Rihanna, The Weeknd, And Taylor Swift Were All Included In The Oscars’ Shortlist For Best Original Song

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released its shortlists for a bunch of categories — an annual tradition — and the category for Best Original Song features some familiar names including Drake, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd. Remember, these aren’t the official nominees, just the field that Academy voters will narrow down to make up the five-option field ahead of the actual awards voting.

Among the shortlisted songs are a number of the signature singles from some of the year’s biggest franchise sequels, including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Avatar 2: The Way Of Water, and Top Gun: Maverick. According to Billboard, 81 songs were eligible in this category, with 15 making the shortlist. That number will be whittled own to five official nominees. The 15 shortlisted songs are:

“Time” — By Drake, Giveon Evans, Jahaan Akil Sweet, Daniel Pemberton

From Amsterdam, 20th Century Studios

“Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” — By The Weeknd, Steve Angello Josefsson, Sebastian Ingrosso, Axel Hedfords, Simon Franglen

From Avatar: The Way of Water, 20th Century Studios

“Lift Me Up” — By Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Rhianna, Tems

From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios

“This Is a Life” — By David Byrne, Ryan Lott, Mitski

From Everything Everywhere All at Once, A24

“Ciao Papa” — By Alexandre Desplat, Roeban Katz, Guillermo del Toro

From Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Netflix

“Til You’re Home” — By Rita Wilson

From A Man Called Otto, Sony Pictures

“Naatu Naatu” — By Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, Rahul Sipligunj

From RRR, Variance Films

“My Mind & Me” — By Amy Allen, Jonathan Bellion, Selena Gomez, Jordan K Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Michael Pollack

From Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, Apple Original Films

“Good Afternoon” — By Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

From Spirited, Apple Originals

“Applause” — By Diane Warren

From Tell It Like a Woman, Samuel Goldwyn Films

“Stand Up” — By Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Jazmine Sullivan

From Till, Orion/United Artists Releasing

“Hold My Hand” — By BloodPop (Michael Tucker), Lady Gaga

From Top Gun: Maverick, Paramount Pictures

“Dust & Ash” — By J. Ralph

From The Voice of Dust and Ash, Matilda Productions

“Carolina” — By Taylor Swift

From Where the Crawdads Sing, Sony Pictures

“New Body Rhumba” — By Pat Mahoney, James Murphy, Nancy Whang

From White Noise, Netflix

The Best Canadian Songs of 2022

Image by Samuel Iannicelli

  • 20. Akintoye, “Pizzazz”


  • 19. Nonso Amadi f/Majid Jordan, “Different”


  • 18. City Fidelia f/Shelley fka Dram, “Soulmate”


  • 17. Dylan Sinclair, “Open”


  • 16. Sadboi, “That’s Your Problem (Stank Hoez)”


  • 15. Chxrry22, “The Falls”


  • 14. Skiifall, “Fam Without Blood”


  • 13. Dvsn, “If I Get Caught”


  • 12. Sinzere, “The Mission”


  • 11. Nate Husser, “Dwayne Carter Flow”


  • 10. Nav, “Demons in My Cup”


  • 9. Daniel Caesar f/Badbadnotgood, “Please Do Not Lean”


  • 8. Northsidebenji f/Unknown T, “One In the Chamber”


  • 7. Pressa & Smiley, “Vince Carter”


  • 6. Dijahsb, “Khadijah”


  • 5. The Weeknd, “Out of Time”


  • 4. Savannah Ré f/Dylan Sinclair, “Last One”


  • 3. Kaytranada f/Anderson .Paak, “Twin Flame”


  • 2. Jessie Reyez, “Mutual Friend”


  • 1. Drake f/21 Savage, “Jimmy Cooks”

The Weeknd Makes A Triumphant Return To Our “R&B Season” Playlist

Our R&B Season is thriving like never before with the official start of winter just around the corner. What better time than the present to cozy up with your loved ones and stream the latest arrivals on our weekly playlist update?

The Weeknd is no stranger to getting love from us, which is why his contribution to the Avatar 2 soundtrack tops our latest roundup. “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” arrived earlier this week, along with the rest of the film’s audio accompaniment.

Following that is Diddy’s “Sex In The Porsche” with Canada’s own PARTYNEXTDOOR. The song follows Sean Combs’ exciting announcement that he’s now a father of seven.

Though he spends plenty of his free time with his “Shawty Wop,” Yung Miami, the 53-year-old has been hitting the town with an ever-growing roster of other women as of late. Perhaps that’s where the inspiration for his sultry new track comes from.

Afterward, Jacquees’ highly anticipated Sincerely For You album has its moment in the spotlight. Firstly, we selected “Tell Me It’s Over” featuring Summer Walker and 6LACK for our R&B Season update.

