James Bond’s Best and Worst: Peter Travers Ranks All 24 Movies The Best and Worst of the franchise “Goldfinger” hypes up the villain and makes us feel like we have some part to play in the coming adventure. Audio CD $15.99 $ 15. His shimmering strings bubble beneath the surface, and Bassey’s voice is only given limited opportunities to open up, lending the whole piece a charged and difficult air. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. What you hear, whether it’s about love or the villain, is what you get. The theme tune to 007, From Russia with Love, performed by Matt Monro. Like, we get it, we're about to see a movie about James Bond, we're all onboard. We rank all the James Bond themes on their musical merit. fame) and arranged and composed by the celebrated John Barry, spent 13 weeks in the UK charts. The sixth Bond movie opens with an all-instrumental song, rather than a traditional Bond theme with lyrics. The rich and varied history of James Bond title theme songs has given us – like the movies themselves – triumphs, thrills, disasters and surprises. While it incorporates The Spy Who Loves Me in its lyrics, 'Nobody Does It... 3. We demand a stripped-back strings-and-vocals-only version. No, featured Monty Norman's "James Bond Theme," a distinctive instrumental piece that has figured in every Bond picture since and that leads off the disc. The opening notes of “You Only Live Twice,” composed by John Barry, are unquestionably iconic. So, let’s attempt to rationalise the song with its constituent parts. “All Time High” is bland and uninspired, a song that could easily be mistaken for the theme to a forgotten sitcom about a nontraditional family making it work with laughter and love. Sweeping and glorious, it’s an ode to feeling comforted and secure, which is not necessarily an emotion one might associate with James Bond and his predilection for collateral damage. Frequent collaborator Nicholas Dodd orchestrated and conducted the score. It starts off as a soothing ballad, then takes on what sounds like a... 2. By Ben Finane. There are the obvious motifs: gadgets , girls , … Every James Bond movie more or less follows the same tried-and-true formula: a cold-open action set piece to reintroduce 007 to moviegoers, a beautifully animated title sequence set to a theme song by a contemporary pop sensation, a megalomaniacal villain begins a ludicrous plan, Bond is sent to put a stop to it, and he falls in love with an interchangeable Bond … No, featured Monty Norman's "James Bond Theme," a distinctive instrumental piece that has figured in every Bond picture since and that leads off the disc. Preview, buy and download songs from the album Best of Bond... James Bond (Deluxe Edition), including "James Bond Theme (From "Dr. No")," "From Russia with Love," "Goldfinger (Main Title)" and many more. . James Bond Themes, Ranked. Atonal horns, a little bit of post-McCartney rock rhythm and a squally guitar break in the first 20 seconds - wahey, we’re getting somewhere! >. For all his glamour, women, and martinis, James Bond is a deeply sad character. The song carries the simple imagery and makes for a hell of an opening … All the angular brass riffs are there, along with the belting vocals, but it’s a curiously joyless effort. So when former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell was chosen to lend his gravelly but precise vibrato to the theme song for Casino Royale (co-written with David Arnold) it was a chance to inject Bond with a bit of grunt. “The World Is Not Enough,” Garbage (1999). “The world is not enough / But it is such a perfect place to start, my love” is the sort of lyric that could be ambitious and romantic, but Manson gives it a haunting, tragic twist—one made all the more stark by the orchestration, with strings that seem to keep reaching for greater and greater heights without satisfaction. The theme tune to 007, Dr. No, performed by the John Barry Orchestra. For a noisy composition, it sounds strangely relaxed, oddly calm throughout. It feels both off-kilter and pandering all at once, making it both an unsatisfying lead-in to a movie and also too scattershot to really get a grasp of as a standalone song. We have to consider Paul McCartney’s attempt at a classic Bond song a relative success for a couple of reasons. Separately, Jack White and Alicia Keys each would probably have delivered a great James Bond theme. As a Bond movie, Moonraker itself occupies a strange place in the canon: indebted to the late-70s vogue for science fiction and space movies, but still very definitely a Roger Moore vehicle for ridiculous double entendres and bonkers stunts. The music was composed and conducted by John Barry, and performed by the John Barry Orchestra.This was Barry's third soundtrack for the series. 