When we think about The Twilight Saga, we don’t immediately think of the phrase “Academy Award nominee.” Unlike other big franchises like The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, or Harry Potter, Twilight has never been nominated for an Oscar. Of course, that’s not all that shocking, given the poor reaction to these movies. However, critically maligned franchises like Transformers still managed to secure Oscar nominations in technical categories.
The Twilight Saga movies were never high art, and no one would argue that they should have been nominated for Best Picture or Best Screenplay. Despite how talented stars like Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have proven themselves to be, the Twilight films were far from their best, so acting nominations were never on the table for them. The visual effects can best be described as network television. However, the one area theTwilight movies always had great music. 2011’sThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 also features an original song that was snubbed at the Academy Awards.
The Greatness of “A Thousand Years”
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 should have been nominated for Best Original Song for “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. Written for the fourth film in the Twilight Saga, the song shares the love story between Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, not just for that film but for the entire franchise. “A Thousand Years” conveys the themes and emotions of The Twilight Saga better than the movies themselves. That helped break the song into the mainstream, even among those who hadn’t seen any of the movies.
“A Thousand Years” is a sweeping emotional love ballad that captures the highs of star-crossed lovers, the seismic emotions of its lead characters, and the franchise’s then-teenage fanbase, which also speaks to the desire we all have to find that special someone. The song is written in B-flat major, a key which is typically associated with hope, love, and openness, which matches the sincerity of the lyrics. The song itself feels like a love letter from someone pouring their soul out. No cynicism, no irony, just genuine love. Perri’s lyrics are literal but also broad enough, and the emotional truth feels universal.
“A Thousand Years” became a global smash hit, particularly after the release of the re-recorded “A Thousand Years Part Two” for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which was a duet between Perri and Steve Kazee.
The 2011 Academy Awards Only Had Two Nominated Songs
Despite the praise for “A Thousand Years,” it failed to make a blip at the 84th Academy Awards, which celebrated the movies which were released in 2011. It was a strange ceremony. Despite being the worst-reviewed Best Picture nominee, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close managed to secure a Best Picture nomination.
Under the original voting system for Best Original Song, members ranked the songs using a point system. So, only songs that received an average score of 8.25 or more were eligible for nomination. 2011 was the first year to have only two Best Oiriginal Song nominees: “Real in Rio” from Rio, and the eventual winner, “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets. Then, the rules were changed so that the Academy established a fixed system of five nominees for Best Original Song.
The biggest snub that year was “A Thousand Years” from Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.” Would it (or should it) have beat “Man” or “Muppet”? No. However, its snub feels like a slight bias against the Twilight franchise. “A Thousand Years” is a classic love ballad that recalls the memories of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, or Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s “Shallows” from A Star is Born seven years after The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.
Despite not receiving a Best Original Song Oscar nomination, 15 years later, “A Thousand Years” remains an exceptional love ballad and a high mark for both The Twilight Saga franchise and artist Christina Perri. It’s a romantic, bittersweet, and heartbreaking goodbye, and it also speaks to the unconditional love between parent and child. It’s a song that will be loved for a thousand years,” and will be loved for “a thousand more.”