Alright, the top ten! It’s been hell trying to figure out what order to put them in. Each song has it’s own contribution to a Bond film in perfect appropriation; despite how the film might have turned out. This is one of the heavier sets. One of the more rocking sets of Bond tracks. Many of the songs in my top ten are from the 80’s as I’m an 80’s music snob. Either that or a Bassey track or a Craig Bond film. Can’t go wrong with those! Or Gladys Knight!
Another Way To Die – Alicia Keys, Jack White
Say what you want about Quantum of Solice as a film. Frankly I enjoy it, but I understand why some may not care for the movie. Either way it’s title track is one of the most bad ass songs in the Bond franchise. It’s near groove metal intro sends chills down the viewers spine. And the mood that the vocal melody sets during the verses is intoxicating. An excellent Craig song. It’s almost designed for his style of Bond. Which is very brooding, dark and aggressive. And that’s exactly the picture that ‘Another Way to Die’ paints. A really catchy, throw down track. People slam the song because they don’t like the film. Which is a shame.
Diamonds Are Forever – Shirley Bassey
Diamonds Are Forevvvahhh!! What a great song! The movie is a little campy. And not the good kind like ‘You Only Live Twice’. It’s the kind of camp that comes from having actors who treat the set like a theater. And the camera captures every single little over exaggeration on screen (example: the scorpion going down Dr. Tynon’s back and his reaction to the sting). But other than that and Charles Grey being a sub-par Blofeld that’s not even bald it’s a solid Bond film. And the title sequence track is one of the most legendary. Everyone knows this song. Even people who aren’t really into Bond or even know what it is. Many Bond fans consider this ultimate title track sequence and song. Honestly, I don’t think this song gets the credit for being as heavy as it is. Seriously, replace the keyboard melody in the intro with a grunge-metal guitar setting and you’ve got quite an Alice in Chains sounding song on your hands. Great stuff!!
License to Kill – Gladys Knight
I really can’t believe that Gladys Knight only did one Bond song. I suppose there’s only one artist to have done more than one track (Shirley Bassey). But if there’s another artist that could have performed more than one it’s Gladys Knight. Either way, her one outing is a classic. A stunningly well arranged song with passion and sex appeal that tailors to Bond. And that voice!! When the song retards right before the final chorus it’s just magic. ‘License to Kill’ was an international hit at the box office except for the one market that matters the most for revenue, the United States. In 1989 Americans wanted to see Bond in the more ‘Octopussy’ direction instead of the pure Ian Fleming interpretation. Either way, time has caught up with the film. It’s now recognized as one of the best Bonds due to Daniel Craig’s interpretation of the character 17 years after the films release. It’s absolutely one of Bond’s most exciting adventures filled with revenge, passion, action and of course, multiple sexy women. And Dalton proves to be one of the best Bonds. Right up there with Craig and Connery. Oh, and without this Bond we wouldn’t have had the intense amount of action sequences that would propel the next eight Bond films.
A View to a Kill – Duran Duran
Oh hell yes!! This is one of the real rockers in the Bond catalog. A massive, mid-80’s glorious production of a song. In fact, I think the song was more successful than the film itself. It’s one of the two songs to chart the American hot 100 singles chart. And it also shot up to number two in the U.K.. No other Bond song except Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ as achieved that feat. The movie is a solid Bond despite Roger Moore being far too long in the tooth to play the role. A really great plot with the villain’s goal of flooding silicone valley by causing an earthquake that will kill millions. Only to have sole distribution of computer chips around the world. Christopher Walken delivers with his performance of the antagonist Max Zorin. One of Bonds most psychotic and evil enemies. The title track again, fits the plot. And the title sequence art is very eye appealing with neon lights and digital technology being used for the first time in title sequence history for Bond.
You Know My Name – Chris Cornell
This is really one of the classics. I fucking love Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. This is a Cornell solo track but I just always have to add Soundgarden when mentioning his name. Anyways, this song is classic sounding Bond. Most Bond tracks fill the mood of the time combined with the Bond film itself. This song is purely one that is supposed to sonically attend the movie. Chris wasn’t trying to write a hit. He just wrote a really classic Bond song for a really classic Bond film. The franchise was starting over with Daniel Craig stepping into the role. And of course, there’s a huge tint of vintage. The Bond’s went, as far as technology is concerned, to the max with the Pierce Brosnan films. So what to do? Go back a little bit. And it paid off majorly. If I’m being totally honest, it’s not one of my particular favorites. But I had to put it here because objectively it’s a well put together song that accompanies Craig’s Bond interpretation to a tee. It’s just classic, timeless Bond.