99. It’s “Goldfinger,” again, but not as good. 007 needs his soundtrack even more than his gadgets. Music, Film, TV and Political News Coverage. Sheryl Crow falls between these two extremes, aiming for the pout and simplicity of Nancy Sinatra, but also sticking a monster chorus into the mix as well. But ‘Thunderball’, the third ‘attached’ theme song to a Bond film is strangely inert, especially when considered directly alongside Shirley Bassey’s ‘Goldfinger’. It had been a long time since an all-out rock artist had attempted a Bond theme, and even then the template of ‘Live And Let Die’ was itself essentially flawed. There is an utterly ingenious restraint to every aspect of John Barry’s song for the movie of the same name, the second to feature the powerhouse pipes of Shirley Bassey, but it’s Bassey herself who pulls off the biggest coup here. 4. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but “For Your Eyes Only” feels both out of place for Bond and too sappy and trite on its own. Almost quite good. But with the second entry in the series, 1963's From Russia with Love, there was a specially written title song sung by a contemporary pop artist during the opening credits. The best known of these pieces is the ubiquitous "James Bond Theme".Other instrumentals, such as the "007 Theme" or "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", and various songs, such as Shirley … James Bond isn’t the most covert secret agent, and he’s quick to turn to violence to get out of a bad situation. are the only recognisably ‘Bond’-sounding remnants of what should probably have been an A-ha B-side. The movie won’t hit theaters until April, but fans can buy 007’s newest Omega right now. 12. For our money, the best Bond title sequence of the 1980s is The Living Daylights, which features a song by A-ha. There’s nothing more sneakily comforting than Paul McCartney luring you into a false sense of security with the opening of this song, a gentle, nostalgic reminder of times when you used to optimistically let bygones be bygones. This isn’t what Bond sounds like—these shredding guitars sound dangerous in the way that most other themes just sound clean and produced. Great songs performed by some of the best performers, and all are true classics! It’s blunt, which is luckily more feature than bug. Behind the bluster and brilliance of Bassey’s delivery is Lesley Bricusse and Anthony Newley’s divine extrapolation of the core Bond themes, but it’s Bassey’s show through and through. The latest Bond instalment, No Time to Die, is due to be released on 8 April 2020, with Billie Eilish singing the title theme. The convention in the previous James Bond films was to accompany the opening credits with a song whose lyrics included the film's title. “Another Way to Die,” Jack White and Alicia Keys (Quantum of Solace, 2008). Other instrumentals, such as the '007 Theme' or 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', and various songs, such as Shirley Bassey's 'Goldfinger', Paul McCartney's 'Live and Let Die', Carly Simon's 'Nobody Does It Better', Sheena Easton's 'For Your E Give her a handgun and send her to Miami: she’s more Bond than Connery. He’s not subtle, is the point, and neither is Gladys Knight’s song, which bluntly reworks 007’s “Licence to Kill” into a fairly threatening love song. It also means we’re omitting any Bond themes that didn’t make the final cut, including Radiohead’s unused Spectre theme, which is a shame. Shirley Bassey is both boasting about the titular villain’s opulence and exploits and warning us listeners not to waltz right into his sticky web of sin. Shirley, John, we salute your restraint. With perhaps the exception of “Analyze this,” it all somehow works—this is a Madonna pop hit that’s both a banging theme song and a radio-friendly classic, and, most importantly, it ushered in a new wave of Bond themes that really shot for the fences. … However, their team-up for Quantum of Solace is a good reminder of why 007 typically works alone (apologies to Felix Leiter). Composed by longtime film composer John Barry, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” adds some serious funk to the art of spycraft, and while it’s a lot of fun, it feels weird to compare what really feels more like a standard (high-quality!) Strange, then, that John Barry’s song is markedly quieter than their previous collaborations. Please note that this isn’t a ranking on the film overall, but just the song itself. What’s *the* definitive Bond title theme? “Thunderball” might be the platonic ideal of a James Bond theme: It’s got hints of the iconic 007 motif, blaring horns, extremely literal lyrics that give you a weirdly conceptual impression of the movie’s plot, and somebody crooning the titular MacGuffin phrase without a shred of irony. James Bond theme songs ranked from worst to best, based on musical merit. >. