Which songs have won the Oscar-Grammy double — as Billie Eilish vies to complete the rare feat
“Barbie” — the summer blockbuster that none other than Meryl Streep said “saved the movies” in 2023 – may have been snubbed in some of the major categories at the 2024 Academy Awards. (Shout-out to Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig!)
But there is no stopping that arch-footed doll in at least one category — Best Original Song — where Billie Eilish is the overwhelming favorite to win her second Oscar for her brooding ballad “What Was I Made For?”
Only another “Barbie” ditty, “I’m Just Ken,” even stands a chance at an upset.
Just like “No Time to Die” — Eilish’s Bond theme that took the song-penning prize in 2022 — the tune that hauntingly humanizes Barbie was co-written by the singer’s producer brother Finneas.
And the unstoppable siblings have already won the prestigious Song of the Year Grammy for their efforts last month.
But with another victory on Sunday, not only would they become the youngest two-time Oscar winners in history, they would put “What Was I Made For?” in some elite company as the 10th track to win both the Grammy for Song of the Year and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Here are the nine other tunes which have earned prestigious props for completing that rare feat.
“Moon River”
From: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer
While Audrey Hepburn — who received the fourth of her five Best Actress Oscar nominations for her sterling turn as Holly Golightly — performed this timeless tune in the romantic-comedy classic, it was legendary crooner Andy Williams who sang it on Oscar night and flew it to the “Moon” as his signature song.
“Days of Wine and Roses”
From: “Days of Wine and Roses” (1962)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer
After scoring the first Oscar-Grammy double slay with “Moon River,” M&M made it two in a row with the title tune from another Blake Edwards film — a romantic drama starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, who both earned Oscar nominations for their lead performances. But composer Mancini and lyricist Mercer were the only ones sipping that victory vino on Oscar night.
“The Shadow of Your Smile”
From: “The Sandpiper” (1965)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis
The lilting love theme from the romantic drama starring then-spouses Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton — during the first of their two marriages — has been covered by everyone from Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand to Stevie Wonder and Brazilian great Astrud Gilberto.
“The Way We Were”
From: “The Way We Were” (1973)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Alan & Marilyn Bergman, and Marvin Hamlisch
Can it be that it has been 50 years since “The Way We Were” won that golden baldie on April 2, 1974? But even though the most memorable of Streisand songs landed Babs her very first No. 1 hit, she declined to bless us with that buttah on Oscar night — when she was also up for Best Actress — leaving Peggy Lee to do the honors.
“Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)”
From: “A Star Is Born” (1976)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams
Long before Lady Gaga lapped the competition with “Shallow” — her own “Star Is Born” ballad — in 2019, another one of Streisand’s chart-topping tunes was shown “the brightest love” by Oscar voters. But this time, Streisand herself won her second Academy Award — nine years after winning Best Actress for “Funny Girl” — as the “Evergreen” co-writer.
“You Light Up My Life”
From: “You Light Up My Life” (1977)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Joseph Brooks
Sometimes a song far outshines the movie. Such was the case with this No. 1 smash that turned Debby Boone — daughter of Pat — into a Grammy-winning star. But it was actually leading lady Didi Conn who lip-synched for her life in the dismal film.
“A Whole New World”
From: “Aladdin” (1992)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Alan Menken and Tim Rice
After “Beauty and the Beast” won the Oscar but lost the Song of the Year Grammy (to Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven”) in 1992, the powerhouse pen pairing of Menken and Rice turned right around and made their “Aladdin” chart-topper a “World” beater at both awards shows.
“Streets of Philadelphia”
From: “Philadelphia” (1993)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: Bruce Springsteen
They don’t call him the Boss for nothing. Springsteen’s moody AIDS meditation beat out Janet Jackson’s chart-topping “Again” (from “Poetic Justice”) at the 1994 Oscars and then bigger hits by the likes of Elton John (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight”) and Sheryl Crow (“All I Wanna Do”) at the 1995 Grammys.
“My Heart Will Go On”
From: “Titanic” (1997)
And the Oscar-Grammy double goes to: James Horner and Will Jennings
Rose may not have made space for Jack on that lifeboat, but there was no killing the “Titanic” takeover at the 1998 Oscars: The box-office behemoth swept to 11 wins, including Best Picture and Best Original Song. And 14 months after “Titanic” hit theaters in December 1997, Celine Dion’s unsinkable smash still had enough steam to win Song of the Year at the Grammys in February 1999.
