No matter which film you choose, you can’t help but notice that every James Bond Film has it’s own signature theme song! As the film begins, we of course get a nice little intro, just to get the audience pumped up and ready for what’s to come; and then, as the film is truly set to start, we get a theme song. At one point you could have called it a unique feature, but sadly over the years that uniqueness has drifted away as many other films have set out to try and copy this series’ success.
Due to this series success, as well as the success of the songs and artists chosen to perform the opening theme songs, the anticipation into finding who will do it next, is almost as big as finding out who the next James Bond will be. The chosen song/artist after the announcement can be a bit mixed sometimes, but in recent years, nearly each and every song has become a big hit. Definitely more so since the mid 1980’s, when more mainstream pop based acts have been given the prestigious chance to write/perform the opening theme song.
Over the years we have had a wide variety of styles; from slow moving ballads, to heavier styles of rock, to near energetic dance tracks, and of course good old fashioned mainstream pop, with many famous names like Tom Jones, Paul McCartney and Wings, Sheena Easton, A-Ha, Gladys Knight, Adele, and Billie Eilish among others being attached to create opening theme songs for this prestigious series.
So, with such a rich history, with many amazing, classic songs within, I thought I would share with you my personal favourites. Now as usual, there is not enough space on a Top 10 list for them all, after all the series is currently 25 films long, so just to give those other songs a quick mention, here are the unlucky, but still pretty good few:
Moonraker, The World is Not Enough, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and No Time To Die.
And so without further ado, here are my Top 10 Favourite James Bond Theme Songs; Enjoy!
10. Tomorrow Never Dies (Sheryl Crow) – Tomorrow Never Dies is a weird one due to it’s sudden change of pace. It starts with that terrific heavy build-up, that sounds like someone demolishing a piano with a sledge hammer, whilst simultaneously throwing it down a flight of stairs. But then it just slows down to such a slow speed, it takes all the energy out of it. But this slow piece is rather gentle and melodic, choosing not to drain the audience’s energy before the film starts. And even if you can’t understand the words, it’s so nice and peaceful just to listen to, almost like it’s rocking you off to sleep, before then returning to thrashing the piano to smithereens, just to keep you awake for the film to start!
9. A View to a Kill (Duran Duran) – A bit of an obvious choice, but it’s obvious because it works. Duran Duran’s theme song was something of a watershed moment for the series, largely due in part to bassist John Taylor drunkenly accosting Albert R. Broccoli at a party, which then of course led to this massive hit, and more mainstream pop stars being approached to writing/performing the opening theme songs. What is quite interesting with this theme though, is that whilst the film’s title does appear in the song’s lyrics, it’s not really in the chorus, just sort of more mentioned in passing. This choice of direction though works really well, as the chosen chorus works more with the chosen beat, before then highlighting to the audience once more the name of the film; just in case if they begin to think the film is actually called “Dance Into The Fire!”
8. Dr. No (John Barry and Monty Norman) – In comparison to all the titles that follow, this one almost feels like a prank or a joke. Dr. NO, the first film in the series, does nothing to set up the format that follows, as there is no opening scene, and the the film’s opening theme features virtually no singing, bar a rendition of Three Blind Mice. What it does do though is introduce to the audience; the main James Bond Theme, because the opening theme is just that, the classic James Bond theme. Because it’s just the ordinary theme however, it doesn’t get as much mainstream playtime on radio or TV, compared to successor movies, which is a shame, and is now used just as a sting entirely for the mere mention of James Bond, rather than having the entire thing played out in full!
7. You Only Live Twice (Nancy Sinatra) – Quite a peaceful melody now, with a Japanese theme. Possibly the smoothest of themes, as the song follows a standard easy rhythm, and just keeps it going on and on. There is very little deviation from this path, other than in the lyrics, which like to increase the level of seriousness, by doing the opposite to the relaxing sound, and suggests something much darker at heart; before returning to that gentle, sweet touch, which nicely wraps it all up!
