Remember When Bob Dylan Won a Best Original Song Oscar for “Things Have Changed”

On March 25, 2001, Bob Dylan added an Oscar to his trophy case when he took home the Best Original Song honor at the 73rd Academy Awards ceremony.

The folk-rock legend won the Oscar for “Things Have Changed,” which appeared in the Curtis Hanson-directed comedy-drama Wonder Boys.

Jennifer Lopez presented the honor to Dylan, who was on tour in Sydney, Australia, at the time, and he accepted the Oscar live via satellite.

“Oh, good God, this is amazing,” Dylan declared, surround by his tour band. “I’ve got to thank Curtis Hanson for encouraging me to do this song and everybody at Paramount. … [Curtis] just kept at it, and said this song was right, and just encouraged me to do it so much. And I’m so glad I did.”

Dylan also thanked his longtime record label, Columbia Records, and some of the company’s executives, as well as saying hi to his family and friends.

The folk-rock legend also thanked the members of the Academy, “who were bold enough to give me this award for this song.”

He then noted that “Things Have Changed” is “obviously a song that doesn’t pussyfoot around or turn a blind eye to human nature. Dylan concluded his speech by saying, “God bless you all, with peace, tranquility, and goodwill. Thanks.”

Earlier in the show, a performance of “Things Have Changed” recorded by Dylan and his band in Sydney was aired.

Other 2001 Best Original Song Nominees

Competing against Dylan in the Best Original Song category were “A Fool In Love,” from Meet the Parents, by Randy Newman; “I’ve Seen It All” from Dancer in the Dark, written by Björk, Lars von Trier, and Sjón Sigurðsson; “A Love Before Time” from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, written by Jorge Calandrelli, Tan Dun, and James Schamus; and “My Funny Friend and Me” from The Emperor’s New Groove, written by Sting and David Hartley.

More About “Things Have Changed”

In January 2001, Dylan also won the Best Original Song honor at the Golden Globes for “Things Have Changed.”

“Things Have Changed” was released as a single in May 2000, and it reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart, although it failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100.

Wonder Boys director Hanson also directed a music video for “Things Have Changed” that combined scenes from the movie with footage of Dylan.

The song has been included on three Dylan compilations—The Essential Bob Dylan (2000), The Best of Bob Dylan (2005), and Dylan (2007).