At the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, songwriters Clément Ducol and Camille took home the Oscar for Best Original Song for “El Mal” from the film “Emilia Pérez.” During their acceptance speech, they emphasized the song’s message against corruption and its role in promoting positive change through music and art.
“We are deeply grateful to The Academy members and congratulate our fellow nominees,” Camille said. “We wrote ‘El Mal’ to denounce corruption, and we hope it highlights the power of music and art in driving progress,” they added. Ducol expressed thanks to the cast, including Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, who brought the song to life, as well as everyone involved in the music production and Netflix.
The duo concluded their speech with an impromptu performance, which was cut short as they were played off the stage.
“El Mal” was co-written with director Jacques Audiard and is part of a musical thriller set in Mexico. The song, along with “Mi Camino,” earned Oscar nominations. This year’s ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, featured live performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande but skipped traditional production numbers for the best original song nominees.
Other contenders in the category included Elton John’s “Never Too Late,” “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing, and “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight by Diane Warren. Despite strong competition, “El Mal” emerged as the winner, marking a significant achievement for Ducol and Camille.
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