“Lose Yourself” Wins Best Original Song (2002)
I promise, not all of these entries come from the 2002 Academy Awards. Still, few moments in recent Oscar history have drawn as much delighted shock as when Barbra Streisand read out Eminem’s name for his head-bopper “Lose Yourself,” the high point of the drama 8 Mile.
The inspirational tune became the first rap song to ever win an Academy Award, helping to validate a musical genre often neglected from such prestigious honors. (Three years later, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” from Hustle and Flow, became the second to do so. Its victory was equally deserved.) Considering that the slate of songs that year was bland, mid-tempo ditties from the likes of U2 and Paul Simon, competition was fierce even if the songs were not.
“Lose Yourself” is a terrific song, rooted in character and place and filled with ingenious rhymes and rhythmic patterns. It was a shame that Eminem was not present at the ceremony to perform the tune. The honor was such a surprise that even the rapper has said that he didn’t attend the ceremony because he thought he wouldn’t win. Considering how he boasts about seizing one shot in the song, it’s a shame that he didn’t capture the spotlight and instead let it slip.
Published: Feb 18, 2015 12:59 pm