Lorde, Lana Del Rey and Coldplay one step closer to Oscar nominations

Tracks by Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Coldplay and John Legend are among the releases which have made the 79-strong shortlist for Oscars contention as Best Original Song.

Lorde's Yellow Flicker Beat from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 makes the cut alongside Del Rey's Big Eyes from the Tim Burton film of the same name, John Legend and Common's Glory from Selma, Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye's Mercy Is from Noah and Sia's Opportunity from Annie.

Others vying for an Academy Award nod include Miracles by Coldplay (Unbroken), Bon Iver's Heavenly Father (Wish I Was Here), and Tegan & Sara's Everything Is Awesome (The Lego Movie).

Animated movie Rio 2 leads the way with four songs on the shortlist, which will be cut down to the final few picks when the Academy Awards nominations are announced on 15 January (15).

The Oscars will take place on 22 February (15).

This year's (14) Best Original Song Oscar was awarded to Frozen's Let It Go.