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Too Sweet and Beautiful Things were some of the bigger songs this year, so I’d say yes, depending on the song.
I can’t see a Post Malone Bond song. A Taylor Swift one, while unlikely, I don’t think would automatically be bad. She has some solid pop songs (I can see something not unlike ‘Anti-Hero’ being reworked as a Bond song).
I do think who the artist is (and by extension the song itself) and the film have a connected creative logic. They want the main song to fit with the story (ie. Adele openly said that she went into SF with the intention of making it sound part dirge/mournful and part uplifting, which is completely fitting with SF’s story and opening. YKMN similarity fits with CR). So whoever the next artist is depends on what they want from the film.
Another thing to consider is that a "modern" song never stays modern. Instead, it slowly freezes solid on the axis of time. As such, it contributes to an overall nostalgic feeling. Live And Let Die takes me back to an era when I wasn't even born yet, whereas A View To A Kil makes me almost smell the freshly mowed lawn on which I played as a child at my grandparent's. I think it's beautiful how Bond films serve as moments in historical documents, and their theme songs contribute to a large extent.
Not a huge fan of the other Craig Bond songs. NTTD is pretty forgettable, and one I would call a bit too somber. I don’t like Smith’s vocals on WOTW (solid arrangements otherwise). AWTD is fine - not my favourite but it does the job.
Then the last three Bond songs all went to be certified platinum hits, each winning an Oscar.
Eon may want to keep that Oscar streak, which means more ballads.
Probably the most realistic lens to look through when predicting what the next era will deliver in the title song department. Disappointing, but I guess wanting to keep that streak up shouldn't be unexpected either.
Not to say there’ll be no consideration for what’s commercially/critically viable and in their interests. It’s very unlikely we’ll get a little known artist/one who doesn’t have enough appeal. The next Bond song is unlikely to be in a more obscure sub genre or too experimental. They’ll maybe consider what to build upon or deviate from when it comes to the previous entries. In many cases as cited above that actually means doing a creative 180 and doing something totally different.
But otherwise it’s a case of what works for the film. There’s no indication that slower, more sombre Bond themes are the key to success and faster rock ones aren’t. Both are very legitimate (albeit very broad) styles for a Bond theme and all have their successes.
Who knows? Maybe we’ll get something like TND or TWINE. Both are a nice mix of more orchestral arrangements sung and partially written by singers/bands more known for rock and pop. I think something more bold is a good way of starting a new era, but it’s about what works creatively.
AWTD was the opposite: I liked it before I saw the film, but it combines with that low energy titles animation to just drain the life out of film. In the context of the film it just didn’t work.
Skyfall is atmospheric and classy, but a bit dull.
WOTW is bland.
NTTD I really like, despite how slow it is. I really want a faster, rockier, track for the next film. The Pretty Reckless would be my pick, but I think Eon would kill to get Taylor Swift onboard. I’m not a huge fan of hers, but I admit it would be a sure-fire way to up the profile of the brand with the younger demographic; if even a quarter of the Swifties turned up for the film it would be a major triumph for Eon.
SF didn’t get a proper music video from what I remember, but a lyric video they released. I do remember it being played around the time SF came out though, and it was a big thing. Adele was a pretty big artist at the time so maybe that had a lot to do with it. But I remember in late 2012 it being everywhere.
Weird thing about SF is that it’s weirdly popular on social media. It’s something you see used on Tik Tok or YouTube short videos every so often, sometimes a modified/slowed version, but it’s a thing (I have younger cousins who’ve told me this as I have no interest in Tik Tok, but I have seen it used on quite a few random videos myself when scrolling through YouTube shorts). It’s one of those Bond songs I think a lot of younger folk would actually know, potentially even if they haven’t seen SF. But it seems to have endured.
Again, if we’re talking about a commercially viable artist who could do something potentially creatively interesting for a rock Bond theme I’d go Hozier. Swift is a bit too ‘teeny bopper’ for Bond’s demographics (although again, I think she’s done good stuff), and I think he’d do good work.
I have a friend who has a wide-range of interest in music, but she heavily favours female vocalists. If that is something a significant number of women veer towards that might influence Eon to look for female vocalists - I do remember when McCartney had written Live and Let Die, Cubby was wondering who to get to sing it before John Barry said it should be sung by McCartney himself. I wonder if it is mainly men who want a rock track for the next Bond film?
I really don’t know. They’re not bands I’m familiar with and well before when I’d have gotten into my own tastes in music. I always presumed compared to Adele and Billy Eilish or even Sam Smith he wasn’t as big as an individual singer.
I’ll admit I favour a female voice for a Bond song. But often it’s about how the lyrics resonate. I love that TND is very much a song that is from the POV of a woman. But it depends on the song I guess.
Sad but true. If they can get Swift, it would be very smart. And every recording artist wants to take a shot at Bond immortality: their own Nobody Does It Better.
Likewise.
With Aaron Taylor-Johnson on backing vocals.
I honestly would take a creative risk with Taylor Swift than EVER let Sam Smith wail his way through a Bond song again. Nails on a chalkboard bad. Plus, he kind of came off as rude in his Oscar speech. WOTD didn't deserve it. Plus, I respect Taylor Swift for her kindness.
I quite agree. The one thing I'd change about the franchise is Sam Smith's song...
What a story that would be.
It would be music to my ears.
Yeah. That track is quite Bondian. The soaring guitars and all. I think a lot of Oasis' & Noel/Liam's solo songs have that Bondian feel about them. Just to name a few, songs like Ain't Got Nothin', Falling Down, Columbia, Freaky Teeth, Gone, Freaky Teeth, etc.
What I would say is, Radiohead are really good too. But they do like to go really dark. Oasis, on the other hand go dark, but with hints of optimism, so that's why I think you said they would suit a Bond theme more. Not that Radiohead aren't great. They are.
I'm a big Radiohead fan and prefer them to Oasis, but I really didn't enjoy their song for SP. I can see why they went with Sam Smith. For all its faults WOTW feels more Bondian.
Absolutely, several times I've posted the fan video where The Man Who Built The Moon replaced the Sam Smith effort; this alone improves the film.
Oh, Cool. I'm a big Radiohead fan as well. I really like their SP track. But I knew it was dark. Yeah, Sam Smith's track was more traditionally Bondian for sure. But I think for Craig's Bond, Radiohead would have worked as well. But Yeah, as a fan of Oasis too, I would welcome a Bond theme from them. But if I'm asked here and now, based on current popularity, it's between Taylor Swift & Coldplay for Bond 26... although, I need the Coldplay of Parachutes, A Rush Of Blood To The Head & X&Y. Not the current Coldplay, Haha!
I think Coldplay have said they'd stop recording by 2025, which is why they have this new tour. Taylor Swift isn't necessarily a bad option, but I'm not sure if it'll happen.
I don't think the next Bond singer necessarily needs to be the most relevant/famous artist around that particular year anyway. There are plenty of options. I can imagine anyone from Lorde, Hozier, Due Lipa, Lana Del Ray, to bands as random as Muse doing it.
Yeah, those are good options. Oh, yeah, but Chris Martin now said they're doing two more albums after Moon Music, before they stop recording. Although, I'm not sure, they'll stop recording entirely. He just said Coldplay would have 12 proper albums. I'm guessing the rest of their career would be doing singles, live performances, etc.
From: https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/2024/10/15/eon-provides-a-look-of-its-2023-finances/
They acknowledge that they at least know they want to make another one. It's something.