What were your favorite tracks from Thomas Newman's SKYFALL score, and why?
My Top 5:
1. BREADCRUMBS -- Newman's take on the Bond theme. While it's essentially a re-recording of Arnold's "The Name's Bond... James Bond", from CASINO ROYALE, this track has a very Barry-esque vibe, being similar to Barry's "James Bond with Bongos" in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. It works very well within this film. I also enjoy this rendition more than Arnold's.
2. SEVERINE -- This is better than most, if not all, of the romantic themes we've been given during Arnold's 10 or 11 years with the franchise. Again, this also sounds quite Barry-esque, in comparison to the rest of the score. I believe Newman even stated that it adopts John Barry's major-minor approach to a "sexy and dangerous theme".
3. SHANGHAI DRIVE -- I feel that this best sums up Newman's overall contribution to the film and franchise. With this track, he gives us a stylish, serious, and exotic theme. It's certainly Bondian, but it's not a Bondian sound we've heard before. I like the electronic work in this track, too, along with the bass.
4. OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS -- Shame that this didn't make it into the film.
5. NEW DIGS -- Another stylish track and a great way to show Bond getting back into the swing of things. Notice that signature Newman sound at 1:55, too. That even fit in nicely.
Comments
1. Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
2. Deep Water
3. She's Mine
4. Komodo Dragon
5. Adrenaline
2. The Bloody Shot (Essentially Deep Water Pt. 1, has nice precussion and a nice brassy
punch of Dun Na NA NAAAAH!!! DUN NA NA NAAAAAAHHH!!!!)
3. Severine (Beautiful and Sad piece, makes you feel the character very well.)
4. She's Mine (Tense buildup of the Bond theme then has an explosive David Arnold homage.)
5. Mother (Voluntary Retire Pt. 2, M's arc has come to a saddening close, a perfect theme to end too.)
Not necessarily in order....
- Komodo Dragon
- The Bloody Shot
- Adrenaline (pretty much a reprise of the wonderful Shanghai Drive)
- Brave New World
- Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
I love the cue that begins around 0:50.
The bloody shot
New digs
Komodo dragon
Health and safety
Tennyson
Breadcrumbs
Kill them first
Welcome to Scotland
She's mine
The moors
Mother
Ok I realise Ive compiled a massive list here but I really couldn't leave any out .
Grand bazaar, Istanbul - bond is back, I love the little cues of bond theme at 3:30
The bloody shot - the same reasons really , 1:47 gave me a massive buzz in the cinema
New digs - I loved this scene in the film with tanner and bond in the caverns , very bond.
Komodo dragon - only get this in a bond film, very cool and similar to inside man from QOS for me.
Health and safety - really enjoyed this at the cinema it's quite an upbeat little track and moves the scene along nicely. I was on the tube not long after seeing skyfall imagining me chasing silva with this playing haha.
Tennyson - great track, especially at 1:30 I really wanted bond to save M or for her to die , was a bit disappointed with how this scene turns out actually.
Breadcrumbs - no explanation needed.
Kill them first - at 1:05 kicks in my favourite part , sets up what is to come brilliantly .
Welcome to Scotland - this track is great , love the part where bond is in the DB5 and love it at 1:28, "welcome to Scotland " was a great line aswell and it's a got a good sene of drama this track.
She's mine - this to me sounds like something Arnold might come up with which isnt necessarily a bad thing, 2:13 - 3:01 are highlights and at 3:02 where bond becomes furious at his motor being destroyed, that was really unexpected for me. Very bondonian moment that and made me smile on first viewing .
The moors - one of my favourite parts of the film where bond is racing against time to catch up with silva and his henchman similar to the Tennyson part of the film, i think it looks so cool and is brilliantly lit and the track adds to it brilliantly , Again very bond.
Mother - emotional this one and put a lump in the throat during this very well acted scene .
1. Jellyfish
2. Komodo Dragon
3. She's Mine
4. Shanghai Drive
5. Tennyson
2. The Bloody Shot - The brass stabs from 0:53
3. Severine - Beautiful meandering strings
4. Modigliani - I like chimes right at the beginning and it has echoes of Severine's theme
5. The Chimera - Gave me chills as they're approaching Silva's island
I also like 'The Grand Bazaar Istanbul' but just for that brass hit when Bond appears in lieu of the gunbarrel...!
2. New Digs
3. Tennyson
4. She's Mine
5. The Bloody Shot
I did like "Breadcrumbs", but not nearly as much as everybody else. I loved the fact that the bongos returned but the cue was ultimately too short to leave any lasting impression in comparison to the rest of the score. I prefer Arnold's CR version.
Other notable exclusions include "Severiné" (a theme that could have been developed more), "Enquiry", "Brave New World", and "Jellyfish'.
2- Komodo Dragon
3- Someone Usually Dies
4- She's Mine
5- GRand Bazaar, Istambul
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Brave New World
New Digs
Severine
The Chimera
Shanghai Drive
(I know that's 6 but I couldn't edit that down any further)
Honourable mentions to Health and Safety and Komodo Dragon.
Voluntary Retirement
Breadcrumbs
Mother
The Moors
She's Mine