Which songs were nominated for Oscars?

While the Oscars are known as an award show that honors the best in acting and filmmaking, music is very much an important part of what brings a movie to life, and every year hit songs are recognized at the award show.

A number of songs have gone on to become hits on their own, outside the movie they belong to. Here’s a look at some of the best songs that have been nominated for an Oscar.

‘9 to 5′ (1980) from ‘9 to 5′, by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton’s hit song ‘9 to 5′ about the realities that working women faced at the time was nominated for an Oscar for the comedy film of the same name, although it did not win. The song also received four Grammy nominations, with Parton winning Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female in 1982.

Besides being the film’s lead song, the song also appeared on Parton’s album ‘9 to 5 and Odd Jobs’.

‘Accidentally In Love’ (2004) from ‘Shrek 2′, by Counting Crows

The Counting Crows song ‘Accidentally In Love’ played during the opening sequence for ‘Shrek 2′ in 2004, after Shrek and Fiona have tied the knot and go on their honeymoon.

The song was later nominated for an Oscar in 2005, and although it didn’t win, the song became a commercial hit. It peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and stayed within the top 50 in multiple charts around the world.

‘Take My Breath Away’ (1986) from ‘Top Gun’, by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock

‘Take My Breath Away’, performed by Berlin, and written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock instantly became a hit when it was released on the ‘Top Gun’ soundtrack in 1986.

The song is a slow ballad, played during the romantic scenes between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. It was nominated for and won an Oscar for Best Original Song, and also won a Golden Globe for the same category, winning both awards in 1986.

‘I See the Light’ (2010) from ‘Tangled’, by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater

Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi performed ‘I See the Light’ from the film, ‘Tangled’ and also voiced the main characters, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in the movie. The song, written by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater is a pop ballad duet that is sung by Rapunzel and Flynn during the movie’s famous paper lantern love scene.

The song was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 2011. While the song didn’t win either of these awards, it did win a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.