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Being shown as human, occasionally doubting himself etc. :)
Fair enough. FYI I actually do like Radiohead now, they're one of the few bands I listen to on a daily basis.
Well I don't think that we'll really know what the lyrics refer to in their entirety until the film is released. In that sense the film and its theme song are two sides of the one coin...so don't write if off just yet until we see what the writing on the wall actually means...
My post was directed at the people automatically saying the song is bad for not only its own merits, but the entire franchise. The way I see it, Film Bond has been a symbol of the culture at large. It would be misguided to have the Bond character be unchanged from its origins while embracing the modern world. @DrGorner said it well, being shown as human (I.e. vulnerable) is perfectly acceptable.
Back to the point you were making @doubleoego, you were right on point highlighting how the trailers have shown quintessential Bond. The major problem with the trailers for Spectre is that they have treaded little new ground since the initial teaser. Perhaps if you break down each frame, there has been an abundance of plot details. To the casual eye who isn't concerned with learning plot details, they've mostly recycled the same scenes again and again. There are a lot of details they are trying to keep secret or at the very least ambiguous. That is in contrast to Casino Royale, which was largely dealing with source material, allowing them to show the context of his relationship in the promotional material.
I haven't been on here for a while because I'm trying to avoid seeing and hearings things until the film is released so I don't spoil too much for myself. I just wanted to see what the feel was about the song after I had listened to it a lot of times.
At that point…I will say, "I see where you were going with this, Sam Smith," and leave the theatre.
Look forward to seeing what imagery they put to it when the movie is released?
I'll just say this...in a franchise so long running and held dear by so many, ANY deviation from what's expected is going to be met with cries of blasphemy.
What I believe we have here is the first real romantic love song in the series (Louis Armstrong obviously not included). It's different, sure, the voice and melody don't immediately scream Bond...but that doesn't mean it's bad. I truly believe with some time and space the song will grow on people as it becomes more familiar. We're already seeing the first rumblings of that on social media.
Some of my all time favourite music has come from artists I hated on first listen. Then with time they kept growing on me bit by bit and (for me at least) later blossomed into a much deeper connection than some 'instant hit' is ever going to.
I for one think this is a really brave song choice and the fact they're trying something new is a good thing. If Eon weren't open to trying new things we'd never have had Daniel in the role and might very well be looking forward to DAD remake #6 next month.
To summarise, you might hate this song, you might hate Sam's voice and that's fine and perfectly okay...but just take a moment, have a breather and let the thing settle for a while, you might just find it grows on you.
Which is why I qualified my earlier statement by saying I know it's irrational. That is the power of music to hold sway over one's emotions, for better or worse. My reaction is visceral....it's not logical.....it's gut dislike. I'm smart enough (I hope) however to know that it is a 'feeling' or 'emotion' and I will not let it affect my enjoyment of the film one bit.
As I said earlier, to some degree, I'm happy about this situation, because my expectations have been so deflated (at a subconscious level) that I can only have a pleasant upside surprise in the theatre when watching the film on IMAX. I will, undoubtedly, have to cover my ears a little bit for about 3.5 mins and that's about it.
Fair point. I didn't like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at all when I first listened to it. Now it's one of my favorite songs.
But...
I will never, never, never fancy a song with a guy singing a chorus in falsetto the way Sam Smith does. Much like I would never fancy death metal or country music!
But...but...but...what about the BeeGees! ;-)
Fair enough; I see what you're saying.
But your post implies they are not related. EON chose SS, they ok'ed the whiny lyrics to market and worse, nail to the front of and introduce their film for every single person who watches SP for the next 50 years to process. Vulnerability is fine - that's human, conflicted is also fine as that's Fleming's Bond. But SS's inept lyrics about a needy, weak Bond sung in a screeching falsetto are incompatible with 50 years of film Bond. Further, this song will likely cancel out DK's opening visual credits no matter how brilliant. The noise will win.
