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  • MONDAY JULY 24 2006 10:00 AM

James Bond Theme: Shaken, Not Sure.

Submitted by Colin_ORegan

Edited by Colin_ORegan

Tags: Goldfrapp, Chris Cornell, James Bond, Theme, Casino Royale,

The rumors circulating the web that Goldfrapp was on the menu to write the theme to Casino Royale, the latest Bond Adventure, an interesting choice to be sure, have been subsequently quashed by Musical Director David Arnold. David Arnold told BBC's 6 Music:


The Goldfrapp thing came about I believe as a Bond fan made up a fake fan art poster and put it on the net. He listed on the credits music by Goldfrapp as that was a band he would like to see doing it, and a French website decided that it was real so published a story. The internet is really quite amazing.

He added that he had already been working with the chosen artist for the films main song and that their identity would be revealed soon.


Sadly, reports suggested that Goldfrapp was very excited to do the theme. Bad news guys. At least you'll always have "Miami Vice." So who is doing the theme? If you believe him, Chris Cornell said in an interview with a Finnish Newspaper that he's doing it.

To be asked to pen the James Bond theme has always been a thing of honor. While the franchise has sometimes had a penchant to tap the hot thing on the market, legends have often stepped into those shoes including the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, and Madonna (which was a mistake, sorry Madge).

You have to bring your A game to the studio when writing for Bond, because the backdrop is usually some seriously hot women with guns. While I don't think a song is gonna top Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better," the argument could go on forever. You know Kanye's got Shirley Bassey's back with her "Diamonds are Forever," and you know GNR loves Paul's "Live and Let Die."

It is unfortunate but unsurprising that as Sony tries to change the tried and true more cool than killer, gadget savy maestro that is James Bond into some cold assassin for younger, action hungry audiences, they are also handing over theme song crown to Chris Cornell of Audioslave.

Chris had this to say about Casino Royale:


I haven't seen the new Bond fully, because it is still being edited, but I have seen several clips of it. Absolutely amazing movie. Very different than earlier Bonds.


Maybe he's lying.

He's not.
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Comments
dholokov

dholokov

Toronto, ON
April 2003

JUL 24, 2006 10:07 AM

My vote for best theme is View to a Kill.

PointBlank

PointBlank

New York, NY
November 2004

JUL 24, 2006 10:17 AM

Gold....finnnnggaah....he's the man, the man with the Midas toooouuch.

JonnyJonnyH

JonnyJonnyH

Seattle, WA
June 2003

JUL 24, 2006 11:05 AM

"You Only Live Twice" is definitely my favorite Bond theme.

mQx

mqx

Seattle, WA
January 2003

JUL 24, 2006 12:59 PM



It is unfortunate but unsurprising that as Sony tries to change the tried and true more cool than killer, gadget savy maestro that is James Bond into some cold assassin for younger, action hungry audiences, they are also handing over theme song crown to Chris Cornell of Audioslave.



This might be be true if your understanding of James Bond comes from the worst of Roger Moore collection; unfortunately for your point, it's not. True.

It sounds like they're trying to take a step back toward the books and early Connery films (much like Living Daylights tried). He is a cold-blooded assassin. He's a guy with, you know, a license to kill, who doesn't need a dancing car and bullet pen to be cool.

And tried and true has become staid and predictable. So good for them to try and shake things up.

AluminumOvercast

AluminumOvercast

Pittsburgh, PA
May 2006

AUG 12, 2006 10:37 AM

My favorite Bond theme is definitely "You Only Live Twice", but I think the best score is "The Man with the Golden Gun".

By the way, It should be noted that Clive Owen would have made a MUCH BETTER Bond than Daniel Craig. Not that I've seen either as Bond, or whether or not the studio didn't offer the to Owen in the first place, only to have him decline the offer, or to have there been some sort of Pierce Brosnan "Remington Steele" snafu.

That being said, I think the possibilty that Owen would have been the best since Connery, or perhaps the best period, if we all could set aside our affections for Sean.

Hunkpapa

Hunkpapa

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 12, 2006 05:00 PM

Mqx said:


It is unfortunate but unsurprising that as Sony tries to change the tried and true more cool than killer, gadget savy maestro that is James Bond into some cold assassin for younger, action hungry audiences, they are also handing over theme song crown to Chris Cornell of Audioslave.



This might be be true if your understanding of James Bond comes from the worst of Roger Moore collection; unfortunately for your point, it's not. True.

It sounds like they're trying to take a step back toward the books and early Connery films (much like Living Daylights tried). He is a cold-blooded assassin. He's a guy with, you know, a license to kill, who doesn't need a dancing car and bullet pen to be cool.

And tried and true has become staid and predictable. So good for them to try and shake things up.




Living Daylights is one of my favourite Bond films, and I've read a couple of the books.... and I'm glad they seem to have taken a step back from the more recent films. I actually liked Brosnan, but it was a bit of a shame that his go at the part coincided with the films getting so overblown and silly (I'm thinking mainly of the last one).

I wonder how much the success (and the quality) of the Bourne films had to do with the change of direction; I enjoyed them much more than the recent Bonds.

AstralTraveller

AstralTraveller

United Kingdom
January 2003

AUG 13, 2006 01:51 AM

ankiel66 said:
"You Only Live Twice" is definitely my favorite Bond theme.


+1 I love that whole soundtrack.

John Barry was the master of the Bond music. Nothing else comes close. It's quite obvious his style has had a big influence on Goldfrapp, especially on the masterful 'Felt Mountain'. So if they don't get a crack of the whip this time round they should definately be pencilled in for the next one. Bond will never be what it used to be though.

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