Bay Area hit maker musician makes his Oscar picks

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) -- One of the most unpredictable categories in the Academy Awards is Best Original Song. The category is so quirky that three years ago only two songs got nominated. This year there are five nominees. ABC7 News talked with a Bay Area man who has won three Grammys, an Emmy, and been nominated for an Oscar to find out what it takes to win.

Multi-platinum record producer Narada Michael Walden says the recipe for an Oscar winning song changes every year. The secret sauce can include everything from raw talent to sentimental appeal to timing. The only thing all the songs have in common is they must be written specifically for a film.

We listened to this year's nominees with Narada at his recording studio in Marin County. Narada picked "Glory" from the movie "Selma" as the song he likes best and expects to win. It was written and performed by John Legend and Common.

Narada said John Legend's stirring vocals captured the essence of the 1960s civil rights movement. He called it surprising and inspired to also weave in rap music that includes lyrics about more recent civil rights battles.

"They modernized it," he said. "Yes, Selma, but it's today -- Ferguson, it's today Oakland, it's today in our country."

As for the other nominees, Narada said they all have interesting features that could swing Academy voters in a different direction.

Narada thinks the nomination of "Everything is Awesome" from "The Lego Movie" is a message that the Academy wants to be "really on the cutting edge of what's modern at this time." It was written by Shawn Patterson.

The song "Grateful" from the movie "Beyond the Lights" was written by Diane Warren. Narada has worked with Warren on two number one hits and called her a brilliant writer. This is Warren's seventh Oscar nomination, and Narada said that could sway voters.

"I think who you are does matter," he said.

"Grateful" was written to play over credits, rather than during the movie itself. But another nominated song, "Lost Star," is pivotal to the plot of the movie "Begin Again." The song is performed in part by Adam Levine.

Narada loved the production.

"It's very nice to hear Adam Levine in a really simple setting," he said. "Under produced, just guitar, and when the chorus hits, the cello hits, not drums. So it's nice to hear his voice. He's a really good singer."

Although the singer can make a difference, the Oscar itself goes to the songwriters. In the case of "Lost Stars" that is Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebrois.

Country music legend Glen Campbell co-wrote "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" with Julian Raymond for a documentary about Campbell's final tour after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The movie is called "Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me."

Narada calls Campbell a musical genius with a phenomenal body of work during his career.

"God bless him," he said. "If he wins, it's a sentimental vote and he's done so much work. I can see it going to him."

We'll find out Sunday night if Narada got it right.

Watch all the Oscar coverage starting at 2 p.m. on ABC7 News. And click here for full coverage on the big show!

Written and produced by Jennifer Olney.