Oscar Party Playlist (Plus Some Ideas for Oscar Noms!)

The Retrosettes perform "You Got the Love" in Youth

With this year’s Oscars broadcast bound to be tense and awkward, a proper atmosphere during the red carpet and mingling hours is key to a successful Oscar party. Besides the obligatory themed noms, like, say, some bison sliders to celebrate The Revenant, some potatoes to fête The Martian (debate who would have the better fertilizer: Matt Damon or Jessica Chastain!), some spaghetti and Guinness for Brooklyn, Boston Cream donuts for Spotlight, and a Sunday treat for Room. For drinks, serve water for Mad Max: Fury Road (every party has one cheap guest, so at least he/she will be on target), a Jack and Coke for Amy, and some big martinis to say cheers to Carol with a ’55 Margaux to savour Steve Jobs. If you want some coffee, poison a guest à la The Hateful Eight and let the rest of the party debate who did it.

Food is half the atmosphere, but music is another. Cinemablographer is doing double duty as a DJ to help highlight how 2015 was a great year for movies as overtures, themes, and ditties offer cues for conversation. Use the playlist to help make predictions in the Best Original Song category, too, and enjoy the music as “Simple Song #3” culminates to the main event.

And if you’re making predictions, check out some picks for who will win and should win for some handy tips.

*Best Original Song nominee

Oscar Party Playlist:

1. “Overture” by Ennio Morricone, from The Hateful Eight

2. “You Got the Love” by The Retrosettes from Youth

3. “Feelin’ Good” by Nina Simone from What Happened, Miss Simone?

4. “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse from Amy

5. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor from The Martian

6. “One Mint Julep” by The Clovers fom Carol

7. “Writings On the Wall” by Sam Smith from Spectre*

8. “’Til it Happens to You” by Lada Gaga from The Hunting Ground*

9. “Earned It” by The Weekend from Fifty Shades of Grey*

10 “Fuck Tha Police” by NWA from Straight Outta Compton

11. “Lord Knows” by Meek Mill from Creed

12. “Grew Up at Midnight” by The Maccabees from Steve Jobs

13. “Big Rock Candy Mountain” by Brie Larson from Room

14. “Feels Like Summer” by Tim Wheeler from Shaun the Sheep Movie

15. “Manta Ray” by J. Ralph and Anohni from Racing Extinction*

16.  “Main Theme” by Junkie XL from Mad Max: Fury Road

17. “Frankie’s Song” by Iarla O Lionaird from Brooklyn

18. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Jennifer Jason Leigh from Anomalisa

19. “Simple Song #3” by Sumi Jo from Youth*

Enjoy the show!