Top Musical Performances at the Oscars, ranked

      The 96th Academy Awards will take place this Sunday, March 2, and we have already made our selections for the Oscars. This year’s ceremony marks the first time in several years that none of the five nominees for Best Original Song will have the opportunity to perform on the biggest stage in the industry.

      There isn't a solid rationale for the academy's departure from this tradition. The Oscars are always expected to be a lengthy affair extending beyond the intended three-hour duration. However, the musical performances have consistently been among the highlights of the show. We would be surprised if song performances do not return next year. In the meantime, we're sharing our selections for the best musical performances at the Oscars, as moments like these showcase the significance of acknowledging songs on Oscar night.

      10. Belle and Be Our Guest, Beauty and the Beast (1992)

      When Beauty and the Beast graced the Oscars in 1992, it featured three songs vying for the top honor: Be Our Guest, Belle, and the ultimate winner, Beauty and the Beast. All three were performed that evening, including a rendition of Beauty and the Beast by Celine Dion, Angela Lansbury, and Peabo Bryson. While that performance was remarkable, we are highlighting the combined performance of Belle and Be Our Guest because it showcased the film's voice actors — Paige O’Hara, Richard White, and Jerry Orbach — in a live-action interpretation. Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman composed the music and lyrics for all three songs.

      9. My Heart Will Go On, Titanic (1998)

      There was no way to avoid Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On during the Titanic’s theatrical release; it essentially defined 1997. Naturally, it earned an Academy Award for Best Song, alongside Titanic’s wins for Best Picture, Best Director, and more. There's no denying Dion's talent; her performance that night was an instant classic.

      8. When You Believe, The Prince of Egypt (1999)

      DreamWorks Animation’s first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt, has largely been forgotten in favor of Shrek and other CGI films. Yet, no one can forget the Oscar moment when legends Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston shared the stage to perform When You Believe. Unsurprisingly, the song won the Oscar that year.

      7. A Kiss At The End of the Rainbow, A Mighty Wind (2004)

      Annette O’Toole and her husband, Michael McKean, co-wrote the Oscar-nominated A Kiss At the End of the Rainbow, but it was performed in A Mighty Wind by Mallory (O’Toole) and her former partner, Mickey (Eugene Levy). This performance was much more subdued compared to many of the extravagant Oscar productions, but that simplicity was precisely what the song required. Indeed, there is a kiss at the end of this rainbow.

      6. Glory, Selma (2015)

      John Legend has performed at the Oscars on multiple occasions, but his rendition of Glory from Selma was his finest. Legend and his collaborator, Common, delivered a memorable performance that became an iconic Oscar moment. The song serves as both a rallying cry for action and an Oscar-winning track.

      5. Blame Canada, South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

      The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was fortunate not to nominate the song that begins with "Uncle" from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Matt Stone and Trey Parker penned a number of excellent songs for their adult-oriented musical, and Blame Canada was likely the most appropriate of them all. This was the song that should have won the Oscar that year. The late Robin Williams famously stepped in to perform Blame Canada at the Oscars, where he added even more humor to the piece. His entertaining performance secures his place among the all-time Oscar greats.

      4. Shallow, A Star Is Born (2019)

      Since A Star Is Born premiered in 2018, fans have speculated about a romance between Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they delivered a breathtaking duet of Shallow, illustrating why it earned the Oscar that year. While Cooper is a commendable singer, Gaga's talent is on a whole different level.

      3. I’m Just Ken, Barbie (2024)

      One of the funniest aspects of this performance is witnessing future Oscar-winner Billie Eilish trying not to laugh as Ryan Gosling begins his rendition of I’m Just Ken right in front of her. While Gosling may not have the strongest singing voice, he fully invested himself in this grand showstopper. The performance featured cameos from the other Kens in the movie, Slash, Margot Robbie, numerous dancing Kens, and even Gosling’s La La Land co-star, Emma Stone.

      2. Streets of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (1994)

      Bruce Springsteen