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POV in Bond Lyrics

CrabKeyCrabKey
edited June 2014 in Music Posts: 2,006
There have been plenty of discussions about Bond lyrics, but not any I recall that address the POV of the speaker of the lyrics. Is the speaker an omniscient observer, a lover, the villain, M, or Bond himself. For example, take the following stanza from You Know My Name. Could it be M talking to Bond?

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

Other thoughts on any and all Bond songs?

Comments

  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    Posts: 2,483
    I suspect the POV varies from song to song, in fact I'm sure it does. In the case of YKMN it seems the title gives the game away, hence it is Bond speaking.

    The only title track where the villain is undeniably speaking is "The World Is Not Enough," which, probably coincidentally, has among the best lyrics of them all.
  • CrabKeyCrabKey
    Posts: 2,006
    In many of the songs the speaker is an omniscient observer commenting on a character. For example, is Thunderball, about Largo or Blofeld?
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    CrabKey wrote:
    In many of the songs the speaker is an omniscient observer commenting on a character. For example, is Thunderball, about Largo or Blofeld?

    I thought it was about Bond.
  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    Posts: 2,483
    WillyGalore wrote:
    CrabKey wrote:
    In many of the songs the speaker is an omniscient observer commenting on a character. For example, is Thunderball, about Largo or Blofeld?

    I thought it was about Bond.

    Could well be.

  • CrabKeyCrabKey
    Posts: 2,006
    Does Bond look at the world and want it all?
    And then strike like Thunderball?
    Are his days of asking all gone?

    Some lines fit Bond, but then again…..

    He always runs while others walk.
    He acts while other men just talk.
    He looks at this world, and wants it all,
    So he strikes, like Thunderball.
    He knows the meaning of success.
    His needs are more, so he gives less.
    They call him the winner who takes all.
    And he strikes, like Thunderball.

    Any woman he wants, he'll get.
    He will break any heart without regret.
    His days of asking are all gone.
    His fight goes on and on and on.
    But he thinks that the fight is worth it all.
    So he strikes like Thunderball.
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    Someone call Don Black!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,296
    I think there was a thread on this over on CBn or some such Bond forum - you could have a search for it on there. There was definitely one on the Casino Royale 'You Know My Name' song anyhow.
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    Dragonpol wrote:
    I think there was a thread on this over on CBn or some such Bond forum - you could have a search for it on there. There was definitely one on the Casino Royale 'You Know My Name' song anyhow.

    Yep, I remember this one as well. The You Know My Name song could be sung by M, Vesper or Bond. I see it as M introducing Bond to the spy life.

    The Tomorrow Never Dies song is Paris talking to Bond, remembering how he abandoned her.

    GoldenEye is Alec Trevelyan talking to Bond, and some even say it could be Sean Bean talking to Brosnan ("you'll never know how it feels to be the one who's left behind" because Sean Bean was almost chosen to be Bond, but the role was ultimately given to Brosnan)

    We Have All the Time in the World is pretty obvious.

    TMWTGG and Goldfinger talk about the villain.

    I've no idea about the others.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,153
    Cool topic. TB is most definitely about Bond, YKMN is too, and is Bond's POV mostly, although it switches. TSWLM is a Bond girl talking to Bond. LALD is about Bond. And DAD is about Madonna.
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