Additionally, “Start Over,” “I Remember,” and “When You Bad Like That” featuring Future also caught our attention. As you may already know, Hendrix actually executive-produced the new record, which the R&B vocalist was beyond excited about.

Masego’s voice sounds as beautiful as ever on his “You Never Visit Me” single. Specifically, the song’s lyrics detail what it’s like to push your relationships to the side while prioritizing your own dreams.

Finally, 2g Kaash’s “Pushin for Love” collaboration with Kodak Black has made its way onto our weekly playlist, much to fans’ pleasure.

Stream our R&B Season update exclusively on Spotify below. Afterward, make sure to check out our 12 Days of Christmas interview with Jacquees here.

The Weeknd Was Honored With The Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award

The Weeknd can now add another award to his extensive collection of accolades. Today, The Slaight Family Foundation awarded the pop icon with their coveted Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award.

The Humanitarian Spirit Award is given to one Canadian artist, duo, or group each year, recognizing their social activism and philanthropy, as well as their support of humanitarian causes.

“That this is a Canadian award sits deep with me,” The Weeknd said in a statement. “Allan and The Slaight Family Foundation are known across the country for their generous philanthropy, and it means a lot to be acknowledged, and is an honor to be recognized along with the legendary Canadian artists who received this award before me.”

Over the course of the past few years, The Weeknd has donated to several causes, including $100,000 to Uganda-based maternity and children’s medical facility the Suubi Health Center, $50,000 to the St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Toronto, as well as donations to Black Lives Matter and the Equal Justice Initiative.

Back in September, he met a young fan with cancer backstage at one of his shows.

The Slaight Family Foundation’s CEO and President Gary Slaight explained how he chose The Weeknd as this year’s recipient.

“The global success of Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye makes every Canadian proud,” said Slaight. “What Abel has done with his success is something that we can be doubly proud of–and this is to improve the lives of people in need, in Canada and around the world. His altruism, in a word, is exemplary.”

On top of the award, The Slaight Family Foundation will make a $50,000 donation to a cause chosen by The Weeknd.

The Weeknd Sets Off ‘Avatar 2’s Release With The Uplifting ‘Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)’

The Weeknd’s Avatar 2: The Way Of Water soundtrack single “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” is now available to stream after being teased a few weeks ago.

It’s a big, dramatic, epic song, full of tribal chants and drums, soaring strings, and emotive, uplifting lyrics — as befits the centerpiece song of the big, dramatic, epic comeback sequel of a big, dramatic, epic hit movie from visionary director James Cameron. Thematically, it follows what we know of the movie’s plot so far, emphasizing loyalty, togetherness, and faith in the connections between people to overcome any obstacle. That appears to be what the film’s protagonists will be relying on as militaristic factions pursue the Na’vi implant Jake Sully and his family across the surface of Pandora — and apparently, into its oceans.

As for Abel himself, he recently wrapped the North American leg of his world tour after avoiding disaster when his voice gave out during his Los Angeles show. He’ll be headed overseas for the European swing next summer. Meanwhile, he said he’s been contemplating pulling his 2012 compilation Trilogy from streamers, citing a desire to replace it with the breakout mixtapes (House Of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes Of Silence) of which it was comprised. Certainly, it’d be a fun way to get fans of his over-the-top pop-leaning output from the past few years familiar with the drugged-out, ominous vibes he once embraced. Who’d ever have thought that guy would be contributing to an Avatar soundtrack (or that Avatar would have a sequel)?

Check out “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” above.

The Best Canadian Albums of 2022

Image via Complex Original/Samuel Iannicelli
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    20. Dylan Sinclair, ‘No Longer In The Suburbs’

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    19. Chung, ‘See You When I C U’

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    18. Raccoon, ‘C00N: la prophétie’

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    17. Thelonious, ‘Albion Road Demos.’

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    16. Pierre Kwenders, ‘José Louis and The Paradox of Love’

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    15. Mike Shabb, ‘Sewaside II’

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    14. Nate Husser, ‘All Time High’

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    13. DJ Charlie B, ‘Across the Board’

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    12. Dvsn, ‘Working On My Karma’

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    11. Tanika Charles, ‘Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly’

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    10. Savannah Ré, ‘No Weapons’

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    9. Nav, ‘Demons Protected By Angels’

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    8. Snotty Nose Rez Kids, ‘I’m Good, HBU?’

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    7. Drake & 21 Savage, ‘Her Loss’

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    6. Adria Kain, ‘When Flowers Bloom’

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    5. Nicholas Craven & Boldy James, ‘Fair Exchange No Robbery’

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    4. Backxwash, ‘His Happiness Shall Come First Even Though We Are Suffering’

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    3. Jessie Reyez, ‘Yessie’

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    2. Drake, ‘Honestly, Nevermind’

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    1. The Weeknd, ‘Dawn FM’