Sam Smith’s “Writing’s On The Wall” immediately launches the young singer into hallowed company. “Spectre” will be the 24th film in the James Bond series and the roster of artists who have sung their celebrated theme songs contain the biggest names in music. From chart toppers to rock royalty, being tapped to lend your voice to an iconic dynasty is one of the highest honors in all of movie soundtrackdom. Some have stood out for their perfect interpretation of the tried and true 007 musical style. Others brought something fresh and new to the fellowship. Here we rank the top 10 greatest James Bond themes.
10. Title track from “The Man with the Golden Gun” by Lulu (1974)
This is not a fan favorite. As a matter of fact, similar lists will rank it among the worst of the worst. It is lighthearted, campy and a complete departure from the franchise’s usual theme songs. But there is something important about Lulu’s “The Man with the Golden Gun” — it is memorable. Maybe jingle-you-can’t-get-out-of-your-head memorable, but memorable nonetheless. Superior Bond songs to followed couldn’t even claim that accomplishment. For that reason, and for its gumption and self-awareness, we lead with it here.
9. Title track from “Goldeneye” by Tina Turner (1995)
The queen of James Bond theme songs is Shirley Bassey — whom we will address in our next entry — since she has three separate additions to the series’ musical canon under her belt. A truly worthy heiress to that crown, though, is Tina Turner. She channeled the Grand Dame for this impressive contribution while still making it undeniably hers. It didn’t hurt that the song was co-written by Bono and the Edge, but Turner, a ceaseless tower of seductiveness, owns “Goldeneye” and makes it sparkle as only she can.
8. Title track from “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey (1964)
The aforementioned Bassey’s most revered Bond song, and often the top of other’s rankings, here it lies further from that perch forming a gold-plated triumvirate of bottom favorites with those listed above. Is the song iconic? Yes. Was it influential to not only the Bond themes that proceeded it, but perhaps the music and style of the mid ’60s itself? Sure. And that is a feat. But this song was best featured on the variety shows and television specials of that time, which now would seem dated and corny. It’s not a song you would keep on any current playlist or one that could even effectively be hummed in the shower, but there’s a stuttering energy here and it’s overly theatrical. In other words, it may be shiny, but it doesn’t sing.
7. Title track from “The World Is Not Enough” by Garbage (1999)
Modern, sweeping, and sophisticated with the sultry vocals of Garbage’s Shirley Manson is the song that perfectly encapsulates the passion and sexuality that come with any Bond film. It is not syrupy sweet, but does pour out thick and slow, spreading itself warmly within the film’s opening credits. While it is still somewhat forgettable — the antithesis to the band’s many musical triumphs — its melody and scope earn it big points. And Manson’s voice, like any Bond girl, is equal parts beautiful, mysterious and capable of leading men into all sorts of trouble.
6. “Another Way To Die” from “Quantum of Solace” by Jack White and Alicia Keys (2008)
Another song other outlets have put among the worst, in actuality, this is the freshest Bond theme to come about in over two decades. Fun and fierce, “Another Way To Die” is the first duet of the franchise and they really couldn’t have picked a more inventively perfect pairing. Like White and Keys themselves, this is a united front of rock and soul with every instrument under the sun in accompaniment. Others have remarked that such a surplus brings about discord to the song. We only see it as another remarkable element.
5. Title track from “For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton (1981)
No doubt it’s dated, but 007 met the dawn of the ’80s here and, like history itself, the ’80s left its mark. Producers had originally chosen Blondie to perform it, but she dropped out in a dispute over creative control. Enter Sheena Easton, synthesizers and dramatic flair and “For Your Eyes Only” became a sight to behold. It’s got all the trappings of a Bond classic: melodious vocals, passionate scope and sweeping drama. But Easton is no femme fatale here; she’s a damsel in distress, and we hear it as she delivers its lines, longing to be both rescued and loved equally by the dashing spy.
4. Title track from “Skyfall” by Adele (2012)
These days, nobody broods sensuously quite like Adele. So even though an offer to be a Bond theme song artist came as a surprise to the Brit herself, she was a very logical choice. Symphonic and theatrical with a beautiful beam of a voice lighting up the dark matter surrounding it, “Skyfall” certainly stands out as something special. So special that it not only is the first and only Bond theme to win an Oscar for Best Original Song, but was capable of bringing 007 himself, Daniel Craig, to tears. “From the opening bars I knew immediately, then the voice kicked in and it was exactly what I’d wanted,” gushed the normally rugged superstar.
3. “Nobody Does It Better” from “The Spy Who Loved Me” by Carly Simon (1977)
Thom Yorke declared this “the sexiest love song ever written,” and far be it from us to dispute the Radiohead frontman. It wasn’t conceived as a Bond song, but simply as another potential masterpiece in Carly Simon’s armory of hits. Somehow the filmmakers snagged a listen to it pre-release and wanted it as their own. So it was given just a minor tweak here or there — you’ll notice, uncharacteristically, the movie title is mentioned just once and outside the chorus — but was still the perfect fit nonetheless. While Craig may get emotional listening to “Skyfall,” “Nobody Does It Better” is exactly what a former Bond favorite has said about Simon’s take on the franchise’s theme song. “[I]t embodies everything about Bond’s character,” Roger Moore declared, “and why he is better and more popular than other movie spies.” We certainly wouldn’t want to dispute Roger Moore either.
2. Title track from “A View To A Kill” by Duran Duran (1985)
Though Sheena Easton may aptly embody the ’80s sound, Duran Duran made the ’80s sound killer. They kicked it up a notch with “A View To A Kill,” crashing that decade’s decadence right into the House of Bond. The only Bond theme to reach #1 on America’s charts, this song truly twists into focus exactly why these are the songs that top our list — you actually want to listen to them, not just appreciate their role in a revered franchise. “A View To A Kill” is not only personal playlist material, but can still be heard on radio stations today. What also makes it special is Simon Le Bon. Man, that guy can sing. Adele, Tina and the Shirleys, for instance, are all super talented gals, but Le Bon can outbelt the lot of them and make you feel the passion in his lyrics beyond compare.
1. Title track from “Live And Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)
Mr. Bond, meet Sir Paul. Sir Paul, meet Mr. Bond. Like our #10 on this list, “Live and Let Die” is just all out fun. It starts slow and stirring, then explodes into frenetic orchestration, blasts off into almost honky tonk rock, and finally soars. And over 40 years later, you can still hear it on the radio every day. It only makes sense that the greatest living rock ‘n’ roll artist would lend his voice for film’s greatest action hero. And the results are spectacular. This tune may be an uncommon take on a signature song for the franchise, but also an unrivaled choice of a recording artist, making it undeniably the best James Bond theme of all time.
