What is your favourite Bond theme?

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

31 minutes ago, paul_c2 said:

Having performed a number of Bond themes (main theme tune, Nobody Does It Better, Skyfall, We Have All The Time In The World), I love Bond tunes and my favourite varies with my mood. Fav slow one is "You Only Live Twice" and fav fast one is "Man With The Golden Gun". 

I would love to be able to perform "Man With The Golden Gun" but the intro is exceedingly difficult for the trumpet players - its a Bm9 chord, so that means someone has to squeak out a D# (C# on concert pitch) in the altissimo register, and with the required punchy rhythm. So that's on hold, indefinitely.

"We Have All The Time In The World" is exceedingly boring to play, and is make-or-break depending on the quality of the male lead singer.

"Nobody Does It Better" kinda needs the piano at the start but once that's sorted, is a brilliant song which is quite approachable too.

I had the opportunity to cover Diamonds Are Forever a few years ago with the kind of lead vocal and band that could definitely do it justice and it was a wonderful experience. 

Ditto your thoughts on You Only Live Twice. That intro gets me every time.

[BreadBin]

Live and Let Die for me, by miles 🙂

[40hz]

License to Kill - Gladys Knight. Epic!

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

21 minutes ago, 40hz said:

License to Kill - Gladys Knight. Epic!

That brass fanfare! One of the best hooks of them all IMHO.

[lowdown]

45 minutes ago, 40hz said:

License to Kill - Gladys Knight. Epic!

Yep, epic!!

 Narada Michael Warden co-wrote the tune and it was Orchestrated by Michael Kamen with Jerry Hey on Trumpet!!

Gladys Night just absolutely nails the whole thing. Everything about the 80's music is in there.

Although it's based on the Brass line theme from Goldfinger, it's still probably one of my favourites along with John Barry's OHMSS theme.

Patti LaBelle's, 'If You Asked Me To', was an added bonus playing over the end credits.

 

Edited May 21, 2019 by lowdown

[Mykesbass]

So many great ones that work on different levels. I ended up going for Another Way to Die, as I love the way both that one, and then Skyfall captured the feel of some of the really early ones but brought their own new vibe too. 

Such a tough choice, great poll @hiram.k.hackenbacker

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

6 minutes ago, lowdown said:

Yep, epic!!

 Narada Michael Warden co-wrote the tune and it was Orchestrated by Michael Kamen with Jerry Hey on Trumpet!!

Gladys Night just absolutely nails the whole thing. Everything about the 80's music is in there.

Although it's based on the Brass line theme from Goldfinger, it's still probably one of my favourites along with John Barry's OHMSS theme.

Furthermore, I notice that the version on the 'Best of Bond - 50 Years' is over a minute shorter than the version on the 30th Anniversary Edition.

How the hell have they managed to cut over a minute out of such a great tune?

[SubsonicSimpleton]

This Propellerheads remix is my personal favourite

 

[la bam]

Live and Let Die. All day long.

[Rich]

5 hours ago, Soledad said:

This is like voting for a EuroMP. None of them. Where's the box for that then ?

You'll have to spoil your paper.

No, I said SPOIL. Not soil.

Eww.

[bassace]

I like 90% of them. I voted for Nobody Does it Better simply because Carly Simon had one of the best voices in the business. I agree re Gladys Knight too. And can anyone ever arrange strings better than John Barry did?  You see, by having to have just one favourite you’re shutting out so much other good stuff.

[SteveK]

I absolutely love the main James Bond theme! It's, by far, my favourite movie theme.

There aren't too many pieces of music where just one chord (the end chord) is so synonymous with Bond. Play that one chord to anybody, and they'll say "Bond".

If I had to name one Bond movie, I'd go for "Goldfinger", and again, totally identifiable. This time, by the opening 2 chords! Play them to anyone, on guitar, piano, or even bass! Barre the chords, EMaj down to CMaj. Remember to include the, all important, major 3rds.  

[WAYNESWORLD]

You Only Live Twice. Went to see this with my Dad when at the time it was an (A )certificate film . I was to young to see it, being tall had its advantages though in them days. Made it all the more special knowing I shouldn't have been in the cinema for another year'.I would give anything to be able to sit and watch this with my Dad again. Even Robbie flogging the opening few bars hasn't spoiled the great memories of a Dad and his son sharing one of those moments that stay with you.

[Heathy]

Nobody Does it better

This was the first Bond film I saw in the Cinema - at Great Yarmouth. Afterwards we went into a local department store, which had the Lotus Esprit, and some other models from the film on display.

 

I have always thought that there is a high correlation between the quality of Bond theme songs and the quality of the film. Anyone else?

Edited May 21, 2019 by Heathy

[keeponehandloose]

Goldfinger for me.. an indication of my age as much as anything.. its like your fave Dr Who.

Basically,  John Barry was a genius.

[Hobbayne]

Just now, keeponehandloose said:

 

Basically,  John Barry was a genius.

Didnt he do all those pizzicato string arangements on the early Adam Faith records??

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

28 minutes ago, Heathy said:

I have always thought that there is a high correlation between the quality of Bond theme songs and the quality of the film. Anyone else?

I’ve never really thought of it that way and now you’ve suggested it, trying to work it out makes my head hurt 😂.

Given that Roger Moore is not my favourite Bond and he had some cracking themes throughout his tenure, I’m inclined not to go with it. It’s all very subjective though isn’t it and just a bit of fun really, much like the films themselves.

[Lozz196]

1 hour ago, Heathy said:

I have always thought that there is a high correlation between the quality of Bond theme songs and the quality of the film. Anyone else?

You may have a point there. Given that I voted for You Know My Name and think that Casino Royale as well as being the best Bond film is also one of the best films I’ve seen I reckon you’re onto something.

[40hz]

Although it didn't get selected, Radiohead's song for Spectre is utterly spellbinding.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

2 minutes ago, 40hz said:

Although it didn't get selected, Radiohead's song for Spectre is utterly spellbinding.

To be honest, anything would have been better than the one that was used 🙄.

By far, and by some considerable margin, the worst offering as far as I'm concerned. SS said it was written in one session - 10 minutes probably and it sounds like it.

[keeponehandloose]

1 hour ago, Hobbayne said:

Didnt he do all those pizzicato string arangements on the early Adam Faith records??

I think so.. also theme tunes such as The Persuaders, Born Free, The Protectors. And some cool singles as the John Barry Seven, pre Bond.

[TrevorR]

8 hours ago, SubsonicSimpleton said:

This Propellerheads remix is my personal favourite

 

This version is glorious. And their car park car chase music for Tomorrow Never Dies is fab too. I’ve got a soft spot for Moby’s Re-version Of the Bond theme too.

 

I voted for Carly Simon as I’ve always loved that theme tune - it was my first Bond at the cinema too. But there are so many vying for second place... Macca and Wings, Gladys, Cornell, Crow and Garbage... fantastic.

[lowdown]

7 hours ago, keeponehandloose said:

I think so.. also theme tunes such as The Persuaders, Born Free, The Protectors. And some cool singles as the John Barry Seven, pre Bond.

Probably one of the UK's most prolific film composers. A pretty amazing career really. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barry_(composer)

Edited May 22, 2019 by lowdown

[scalpy]

15 hours ago, la bam said:

Live and Let Die. All day long.

Another stunning George Martin arrangement. When he took the master to the Bond producers apparently they went 'Great demo, imagine how the finished article is going to sound!' George and Paul had to do some persuading.