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. James Bond Movie Theme Songs, Ranked Worst to Best From A-Ha to Adele, breaking down the franchise’s legendary (and legendarily bad) opening numbers The rest of the song, charmingly sung by the great Nancy Sinatra, is almost (politely) irrelevant. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live events, GQ meets millions of modern men where they live, creating the moments that create conversations. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. Storyline:James Bond (007) is Britain's top agent and is on an exciting mission, to solve the mysterious murder of a fellow agent. If there’s a moment when “Goldeneye” cements itself as a top-tier Bond song, it’s when Tina Turner pauses as she sings, “Time… time is not on my side.” In that pause, amidst the suspenseful instrumentation, Turner relishes her power and potential for cruelty. The album was first released by United Artists Records in 1965 in both monaural and stereo editions, with a CD release in 1988. In the immortal words of Alan Partridge, “Stop getting Bond wrong!”. All 23 James Bond movie theme songs, ranked. Alicia Keys’ vocal talents are colossal, but the material is utterly unsuited to her, the result being a very queasy duet that sounds simultaneously underwritten and over-ornamented (there’s a literally a bit where Keys attempts to mimic guitar feedback by going “meh”). You don’t need to be a secret agent to rock to McCartney’s encouragement to let ’em burn. And it is a good chorus, certainly: the final iteration, which arrives after a surprisingly tender and well-arranged string interlude, rescues it from mediocrity. From Russia with Love (song) All Time High (song) Another Way to Die (song) James Bond Theme. It also won an Academy Award, so make of that what you will. Download 'Melodie Opus 42 No.3' on iTunes. “No Time to Die,” Billie Eilish (2020). Year: Bond Movie: Song: Artist: 1962: Dr. No "James Bond Theme" John Barry & Orchestra: 1963: From Russia With Love "From Russia With Love" Matt Monro: 1964: Goldfinger "Goldfinger" Shirley Bassey: 1965: Thunderball "Thunderball" Tom Jones: 1967: You Only Live Twice "You Only Live Twice" Nancy Sinatra: Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli described the song as "incredibly powerful and moving", adding it had been "impeccably crafted to work within the emotional story of the film". Their high notes often approach whining instead of crooning, and the relative sparseness of the strings and piano don’t do their self-pitying lyrics any favors. 17. But in the grand pantheon of Bond themes, it’s basically one of the ones where the singer sings the title of the film and, therefore, absolutely basic Bond theme territory. “For Your Eyes Only” sounds like it should be playing over a school gymnasium’s loudspeaker as two love interests finally kiss during prom at the climax of an ’80s rom-com. 5. The history of James Bond theme songs isn’t quite as long as some might suspect, however. It’s a bad vibe for Bond, and not an interesting enough song to stand on its own. With some help (whether he liked it or not) from John Barry, the James Bond Theme was born. Is there another artist in recent memory who was, right out of the gate, a more natural fit to sing a Bond theme? “A View to a Kill,” Duran Duran (1985). In 1962, Monty Norman created one of the most indelible movie theme tunes of the 20th century. But the jamming together of Garbage’s signature postmodern sound with the more classical Bond musical elements ultimately doesn’t matter: Shirley Manson’s vocals are characterfully languid and coolly dramatic, the song well-crafted enough to survive the musical baubles that clutter its production. The song won the Academy Award and was the first Bond song to hit number one on the UK charts. Rather than aiming for the powerhouse deliveries of Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey before her, Sinatra uses an unaffected tone to her advantage, a cool and detached new vocal colour in the Bond arsenal which was rarely bettered. Casino Royale: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.The soundtrack to the 2006 film Casino Royale was released by Sony Classical on November 14, 2006. Nobody Does It Better (song) Diamonds are Forever (song) Live and Let Die (song) But with the second entry in the series, 1963's From Russia with Love, there was a specially written title song sung by a contemporary pop artist during the opening … 20. 