Spectre title song - Writing's on the Wall

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  • SarkSark Guangdong, PRC
    edited September 2015 Posts: 1,138

    You need to listen to it a MINIMUM of 5 times I'd say, trust me. You'll like it more.

    And I still say this is an absurd standard. I didn't like it the first or second time. Why listen to it ten more times to try and force myself to like it?

    And who has ever said "Bond goosebumps"?
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,546
    Sark wrote: »

    You need to listen to it a MINIMUM of 5 times I'd say, trust me. You'll like it more.

    And I still say this is an absurd standard. I didn't like it the first or second time. Why listen to it ten more times to try and force myself to like it?

    And who has ever said "Bond goosebumps"?

    I like the song, but I actually agree with this. If you don't like it, you don't like it, no need to try and force it.
  • MrLunnMrLunn Lunnigham
    Posts: 60
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    There are always three things I keep in mind for the Theme Song:
    1) If it's commercially viable and can sell a few more tickets for the movie, then I'm willing to go for a song that I do not necessarily like all that much. Ever since they went looking for popular artists to sing the Theme Song, it's always been about selling more tickets and from a business POV, that makes perfect sense.
    2) Somehow I always like to see the OT before I pass final judgement. I have been there before when I thought little of the song but ultimately found it working well with the titles. Examples include TND, DAD and CR.
    3) It's not easy to come up with new theme songs I can imagine. One preferably finds a tune that's fresh and new yet at the same time keeps an obvious link to the world of Bond. Skyfall won an Oscar and is basically one stretched-out version of The Bond Theme.

    As for WOTW, I've listened to it about 10 times now. It opens with a short orchestral moment that reminds me of Arnold's music for the skiing done by Bond and Elektra in TWINE. Then Smith's voice kicks in and though I wouldn't buy his records, I guess the man can sing. I've never been too big a fan of power ballads but I'm always willing to listen to new things. So far I'm mostly appreciative of the rather sentimental tone of the song because judging by what I've seen in the trailers and all I feel this is where the film is going anyway.

    So while I don't see myself playing WOWT in my house or humming it in the streets as often as say TLD or SF, I don't think it's a failure at all. I'll probably rank it in the lower part of the lower half of the theme songs but still well above AWTD, DAD and TND.

    Hi Darth, this is all very balanced and diplomatic of you...but the fact still remains you're not humming it...that's the point. No other film franchise has this musical tradition, a bench mark that the Bond films have created and set high, yet it has divided opinion, and not generally liked. That to me is a failure in pure Bond film terms.

    I hate every worthy, self gratifying, self absorbed moment of Smith's vocals. Awful.
  • Posts: 1,858
    My problem is that I'm afraid SP will not be a great Bond overall because it's basically the same team that did SKYFALL and this song selection and what appears to be yet another overly long pre-credit sequence, which can throw the balance of these films off, is not encouraging me to think otherwise. I do hope I am pleasantly surprised though. My gold standard for the Craig films is Casino Royale.
  • edited September 2015 Posts: 572
    I've waited to listen to the song several times over a few days before making a comment. So here goes nothing...

    With the several listens, I've genuinely tried to find aspects of the song to like, and I can't say there's been much. I like the lushly recorded intro and the fact that it's weaved throughout, but that's it...and even that feels too forced and there just to earn cheap nostalgia points. I feel like the song would have been better suited to grow into a grandiose larger-than-life anthem, but instead each chorus is held back in a delicate, anticlimactic manner. It's more than the falsetto...It's written and performed too self-conscious, confused, and sensitive like it after one has been crying in alone in a dark corner for hours.

    And for the record, it's not that I'm set in my ways for how a Bond song should sound. Different is good. But the song just isn't there for me. It's not memorable...it just floats around in the sea of the mundane with no real melody.

    In short, I want to like it, but I just can't. For me, it will compete with the likes of "All Time High" and "Die Another Day" for the most dust on top. Thank God Seal is coming out with a new album, or this year would be a huge disappointment with music for me.
  • Posts: 1,314
    I don't get the dislike to this extent.

    If we remove the "how do I live..," refrain section with the falsettos and add drums and full orchestra under the last bit would we all be happier?
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    Posts: 1,756
    Sark wrote: »

    You need to listen to it a MINIMUM of 5 times I'd say, trust me. You'll like it more.

    And I still say this is an absurd standard. I didn't like it the first or second time. Why listen to it ten more times to try and force myself to like it?

    And who has ever said "Bond goosebumps"?

    That's like saying you tried a sip of whiskey one time and didn't like it. It requires more tasting to really "get it". It's just that kind of song.

  • MrLunnMrLunn Lunnigham
    Posts: 60
    Matt007 wrote: »
    I don't get the dislike to this extent.

    If we remove the "how do I live..," refrain section with the falsettos and add drums and full orchestra under the last bit would we all be happier?

    Again you've answered the question, why is there a need to get rid of anything? It doesn't work.

    To help ease the pain, what' the difference between a rhino and a zippo?

    On is a heavy animal and one is little a lighter.
  • SarkSark Guangdong, PRC
    Posts: 1,138
    Sark wrote: »

    You need to listen to it a MINIMUM of 5 times I'd say, trust me. You'll like it more.

