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Line 1: {{trope}} Or, [[Firefly (TV series)\|Big Damn]] [[Disney Renaissance\|Bronze Age]] [[Disney Animated Canon\|Disney Style]] [[Oscar Bait\|Award Baiting]] [[Crowning Music of Awesome\|End Credits]] [[Power Ballad]]. You Tropers who grew up in the early 1990s know what we're talking about, right? It's the kind of song which plays over the end credits (usually) of an animated (usually) Disney ([[All Animation Is Disney\|usually]]) movie (usually) from [[The Nineties\|the 90s]] (usually). They each share a distinctive style and, as per the title, once you hear it you just ''know'' it's going to get nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Line 22: Award Bait Songs are also found in many live-action films, notably "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZehdyawD9A My Heart Will Go On]" from ''[[Titanic]]''. Many, many films from the late-70's through late-90's had a song like this, leading some critics to call this period the last really amazing time for movie songs. This has been exchanged for "hip" pop songs from the popular artists at the time, and/or more commonly the movie soundtrack. Note that not every end-credit song is one of these! [[Movie Bonus Song~~\|Movie Bonus Songs~~]]s in film adaptations of stage musicals are often not these, though they're often accused of being Oscar bids since [[Captain Obvious\|pre-existing music isn't eligible for Best Original Song]]. Furthermore, the "Award-Baiting" part isn't the important part, nor is the "End Credits" part. The important part is that the song is strongly associated with a film ([[Anime\|or]] [[Video Games\|whatever]]), serves as a fitting capstone, and is in the style described above. One tactic when trying for an [['''Award Bait Song]]''' is to take an existing, usually famous, song and record a [[Softer and Slower Cover]]. For other kinds of popular and/or Award-winning movie songs, see [[Breakaway Pop Hit]] and [["I Want" Song]]. Compare [[The Power of Rock]]. Line 37: ''[[Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker]]'s'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSEkhMjL4eI "Make a Wish".] * By that extension, the Japanese version's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fBpLos_4hg "Chiisaki Mono" (A Small Thing).] ** ''[[Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai\|The Rise of Darkrai]]'' uses, of all things, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUZ06oTrpFU "I Will Be With You (Where the Lost Ones Go)"] for its [[Award Bait ~~Song]]--even~~Song—even in the Japanese version! Can lead to a bit of [[Soundtrack Dissonance]] over the ending credits, which has the beautiful, soulful ballad played over scenes of adorable frolicking Pokémon. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKc6a0dPSPM "And Forever"] from the ending of ''[[The Big O]]''. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpPiKI_BGWA "Half Pain"] from the ending of ''[[Witch Hunter Robin]]''. <s>It tends towards sorrow more than joy</s> the lyrics are heart wrenching, but is warm and soft in its delivery. Hauntingly beautiful. Line 44: * The eponymous song from the ending of the 2004 ''[[Phoenix]]'' anime. May sound like a fairly ordinary anime vocal ending at first, but easily becomes [[Tear Jerker]] by the end of the story by sheer stunning context with it. Effect may be amplified if you are particularly moved by the style of [[wikipedia:The Carpenters\|The Carpenters]]. * ''[[Gankutsuou]]'''s intro [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RyHS8Mw_mk "We Were Lovers".] * A group of unofficial Fan Dubbers creating an English track for the movie ''[[Arashi no Yoru ni]]'' took it upon themselves to actually pen an all-original [[Award Bait Song]] for the end credits, replacing the movie's original end credits theme, "Star". [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsCHDWGvNu0 "Watch the Moonrise"] is actually quite sweet. ** Can also become a [[Tear Jerker]], depending on how you look at it. * ''[[AIR]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un_-kExsuRk&fmt=18 Aozora]. '''[[Tear Jerker\|Full stop]]'''. Line 50: * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haliLPTq5NE Tune the Rainbow] from the [[RahXephon]] movie simply begs for this. * The ''[[Macross]]'' franchise has a few [[Japanese Pop Music\|J-Pop]]-style showstoppers, but special mention must be given to "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wckZcVFLU24 Do You Remember Love?]", specially written for the [[Summer Blockbuster]] of the same name by the late Kazuhiko Katoh. * ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)\|Fullmetal Alchemist]] (2003)'' has the song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSqus2TlcsY&fmt=18 Bratya] which was featured at the end of the episode where we see Ed's and Al's past. Even though it's in Russian, a language most viewers probably don't understand, it definitely [[Tear Jerker\|packs a punch]]. * [[Tenchi Muyo!\|Tenchi Forever]], which was meant to be the conclusion of the [[Tenchi Universe]] canon, has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhdNoFWaUBI Love Song ga Kikoeru], which is appropriate considering he [[Tenchi Solution\|actually picks someone]] in this continuity. "Tenchi Muyo! in Love" has "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foQ-3YsXPZc Alchemy of Love]" as sung by [[Megumi Hayashibara]]. Line 58: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAHXdQ6QE9M Girls Can Rock?] That's like one of the most rockin' songs in all of the series! * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxVcP-Pb6dc No More Words] from the first [[Inuyasha]] movie. * [~~http~~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-8vSXZtWEQ Destiny ~Shukumei~] from ''Hitsuji no Uta'' is a gloomier version of this trope. * ''Every Time You Kissed Me'' from [[Pandora Hearts]]. