The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that 70 songs are currently in contention* for nominations to the best original song category.

Among those up for selection are Taylor Swift’s “I Don’t Want to Live Forever” from “Fifty Shades Darker,” Mariah Carey’s “The Star” from the same film, and Nick Jonas’ “Home” from Fox’s animated film “Ferdinand.” Awards favorite “Call Me By Your Name” has two songs up for consideration, as well as “Patti Cake$,” “Cars 3,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pulimurugan” and “Elizabeth Blue.” “Lake of Fire” has three eligible* songs.

During the nomination process, all voting members of the Music Branch will receive a reminder list of works submitted in the category and a compilation of the song clips. Members will be asked to watch the clips and then vote in the order of their preference for not more than five selections in the category. The five candidates receiving the highest number of votes will become one of the nominations for final voting for the award. A maximum of two songs may be nominated from any one film.

To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible*, substantive* rendition* of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on January 23, 2018.

(SD-Agencies)