    And I still say this is an absurd standard. I didn't like it the first or second time. Why listen to it ten more times to try and force myself to like it?

    And who has ever said "Bond goosebumps"?

    That's like saying you tried a sip of whiskey one time and didn't like it. It requires more tasting to really "get it". It's just that kind of song.

    Sure, and if you drink enough rot gut tequila you'll start to like it. It doesn't mean it's worth the effort or that anyone should.

    Can you think of some non=Bond songs that I should listen to again and again until I like them?
  • DoctorKaufmannDoctorKaufmann Can shoot you from Stuttgart and still make it look like suicide.
    edited September 2015 Posts: 1,261
    talos7 wrote: »
    It seems a lot, besides those of us that instantly loved it, are coming around to the song and smiths vocals. I think this is a classic case of the fans thinking they know what a Bond song SHOULD be and hoping for exactly that instead of being open minded. When presented with something they weren't expecting, aren't hoping for, fans just roundly rejected what they were given instead out of frustration. Now the dust has settled, many are reevaluating the song for what it is, and I have seen posts of people admitting to enjoying it a lot more. I think this is a bit like 'blonde Bond' syndrome. In years to come people will wonder why people thought WOTW was controversial. I guess when you're breaking new ground (as WOTW does), it's a bit of a rocky process sometimes.

    Or, some people, with very open minds have listen to it several times and still don't like it. I am a long time Bond fan and enjoy a wide range of music. I've listened to this at least a dozen and a half times and still find it weak. Much of this weakness s in the vocal. I think Lady GaGa could have done a great job with a version of this.

    Lady GaGa would have done a better job with this vocal-wise, I'm sure. Maybe even (no kidding) this singer would have done it better:



    Even this song would have made a very good Bond song. And the falsetto is much better...
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    Posts: 1,756
    Sark wrote: »
    Sark wrote: »

    You need to listen to it a MINIMUM of 5 times I'd say, trust me. You'll like it more.

    And I still say this is an absurd standard. I didn't like it the first or second time. Why listen to it ten more times to try and force myself to like it?

    And who has ever said "Bond goosebumps"?

    That's like saying you tried a sip of whiskey one time and didn't like it. It requires more tasting to really "get it". It's just that kind of song.

    Sure, and if you drink enough rot gut tequila you'll start to like it. It doesn't mean it's worth the effort or that anyone should.

    Can you think of some non=Bond songs that I should listen to again and again until I like them?

    So what's your point? That you're close minded?
  • Posts: 1,858
    I try and be as open minded as possible but this song is being sung from 007's point of view and lacks any of his "Blunt Instrument" persona.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited September 2015 Posts: 23,883
    delfloria wrote: »
    I try and be as open minded as possible but this song is being sung from 007's point of view and lacks any of his "Blunt Instrument" persona.

    Precisely.

    It is actually being sung from Sam Smith's interpretation of what Bond's point of view is.

    Sadly, Sam Smith did not fully flesh this out in his lyrics, but rather, chose to focus overtly on one aspect of Bond's scenario in SP, so it comes across to some of us (certainly me) as overly saccharine or sugary.
  • Matt007 wrote: »
    I don't get the dislike to this extent.

    If we remove the "how do I live..," refrain section with the falsettos and add drums and full orchestra under the last bit would we all be happier?

    No. It's not just the falsettos and lack of rhythms...The song is fundamentally flawed, in my opinion. You'd have also change the melody (or rather the lackthereof) and the lyrics. At that point you'd have a completely different song.
  • Posts: 2,491
    I wasn't agaisnt Sam Smith as singer of SP, and I think his voice fits for a Bond theme...but the theme song is pretty meh..

    I wanted Adele to sing another one..

    It's not a bad song..but it's really average. Easily forgettable. Meh..at least it's better than QoS I guess :/
  • Posts: 187
    royale65 wrote: »
    Regardless of my feelings for the song, I'm glad its No. 1 on the billboard 100.

    Except it's not. It's No. 1 on the Trending 140 chart which doesn't factor in sales, it factors in how much it's been talked about on social media. The Weeknd is who is No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart.

  • edited September 2015 Posts: 4,603
    Read the lines below, as you read, the melody comes with it. IMHO, it just works, its simple, not overly complicated, straight forward, has energy and builds

    If you take a life, do you know what you'll give
    Odds are, you won't like what it is
    When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me
    By the merciless eyes I've deceived

    I've seen angels fall from blinding heights
    But you yourself are nothing so divine
    Just next in line

    Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you
    The odds will betray you
    And I will replace you
    You can't deny the prize; it may never fulfill you
    It longs to kill you
    Are you willing to die

    The coldest blood runs through my veins
    You know my name

    Then try this:

    I've been here before
    But always hit the floor
    I've spent a lifetime running
    And I always get away
    But with you I'm feeling something
    That makes me want to stay

    I'm prepared for this
    I never shoot to miss
    But I feel like a storm is coming
    If I'm gonna make it through the day
    Then there's no more use in running
    This is something I gotta face


    I know its personal choice but one looks like its from a 14 year old. (and perhaps in 20 mins)

  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,195
    delfloria wrote: »
    I try and be as open minded as possible but this song is being sung from 007's point of view and lacks any of his "Blunt Instrument" persona.

