Earlier this year, when the Oscar nominees were announced for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, many were shocked when only two songs were up for Best Original Song: "Man or Muppet," from The Muppets, and "Real in Rio," from Rio. What was that all about? Did the title of the song have to contain the title of the movie? What happened was an extremely picky-sounding point system, with the Academy's music branch voters bestowing ratings from six to ten points on the 39 eligible songs. And only songs receiving an 8.25 rating or higher could be nominated. Considering the star power behind several of the original contenders -- Elton John (who sang two songs for Gnomeo and Juliet, one with Lady Gaga), Elvis Costello ("Sparkling Day," One Day), Mary J. Blige ("Living Proof," The Help), and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken ("Star-Spangled Man," Captain America) -- it was really surprising that basically no one was deemed worthy of even a nomination. Blame the Russian and French judges, I suppose.

This year, however, the Academy has seen how weird that was and changed things up a bit. A five-nominee minimum has been established, and the finalists will be voted upon by the music branch, eliminating the points system. Among the possible nominees competing with "Skyfall": "Suddenly," the new song written for Les Misérables, Karen O.'s "Strange Love" from Frankenweenie, two songs from Brave, four songs from Django Unchained, and "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from Seth MacFarlane's Ted (!!!). Lots of variety in this one, plenty of interesting songs that may or may not be performed at the show, but we won't know until all the nominees are announced on January 10 -- before the Golden Globe Awards. (Yet another shakeup by the Academy.) The 85th Annual Academy Awards telecast will air on Sunday, February 24 on ABC.

And here is "Skyfall," for your listening pleasure:

Adele's 'Skyfall' theme deemed eligible for original song Oscar [EW]