s.
Warren received her first Oscar nomination and her first loss in 1987.
In total, shes been nominated 16 times, all with no wins.
Even Warrens worst songs are exemplary feats of songwriting.
16.Music of My Heart
16.
Gloria Estefan featuring N Sync does not sound real, and it doesnt sound great either.
Has anyone ever said that Justin Timberlake kind of sounds like Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks?
I hope Im the first.
15.Applause
15.
Carsons voice doesnt exude enough confidence to fully sell the lyrics, which arent exactly Warrens North Star.
14.Im Standing With You
14.
Its not her best, but its a welcome throwback.
13.The Journey
13.
Yes, but also, no.
Oprah andDean Norrisare also in it.
The film centers an all-Black and all women battalion in World War II.
Preciseandclunkyandexactly what the movie is at the same time.
Warren really outdid herself!
Because you have to win to do a speech.
But it could be worse than what we got.
12.Ill Fight
12.
11.Io si (Seen)
11.
Io si (Seen) demonstrates Warrens command of songwriting over her decades-long career.
This power ballad communicates a message about prejudice that melds Warrens romanticism with activism.
10.Grateful
10.
9.Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now
9.
Thankfully, it lost.
8.The Fire Inside
8.
Late-stage capitalism is coming for us all …
7.How Do I Live
7.
Ironically, Warren would justifiably lose this race to a song performed by her former collaborator Celine Dion.
6.Somehow You Do
6.
But Somehow You Do is not a joke.
It is serious and seriously good.
5.Stand Up for Something
5.
), and as such proved once again that her striking, sensational lyricism can communicate a powerful message.
4.Because You Loved Me
4.
I dont think so, so Ill give the Academy voters a pass.
3.There Youll Be
3.
Year:2001Performed by:Faith HillFor:Pearl HarborLost to:If I Didnt Have You, forMonsters, Inc.
I tried to put my love for Hartnett and my soft spot for this nightmare of a movie aside.
This is absolutely brilliant, asPearl Harboris a movie about two hot airplane guys in love with Kate Beckinsale.
2.Til It Happens to You
2.
Lady There Could Be 100 People in the Room Gaga.
Its also more poignant than Warrens other nominated work, which is most often limited to love things.
How unfortunate that this lost to a middling-to-below-average Bond song.
1.I Dont Want to Miss a Thing
1.
