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To some extent, but I think songwriting shouldn't be quite as formulaic as this. Thunderball was Goldfinger again, sure; but You Only Live Twice and onwards: they were doing something more different than this one aspires to. She seems to have aimed at doing Writings on the Wall right, and seems to have managed that; but it's not pushing forward. It makes me actually respect Madonna for at least trying something different.
I'm not totally down on this song by the way: it's utterly fine- I just wish it wasn't exactly the song we'd all been expecting it to be. It'd be nice if it had 'disturbed' in some way, as Fukunaga put it: but it wasn't even aiming to disturb.
Just listening to it: it's kind of hilarious in a way. When the verse ends and goes to the chorus you could literally start singing the chorus to Writing's On The Wall and it would fit perfectly :D Try it!
The orchestral arrangement is solid. Overall at least a mid-field entry among Bond themes, and better than at least three of the past five. Well, ok, that's not such an enormous achievement.
Oh man that sounds so good. That last part gave me chills. Strings and Brass! Bond is back!
I’m not sure why but I’m getting Tomorrow Never Dies vibes from this song.
I could have done "ok boomer".
Besides, never set your expectations in a James Bond forum.
By all accounts, Bond is suspicious, betrayed, paranoid, retired - the suspects the woman he has given everything up for has betrayed him etc etc. Some balls out brassy belter singing about how good he is at killing and bedding would be daft.
The song is OK - but the song in context of the visuals and tone they seem to be going for is excellent.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=pO6wDBss8PI&feature=emb_logo
That's Air Studios isn't it? Interesting that they did the strings for the song there- maybe recording the score at the same time?
I will say this of Eilish's efforts, though.
As an isolated Bond theme it's pretty average, IMO. I don't think it will go down as an iconic song in the Bond cannon. It never elevates like a classic Bond song should. The crescendo at the end is the highlight, but unfortunately it appears too late to be appreciated. However, I will admit that I really like the lyrics and I think in the context of the film it will work well. I like the arrangement by Zimmer, but there's points during the chorus where it sounds almost like Karoke as they switch between real strings and synthesised strings. The addition of the Bond theme early is a nice touch, but at the end it's a bit jarring as it doesn't fit with the tone. The song plays it extremely safe, IMO. I know that WOTW gets trashed a fair bit on these forums, but to me that felt more Bondesque, IMO. Not lyrically, but overall. YKMN remains unequivocally Craig's best Bond song.
The song is written from the perspective of Bond himself, IMO. The lyric about faces from his past appearing worries me about the film as I feel that NTTD attempting to wrap up all five of Craig's films will be a futile endeavour.
Given the footage we received with this release and what we know of the run time, I feel like NTTD is going to spend a pretty substantial period of time reinforcing the relationship between Bond and Madeleine that should've been built in SP. I never really bought the relationship between them in SP so it appears this film will try rectify that problem. The burning note Bond is holding at the grave seems to say Palazzo Venezia or something of that ilk down the bottom, which makes me further think this note is from Vesper. Overall, I'm loving the visuals from this film and the cinematography looks awesome. Eilish's song hasn't captured me, though. It's more of the same from the Craig era which is a shame as it would've been nice to see him to go out with a more upbeat theme.
In my head I did start singing the chorus to WOTW - the falsetto part. It does follow a musical pattern. But then big bruising ballads have dominated the last 3 Craig films. This is the least obvious, the least catchy, but the most interesting of the three.
wow-- hair on neck standing to attention for Mr. Bond.
So, I really really like it. I was pleasantly surprised. And after Smith's falsetto crap on an average ballad, this is a very interesting voice (sometimes it even gives me Jeff Buckley's vibes) in an average ballad. So, I do like it.
And mix it with the visuals and it really works. That new footage of Bond and Swann sold the film to me, frankly. I didn't want a SP2 kind of scenario. But if this song is Smith's done right, maybe the film will be SP done right, if you know what I mean.
Maybe in a decade time we'll see the two films as companion pieces. And the whole of Craig's era as something narratively more solid.
And that soundtrack snippet was stellar. Love that brass in the end. So 60s. So Bond.
I think Skyfall is probablly the most interesting in that it's at least Adele's take on a Bond theme; this seems more what Ellish and her brother think a Bond theme sounds like, so it's come out a bit more generic. I know the melody to Skyfall isn't exactly the strongest but it at least has a bit of a unique feel to it.
I mean, the most original is Spectre, but we didn't get to have that.
Well of course. Any strategy to attract an audience is necessary. Bond films are to all intents and purposes fast food for the masses. They need to succeed for audiences of the day. Cubby knew it. He absorbed any hit film of the day, or any popular artist to help sell his Bond films.
They aren't designed to be works for film historians to pour over in 100 years time and analyse. They are works designed to put bums on seats in whatever year they are released, so that they have enough revenue to make another one.
If Billie Eilish will attract a young audience, then way to go.
Footnote: my son is a huge fan of Billie E, she has been his favourite artist for a year or two now. As a result he will go and see the film even though he isn't much of a Bond fan. So, it does work.
I wouldn't change a thing on NTTD. Not even on AWTD, SF or YKMN.
If WOTW was sung by another person with a different voice, I'd say I liked all of the Craig era songs.
Interestingly enough, this mirrors my thoughts about the films. Sort of.
He deserves it. :))
I 100% agree.
I was scrolling down instagram earlier and several people had posted selfies with the caption "no time to die" so it's definitely working. These people aren't the type to be caught dead at a Bond film so at the very least it's free advertising!
No doubt, but it makes me wonder who else was considered prior to coming to a decision.
It's just so depressing though. The lyrics represent everything that I fear from this movie. The soap opera of Bond and Madeleine fighting and breaking up. Someone's personal connection to the past coming back to haunt them yet again. It's honestly why I can't get too excited about NTTD.
I know some people have complained about these aspects of the Craig era for a long time, but I wasn't one of them. I enjoyed the depth DC brought to the character initially, but after 5 films we've crossed into soap opera territory.
Back on topic, the song is okay if unspectacular. Hoping it will grow on me and really hoping I am blown away by the title sequence. Who knows, maybe I'll even like the darn movie too. ;)
Billie rose to popularity as a teenager just like Britney back in the last days of the 1990s and 2000s.
Best review of the song so far.....
On a few listens, I have to say I really like this song….it has that haunting and eerie vibe that Billie Eilish just nails. But there are enough Bond-ian flourishes in there to really make it part of that pantheon.
I get goosebumps whenever I hear it. Especially when you pair it to the visuals from the film.
Interestingly, it isn’t quite a ‘bold’ as it could have been…..in many respects it actually sounds like a mash-up of both Adele and Sam Smith’s songs. But I’m a very big fan of what I hear so far……..can’t wait to see the video!!!!
Basically, following the Smith/Adele model has meant that Billie has her Oscar on pre-order….
Off topic I know but does anyone know where to get the fan edit Eon cut of never say never again I remember seeing clips when I was a kid but no idea where to get it pm me if you have any info
Anyway, for those who're waiting for a belter, you'll have to wait until more powerful music becomes popular again. Billy is hardly the only soft-singing artist out there right now.
Considering all that I think the song is pretty good. I especially like the lyrics for what I can decipher.
Well, the future is always open. But right now definitely doesn´t seem to be a phase for outstanding songs.
Quite the partnership you two have. ;)