MINARI
Emile Mosseri

 a compellingly intimate gently beautiful companion to the drama

PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
Christopher Willis

 a high spirited expressive tonic

SHIRLEY
Tamar-Kali

  a self-haunting inventive soundscape

SOUL
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross & Jon Batiste

Half electronica / half jazz =  whole wonder

TENET
Ludwig Göransson

thrilling and propulsive; a perpetual dare

Finalists: Richard Reed Parry for The Nest, James Newton Howard for News of the World, Isobel Waller Bridge & David Schweitzer for Emma, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross for Mank

Semi Finalists: Bruno Coulais for Wolfwalkers, Volker Bertelmann and Dustin O'Halloran for Ammonite, Benjamin Wallfisch for The Invisible Man

AND THEN WE DANCED
 Zvald Mgebry, Ben Wheeler, traditional songs, and various artists

I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
Jay Wadley & various artists

Finalists: Ema Nicolas Jaar and various artists, Jingle Jangle Philip Lawrence, Davy Nathan, Michael Diskint, John Legend, and John Debney,
Semi Finalists: Sound of Metal Abraham Marder and various artists, Babyteeth Amanda Brown & various artists, The Prom Chad Beguelin, Matthew Sklar, and David Klotz

"Queen Bee"
EMMA.

Johnny Flynn (aka George Knightley) comes up with a jaunty tune that feels both like traditional bard music and a modern folk artist simlutaneously. Neat trick.

"Husavik"
EUROVISION

 All of Eurovision's songs are fun satires of the type of bombastic dance tunes or ballads you get at Eurovision but this one gives the film its emotional peak.

"Make it Work"
JINGLE JANGLE

 The standout song from this musical finally brings the always underused Anika Noni Rose into the proceedings for a tense  and double-meaning father/daughter duet. 

"Rain Song"
MINARI

The film's female lead Yeri Han has a gorgeous voice which composer Emile Mosseri combines with a melancholy but soothing Korean ballad which beautifully distills the movie's feeling. 

"Your Name Engraved Herein"
YOUR NAME ENGRAVED HEREIN

 It's the best kind of final song in that its sung in movie, the two leads having one final carefree flashback over a romantic pop song they both love. 

Finalists: "Rocket to the Moon" Broadway style storytelling that builds beautifully and works well in reprise too in Over the Moon, "Speak Now" Leslie Odom Jr's beautiful voice sending us out of One Night in Miami,  and the very camp and extra "Lion of Love" from Eurovision Song Contest.

Semi Finalists: "Jaja Ding Dong" from Eurovision, "Come Play with Me" from Promising Young Woman, "Ultraluminary" from Over the Moon, and"Green" from Sound of Metal.

EMA

A thrilling perpetually edging soundscape

MANK

 Fincher's movies always sound spectacular

NEWS OF THE WORLD

Fine traditional filmmaking in all depts with real sweep

SHIRLEY

  Moody, unsettling, and great use of eery sound and that impressive score.

SOUND OF METAL

 Incredibly immersive POV sound design elevates this fine drama.

Finalists: The Invisible Man, The Assistant, Soul, Promising Young Woman
Semi Finalists: Nomadland, The Invisible Man, Possessor