The James Bond Theme Songs
“The name’s Bond…James Bond.” Who hasn’t heard of this suave British Secret Service agent 007, with a license to kill. And who doesn’t know that remarkably unique James Bond theme, composed by Monty Norman for the first Bond film, Dr. No, way back in 1962? I was mulling over this topic since I’ve seen all (yes, all) the Bond movies, from Dr. No right up to Casino Royale. Well I’ll be watching Quantum of Solace soon. Which brings me back to the theme songs.
Personally, I think that the last great Bond theme song was Goldeneye (1995), sung by Tina Turner and composed by Bono and The Edge. After that, IQs and creativity seemed to have dipped. Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale, and Quantum of Solace all possessed dreadfully dull and dismal theme songs. The likes of Sheryl Crow, Garbage, Madonna, Chris Cornell, Jack White and Alicia Keys never did do any justice to this wonderful song genre. My recommendation for the next Bond flick theme song? Get Marvin Hamlisch to write the song and get those two red-hot grandmas, Shirley Bassey and Tina Turner to sing it!
Here are my Top 5 Bond theme songs, in no particular order:
- The James Bond Theme Originally heard in Dr. No and just about every subsequent Bond film. That funky electric guitar riff and those brass fanfares can put even a cat in the mood for James Bond. And sorry, David Arnold, you don’t cut it.
- Goldfinger Sung by Shirley Bassey in the 1964 movie with the same name, this song kicks butt with its almost threatening brass punctuations, and Bassey’s soaring distinctive voice.
- Nobody Does It Better Composed by Marvin Hamlisch and sung by Carly Simon for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) this hauntingly beautiful ballad still sends shivers up my spine, and this is one of my most-played songs at the piano. Now why can’t they write ballads like this for the current crop of Bond movies?
- Live and Let Die Composed and performed by Paul McCartney and Wings in 1973, this was the first foray of a Bond theme song into the rock realm. And what a song it was, and still is! The arrangement alone is worth a listen, starting off soft and syrupy, and then evolving into a full-blown rock orchestral fest. And dig that lovely cello solo towards the end.
- GoldenEye Sung by the ever youthful Tina Turner and written by Bono and The Edge. The last great Bond theme song, as far as I’m concerned.
Get this CD, The Best of Bond…James Bond, and lose yourself in Bond nostalgia. And hey, Moby’s version of the James Bond theme isn’t too bad either.
