Oscars 2012: Original Song nominees

There are just two original songs in contention for the Oscar this year. Both musical numbers were composed specifically for their respective films and demonstrate tunes that match a movie. The Muppets and Rio are the nominees so each face 50/50 odds of winning.

Jason Segal sings ‘Man or Muppet’ and is featured in the music video with Walter, a real muppet. The lyrics coincide with the plot in the film about Segal’s character Gary and his girlfriend Mary who is played by Amy Adams. The pair are joined by Walter as they embark to save the muppets from a sinister oil man.

In Rio, the 3D animation wasn’t the only thing that caught audience’s attention. The original song to the film about Blu, a domesticated blue macaw in love with a wild macaw named Jewel in Rio de Janeiro provides some Carnivale spirit in the plot. Adding to the comedy is that Blu can’t fly after a life in captivity and that the macaws are mated to prevent extinction. Taio Cruz sings the song in the official music video.