5 October 2020, 15:02. That’s not at all the case with Billie Eilish’s brand new entry to the Bond canon, which is one of the better themes despite its new-car smell. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga said: "There are a chosen few who record a Bond theme. 4.1 out of 5 stars 16. The recording of "Skyfall" was first released as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the James Bond film franchise in October 2012. It’s the entire movie series compressed into a tight, three-minute song, the gold standard for Bond themes. Bringing back Shirley Bassey for the third time is perhaps lazy, but still, if you were to rely on any one singer to deliver your latest Bond theme then you’d pick Shirley. The sixth Bond movie opens with an all-instrumental song, rather than a traditional Bond theme with lyrics. 14. MP3 Music Listen with Music Unlimited. Or any kind of abode or dwelling? The James Bond film series from Eon Productions features numerous musical compositions since its inception in 1962, many of which are now considered classic pieces of British film music. “All Time High,” Rita Coolidge (Octopussy, 1983). Also notable for being the only Bond song with a Tim Rice lyric sheet. What do all the James Bond films have in common? To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Others would be great songs even if they had nothing to do with 007. It’s a lot more visceral than a lot of other themes, and as the title suggests, “You Know My Name” banks on listeners’ familiarity with 007, while also subverting that familiarity. Read more: the biggest songs in West Side Story, RANKED from worst to best >. The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the name James Bond is the iconic tune that was played by The Ian Rich Orchestra. ‘Diamonds Are Forever’? Diamonds are shiny and pure, but Shirley Bassey sure casts a shadow on them in her second Bond theme. “Goldeneye” is voyeuristic and thrilling, seducing and empowering us even if it makes us complicit in whatever foul retribution is coming. Being one of the less spectacular songs on the list does mean it’s been rather forgotten, despite its competency. "James Bond … Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor “Licence to Kill,” Gladys Knight (1989). With the elastic vocals and reputation as something of a romantic… err… adventurer… Tom Jones should’ve been the perfect choice for executing an iconic Bond theme. Blaring. Mixed experiments with getting 80s pop bands to record Bond themes inspired the franchise to take refuge in the safety of its core musical elements: big brass, angular motifs, lush strings and a belting vocalist. 13. Here, Bond’s longtime composer, John Barry—who had a hand in creating many of the Bond songs, including "A View to a Kill" and "Goldfinger," among others—just wrote some music that hews pretty close to the rest of the score, and then English crooner Matt Monro sang lyrics, lounge-style. By Ben Finane. The vocal slides in the final chorus are so recklessly daring, with such little care for their effect on the song, it’s as if Turner was herself taking lessons from Bond – dangerous methods often get the most entertaining results. Throughout 24 (going on 25) onscreen appearances, he’s always introduced himself by name, he’s always wearing a wildly expensive suit, and he’s always been a white guy (so far, at least). That immediate wash of strings is pure Bond atmosphere, a perfect encapsulation of the aesthetic, soundworld and grippingly cool style with which the spy was synonymous. James Bond Movie Theme Songs, Ranked Worst to Best From A-Ha to Adele, breaking down the franchise’s legendary (and legendarily bad) opening numbers The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Bassey, though, hints at the sad darkness of such a lifestyle, even as the music—which goes from eerie to upbeat—obscures its subject of glamour and worship in shadows. Skyfall is… a mansion in the film? The song carries the simple imagery and makes for a hell of an opening to this movie. Or, as she puts it in her endlessly imitable style, ‘Gold-finguh!’. “Tomorrow Never Dies,” Sheryl Crow (1997). Her somewhat leisurely pace—despite her supposedly being too busy to have “time to die”—only adds to the disconcerting sense that there’s more to the story. The Grammy sweeper’s voice is haunting and, importantly, full of mystery. 23. “Live and Let Die,” Paul McCartney and Wings (1973). Every James Bond Opening Sequence, Ranked. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga said: "There are a chosen few who record a Bond theme. By far the most ridiculous (and, for that reason, polarizing) Bond theme, “The Man with the Golden Gun” is unrestrained sonic kitsch.