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t661DztOJQ After All] from [[Turn aA Gundam ~~(Anime)~~\|Turn a Gundam]]. * ''[[After War Gundam X\|Gundam X]]'' featured [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e7MlcT3OGs Human Touch] one of the last works composed by the ''Soulful Rain Man'' himself [[wikipedia:Warren Wiebe\|Warren Wiebe]]. * [[Vision of Escaflowne]]: [[The Movie\|A Girl In Gaea]] has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnnHmjpldQc You're Not Alone]. Line 67: * ''[[One Piece Strong World]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpMgZG0F2qs&feature=related Fanfare] by Mr.Children. ** There's also "One Day" by The Rootless, although it kind of spoiled the fact that {{spoiler\|Portgas D. Ace got [[Killed Off for Real]]}}. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i67ZXLPeg9s Chiisa na Te no Hira] (The Palm of a Tiny Hand) from the end of the [[Clannad (visual novel)\|Clannad]] series. * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcd0TQVRlX8 Sora wo Miagete]" by Shirai Takako, the second ED from the first season of ''[[You're Under Arrest]]''. * [[Full Metal Panic!]] featured no less than two of these songs ''as openings'' in it's run, the first [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICn_pmfU3SE tomorrow] was used for the original series, the second [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdDeyc8F-Dk Sore ga Ai deshou?](I guess that's love?) [[It Makes Sense in Context\|strangely enough]] was used as the opening for Fumoffu. == Film == Line 75: * Dido and AR Rahman's [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=if+i+rise+127+hours&aq=1 If I Rise] from 127 Hours. Lost to Randy Newman's "We Belong Together", from ''[[Toy Story 3]]''. * Another early example among Oscar-nominated songs is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5tL0jvX_88 "The Last Time I Felt Like This"] from ''Same Time, Next Year'' (1978). * "Candle On The Water" from ''[[Pete's Dragon]]'' (1977) was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to ''another'' award bait song -- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnk8SKD9zcA "You Light Up My Life"] from the movie of the same name. * A fantastic live-action example is Whitney Houston's cover of "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9nPf7w7pDI I Will Always Love You]" from ''[[The Bodyguard]]''. It wasn't nominated for the Oscar because it was a cover of a Dolly Parton song from the 1970s. Parton herself sang it in the movie version of ''The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas'' in 1982. ** "Run To You" and "I Have Nothing" from this film also count, and were both nominated for Best Original Song but lost to ''Aladdin'''s "A Whole New World". Line 103: * The Muppets did it again in ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' with the song "Love Led Us Here". This touching ballad of love lost and found is first sung by Piggy and Kermit as they dangle off a cliff edge by their ankles. The song is reprised in the end credits by John Berry and Helen Darling. * "The Rainbow Connection" from [[The Muppet Movie\|the original Muppet movie]] could stand as an early example. It was indeed nominated for an Oscar that year. ** The [[Weezer]] and [[Paramore\|Hayley Williams]] cover from ''The Green Album'', a tie-in for [[The Muppets (film)\|the 2011 Muppets movie]], sounds exactly like a Disney end-credits cover of the song would. Surprisingly, it isn't played over the movie's credits,<ref>although Kermit and Piggy do sing the regular version of the song during the movie itself</ref>, but the movie does bring us [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WWWTW1P8rQ "Man or Muppet"], despite it not being played over the end credits either. (and being the most award-baity, "Man or Muppet" even won the Oscar!) * Parodied in the 2005 version of ''[[The Producers]]'' with "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lj_GLRzqM4 The Hop-Clop Goes On]", a reprise of "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop". * ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' had an award-bait song and [[Crowning Moment of Awesome\|BOLLYWOOD DANCE ROUTINE]] over the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRC4QrUwo9o end credits]. ** Subverted with "Dreams on Fire", which seems like the primary [[Oscar Bait]] song from the ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' soundtrack. It didn't get nominated. (but "Jai-Ho" won, and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqk5Vf8KAfE the collaboration with] [[~~MIA~~M.I.A.]] got a nom too) * "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", performed by Starship for 1987's ''[[Mannequin]]'' and nominated for an Oscar. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOgfRijoeYA "It Goes Like It Goes"] by Jennifer Warnes won the Oscar for 1979 for ''[[Norma Rae]]''. It beat out "The Rainbow Connection". * The Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes duet "Up Where We Belong" from ''[[An Officer and a Gentleman]]'' was award-baity enough to win a Golden Globe, Oscar, BAFTA, and a Grammy. All this after the producer of the film tried to get the song cut, insisting that it was "no good and not a hit." * Jennifer Warnes had another award-winning duet when she teamed up with Bill Medley for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMoMBFhMdDw "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life"] from ''[[Dirty Dancing]]'' Line 122: * "Learn To Be Lonely" from ''[[The Phantom of the Opera]]''. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3SVXz3TFr8&feature=fvst "The Rose"] by Bette Midler, from ''The Rose'', natch. It may be one of the earliest examples of this trope.(1979) * Bette Midler's version of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq0llrCYtCQ&feature=related "Wind Beneath My Wings"], prominently featured in ''Beaches''. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVJnMj2oKfo "Endless Love"] from the movie of the same name. * The [[Phil Collins]]-Marilyn Martin duet [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_4w3-CPP6E Separate Lives] from ''White Nights''. It was nominated, but lost to another song from the movie "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, which isn't as award baity of a song. * Phil Collins also has ''Against All Odds'' from the movie of the same name. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKDOcvKDwf0 After All] from ''Chances Are'' by Cher and Peter Cetera * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAj-Y6uUA_k Glory Of Love] by Peter Cetera was intended to be this trope for ''[[Rocky IV]]''. It was passed up, and ended up going to ''[[The Karate Kid]] II''. * In ''[[Dreamgirls]]'' the [[Movie Bonus Song]] "Listen" stands out as an attempt to give [[~~Beyonce~~Beyoncé]] a big showstopping number to rival "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (itself not eligible for Best Song). The fact that it was so blatant, and featured Beyonce straining against her usual range, is probably why the song flopped. Ironically, the ''[[Glee]]'' cover by [[Charice]] was much better recieved. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Valp3rAFubA "Christmas All Over the World"] was performed by Sheena Easton for the end credits of ''[[Santa Claus: ~~the~~The Movie]]'' (1985). The link is to the full-length version of the song; the first verse doesn't appear in the film, which means it skips past the "soothing and mellow" part. New Edition recorded their own version of this for their '85 Christmas album, and it adds ''tons'' of sparkly synth. * ''[[2012]]'' has one titled "Time For Miracles". It's especially jarring after seeing a film about death destruction and sacrifice, to hear a [[Celine Dion]]-esque song performed by someone from ''[[American Idol]]''. And it's [[Adam Lambert]] at that! * [[James Cameron]]'s ''[[Avatar (film)\|Avatar]]'' brings us [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GMTQBriA3I "I See You"], a [[Spiritual Successor]] to "My Heart Will Go On" co-written by James Horner and performed by Leona Lewis. Line 144: * Think [[Queen]] is immune to this?! Try "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jtpf8N5IDE&ob=av3n Who Wants To Live Forever?]" or "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6Ys0lMeXl4 One Year Of Love]", both from ''[[Highlander]]''. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5cKSMI6_8k To Kill A Mockingbird], from, well..... ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'' * The song ''Together in Electric Dreams'', by Georgio Moroder and Philip Oakey of the Human League fame, was actually the ending theme song from the movie ''[[Electric Dreams]]'', but the song ended up [[Breakaway Pop Hit\|outshining the movie]] it was supposed to complement. * [http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00042362.html "When the World Turns Upside Down"] from the upcoming ''[[Dorothy of Oz (film)\|Dorothy of Oz]]'' (no relation to the song of the same name by The Adventures). * ''[[The Crow]]'' featured [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfZzkhfz89c "It Can't Rain All The Time"] by Jane Siberry as its end credits song. Sadly, no nomination. Line 154: * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0QRzleTolg "You're Where I Belong"] from ''[[Stuart Little]].'' * [[James Bond (film)\|James Bond]] film examples include "Nobody Does it Better" from ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me]]'', sung by [[Carly Simon]], Sheena Easton's "[[For Your Eyes Only (film)\|For Your Eyes Only]]" (both nominated for an Oscar), and "All Time High" from ''[[Octopussy]]'', sung by Rita Coolidge. * The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8NZa9wYZ_U title song] from ''Absolute Beginners'' (1986), written and performed by [[David Bowie]] (who has a [[One-Scene Wonder]] role in the movie), is a feel-good love song that bookends the musical via the credit sequences. The full-length version linked to ~~above -- with~~above—with a video that doubled as the movie's theatrical trailer in the U.K. -- is almost ''eight minutes long'', with a long, dramatic instrumental finish. (No award nominations.) * Irene Cara's "Flashdance (What a Feeling)", from, well, ''[[Flashdance]]''. * The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m1UWSD-FaA title song] from ''[[Xanadu]]'', sung by Olivia Newton-John. Also a [[Breakaway Pop Hit]], since the song and soundtrack album were far more popular than the film itself, which was a flop. Line 161: == Fan ~~Work~~Works == * ''[[A Very Potter Musical]]'' has the affectionate parody [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n_2uL2YjN8&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=C76BE906C9D83A3A&index=18 "Not Alone".] {{quote\| "Now that we're finished that four-part harmony..."}} * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-as6Kbcj4c Aerith's Theme], a tribute to Aerith from [[Final Fantasy VII]], also deserves to be mentioned. * One fan [[Recursive Fanfiction\|wrote]] a song, with lyrics and everything, based on Littlepip from [[Fallout Equestria]], called Lil Pip. While it doesn't quite sound like it would fit with the Fallout Aesthetic, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksn91wXHgx8 it still hits all the proper marks]. You can just imagine this song playing as the credits roll and everypony's leaving the theater. Line 177: == Music == * If you don't think [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] has parodied this, you...must not know Weird Al very well. Peep your ears at [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZtSVDrlOPA "I Need a Nap".] "Sparkle synth?" Check. Soulful duet? [[Lampshade Hanging\|Lampshaded]] [[Truck Driver's Gear Change]]? Check. [[Suspiciously Similar Song\|Passing melodic resemblance to]] [[The Little Mermaid\|"Part of Your World?"]] Check! ** Also "Don't Download This Song", a style parody of the forementioned "We are the World". * [[~~Cascada (Music)\|~~Cascada]] - "Everytime We Touch" (candlelight version) and "Another You" * USA for Africa's ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne7fPpxAnuM We Are The World]'' * ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cX_ncZLls Do They Know It's Christmas]'' by Band Aid, with excessive amounts of Sparkle Synth. Line 186: * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0tg0ixFtZc Fly on the Wings of Love] by the Olsen Brothers. * DHT - "Listen To Your Heart" ([[Softer and Slower Cover\|unplugged version]]), and for an original song, there's "My Dream". * "Sea of Stars", "Town Circus", and [https://web.archive.org/web/20161007101408/http://www.spacesynth.de/musics/shining_christmas_star.mp3 "Shining Christmas Star"] by mindXpander are of the instrumental type. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJxrX42WcjQ&ob=av3e ''You Raise Me Up''], no matter who is singing it. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96aAx0kxVSA&ob=av3n "One Moment In Time"] by Whitney Houston * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAeIOhGfZV0 "Can't We Try"], anyone? * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXOgn8-aEaA "From A Distance"], full stop. * Halfway through ''Hadestown'' is "Why We Build The Wall," a sequence of Hades brainwashing the dead into thinking the wall is keeping them free... by explaining that the impoverished living are trying to get in. You know, the living who can get in at any time. Even for brainwashing, it makes little sense, but ''perfect'' sense played out of context as a commentary on capitalist ethics... especially since it doesn't contain a single mention of the album's mythological elements other than the unidentified wall. * [[Kelly Clarkson]] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt8p9nEepT8 "A Moment Like This"], winner of the first season of ''[[American Idol]]''. ** Arguably, all the American Idol coronation songs qualify as award bait. == Professional Wrestling == * [[World Wrestling Entertainment\|WWE]] wrestler [[Goldust]]'s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5O-Qe5KSbo theme], true to his film-obsessed gimmick, sounds like an instrumental mashup between an [[Award Bait Song]] and a more traditional symphonic score. * After [[Shawn Michaels]] left the WWF for a number of reasons (Shawn said it was due to a knee injury, and famously gave a promo on one of the WWF's programs saying that he had also "lost [his] smile", while the [[Smart Mark~~\|Smart Marks~~]]s insist it was really because he didn't want to lose to [[Bret Hart]]), they aired a special tribute video set to an [[Award Bait Song]], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elBGHdvlYgk "Tell Me a Lie"]. == Theater == Line 222 ⟶ 221: == Video Games == * Many [[Square Enix]] games, in a bid to prove that [[Video Games]] are the new movies, have a song like this. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZleBengRYvI Simple and Clean]"/"''Hikari''" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-R0iqiCahA Sanctuary]"/"Passion" (the Japanese versions have different names as well as the entirely different lyrics) from ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]''. Both play in the openings of their respective games ("Simple and Clean"/"''Hikari''" also appears in ''Chain of Memories'' and ''Birth by Sleep''), then have a longer, slower version that plays over the end credits. Line 230 ⟶ 228: * Which strangely sounds like "If we hold on Together" from [[Land Before Time]] "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdJVvyN3D04 Suteki Da Ne]" from ''[[Final Fantasy X]]''. "1000 Words" from ''[[~~Final Fantasy X 2\|~~Final Fantasy X-2]]''. "Kiss Me Good-Bye" from ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8qtteb9FBY "My Hands"] from the US version of ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]''. Performed by the very same Leona Lewis that performed the song "I See You" that was in ''[[Avatar (film)\|Avatar]]''. The Japanese version got an equally powerful award bait song, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUpk4KFEQ0 Kimi ga iru Kara]". [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1vd0z3SLYo "New World"] by Charice, from the English-language version of ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]-2''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0KfQmVXbk4 "Lullaby for You"] from ''[[The World Ends With You]]'' "Little Bird" from ''[[Star Ocean: Till the End of Time]]''. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7D0U_RhH-I Small Two of Pieces]" from ''[[Xenogears]]''; which was released a year before [[Final Fantasy VIII]] and its famous "Eyes on Me". The concept reaches its logical conclusion with the albums "Pray" and "Love Will Grow" which consist of nothing but attempts to adapt Final Fantasy songs into this style. Though some of them have little to no connection to the source, such as Matoya's Theme from ''[[Final Fantasy I]]'' becoming a French song about prince traveling the galaxy... Line 243 ⟶ 241: ''[[Parasite Eve]]'' had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNGKlkxz968 Somnia Memorias], a bilingual (spanish and latin) ending song. ** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYPWuy3SPMY&feature=related Moonless, Starry Night] from [[Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]] is a nice soft tune about coming home after a long journey with friends. * ''Crystal Letter'' from ''[[Wild ~~Arms~~ARMs 5]]'', and to a lesser extent, ''Wings'' from ''[[Wild ~~Arms~~ARMs 3]]''. The latter is less soft and more awesome than most of these songs tend to be. * Even a series like ''[[Ace Combat]]'' has a few to its credit: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrQrkZtg-mo "The Journey Home"] from ''[[Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War]]''. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VELpIlgVDGQ Gravity]" from ''[[Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy]]''. Although [http://www.facebook.com/worldofnoel/posts/10150448185273276 the lyrics] are about the [[Player Character]]'s [[Lyrical Dissonance\|status as an invincible ace pilot]]. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLyKMa3k818 "Dreams Dreams"], from ''[[NiGHTS Into Dreams]]'', ~~qualifies--especially~~qualifies—especially in its remake in ''Nights: Journey of Dreams''. * [[Fatal Frame]] has this going for it as well, starting with the second game and the song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t28DUfNqTbU 'Chou'] by Amano Tsukiko. This was followed with the rather hauntingly beautiful [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOI9Jq8NH9Q&feature=related 'Koe'] from the third game, again performed by Amano; and then the fourth game had TWO of these songs: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Av3xJ5N30&feature=related 'NOISE'] which plays over the end credits on easy/normal difficulty, and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OwORC7OArk 'Zero no Chouritsu'] which is the actual 'theme song' of the game. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3DxQ84shnE "I Am the Wind"] from the end credits of ''[[Castlevania]]: [[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night\|Symphony of the Night]]''. It was rather jarring, playing through a gothic-horror-themed [[Metroidvania]] game set in the Victorian era, only to be greeted with a Celine Dion-styled ballad at the end of the game... Line 253 ⟶ 251: ** A patch for the Xbox Live version replaces the song with "Admiration Towards the Clan" from ''[[Castlevania: Lament of Innocence\|Lament of Innocence]]'', while the PSP version uses a new song called "Serenade of Sympathy". * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmnzrGRxnE4 This song] from ''[[Valkyria Chronicles]]'', especially towards the end. (warning: major spoilers). When this troper first heard it, he swore its resemblance to 90's Disneyesque ballads was uncanny. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDpowHy2QPI "Pollyanna"] from ''[[MOTHER 1]]'' is a bit peppier than most ~~[[Award Bait Song\|~~Award Bait Songs]], but has perfectly fitting lyrics for the song type. [http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR01545/ This fan-made remix] only tackles the first bit of the song, but puts it in "true" Award Bait Song mode, complete with synth sparkle. It also predates ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' by ''[[Older Than They Think\|5 years]]''. The ''[[Mother 3]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Ih-voTZPA Theme of Love] also qualifies, especially the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXF0DincgFc vocal version]. ** ''Smiles and Tears'' from [[~~Earthbound~~EarthBound]] counts as well, of course. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkUBGY5pU3M "Girl in the Tower"], from ''[[King's Quest VI]]''. Geez. Were Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle not available, [[Sierra]]? (Note: Video contains lots of Alex and Luna, and no Alexander and Cassima.) ** ''[[King's Quest VII]]'' tried again with "Land Beyond Dreams". The [[Fan Remake]] of ''[[King's Quest II]]'' got into the act with [https://web.archive.org/web/20130323135009/http://www.queststudios.com/quest/kq2rts/wisy.html "When I Saw You".] Infamous Adventures' [[Fan Remake]] of ''[[King's Quest III]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl2dp0-xTMI "My Way Home"], while [[AGD Interactive]]'s remake has "Coming Home". The [[Fan Sequel]] ''[[The Silver Lining (video game)\|The Silver Lining]]'' even throws in with one called "I Will Remember". * "Sweet Dream/Sweet Sweet Sweet", from ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]] 2'', written by Dreams Come True. Showed up in instrumental chiptune form in the game, then was released on one of DCT's albums with lyrics and live instruments. This latter version was remixed for the credits of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 (video game)\|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. The Sonic series has plenty of examples. Some others include "My Destiny" from ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 (video game)\|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', "Worth a Chance" from ''[[Sonic and The Secret Rings]]'', and, to some extent, "You're My Hero" from the Sega Saturn version of ''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'' (the Genesis version just has standard end credits music). Kusuriyubi no Kesshin (based on the music for Star Light Zone), also by Dreams Come