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Comments
What a load of utter bollocks, mate (:|
No, that is some but not most of the criticism that I have heard.
From my point of view, I've always preferred (on average) sappy soul bearing songs (which I feel this is) to be sung by a woman. Slower songs as well. I have always preferred faster, more uptempo songs sung by men. There are exceptions of course (like some early fast Whitney Houston, Madonna and Britney Spears etc. and some slow George Michael etc). Personally, I don't hear 'soul' in Smith's voice in WOTW like George Michael could bring for example. Even Jackson did it better (imho) with the compared 'Earth Song'.
It comes down to voice tone, inflexion & intonation and how it sounds to one's ear, which is deeply personal. It has nothing to do with homophobia. That is entirely irrelevant to my thinking. Making the connection between that and dislike of gays is completely incorrect imho. It is a coincidence. There is correlation but not causation.
One could say I'm not properly in touch with my feminine/gentler side if one wants (and I have been accused of that on occasion), but not homophobia and prejudice.
Of course, I hope someone at EON thought this through before selecting Smith and before allowing him to sing like this (basically 'opening up' while inhabiting Bond's character). If they did, then it's all ok (because there was a method to their thinking). If not, then perhaps they need me on their staff for the next one to prevent further unintended mishaps/controversy.
It is my understanding (based on an interview that I read from Smith) that he had to remove some lyrics that he had originally inserted and which Mendes himself felt were way too wimpy for Bond.
It's more than its unsuitting for Bond, not a generic man.
Just to clarify, just from my point of view it has nothing to do with singing 'high'.
I love the Bee Gees and MJ has done some absolutely fantastic songs in his time (brilliant in fact). Even JT, Jamiroquai, Terence Trent D'arby, Prince and Sheeran have some great 'high voice' songs (Don't, Sing, Rock Your Body, Kiss, Virtual Insanity, Wishing Well).
From my perspective, it just comes down to the song not being that good. I think many people feel that way but I don't think they feel that way purely on account of the falsetto. It's more the way the falsetto segues in and whether it feels integrated. To me it feels tacked on to showcase Smith's vocal range, but not impressive. Just my view.
You are one of the few people that actually give valid reasons why you don't like the song too much.
There are good reviews of the song out there, for instance in the latest Rolling Stone issue.
Twitter/Facebook and the lot dwell itself in primitive homophobic comments, that fact cannot be ignored.
It just worries me to see how people react to a simple song like it was some kind of religous war.
Sam has released one album and is still a newcomer, who knows in a decade he may be an internationally accomplished singer with 20 grammies at his hand.
I heard a few cover versions sung by female and quite liked the song for itself. But I still don't like how Sam Smith's falsetto is mixed in. Somebody said it would sound to him like a demo and that comes close to what I feel. I agree with you that the falsetto vocals don't feel integrated. Maybe this is only the air play version for selling a Sam Smith song and we get a different mix for the title sequence.
I so hope so it doesn't. That would mean Bond lying on his red satin heart shaped bed in fetal position gorging down ice cream from a huge bucket.
This makes a lot of sense to me. Just feels like it needed more work, more takes, more production. I don't have an issue with Sam Smith's voice but the fact that people are already producing superior cover versions is an indication that something is not quite right with Sam's version.
It would have been cool if Sam had written it and then said, "actually, this needs someone else to sing it". Bigger, more established stars might have done just that.
I've heard good/better covers of other Bond songs as well. I like Natasha Atlas's cover of FRWL.
This is exactly how I feel! The knitting needles through my ears I mean. How about a mariachi uptempo cover of this song...
The truth is there are only a few bars in the song that are Bondian. If most of you would've heard the song without the strings and horn section, not knowing that it's the new Bond theme, you would've made no association with Bond. The "I've been here before but always hit the floor" part that should hint at Vesper is really generic and doesn't really give it away.
As of those who say "let's focus on making this Bond film the best it can be", let's be serious here, we have no power over what the film will be and the theme song part is ruined for most of us. At the end of the day this is a forum and it's meant for people to express their opinions. We don't come here to pretend we like things we don't just to seem politically correct.
I'll buy you a pint if you can provide evidence of this with quotes.
People have raised the point that 'some' people, a large proportion of whom are not on this board have used their dislike of the song to have a pop at the bloke's sexuality. If you feel you need to defend them, that's up to you.
As far as I'm concerned his sex life is his own business, I like the song,like
That he said it was an honour to be given the chance to do it, by putting his
name to it, he's given Spectre a hit song and hundreds of thousands pounds
worth Of publicity. I hope he knows that some fans, love his lyrics, find them
very poignant, the fact that so many of his " Haters" like it when sung by others
must help to prove it's a good song.
All I can say is that as a Bond fan for 40 years or so, I think he did what was
asked of him. The producers knew his style and voice, so it was obviously
What they wanted.
Well said, Doctor.
Even though I still don't like the song and consider it to be one of the worst in history - and I don't care how much it sells or if it's topping the charts whatsoever.
It may be relevant to a number of people on other blogs/sites, I don't know and haven't bothered to look. If it has caused spreading negative vibes among those on twitter/Facebook and the like (and it may have, because the subject of homophobia keeps coming up on this thread for some reason) then that's entirely unacceptable, but it's not unexpected, at least not in my view.
From our perspective here, it's entirely extraneous I think.