James Bond Favorite Theme Song.

[Smokey]

There are 22 bond films, and poll only allow ten choices. So the best was pick (I hope ).

IMO, Shirley Bassey’s Gold Finger really set the standard for Bond movie theme songs to follow, and the song is as lavish as the movie itself.

And on the same note, it also might also be fair to give nod to Sheryl Crow’s “Tomorrow Never Die” and Duran Duran’s “A View To A Kill” theme songs as top contenders.

[JohnMichael]

Shirley Bassey, Carly Simon and Tina Turner are my top three. I will have to pick a winner to vote. Shirley Bassey's "History Repeating" is incredible. On her greatest hits she sings "Moonraker" and "Diamonds are Forever".

[Auricauricle]

This is a great idea for a poll, Smokey....Having put my vote in, however, I note that Garbage's The World is Not Enough didn't make the list. Somehow or other, I thought this was a great theme: sleek, meaty, sensuous, powerful....Pretty much everything a good double-o aspires to. Anyway, whaddya want for nothing? A rubber beeeeeee...?

[Smokey]

Auricauricle, as you can see, also left out JohnMichael's favorite theme song from "Moonraker" and "Diamonds are Forever" too.

So don't feel left out, but your choice is noted.

[Rich-n-Texas]

The only one I can sing pretty much all the way through in my head is "Live and Let Die", so that's the one I'm voting for. Just not remembering how most of the others went.

[Luvin Da Blues]

The only one I can sing pretty much all the way through in my head is "Live and Let Die", so that's the one I'm voting for. Just not remembering how most of the others went.

Ditto

[audio amateur]

I don't think I've heard all of them, mostly the more recent ones. I've chosen 'Tomorrow Never Dies' by Sheryl Crow.
My other favourite is Chris Cornell's 'You know my name' for Casino Royal. Somehow it's really reminding of the film, and that's what a Bond theme song should do.
The latest one sucked big time. Only heard it once though, and that was during the film.

[E-Stat]

IMO, Shirley Bassey’s Gold Finger really set the standard for Bond movie theme songs to follow, and the song is as lavish as the movie itself.

Cool topic. I've enjoyed Bond music since I was a kid waaay long ago. While many composers and soloists have followed, my reference is John Barry's early scores and Shirley Bassey's title songs. While I enjoy Goldfinger, my favorite is Diamond Are Forever

For the benefit of Rich, here are the opening lyrics:

"Diamonds are forever
They are all I need to please me
They can stimulate and tease me
They won't leave in the night...

For me, it is her vocal power and control that sets the tone - punctuated by Barry's use of brass. Another soundtrack I really enjoy although there is no title song per se is On Her Majesty's Secret Service. This is John Barry at his best. Here you'll find the Marty Norman theme weaved throughout along with Barry's masterful and dynamic brass lines. My favorite cuts are "Ski Chase" and "This Never Happened to the Other Fellow".

rw

[kexodusc]

I'm a big fan of "A View to a Kill"...it was a little different than the older Bond flick songs I recalled when I heard it the first time. It's my favorite I guess.

And I agree with AA, the last Bond movie was pretty good, not quite Casino Royale good but way better than any Brosnan flick...but the theme song sucked. Big time. Painful to sit through in the theater bad. Actually, I can't think of a worse one. I'd sooner have had them use the theme to Family Ties. Ugh. Casino Royale's surprsingly wasn't bad though.

[audio amateur]

Funny though, because I believe Amy Winehouse was going to be working on the theme song for Quantum of Solace, with Mark Ronson. I was really looking forward to that as I find her style very fitting to such a thing (and love her music).
Unfortunately her health issues stopped her from doing so and if I'm correct the White Stripes performed it. Oh well..

[GMichael]

Ditto

Double ditto

[Auricauricle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYbLR67_F9E

Not sure if I follow what you're saying here, kex....I thought the Garbage theme was quite good, hence the link here. E-Stat, you bring up a major point: that James Bond probably would not have had near the impact it had without John Barry's touch. Barry's french horns are well-nigh indelibly ingrained into my Central Nervous System....

[Troy]

The first 3 you listed are the best ones, with my nod going to "You Only Live Twice."

Honorable mentions to "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "Thunderball."

[Auricauricle]

So let's lay out some baddies....Like Man With the Golden Gun...?

[Smokey]

So let's lay out some baddies....Like Man With the Golden Gun...?

Last night, listened to that song by Lulu and must agree that it is pretty lame. But liked no title song per se "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" by John Barry orchestra that E-STAT mentioned. Wished the poll allowed more choices

[Auricauricle]

Y'know, just to be a spoiler, I'm gonna nom Simon's Nobody Does it Better. The other day, I found a vid of Goldfinger and they did a tribute to D. Lewellen who had died recently. The song and clips nearly broke me up....

[MasterCylinder]

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER



And Jill St. John was so smokin' hot then.............OMG !

[E-Stat]

And Jill St. John was so smokin' hot then.............OMG !

One of my favorite Bond lines comes during a conversation between St. John's character (Tiffany Case) and Bond posing as a smuggler. When they first meet, she is a brunette. After she prints him and returns, she is a red head. He notices and when she asks which he prefers, he responds: "So long as the collars and cuffs match."

Classic!

rw

[MasterCylinder]

"So long as the collars and cuffs match."

Classic!

A classic indeed............we all remember that line.

And I wouldn't care if they matched (or existed) !

[Smokey]

Just got hold of Shirley Bassey's "Diamonds Are Forever" 320k MP3 from the net (for free ) since don't have the movie, and all I can say is WOW! This is an incredible song. It is pretty much in par with Gold Finger.

Also gave a listen to Chris Cornell's 'You know my name' from Casino Royal, Diane Warwick's Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Thunderball) and Garbage's The World is Not Enough MP3s (again for free ). Out of three, "You Know My Name" seem to be a departure from usual Bond signature. All three are pretty good though.

[RGA]

Shirley Bassey was Bond Music to me - Diamonds are Forever was my first choice followed by Nobody does it better and Goldfinger.

Call me crazy but I liked the Madonna one too. Everyone hated that song LOL - but it grew on me after awhile.

[Ajani]

He always runs while others walk
He acts while other men just talk.
He looks at this world, and wants it all,
So he strikes, like thunderball.
He knows the meaning of success.
His needs are more, so he gives less.
They call him the winner who takes all.
And he strikes, like thunderball.

Any woman he wants, he'll get.
He will break any heart without regret.
His days of asking are all gone.
His fight goes on and on and on.
But he thinks that the fight is worth it all.
So he strikes like thunderball

[Auricauricle]

You have to admit, the opening credits that accompanied these movies were at least as exciting as the music. Even the recent Casino Royale sequence was very deftly done, handily getting viewers in the mood for a really good ride....

[topspeed]

Maybe it was my age at the time, but For Your Eyes Only really did it for me. Was it the haunting melody? Was it the slowly building power? Or was it that Sheena Easton was smokin' hot?

[Worf101]

There can be only one....

"Goldfinger"....

Da Worfster