Bond, James Bond; our favourite swarthy, smooth, lady-loving secret agent has always been accompanied by more than just beautiful Bond girls. The scores and theme tunes to so many of the 007 movies have become popular in their own right, some even having been awarded Golden Globes and Academy Awards…the following is a list of the best, most successful and celebrated James Bond songs ever written.
From Russia with Love, 1963
The relationship between Bond and composer John Barry began with his work on Dr. No in 1962. Following the success of this he was asked to compose the score for the sequel plus arrange the title song, thus inspiring one of the most symbiotic musical partnerships in screen history. From Russia with Love was written by Lionel Bart and powerfully sung by Matt Monro. It differs from the rest on this winners list by being played over the closing credits in the movie as opposed to the typical opening song.
Goldfinger, 1964
The film that perfected the 007 formula and sound and maintains the classic voice of Bond theme tunes, Goldfinger marked Barry’s first top-to-bottom Bond score, but the title song alongside Shirley Bassey’s delivery provide the greatest Bond theme tune to date. Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley supplied roaringly melodramatic lyrics for Barry’s brassy, classy music which gave Bassey her only US Top 10 hit.
You Only Live Twice, 1967
Nancy Sinatra provided the appropriately haunting vocals on this most bewitching of Bond theme songs. With lyrics, written by Leslie Bricusse and now veteran at Bond music, John Barry in control of the rest (his best score yet), this could not fail to become one of the most recognized and successful of the Bond title songs.
Diamonds Are Forever, 1971
One of Barry’s main assets as a composer has always been his dramatic nous, and never more so than on this introduction to Sean Connery’s sixth and last Eon-produced Bond movie, which won him an Ivor Novello award. From the sinister, sparkling opening to the punchy climax, all his hallmarks are there: lyrical melodies, gently propulsive dotted bass figure, rich orchestration and bold theatricality. It saw Bassey return for her second 007 venture, belting out Don Black’s brazenly materialistic words with typical gusto.
Live and Let Die, 1973
Paul McCartney turned his musical skills to Bond and what a masterpiece he constructed; and it only took him a few hours one afternoon apparently. This continues to be one of McCartney’s favourites in his live performances. A British agent dies by snakebite, and composer (and former “fifth Beatle”) George Martin’s strings slither mercilessly down and melt into the opening of this melodious punchy number. This combined with Maurice Binder’s superb flaming-skull visuals make Live and Let Die’s opening credits the most exciting of the lot.
0Nobody Does It Better, 1977
This became Carly Simon’s biggest and best known hit. Her vocals perfectly matched the Bond sound alongside the talents of Marvin Hamlisch whose arrangements made Nobody Does it Better a huge success. This was the first 007 opening theme song not to be named after its film (the Spy Who Loved Me), and also the first to be nominated for an Oscar.
Moonraker, 1979
Moonraker saw James Barry, back on the Bond team as he delivered a superlative score and a title track that’s not his most celebrated, but definitely among his most beautiful. Returning to Bond for a third and final time, Bassey injects considerable passion into this yearning love song (lyrics again by Hal David), while Barry’s strings ripple into infinity.
A View to a Kill, 1985
There’s no way there could be a best Bond theme list without this being on it. It’s classic, it’s upbeat and it’s very, very eighties (see mullets, trench coats and very outdated graphics for reference). What more could you want? Hey presto, A View To a Kill makes it to the top of the 007 theme tune success stories. This was the first time a band had ever collaborated to make a Bond song but the successes and sounds of Duran Duran at the time made them a natural choice. And, Simon Le Bon looks very comfortable acting the Bond part (perhaps he saw it as a semi-audition?).
Skyfall, 2012
In true Adele style she has captured the essence of all that is Bond, James Bond, with the Skyfall theme tune. She gave her first performance of the song at the Academy Awards where it became the first Bond theme tune to win an award for best and at the Golden Globes and Brit Awards. Skyfall achieved impressive statistics by getting to number two on the UK charts, eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and skyrocketing to the top of the iTunes chart. Aside from that, in our opinion, it is the first modern 007 track that represents the original stylings of the traditional Bond while managing to incorporate a contemporary edge. Nice work Adele.
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