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.
You may have a point...Were they trying to do what they did with Louis Armstrong in OHMSS? Perhaps. Do we know for sure this is the main credits song or could it be included somewhere in the middle of the film? OHMSS did this, but also FRWL, the song was coming from a radio and then used in the end credits.
I did wonder how the instrumental theme tune was received in OHMSS? So different to what we had before?
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
I get that it's hard to live up to the expectations after Skyfall, but this one is disastrous! There is no "Hook" in the song that makes it memorable. If you take a look in the past, all the good Bond themes had that key phrase that made it memorable (Live and Let Die, You Know My Name, Goldeneye, Goldfinger, FRWL, Skyfall, etc.) I mean for Christ sake, even Die Another Day had a hook.
Connie Talbot does the song some justice. If a girl sang this song, it would be "acceptable" but Sam just does not sing it well that high. He is no Bee Gees or a-Ha that's for sure. Regardless, I also get that gay vibe feeling when listening to Sam Smith sing it which does not belong in a Bond movie (I have no problem with gay people). Not sure if I'm the only one that feels that way and sorry if I offended anyone.
The opening theme song is so important though! It really sets the tone for the rest of the movie!
This is it... Sam's voice just doesn't carry the grandness of the orchestration. Musically, it is good. Lyrically, it is okay. Sam's singing voice, just doesn't compliment the orchestration. Seal can hit a beautiful falsetto, as can Adam Levine and many others, but Sam Smith's falsetto just isn't that beautiful to my ears. He sounds strained and pitchy at those highs. After listening to WOTW at least 15 times, Sam does okay in his lower ranges, but that (fake) falsetto doesn't sound real.
I let one of the voice coaches at Iowa State hear the song. She said, "Are you kidding me? Such wonderful music and emotion, mismatched with Sam's voice?!!"
I realize that Sam is hugely popular among many younger listeners, his style and voice certainly hit well with a certain demographic of music lovers, and maybe... just maybe, those are who is wants to attract to getting into Bond. Us Bond fans know all the history of Bond. We understand his inception, his ideals, his way of doing things. We've come to appreciate Bond as he is... even through the character changes Roger Moore brought to Bond (my least favorite actor to play JB). I just feel that Sam Smith sings the song for his audience. He wants to remain popular with his group. If he came out with the Bond theme in the way most of us would've liked, he risked losing his fan base because he came out with something that doesn't match THEIR liking. I think Sam played it safe.
The more I listen to the WOTW, the more I do like its orchestration, and that's it.
"Now pay attention double O seven..." - Q. Words I think we should all live by.
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.
You may have a point...Were they trying to do what they did with Louis Armstrong in OHMSS? Perhaps. Do we know for sure this is the main credits song or could it be included somewhere in the middle of the film? OHMSS did this, but also FRWL, the song was coming from a radio and then used in the end credits.
I did wonder how the instrumental theme tune was received in OHMSS? So different to what we had before?
I don't think either the song or the main titles theme were noticed when OHMSS was released. I guess Lazenby had the spotlight on him pretty much all the time that period.
I did wonder how the instrumental theme tune was received in OHMSS? So different to what we had before?
It had only been 7 years, though six films, since the last time Bond had an instrument theme over the titles. Also, at that time there were still many other films doing title sequences over instrumental themes, so it probably wasn't such a big deal. It's still common to have opening titles over an instrumental (like in the Marvel movies), but opening titles are much shorter. I can't imagine audiences today wanting to sit through a 3-4 minute instrumental piece.
I understand why people don't like it but to me it's far from the worst Bond theme I've heard. I'll take this over 'All Time High'all day long. The orchestration is absolutely wonderful and has a real Bond vibe. I think they could have got someone better to sing the song tbh and I'm not sure the falsetto bits are necessary but it's slowly growing on me.
There's so much hate for Sam being thrown around everywhere :-(
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.
Blasphemy? Deviation from what's expected? At least personally I have no idea what you are referring to. My favorite Bond themes are "You Know My Name", "The World is Not Enough", "Nobody Does It Better" and OHMSS opening instrumental theme. So I think my taste is rather eclectic. I am bored by the cliched Bondian trumpet fanfare in too many of the theme songs. Mixing things up is great. But you have to recognize a failure when you hear it.
The lyrics to "Writing's On the Wall" are merely serviceable. About on a level with "All Time High" or "Moonraker". Nothing particularly memorable. The song required a singer who could elevate it and bring out the emotions of the tune like Louis Armstrong. It doesn't have to be belted out a la Adele, but it must not be flaccid. Whatever power and emotional resonance TWotW has comes from the orchestration. Smith's lackluster voice does not elevate the music, or even match it, but instead undercuts it. He could have come off merely as the male Sheryl Crow, but then there is the falsetto. Who the hell thought that incoherent screech was a good idea? Those sections are literally painful to listen to and reach the abyssal depths of "Another Way to Die" and "Die Another Day."
Why the hate for Smith? Because within a day amateur and neophyte singers on Youtube are covering the mediocre song he wrote in 20 minutes and sounding better than he does. They are able to find and express an emotional core, that he - the author of the song - cannot. He obviously wrote the song without thought or reflection, and performed it the same way.
Hahahh do you all hate Die Another Day? I'm on this other forum where Madonna fans always brag how it's the best Bond song and has the most expensive music video ever. )
Anyway, choosing Sam Smith was so predictable. I'd prefer Lana Del Rey. About the song, It's ok I guess. I love the instrumental but Sam's voice is so repelling. Adele was much better.
So do I Thomo. ) sadly my internet campaign didn't get off to a great
Start Idris stole my thunder.
Honestly I think the next guy, when chosen. We'll have to Google his name
To see what he's been in. I don't think any of the names mentioned, have a
shot at it.