    Exactly, The "pleading" nature of Smith's delivery fly's in the face of the character of Bond, particularly the one portrayed by Craig. The falsetto is particularly out of character. A song sung from Bonds point of view demands a more assertive vocal; this one is too needy.

  • Posts: 187
    Just checked, he's dropped to No. 4 on the U.S. iTunes chart. He's not going to get to No. 1 on the singles chart I don't think, not in the U.S. anyway.
  • DoctorNoDoctorNo USA-Maryland
    Posts: 755
    patb wrote: »
    Read the lines below, as you read, the melody comes with it. IMHO, it just works, its simple, not overly complicated, straight forward, has energy and builds

    If you take a life, do you know what you'll give
    Odds are, you won't like what it is
    When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me
    By the merciless eyes I've deceived

    I've seen angels fall from blinding heights
    But you yourself are nothing so divine
    Just next in line

    Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you
    The odds will betray you
    And I will replace you
    You can't deny the prize; it may never fulfill you
    It longs to kill you
    Are you willing to die

    The coldest blood runs through my veins
    You know my name

    Then try this:

    I've been here before
    But always hit the floor
    I've spent a lifetime running
    And I always get away
    But with you I'm feeling something
    That makes me want to stay

    I'm prepared for this
    I never shoot to miss
    But I feel like a storm is coming
    If I'm gonna make it through the day
    Then there's no more use in running
    This is something I gotta face


    I know its personal choice but one looks like its from a 14 year old. (and perhaps in 20 mins)

    This. Thank you.

    I've seen angels fall from blinding heights, But you yourself are nothing so divine, Just next in line = great lines

    I never shoot to miss... Cringe inducing, all of it.
  • SkyfallCraigSkyfallCraig Rome, Italy
    Posts: 630
    patb wrote: »
    Read the lines below, as you read, the melody comes with it. IMHO, it just works, its simple, not overly complicated, straight forward, has energy and builds

    If you take a life, do you know what you'll give
    Odds are, you won't like what it is
    When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me
    By the merciless eyes I've deceived

    I've seen angels fall from blinding heights
    But you yourself are nothing so divine
    Just next in line

    Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you
    The odds will betray you
    And I will replace you
    You can't deny the prize; it may never fulfill you
    It longs to kill you
    Are you willing to die

    The coldest blood runs through my veins
    You know my name

    Then try this:

    I've been here before
    But always hit the floor
    I've spent a lifetime running
    And I always get away
    But with you I'm feeling something
    That makes me want to stay

    I'm prepared for this
    I never shoot to miss
    But I feel like a storm is coming
    If I'm gonna make it through the day
    Then there's no more use in running
    This is something I gotta face


    I know its personal choice but one looks like its from a 14 year old. (and perhaps in 20 mins)
    Yeah, and perhaps one has a sense within the story, the other is only a bunch of line
  • Posts: 4,603
    OK, as with the above lyrics, I am trying to find some form of comparative illustration/exercise to make the point. Check the video link below, see how the drum starts very simply and builds and builds, the workload of the drummer increases as the energy increases, moving to double time with 20 seconds to go. It makes the heart beat faster.
  • Posts: 1,310
    Sorry everyone, but WOTW is starting to grow on me.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,195
    SJK91 wrote: »
    Sorry everyone, but WOTW is starting to grow on me.
    There are ointments for that. ;)
  • Aparently they are now saying Sam stole michal jacksons earch song. Now I got goosbumps because theres a part of the song that made me think of that song, but I wouldn't go that far to say its taken from it. It just reminded me of it. But its online about it. About taking him to court. How stupid.
  • edited September 2015 Posts: 1,310
    talos7 wrote: »
    SJK91 wrote: »
    Sorry everyone, but WOTW is starting to grow on me.
    There are ointments for that. ;)
    I might be needing some of that then! It isn't a song I would normally listen to, and I have never sought out Smith's music. I really understand the criticism of the whimpy-ness, the overuse of falsetto, the occasionally daft lyrics etc etc.

    And yet, I just...I kind of...I don't know. Perhaps it is the warm orchestral backing to the song I'm really digging. The violins that occasionally come in between a lyric (particularly the brief progression at 2m15s), the grand sounding horns under the chorus, and the "bridge" at 3m26s are actually quite arresting.

    When I first heard the song, I was not a fan of the vocals. I don't think I am still but perhaps I'm choosing to...ignore them to an extent? I can't really explain.

    I've said this in a few other posts, but I will say it again: I'm very interested in hearing the official instrumental version.
  • DrShatterhandDrShatterhand Garden of Death, near Belfast
    edited September 2015 Posts: 805
    Have Radiohead recorded a cover version yet?
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    Posts: 1,756
    SO MUCH HATE
  • Posts: 4,603
    To be fair, I cant hear any Earthsong at all, but its an easy claim for the media as SS does have form.
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