Another Way to Die from Quantum of Solace. Unless they decide to go for some generic crap instead.

Another Way to Die IS crap.

So what was nominated after all?

O Saya from Slumdog
Jai Ho from Slumdog
Down to Earth from Wall-E

Springsteen's "The Wrestler" being snubbed... ugh, just awful. Not only is it a terrific song in its own right, but it contributes to the overall power of the film. When I saw the movie, almost everyone in the (rather large) crowd stayed in their seats and listened to it as the end credits rolled. I was excited to see Bruce play it live at the ceremony.

Over the last few days Oscars voters received a campaign CD featuring two of "Slumdog Millionaire's" three music nominations: best song ("Jai Ho") and score. Missing from the CD was "Slumdog Millionaire's" other contender for best song ("O Saya").

Fox Searchlight is daring to choose between its Oscar children. The studio wants voters to focus their "Slumdog Millionaire" love on one song, fearing that the vote might split otherwise, causing both to lose. So this is good strategy, although poor politics. Inevitably, the studio is inviting a chorus of discontent from the folks behind the song not being hyped.

In this case, the strategy is probably wise because "Jai Ho" is the obvious favorite. It's the big, magical dance finale of "Slumdog Millionaire." Voters may not know it by name, though, and may easily confuse it with the other tune since the titles of both are in Hindi. Now they'll probably get the hint after being prodded by the studio.

What's unfortunate about this decision is that "O Saya" is written by one of the coolest music artists on the planet right now. M.I.A. is nominated for record of the year at this Sunday's Grammys ("Paper Planes").

There's always the possibility, of course, that this strategy might backfire with those bull-headed, contrary-minded academy members. After all, Paramount Classics made it clear in 2005 that it wanted an Oscar nomination for the title tune to "Hustle & Flow," but ended up getting one for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" — which won!

However, that's a rarity and that occurred prior to Oscar nominations being unveiled, not afterward. Such favoritism being shown at this late point in the derby trot is extraordinary. When Disney nabbed bids for three songs from "Enchanted," it was clear that "That's How You Know" — the big dance spectacular staged in Central Park — was the movie's best shot to win, but it got the same amount of attention and campaign push as "So Close" and "Happy Working Song." All three lost to "Falling Slowly" from "Once."

DreamWorks didn't single out one of "Dreamgirls" three nominees — "Listen," "Patience," "Love You I Do" — and lost the Oscar to Melissa Etheridge's "I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth."

Not all multiple nominees lose because of voting splitting, though. "The Lion King" (1994) had three nominations for song and triumphed for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"