Pop star Robbie Williams's hopes for an Academy Award nomination have been dashed after his song "Forbidden Road" was removed from the Oscars Best Original Song shortlist due to its striking similarity to a Jim Croce classic.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed that Williams's song, written for his upcoming biopic "Better Man," bears too close a resemblance to Croce's 1973 hit "I Got a Name." The decision led to the track's disqualification from the awards consideration.
"Forbidden Road," which was released last month and co-written by Williams and two collaborators, had initially been among 15 contenders vying for the prestigious award. The song was promoted as a "heartfelt, acoustic-driven crescendo" but failed to acknowledge any connection to Croce's work.
In an official statement, the Academy emphasized their commitment to maintaining the integrity of their Original Song category. "This is a decision that both honors our rules and protects the special nature of the Original Song and Score categories," the organization stated in their letter addressing the matter.
The rules for the Original Song category explicitly require that submissions must be original material written specifically for the film. Any incorporation of existing musical material must be properly credited and declared.
This development marks a setback for Williams's "Better Man" project, a biopic that uniquely features a chimpanzee as its protagonist. The film's musical aspirations will now proceed without Academy Award consideration in the Original Song category.
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