There has been a lively debate in the forums about the Oscar odds for "Down to Earth," the song that plays over the end credits of "Wall-E." Penned by rocker Peter Gabriel, who sings it with the support of the Soweto Gospel Choir, this song sure sounds like a winner. And as forum poster Atypical points out, "I don't think voters will pass up the chance to see (them) perform on the telecast." However, as clementine points out, "edgier songs like 'Falling Slowly' ("Once")" have been winning.

The recent rule changes for the original song category have caused a certain amount of confusion as to which songs are eligible for consideration. As per the newly amended Rule 16, only the first song played over the closing credits (such as "Down to Earth") can compete. In addition, while multiple songs can be submitted from a film, only two can make the final list of nominees. As for the number of nominees, if there are 25 or fewer qualified songs submitted, there will only be three nominees.

That was the case in 2005 when the rap song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle and Flow" won. While country crooner Dolly Parton's closing credit song "Travelin Thru" for "Transamerica" lost that year, rocker Melissa Etheridge won the following year for her end credit anthem "I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth."

Though Gabriel has never been nominated for an Academy Award, he has two Golden Globe nominations for film scoring. In 2002, he lost his second bid, for "Rabbit Proof Fence," to the eventual Oscar winner, Elliot Goldenthal for "Frida." Gabriel's first Globe nod was back in 1988 for "The Last Temptation of Christ." He lost then to Maurice Jarre for "Gorillas in the Mist" (who in turn lost the Oscar to Dave Grusin for "The Milagro Beanfield War"). However, Gabriel did win his only performance Grammy in the new age category for that film's soundtrack. (His other three Grammys came for music videos.)

That same year, his former bandmate from Genesis, Phil Collins won the first of his two Golden Globes for the song "Two Hearts" from "Buster." Collins went on to win a second Globe as well as an Oscar for the song "You'll Be in My Heart" from the 1999 Disney toon "Tarzan."

(Photo: Pixar)