I'm sure Billie's Bond theme will be allright. But.... I would have preferred Cynthia Erivo to have been chosen. A "Classic" Bond theme vs. a "Pop" Bond theme. But we'll see..
Apparently the only Bond theme she'd ever heard prior to writing this was Sam Smith's. And she makes Sam's song sound like "Blitzkreig Bop" by comparison.
We are a far, whispering, cry from Shirley Bassey's powerful vocals. So let me get this straight: Bond is a morose alcoholic who hates his job, is either hung up on a dead woman or faithfully attached, gets no cool new gadgets, the films are tied together like a TV show, and the Bond song should be sung at the volume of pillow talk.
I agree: I much prefer the really big, powerful Bond themes over the years. Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, Man with the Golden Gun... some great songs there. The latter track by Lulu is a guilty pleasure of mine: she belts it out at amazing volume. "He has a powerful weapon... he charges a million a shot... an assassin that's second to none... the man with the golden gun." (I even like the fake Bond theme for Casino Royale, which is not big and powerful but is an extremely catchy Burt Bacharach melody.)
The trouble with Babs and Michael is they're largely chasing the same old sub-Shirley Bassey model for each new Bond theme tune... when they ventured out of that trope for Wings' 'Live and Let Die', Duran Duran's 'A View to a Kill', and A-ha's 'The Living Daylights', those theme tunes kicked ass!!! The theme tune issue is symptomatic of the current state of the 007 franchise as a whole; wanting to stay traditional whilst also wanting to be 'relevant' (whatever that means)... but seemingly afraid or unwilling to really do what it takes to live up to that latter aspiration... hence the ousting of Danny Boyle a couple years ago when he allegedly really wanted to push Bond into the current era.
Not exactly something people will be singing or humming in 10 years time is it? In fact, who’ll even remember it?
I can't wait to see the kvetching if they ever rethink that strategy. You always have complainers in this very thread complaining that Bond isn't treating Bond Girls enough like used tissues or some such other nonsense.
Not my preference in the least. I don't see Bond as having been in the last bit emasculated even since Judi Dench's M gave him ye olde talking-to in Goldeneye. There are those here who clearly do, though. Even in Goldeneye it was clearly a case of new leadership having preconceived notions about the old guard, and that mutual respect grew throughout the films. Ditto for Craig's Bond.
I like it. Like the production and the arrangement. Guess this is the first time I’ve heard her voice, it fits the feel of the tune.
She's muttering, which I suppose is not as bad as screaming. "the blood you bleed is just the blood you own" she sings. Well, who else's would it be?
There is no equivalency between the Jame Bond character in books and films and these real-life felons. Bond is not a serial rapist. Your analogy is outlandish and offensive. Further, no one here is advocating that Bond should treat women like used tissues. No one has said, implied, inferred, suggested, nor stated such nonsense. Grown-ups do have affairs and occasional one-night stands. Women, especially. You'll find out about those things in due course.
Hers isn't bad at all! It's just ... sparse. I do like the strings when they come in, and they get the "spy chord" right at the end. Pleasantly surprised, although one really shouldn't be (the Bond producers pretty much know what they're doing.) I'm still sad "Spectre" by Radiohead didn't get used in the last movie. That was awesome, and modern.