6. The Spy Who Loved Me (Carly Simon) – This is one of those rare treats in the series, where you get to hear two versions of this song, one at the start, and the other briefly in the end credits. The end credits version of the title songs became more popular during the Pierce Brosnan era, but here we get it for I think the first time. It starts with a nice tingling of the keys, before then launching into the lyrics. It’s a theme which works on a small scale, which complements such a big action packed film, keeping the adrenaline focussed on the action, and using the theme just to begin the show. The theme doesn’t even suggest anything about what the film is, keeping as many surprises under covers for now, instead it just plods on, building in light intensity with an easy set of lyrics to draw you in, and start the show with!
5. Goldfinger (Shirley Bassey) – Probably the best well known theme (at least pre-Duran Duran). This theme stands out loud more than most, and is possibly the series most iconic theme, but there a few hot contenders to consider. But what is pretty bizarre, is that the series would re-use the basic theme again, just slowed down a considerable bit, with some lyric changes, and use it for a film called ‘Licence To Kill‘ instead. Goldfinger is a loud tune, but it’s such an easy tune too. It’s not fast or heavy, it’s a slow near ballad of a tune, which talks about the film’s villain, and why you should watch out for him (both as a viewer, and in-person too). It has it’s nice build-ups which leads into crescendos, only again to return to it’s basic tune, with a hint of the James Bond theme. But to conclude, it starts getting aggressive, building up further, and further, and then finishing on a more serious tone. Although this serious note does lose it’s impact; if you listen to the Alan Partridge version!
4. Spectre (Sam Smith) – I remember this one not being much liked when it first got released, but it doesn’t seem fair to negate a theme song, if you release it before the film; because you need to see it with the opening credits, as that’s what these songs have been made for, so you need the one with the other, to see and hear the full picture. This is one of those few instances, where the film’s title is not in the lyrics at all. The song after all is called ‘Writing’s On The Wall’. It’s a classic Bond Ballad, drawing inspiration from the past, to create something modern, but with a classical taste. But the chorus is so well done. The vocals sound out of place and out-of-tune, but it’s so effective, particularly later on, with lines like “How do I live? How do I breathe?”, to which Sam Smith sounds like he is losing his vocal chords. It’s a dark theme, and a dark tune, to go with the dark opening, and the dark secrets yet to be spilled in the film to come. It may be an odd one, but when it’s all strung together, it just works!
3. Die Another Day (Madonna) – Quite possibly, the most disturbing of all opening credits sequences in the series to date. Yes, it blurs out the scenes of torture to some degree, but replaces them with people in ice and flames. This piece is more of a dance track, with electronic sounds, and the sounds of classic ballroom dance tapping too. And on top of this we also have a set of cool spoken lyrics which melt in with the track, at the same pace and beat. But then in the middle, we have a more classical section, just to take a short breath, before then jumping back into that slow, but energetic beat once more. It’s a track where both the tune and lyrics compliment each other quite well, but would sound very different, if neither were present, without the other!
2. Goldeneye (Tina Turner) – The anticipation in this opening theme is odd, as when you hear those first few beats, you think it’s going to be a slow one, but then you get a small explosion, suggesting something loud and explosive, but then it gets slow again, and then there are times it picks up in intensity. It’s a song which makes you think it’s going one way, but contradicts it, only for it to then contradict itself to fool you. The lyrics are really cool too, as they follow the same logic, but at a slower pace. As the tune picks up, the lyrics don’t, not yet anyway. Not until about halfway through, then pick up in volume and intensity, but still at a gentle pace. It’s not until the final chapter it all picks up, and both are finally in tandem!
1. The Man with the Golden Gun (Lulu) – Possibly the number 1 song on this list, with the most obvious number of double entendre’s. Yes, it hasn’t escaped me that most of the lyrics in this song might not be referencing a character, nor his weapon of choice, but something else entirely; something which Lord Flashheart would be proud of. No, I am here for the song, not the lewd jokes (sorry to disappoint if that’s what you were hoping for). This is a really cool tune, with lyrics which blend so well with the theme tune. It’s a song which you can easily join in with as the lyrics are so simple, plus the tune is loud and energetic, something to really get the heart and picture going, as well as end in glorious fashion too, with that terrific horn section. It’s a song with a great deal of power and energy in every note, plus has the lyrics to back it up. The most satisfying of James Bond opening themes, and that’s why it’s my number 1 favourite of the lot…at least for now; as James Bond will always return (the credits promise it)!
Things I Like 
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