True. * Although Princess Daisy's theme was short and, well... 8-bit, the official ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' soundtrack expanded it and turned it into [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fclon6saw4I an instrumental example of this trope]. Line 278 ⟶ 276: ''[[Metal Gear\|Metal Gear Solid 4]]'' has "Here's To You". "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBEEKdUYNDw Calling to the Night]", the ending theme to ''Portable Ops''. * The song reappears in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]] Brawl'' as one of the background music tracks for Snake's stage, [[Soundtrack Dissonance\|so you can listen to all its heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, sparkly goodness while watching Snake and Pikachu beat the hell out of each other.]] ''[[Metal Gear\|Peace Walker]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQzgI6xJEH0 Heaven's Divide] * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ljFaKRTrI "Still Alive"] from ''[[Portal (series)\|Portal]]''. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TERyxFfMqDk "Still Alive"] from ''[[Mirror's Edge]]''. * ''[[Red Dead Redemption]]'' has "Deadman's Gun" poignantly playing in the end. * Although ''[[~~Sim City~~SimCity]]'' isn't really much of an emotionally driven game, ''Sim City 4 Rush Hour'' gives us an orchestral version of this trope with the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BBEZ_T_3OY ''The Morning Commute'']. Considering most of the music in the series is either jazz or jazz-inspired, this piece stands out greatly. * ''[[Fire Emblem]] Path of Radiance'', and its sequel, ''Radiant Dawn'', both have songs like this sung over their credits, each representing one of the heron galdrs plot important to the game in question. ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0JfNkcClU Life Returns]'' and ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C39CUQtWIzA&feature=related Dawn Awakens]'', respectively. ''Sacred Stones'' did this as well. Certainly a unique use of this trope, given that the song in question, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoNnx1ttotc Fly With the Breeze], ''lacks vocals'' - but it hits every other aspect spot-on. Line 291 ⟶ 289: ''[[Persona 3]]'' has probably the best example in the series with [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhXXJRRHKGw Memories of You]. Bonus points for the lyrics actually having something to do with the ending. ** [[Persona 2]] is also a possible contender for the best example in the series with [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqqrAwbK3bU Change Your Way], the ending song for Eternal Punishment which has lyrics relating to the themes of the game. * Because the 2009 ''[[A Boy and His Blob]]'' deliberately set out to emulate a Disney-esque feel, they couldn't let the end credits go without one of these. The ending song, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3dXDRqWTKI "Everything to Me"], is exactly the sort of friendship song that fits ~~best--though~~best—though a sad sort of one. * [[Robot Unicorn Attack\|"Always, I wanna be with you, and make believe with you,]] [[Erasure\|and live in harmony harmony, oh love..."]] * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1swdaCuam4 Reset]" by Ayaka Hirahara from [[Okami]] counts as one too. [[Tear Jerker\|Oh it does indeed.]] Line 301 ⟶ 299: * The closing song to the first [[.hack GU\|.hack//G.U.]] games as well as the third game closer. * From .hack//LINK ''Stairs of Time'', and ''Deepest Memories'' also qualify. * ''"[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOnajfUPsL8 Maybe Tomorrow]" from ''Xenosaga III'' * Bizarrely enough, [[Mr. Driller]]: [[No Export for You\|Drill Land]] has one in the form of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFDR9U3SOF4 "Days"]. * "If you Still Believe" from [[The Legend of Dragoon]] Line 316 ⟶ 314: * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTzBopI2TjE "You and I"] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvfhdRVIpx0 "Love Forever"], both from ''[[Ragnarok Online]]''. You won't hear either song anywhere in the game, but they're part of the official soundtrack and have been part of its promotional campaign during the early years. * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXDwSsb48gM In Your Belief]" From ''[[Asura's Wrath]]''. A beautiful somber song by the singer of Aura's Theme from [[.hack]], Tomoyo Mitani, it manages to be used both for the epic beginning in episode 1, {{spoiler\|The [[Tear Jerker\|heartbreaking]] second half of episode 12}} and the credits for the end of the final act. {{spoiler\|Both of them.}} * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgLBligLJPU Sayonara], from ''[[Pokémon Black and White]]'', is an instrumental version of this. It plays at the end when N says goodbye to you. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obELLqq-hQo The Look of That Day], the song that plays over the credits of [[Tales of the Abyss]], could be considered an instrumental version of this. The song starts with calming piano, but has a buildup into an orchestral end. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oCTru2Uim0 "Remember You"] from ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]] 5th Mix'' (and the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YINqotRPQng&feature=related acoustic version] from ''Extreme PSX JP''), [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQl_6Zy3y1s "Be in My Paradise"] from ''DDR Club Mix'', and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqHQRX_NQX8 "Graduation"] from ''DDR Extreme''. === Visual Novel ===▼ ▲== Visual Novel == * All the ''[[Yarudora]]'' games have memorable Ending Songs, but the one that fits the trope out them all is "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9ywNk6Z9GQ Kisetsu o Dakishimete]", from the [[Kisetsu o Dakishimete\|game of the same name]]. A love ballad sung by Oto Fumi in 1998, it's the only song in the ''Yarudora'' games to have entered the Japanese weekly Oricon charts, reaching the #64 rank and being charted for four weeks. Line 339 ⟶ 335: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asETg3aAVE0 "If I Never Knew You"] from ''[[Pocahontas]]''. Curiously, in the original theatrical version it was only featured during the end credits (the animated sequence didn't perform well with the test audiences); another insert song, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbuzskVs6rc Colors of the Wind] took the Oscar. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxt7rKV3z9c "Someday"] from ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)\|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'' * Some would argue that [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEEpavnk7Uw&feature=related "God Help The Outcasts"] is the better [[Award Bait Song]] example even if it didn't get end credit billing. The music got "Best Score" Golden Globe and Oscar nominations but no "Best Song" nods. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6v_gOmVJ4I "Go the Distance"] from ''[[Hercules (~~Disney~~1997 film)\|Hercules]]''. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIVaUcE4kAM You'll Be In My Heart]" from ''[[Tarzan (Disney film)\|Tarzan]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bawPIjdGCKo "Reflection"] from ''[[Mulan]]''. Line 349 ⟶ 345: ''[[The Princess and the Frog]]'' has "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H93uiSYOeOk&feature=channel Never Knew I Needed]" by Ne-Yo. It's a little more R&B than other examples, but then you hear that ''synthy sparkle''. Ahhh... There's no cover of it during the credits, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMJFxFZgc_8 "I See The Light"] from ''[[Tangled]]'' certainly counts. * The UK release ''did'' include a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCadsU20gkI cover of "I See The Light.] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZad3r63wAI "Where The Dream Takes You"] from ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire\|Atlantis the Lost Empire]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0TvoCZJAJI "Look Through My Eyes"] from ''[[Brother Bear]]''. [http://youtu.be/LqxC0SkKxwI "I Thought I Lost You"] from ''[[Bolt]].'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyfaKhQoq9I "Wherever The Trail May Lead"] from ''[[Home on the Range]].'' * And from the [[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney film)\|princess who started it all]] we have [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bFQUpbNi4M this]. * ''[[Thumbelina]]'', another [[Don Bluth]] film, had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Z3uT-gGiI "Let me be your wings"], sung by Barry Manilow and Debra Byrd. * Barry Manilow does another end-credits cover of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BopT6EmS8k "Now and Forever"] from ''[[The Pebble and the Penguin]]'' with Sheena Easton. Line 374 ⟶ 370: * Although [[Robin Williams]]' performance of the song at the Oscars was a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] [[Crowning Music of Awesome\|Music]]. The nomination of "Blame Canada" over the more normal [[Award Bait]] option of "Up There" is even funnier given that the latter is about the only song in the entire movie lacking profanity. The idea of "Blame Canada" even being performed at the Oscars was a bit controversial back in 2000 with some of the content. {{quote\| '''[[Robin Williams]]:''' ''Because when Canada is gone, there'll be no more [[Celine Dion]]!''}} * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XhufW7-c_k Love Will Find A Way]" from ''[[The Lion King]] II'' * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82oVuAZIZUs Dreams To Dream"] from ''[[An American Tail]]: Fievel Goes West''. * Even earlier than most of these examples--in fact, even earlier than the [[Trope Maker]]--is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teQsl2CQAOw&feature=related "We've Made It To the Top"] from the 1980 animated movie ''[[Animalympics]]''. * While not an original song (and thus ineligible for Award Bait), the original ''[[Shrek]]'' uses Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" (as performed by John Cale) as its [[Award Bait Song]]. ** That said, ''[[Shrek]]'' actually ''does'' have an original [[Award Bait Song]], it's just mostly on the soundtrack: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmizRH3hfYQ "It Is You"], which also uses the tune of the movie's instrumental theme, [[True Love's Kiss]]. * ''[[Batman: The Animated Series\|Batman: Mask of the Phantasm]]'': [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJJxbQVnVe8 "I Never Even Told You"] is really quite good. * ''[[Winnie the Pooh\|The Tigger Movie]]'' gave us the [[Tear Jerker\|heart-wrenching]] but still [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming\|wonderfully beautiful]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3e-cbGEAhg&feature=related "Your Heart Will Lead You Home".] Line 393 ⟶ 389: ** From it's sequel, ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven 2]]'', there's "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTisJ0guJc&feature=related I Will Always Be With You]." * The first ''Rugrats'' lacked this, but not the [[Rugrats in Paris\|second film]], giving us [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C-v1BxkIW4 "When you