Worst Bond song

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  • Posts: 1,985
    I missed out on Spectre here in 2015 but now given the opportunity, think may have to pick Sam Smith's 'writing' as the absolute nadir of the franchise. Any further viewings I just skip the intro and go straight to the start of movie. Spectre itself is a really good (Craig) entry, far better than NTTD but falls short of both Casino Royale and Skyfall. But the title song, makes Madonna or Keys and White sound like a Tchaikovsky symphony.

    Up until then, Quantum of Solace took the award, but guess they've been spared something of an unwanted honor in the time since.

    A good way to think about this song is reading the lyrics. Not anywhere near as interesting as YKMN.

    I've been here before
    But always hit the floor
    I've spent a lifetime running
    And I always get away
    But with you, I'm feeling something
    That makes me want to stay
    I'm prepared for this
    I never shoot to miss
    But I feel like a storm is coming
    If I'm gonna make it through the day
    Then there's no more use in running
    This is something I got to face
    If I risk it all
    Could you break my fall?
    How do I live? How do I breathe?
    When you're not here, I'm suffocating
    I want to feel love run through my blood
    Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
    For you, I have to risk it all
    'Cause the writing's on the wall
    A million shards of glass
    That haunt me from my past
    As the stars begin to gather
    And the light begins to fade
    When all hope begins to shatter
    Know that I won't be afraid
    If I risk it all
    Could you break my fall?
    How do I live? How do I breathe?
    When you're not here, I'm suffocating
    I want to feel love run through my blood
    Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
    For you, I have to risk it all
    'Cause the writing's on the wall
    The writing's on the wall
    How do I live? How do I breathe?
    When you're not here, I'm suffocating
    I want to feel love run through my blood
    Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
    How do I live? How do I breathe?
    When you're not here, I'm suffocating
    I want to feel love run through my blood
    Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
    For you, I have to risk it all
    'Cause the writing's on the wall[

  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited August 2023 Posts: 3,789
    I liked the orchestral/instrumental version of TWOTW, the problem is Sam Smith's vocals, had it been sang by a woman, it would've makes much more sense.

    For me, the outright bad song is TMWTGG by Lulu, started nice, but as it progresses, it gets a lot more worse, the only song that doesn't right fit for James Bond, more for a parody.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    I'll admit, I really enjoy TMWTGG theme song.

    It's so balls-to-the-wall crazy, it always puts a smile on my face. It's sleazy, but knows it. It skates a fine line between being distatesful and outright pornographic. And it sounds like Lulu's having a ball....

    A ridiculously fun song.

    My least favorite(s) used to be FYEO and An All Time High, but damn if I haven't grown sentimental with each new gray hair; I really enjoy both now....

    To one degree or another, I think I'm a fan of all the Bond themes, but I'd put DAD and TWOTW as the two bottom feeders with a caveat: they both work as melodies, so it was the singers interpretations of the songs that turned me off. So even the bottom of the bunch, still have great value to me...
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,206
    I missed out on Spectre here in 2015 but now given the opportunity, think may have to pick Sam Smith's 'writing' as the absolute nadir of the franchise. Any further viewings I just skip the intro and go straight to the start of movie. Spectre itself is a really good (Craig) entry, far better than NTTD but falls short of both Casino Royale and Skyfall. But the title song, makes Madonna or Keys and White sound like a Tchaikovsky symphony.

    The next time you watch SPECTRE , replace the title sequence with this .


  • Posts: 1,985
    peter wrote: »
    I'll admit, I really enjoy TMWTGG theme song.

    It's so balls-to-the-wall crazy, it always puts a smile on my face. It's sleazy, but knows it. It skates a fine line between being distatesful and outright pornographic. And it sounds like Lulu's having a ball....

    A ridiculously fun song.

    My least favorite(s) used to be FYEO and An All Time High, but damn if I haven't grown sentimental with each new gray hair; I really enjoy both now....

    To one degree or another, I think I'm a fan of all the Bond themes, but I'd put DAD and TWOTW as the two bottom feeders with a caveat: they both work as melodies, so it was the singers interpretations of the songs that turned me off. So even the bottom of the bunch, still have great value to me...

    Very much agree that DAD and TWOTW are better as instrumentals than as vocals. Also, Lulu's song is a hoot.

  • Posts: 1,917
    peter wrote: »
    I'll admit, I really enjoy TMWTGG theme song.

