Japanese heavy metal act X Japan may be making an appearance at the Oscars. The band’s song “La Venus” has made the nominations list of songs to be considered for the Best Original Song award.
X Japan had released a band documentary earlier this year called We Are X, which featured an incredible end title track, written by the band’s primary songwriter, drummer and classically trained pianist Yoshiki.
“I think this song is really powerful, a very strong song,” says Yoshiki. “Tosh1 did an amazing vocal performance and so did the other members, so this could be X Japan’s signature song for the next era. That could be my favorite.”
According to Sony Legacy president Adam Block, the track will be given an official release in early 2017 via Sony Legacy Recordings.
“Sony Music Entertainment’s Legacy Recordings is thrilled to be releasing the new single, ‘La Venus’ from X Japan’s feature documentary, We Are X,” says Sony Legacy president Adam Block. “It’s a beautiful, powerful track from a stunning film that we hope will be considered for a nomination for best song from a feature film at this year’s Academy Awards.”
The competition is still not over, however, with still a long list of potential tracks. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters will register their votes with the final nominees being announced on Jan. 24. The 89th Annual Oscars will take place Feb. 26 at the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood and Highland Center.
Yoshiki will be reportedly making his way stateside to perform a classical music show featuring the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at New York’s Carnegie Hall on Jan. 12 and 13. Meanwhile, the We Are X film has screened across the U.S. this fall and apparently there’s still a March showing in Omaha, Neb.