There have been plenty of brilliant iterations of James Bond and to see him on his way there have been a plethora of brilliant theme tunes.
Everyone has their favorites, sometimes because they remind them of a particular time in their life, sometimes because it’s their favorite Bond, sometimes because the song is such an earworm that they can’t get it out of their head. Whichever the reason, these are some of the most beloved theme tunes of all time. We’ll unpick what makes them so brilliant right here.
Tomorrow Never Dies, Sheryl Crow
As far as drama goes, you can count on Sheryl Crow to deliver. With an outstanding vocal range, the theme of Tomorrow Never Dies was always going to be hauntingly beautiful. As well as her vocals, which range from deep and raspy to almost angelic, the use of dynamics throughout the rest of the song is staggering.
That catchy guitar riff combines perfectly with sexy strings and some more unusual instrumental choices, like those screeching synths reminiscent of fireworks as she heads into the chorus.
Indeed, Tomorrow Never Dies is a musical feat in its own right, but better than that, it does the job that any great theme tune should, it fits the film perfectly. Totally and unashamedly of its time, sometimes it’s boring to try to be timeless. This song has the 90s written all over it and it’s all the better for it.
Diamonds are Forever, Shirley Bassey
Diamonds are Forever, as sung by Shirley Bassey for the theme tune of the eponymous movie is perhaps the greatest Bond song that has been recorded. It fits so neatly with the story behind the movie, in which Bond must pose as a diamond smuggler to infiltrate a ring and prevent the creation of a dangerous space weapon.
The casino scene is perhaps one of the most iconic, in which Bond plays craps and walks away with $50,000 and the beautiful Plenty O’Toole. Although it’s not exactly a usual occurrence to immediately go $50,000 up in a game of craps, if you are interested in learning to play then it’s beneficial to read a little about it first.
VegasSlotsOnline has created a guide that provides everything that you’d need to know before playing casino games online. Including reviews of recommended websites, tips and tricks for new players, do’s and don’ts and even a whole section dedicated to mobile gaming. You might not have the same instant success as Bond at the craps table, but if you’re well informed then you’ll have much more fun.
Live and Let Die, Paul McCartney
With a deceptively mellow introduction, Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney and Wings is a slow burner. It starts off with an almost folky feeling, but the build to the chorus is drama personified.
Pounding guitar and drums create tension in a way that only the best thrillers can, which given the job of the song is pretty appropriate. It’s difficult to keep up with the pressure and anxiety that a great Bond film can conjure up, but Paul McCartney certainly got the memo for this track. The instrumental parts of the song lend themselves perfectly to the most intense scenes, whilst the catchy lyrics will have this one lingering in your head for days.
Die Another Day, Madonna
When it comes to musicians that everybody wants to work with, there are few as high up the list as Madonna. Still current nearly forty years after her first release, Madonna has had some hits in her time. Die Another Day was hotly anticipated, as the previous Bond theme ‘The World is Not Enough’ by Garbage, had reached such heights in the charts. Madonna was initially reluctant to record a Bond theme, as she commented that she didn’t like to do what everybody else wanted to do.
However, in typical Madonna style she made it her own. The strings are the real magic moment in this song and when combined with the stuttering dance track, they made a totally irresistible song. The track was instantly loved and reached the top 10 of the US Billboard Charts almost immediately. Anyone who went to a nightclub in the early 2000’s will remember this track being played and crowds going wild.
