This Friday James Bond returns to theaters after a four year hiatus with his twenty third mission, Skyfall. With this latest installment, there are a number of things that we can count on such as a new enemy for Bond to take on, state of the art gadgets and of course the Bond girls. This also means that a new theme song will be a part of the film’s opening credits. Over the past fifty years, these theme songs have become some of the most ionic songs in film history. In fact, a number of these songs have stolen the spotlight from the film they represent. Like each film and each Bond actor adding there spin to the character, every Bond theme offers something different.
It all started with Monty
Norman collaborating with the John Barry Orchestra for the first James Bond
film, Dr. No. This theme matches the
smooth and mysterious characteristics of the character and the film’s. Because
of this, it has been used throughout the James Bond series, becoming one of the
most recognizable themes of all time. It has also set a certain standard for
the theme. Personally, I would place this in my top five Bond themes. It does
such a great job of matching Bonds persona and with no vocals the strong instrumental
qualities really have a chance to stand out.
Shirley Bassey would
lend her vocal talents to a total of three Bond themes with the first coming in
1964’s Goldfinger. Bassey adds a
touch of jazz to her themes along with strong vocals. It is strong vocals and
lyrics that set a dark tone that goes well with the mysterious, smooth talking persona
of Bond. Bassey’s best theme came in her
second time around for Diamonds Are Forever in 1971 and her third theme was
featured in 1979’s Moonraker.
The 1970’s featured a
couple of the most recognizable musicians of all time. In 1973 Paul McCarthy’s Live and Let Die theme was much
different than any previous theme. McCarthy’s “Live and Let Die” has a rock and
roll sound, something that was not heard in the themes during the 60’s. It also
differs in the consistency of its pace. It goes back forth between a fast piano
and drawn out lyrics. I can’t say that this one of my favorite themes but
segments of it are used well throughout the film, such as the boat chase that
takes place in the swamps of Louisiana.
Carly Simon took on the
duties of performing the Bond theme song, titled “Nobody Does It Better”, in 1977’s
The Spy Who Loved Me. Simon’s “Nobody
Does It Better” is the only Bond theme that is among the American Film Institute's 100 years...100 Songs, ranking number
67. Simon’s theme is only one of two themes, the other being McCarthy’s theme, to earn an Academy Award Nomination
for Best Original Song.
For 1985’s A View
To A Kill, Duran Duran gave a theme unlike any of its predecessors. Yes, if
this song were a martini it would, without a doubt, be shaken not stirred as it
is a high energy song that is much different from the slower, instrumentally
heavy themes of past themes. Many themes look at James Bond as ‘ladies’ man’ or a lover
but with this theme, the lyrics of its chorus embraces the way that Bond takes
danger head on. This different take on the theme has become one of my
favorites, landing it in my top three.
In 2002, Madonna went
in a similar direction with the theme for Die
Another Day. Like Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill”, Madonna’s “Die Another
Day” lyrics captures the danger that comes with the missions that Bond takes on
and his ability to escape death. The lyrics are not the only aspect of this
song though that matches the danger that plays a major role in a Bond plot.
This is the edgiest Bond theme to date due to the use of an electronic beat. I
only wish that this song would have been used at the end of the movie with Bond
killing his enemy and barely escaping death himself. As soon as this happens,
the song begins and the movie ends. It would probably be too corny and over the
top to even bare but it my head it seems like a fitting end.
Six years later, Quantum of Solace’s theme featured Jack White collaborating with Alicia Keys for the song “Another Way to Die”. Once
again, the theme has a heavy rock sound as Jack White’s guitar takes over the
song. Though this song is worlds different than the one’s including John Barry,
White and Keys still manage to include a level of suspense that early themes
featured. If I referred to these themes as shaken or stirred, I would prefer
the ones of the shaken variety because for me, the themes that tend to be more
modern and have a rock sound to them are the ones I enjoy the most. This would place “Another Way to Die” right
behind Madonna’s “Die Another Day”, making it my second favorite Bond theme.
Music plays such an
important role in film. Whether it be a song or a score featured in a film, it
is intended to enhance a film. For this to happen it is important that it
matches the tone of the movie or the scene that it is used in. Over the past
fifty years James Bond themes and scores have been able to enhance the Films
they are featured in. The themes do a better job of matching Bond the character
than the film they represent. The scores of these films go well with the action
that is featured within the films.
With Skyfall just days away, it will be
interesting to see how well it’s score and theme will go with the film. Thomas
Newman is the man behind the score for
Skyfall and with past films such as American
Beauty and Road to Perdition, (both directed by Sam Mendes) there is reason to believe that he will deliver. Adele
takes on the theme, which is already available for listening. Over the past two
years, everything Adele has touched has turned to gold and “Skyfall” is no
exception. You may be disappointed if you are looking for something along the
lines of “Die Another Day” and “Another way to Die” as Adele takes the theme back
to the 60’s with her vocals and a strong orchestra behind her. It has the most
mysterious sound to it since Garbage’s “The World is not Enough” in 1999. Time
will tell though if it will be regarded as one of the best.
As for the film Skyfall, I’m not sure if I
can be any more excited. If I made a list of the films I had the most
anticipation for this year, Skyfall
would be towards the top, if not number one. Casino Royale is one of my favorite Bond movies because of the way
that Bond show vulnerability by trusting Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) who ends up
not being what she seems. This gives depth to Bond and makes him a character that one can relate to. Because of Casino
Royale, my anticipation level for 2008’s Quantum of Solace was through the roof but unfortunately I walked away somewhat disappointed. As far as film making goes, it is nothing short of
high quality but it does not offer the same fast pace tempo that Casino Royale features along with the
intriguing relationship I described. Hopefully Skyfall can return to this formula and with everything that I have
seen and heard up to this point regarding the film, I have reason to believe it
will.
Now it’s time for your opinion. What’s your favorite Bond theme? What do you think about the Skyfall Theme? Are you looking forward to Skyfall? Below is a video featuring 30 seconds of every Bond theme.
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