“But I also could totally relate to it because my Oscar journey started five decades ago.
That’s a lot of f—ing years.
1988 was my first nomination, for ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.’
Credit:Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for WIF
I’ve been nominated in every decade since and haven’t won yet.
But it’s all part of the journey.
And actually, I do love the journey of it.
Kerry Washington and Milauna Jackson in ‘The Six Triple Eight’.Laura Radford/Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy of Netflix
It’s really fun.”
But of all 16 nominations, Warren believes this is her most award-worthy song yet.
“This would be definitely the most deserving to me,” she reflects.
H.E.R.Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty
“There’s been a couple, back in the day.
You just hope that people listen to the song.
If they listen to this one, it’s a pretty good song.
I’m really proud of it.”
“The artist always has to be authentic to the movie and the song.
Warren and Gabriella Wilson (singer-songwriter H.E.R.
’s real name) have a long history that precedes even their 2021 face-off for the Oscar.
“I was blown away by how great she was even at that age.
We were going to do something, and it didn’t work out.
Then, at the 2021 Oscars, we were both nominated.
She ended up beating me that year, but we reconnected.”
She’s so right for this song and for this movie.'”
Warren’s instincts were clearly spot on.
So right, in fact, that H.E.R.
recorded the song the same day she first heard it.
“She related that to her life, the journey she’s been on.
There’s so many layers to the song like our journeys came back together after 12 years.
She’s 27 now.
“She recorded it that day,” Warren continues.
It was just magical.
I don’t know who else would have done that song justice.”
Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty
Everything about Warren’s experience writing “The Journey” could be described as magical.
But her experience onThe Six Triple Eightwas unlike any she’d had before.
“We found this quiet room,” Warren remembers.
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That’s never happened writing a song that way.
That chorus just came with the chords.
I wrote that whole chorus right there.
It doesn’t usually happen like that.
And I knew I had something inspired.
I just had to make the rest of the song live up to that chorus."
Now, Warren is hoping Academy voters find the song equally as inspired.
If the 16th time is the charm, Warren can scarcely imagine how she’ll feel in the moment.
“I don’t even know how I’d react,” she says.
“I’d have to be conscious.
I’d probably faint.
I’m not going to lie, it would be amazing.
Especially for this song.
It’s the journey there’s a lot of levels to the song that are really special.
And that would make it more special if that happened.”