love".] by Sinead O'Connor! (Didn't get nominated, and at least one newspaper review even expected it to be [[Award Snub\|snubbed]] for the above mentioned ''Grinch'' song, which also wasn't nommed either.) [[David Bowie]] had actually written ''Safe'' (the B-side for his 2002 single ''Everyone Says 'Hi' '') for the first movie, but its removal (presumably) resulted in the first movie's lack of an [[Award Bait Song]]. * Seriously? Does nobody remember [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJwcYgnzjgM "Take me there"!?] * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MODq81_cDKI Bright Eyes]", from ''[[Watership Down]]'', sung by [[Simon and Garfunkel\|Art Garfunkel]]. Also a [[Tear Jerker]] on several levels (it was originally written for a cancer patient), and in the actual film sequence the [[Disney Acid Sequence]]. Line 400 ⟶ 396: * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT-sC33vB5M "Believe"], from ''[[The Polar Express]]''. * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvQbbaggXkc What If]" from ''[[A Christmas Carol\|Christmas Carol: The Movie]]'', sung by [[Kate Winslet]]. * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4AhZ4g24nY As Long As There's Christmas] from ''[[Beauty and ~~The~~the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas]]'', sung by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack. Was also nominated for an award at the 1998 Annie Awards. * The [[Disney Princess~~\|Disney Princesses~~]]es, given their origin, actually have a ''whole Award Bait Song of their own''. It's called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtXNNAs9u0M "If You Can Dream"], and it features the original Princess' voice actors returning to reprise their roles. ** Their new theme song, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDUwls5lbf4 "The Glow,"] is just as award-baity, if not more. * [[Titanic: The Legend Goes On\|The notorious Titanic cartoon]] just wouldn't be a complete knockoff of the James Cameron hit without its own sappy ballad, and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_OgED1oipQ Holding Me] delivers. Line 414 ⟶ 410: * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9aAz5efnCo&feature=related My Kingdom of The Heart]" from ''[[The Princess and the Pea]].'' * "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry1DdghJkD4&feature=related In Your Arms]" from ''The Scarecrow.'' * Hell, '''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''' had one. <ref> Or at least a parody.</ref> "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IxiaB2YTrs This Grill is Not a Home]". == Other Media == * Disney loves this trope ''soooooo'' much, that they finish [[Disney Theme Parks\|EPCOTs]] [[Crowning Moment of Awesome\|Big Damn Pyrotechnics Show]] ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB36HWWsePY Illuminations: Reflections of Earth]'' with one of these. This trope extends into the other parks, at the Magic Kindgom its in the form of a duet reprise of the song Wishes played after the fireworks show of the same name, and at the Beauty and the Beast Show at Disneys Hollywood Studios guests exit the show while the Celine Dion version plays. If you visit a Disney Theme Park during a [[Milestone Celebration]], and decide to buy one of the soundtracks the gift shops are selling, expect it to include a brand-new Award Bait Song. One example includes "Remember the Magic", sung by Brian McKnight and written for Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary. A rewritten version now plays during the "Believe...in Holiday Magic" fireworks show. Disneyland's 50th brought "Remember When", sung by [[LeLeAnn ~~Ann~~Rimes]] ~~Rimes~~ and written by Richard Marx. The latter song plays after the "Remember...Dreams Come True" fireworks show, and was sung live at the park by Rimes on May ~~5th~~5, 2005. Naturally, World of Color has ~~it's~~its own [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yqCaZbZjoA song] with all sugary-sweetness we expect and love from Disney. (Although, the portion played during the finale sounds less like an Award Bait Song.) Hell, Disney is so in love with this trope that for a whole ''Space '''Mountain''''' had ~~it's~~its own Big Damn Bronze-Age Disney Style Award-Baiting Exit Tunnel Power Ballad. Something surprisingly moving about believing in dreams and reaching for the stars. Not to be outdone, Mission: Space has a similar theme song, entitled "Destiny", about courage and hope and whatnot. * Award Bait Songs were so pervasive that in 2003, the Academy revised the rules. Nominees must be written specifically for the film and occur during the main action or as the first song in the credits. A later revision is that only two songs are eligible per movie (''Beauty and the Beast'', ''The Lion King'', ''Dreamgirls'', and ''Enchanted'' had hogged the categories with three nominations each prior to this; the last two actually ''lost'' the category presumably due to vote splitting). * In the '90s, a pair of artists and a composer created an internet poll to gauge people's opinions of various musical elements. Then, based on the data gathered, they created [http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/04/a-scientific-at/ "The Most Unwanted Song"], filled with the most unpopular elements on the survey, and [http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/05/survey-produced/ "The Most Wanted Song"], filled with the most popular. The latter is total award bait. {{reflist}} [[Category:~~The Nineties~~{{PAGENAME}}]] [[Category:The Renaissance Age of Animation]] [[Category:Discredited Trope]] [[Category:Music Tropes]] [[Category:Film Tropes]] [[Category:Award Bait ~~Song~~]] [[Category:The Nineties]]