    It's so balls-to-the-wall crazy, it always puts a smile on my face. It's sleazy, but knows it. It skates a fine line between being distatesful and outright pornographic. And it sounds like Lulu's having a ball....

    A ridiculously fun song.

    My least favorite(s) used to be FYEO and An All Time High, but damn if I haven't grown sentimental with each new gray hair; I really enjoy both now....

    To one degree or another, I think I'm a fan of all the Bond themes, but I'd put DAD and TWOTW as the two bottom feeders with a caveat: they both work as melodies, so it was the singers interpretations of the songs that turned me off. So even the bottom of the bunch, still have great value to me...

    I've always liked TMWTGG too, there's an energy to it that makes it fun. For a series emphasizing action and stunts, it's interesting more ballads and slow title songs. MR in particular makes it seem romantic and dreamy when the film itself is about outrageousness and going as far out as one can go.
  • edited August 2023 Posts: 6,709
    So we all pretty much agree that TWOTW and DAD are the worst Bond songs, right?

    I too like TMWTGG, the song and the film btw :)

    The forums seem to a bit unanimous nowadays regarding some threads. That’s interesting.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,206
    Thiss seems like the best place to post this; it appears that Madonna is performing DAD on her latest tour.
  • M16_CartM16_Cart Craig fanboy?
    Posts: 541
    I'll say that Die Another Day is one of the most influential songs of the Bond catalog on the music industry. Its essentially the first hyperpop song ever created, a style similar to Charli XCX, 100 gecs, and many other artists.

    It has all the staples of the genre:
    * Heavily autotuned and distorted vocals
    * Vocals are dry (much less reverb than most pop songs of its time)
    * Bassy 808's sound

    Hell, it even has some of the silly and cringe lyrics that the genre is known for.

    Just because it wasn't a fit for Bond fans who prefer more traditional songs like ballads or classic rock, doesn't mean it was a bad song for the music industry as a whole.

    If Madonna is performing this on tour, great. She deserves her flowers 22 years later. She started a whole genre and never received proper credit for it.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,270
    I actually like Die Another Day as a song. I know it's radically different as a Bond song but I feel you have to shake things up with Bond songs every so often and this song definitely achieved that.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited June 3 Posts: 3,789
    M16_Cart wrote: »
    I'll say that Die Another Day is one of the most influential songs of the Bond catalog on the music industry. Its essentially the first hyperpop song ever created, a style similar to Charli XCX, 100 gecs, and many other artists.

    It has all the staples of the genre:
    * Heavily autotuned and distorted vocals
    * Vocals are dry (much less reverb than most pop songs of its time)
    * Bassy 808's sound

    Hell, it even has some of the silly and cringe lyrics that the genre is known for.

    Just because it wasn't a fit for Bond fans who prefer more traditional songs like ballads or classic rock, doesn't mean it was a bad song for the music industry as a whole.

    If Madonna is performing this on tour, great. She deserves her flowers 22 years later. She started a whole genre and never received proper credit for it.

    I'd rather listen to this than to Eilish's NTTD, even in Spotify, I couldn't even bring myself to listen to it, and that's already myself separating the song itself from the James Bond trademark.

    I couldn't listen to it as a Bond song, and I couldn't listen to it as a separate song in itself.

    DAD is a lively song, very enthusiastic and energetic, while may not be up to Bond theme standards, is a good song to listen outside of the Bond series.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited June 3 Posts: 16,382
    The only one I'd consider skipping on an album listen would be TWOTW; I've never really disliked DAD. I couldn't call it one of my favourites but I think it still works and it is an original piece of work.

    Interesting to see what Talos mentioned i.e. she's been performing it recently. Sounds like the crowd are even singing along, so it's obviously appreciated.



  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    I would take either “DAD” or “NTTD”. I find the latter extremely boring and forgettable.

    Like the film, DAD stands out, but certainly not in a good way. At least it's not boring.

    Another contender for worst Bond song could be “Moonraker.” The music of the film is so great. Unfortunately the title track isn't half as good. I also think that Barry had difficulty composing great ballads in the 70s/80s.

  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,016
    Moonraker is one of my favorite Bond theme songs, and like the film's Bondian ethereal score, I listen to it often.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,382
    Yes I think Barry's biggest miss for me is probably All Time High. It makes for a nice romantic melody in the film but doesn't quite hit for a title song. Feels like he's reacting to Nobody Does It Better but not quite making it (in the same way that the TMWTGG song perhaps feels like a reaction to LALD).
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