I hope someone in the press asks BB "what the hell were you thinking" when you chose a lyric and vocal style that ignores 50 years of your Bond's history, and ignores the tough Bond in the trailers you are now releasing to promote your latest film.
Interested to see what DK can do with the song behind him. Thinking that there's really no imagery involving Craig that would match. Hopefully, he rips off an OHMSS style flashback through the previous 3 movies and gets on with it.
just for you >:) >:)
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This is one of my favourite songs actually. Saw Prince live a few yrs back and he is still awesome even at 50+.
Having said that, I prefer Bond alumni Tom Jones 'manly' version.
And why is this joker dancing like Michael Jackson? It's a Prince song after all.
What really makes me think is that the people who are responsibly envolved in this franchise seem to go what they think is the safest way for making a lot of money. Like stay with the Skyfall crew, for the plot dig into Bond's past again, get the old Aston Martin on screen and book the hottest selling artist for the title track. Make it a bit like Adel's Skyfall, you know, with the piano and so.
In the early days of the franchise they had these very successful stories by Fleming and turned them into movies. Then we had a period of more or less successful and enjoyable Bond adventures. But these days they use the momentum of, say, Skyfall, and stay with the same formula to repead the financial success. Instead of 'this is a great story/a great sript let's do a movie' it's 'we don't have a plot yet but, hey, let's make another 1 billion movie'.
And yes, I know that's how the show biz works...
Sam Smith wrote a song for Sam Smith. Not the worst singer in the world - just needed help understanding Bond. That said, I'm even starting to become intrigued by the possibilities here. Without liking the song one bit, I want to see how it fits.
Not me IF I would have heard it.
The song gives you a huge insight into whats going to happen in this spectacular film, with Bond, the love he feels and the sacrifice his going to take for that love. Were not talking Vesper all over again, but the love that makes you change direction and walk away from what you've only ever know, and "risk it all" for that, the commitment his prepared to give to this love!! Listen to it properly after you've seen the film, and feel the emotion of whats just happened, your see and hear it very differently!?
Or maybe you won't be emotionally connected to what your viewing and wish we had the past over and over again, instead of making a film and its music for the here and now!!
The song is great, the orchestration has great depth and Sam's vocal is tender and telling. His telling a story of love and sacrifice this man called James Bond will make for that love!
Danny Kleinman's credit sequence is astonishing, and whats more the film is too! A pure roller coaster of stunning story telling, through utterly compelling action and for me the emotional connection that has been part of many of us all for such a long time through our life, Bond Films and what this means to us! From a child to adulthood, the thrill that going to a cinema to see a new Bond film gives you!!
Friends have faith...This will rock you and excite you in equal measure, but most of I think it make you believe in whats coming next, when the dust settles and whats left!! Very exciting times indeed!
(I can't believe the lack of vision some have on here! This is going to a Bond film like no other, and will leave you breathless for more, so have some forward thinking vision, and stop this harking back to what's been done before, and why couldn't we have this kind of film/song/score bull!)
Keep the faith,
MrEon.
Couldn't agree more. Very well said :-)
+1
I hope the movie rocks us, I truly do, but the song does not... The fact you think the song is great unfortunately invalidates everything else you said, as optimistic and visionary as it may be... and if the song fits the feel and emotions of the film then it will confirm fears of the direction started with Skyfall that require melodrama over drama, suspense and action.
Imagine a great song being released... a Live and Let Die, an On Her Majesty's Secret Service... then no one would be bitching and we'd all be thrilled and excited.
The cast is awesome, the previews look good, I love Daniel Craig... The writers and director have their Achille's heals and we'll see if they overcome... but no matter how much I like the movie, the song by itself will never do it for me. It's not my type of music, I don't find it epic, I don't find it romantic and it doesn't inspire or move me. I look forward to Danny Kleinman salvaging it, but wish he had help with a song I could like.
Jesus, I love Jam