“Listen” was the Beyoncé song nominated for an Academy Award after appearing in Dreamgirls.
Beyoncé recorded “Listen” for the 2006 musical film Dreamgirls, in which she played Deena Jones. The song was written by Beyoncé, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, and Henry Krieger, with additional writing credited to several collaborators depending on the release documentation.
In the film, “Listen” expresses Deena’s growing independence and desire to be heard. It appears as an important emotional statement near the end of the story, as Deena moves beyond the control of the group’s manager and her troubled relationship.
“Listen” received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 79th Academy Awards. It did not win; the award went to “I Need to Wake Up” from An Inconvenient Truth. The song is distinct from Dreamgirls’ other nominated numbers, including “Love You I Do” and “Patience.”