After Spectre, I'd say Daniel will do at least one more, maybe two ? If his arms
Twisted. As I can't see Spectre being anything but one of the top films of the year.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
So do I Thomo. ) sadly my internet campaign didn't get off to a great
Start Idris stole my thunder.
Honestly I think the next guy, when chosen. We'll have to Google his name
To see what he's been in. I don't think any of the names mentioned, have a
shot at it.
After Spectre, I'd say Daniel will do at least one more, maybe two ? If his arms
Twisted. As I can't see Spectre being anything but one of the top films of the year.
Yeah, I always wondered what happened to that campaign (TP IS James Bond).
I think it may have had something to do with the tag line. "Not as hard-edged as Moore and lacking the sophistication and savoir faire of Daniel Craig, TP is the Bond for the 21st Century."
Another Way to Die was irredeemably bad from start to finish so that comes bottom in my opinion, yes - worse than Die Another Day.
The real shame about this is that when I first heard it, it was shaping up to be an all time Bond classic and then the anti-climactic falsetto kicked in at 1.28/9 and completely ruined it! I just don't get how the song got the green light from the producers after they first heard it???
Still, as before let's see what miracle Mr Kleinman can pull out of the bag come 26 October...
I've only heard the last squeaky 30 seconds on the radio two times. I'll get my nephew to put it on CD.
With "You Know My Name" for CR by Chris Cornell is he American or British? as they say Sam Smith is the 1st British male singer since Tom Jones to do a Bond theme song?
The lack of a backbeat is intentional. This song is supposed to sound pre-rock and roll. Like something Sinatra would've sung in the early or mid Fifties.
Uh, no. Even Frank's "suicide" albums (Wee Small Hours, Only The Lonely, Where Are You) had a pulse. And I don't think Frank ever sang a single note falsetto.
The only Sinatra "connection" to "Writing's On The Wall" comes from his "Concert For The Americas" video. After he finishes "Strangers In The Night", he says off-mic, "that's the worst f$^#@ng song I ever heard".
When I have time to sit and ponder over it, I believe had they done just an instrumental theme for this film as was done with OHMSS and it was just as fitting, I don't think audiences would have been too disappointed. Adele did such a superb job on SF and it did so well, switching to an instrumental theme would have been a nice touch and many would naturally have considered it a nice nod to OHMSS.
Not saying it would not have been a real daunting task to come up with something that was as good as Barry's work - since all the composers since him have struggled with creating good tracks for the entries, but I think it would have been worth a try. It could not have come off any worse than some of the poorest themes (and I put WOTW among them).
At least going instrumental would have relieved the pressure off EON from finding a singer for this film and all the press gnawing at the bit trying to find out every hour who it was going to be as well as whether or not they would produce a hit song.
As far as OHMSS, there wasn't the instant gratuitous media back then as there is today and much more was made over Armstrong's song than was Barry's title music. However, after it came out critics praised Barry for doing what he did (and thanking him for immediately not trying to write lyrics with the phrace OHMSS in them - which he knew could not be done). Since then it's become one of the top themes and for some the best in the series.
At least it looks like SPECTRE will be a strong film and perhaps at about the level of SF, and unlike QOS will help viewers like me get past Smith's vocals at the beginning. Here's hoping Kleineman comes up with title visuals that will also help brace up the whining enough to get through it. The other fact that will help is that full song's are always edited down, so at least it will not have as much an effect. My apologies to those who enjoy the song. I'm only being honest with my on tastes.
Hahahh do you all hate Die Another Day? I'm on this other forum where Madonna fans always brag how it's the best Bond song and has the most expensive music video ever. )
Anyway, choosing Sam Smith was so predictable. I'd prefer Lana Del Rey. About the song, It's ok I guess. I love the instrumental but Sam's voice is so repelling. Adele was much better.
I'd also prefer Lana Del Rey :x
BTW, what were we discussing here? )
With "You Know My Name" for CR by Chris Cornell is he American or British? as they say Sam Smith is the 1st British male singer since Tom Jones to do a Bond theme song?
Yes, Cornell is from Seattle and fronted Soundgarden and Audioslave.
Smith is the first solo male British singer since Tom Jones to sing a Bond theme. Matt Monro sang "From Russia With Love", but only as diegetic and end-title music.
The most common category is solo female American (7: Nancy Sinatra, Rita Coolidge, Carly Simon, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow, Madonna) followed by solo female British (6 films, 4 singers: Shirley Bassey x 3, Lulu, Sheena Easton, Adele).
I was spoiled decades back. Before seeing "From Russia with Love" in 1963, Matt Monro's vocal was a popular song on the radio. Since then there have been a lot of Bond films, and for the most part, after an initial listening, they have all "grown" on me.
This latest theme is serviceable, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the soundtrack. While I would probably never buy/listen to this song if it wasn't a Bond theme, and had never even heard of Sam Smith before he was hired for this gig ... I will end up liking the SPECTRE theme because I want to like it.
PS: For the record the best Bond theme ever is "Goldfinger".
Comments
I did wonder how the instrumental theme tune was received in OHMSS? So different to what we had before?
This is it... Sam's voice just doesn't carry the grandness of the orchestration. Musically, it is good. Lyrically, it is okay. Sam's singing voice, just doesn't compliment the orchestration. Seal can hit a beautiful falsetto, as can Adam Levine and many others, but Sam Smith's falsetto just isn't that beautiful to my ears. He sounds strained and pitchy at those highs. After listening to WOTW at least 15 times, Sam does okay in his lower ranges, but that (fake) falsetto doesn't sound real.
I let one of the voice coaches at Iowa State hear the song. She said, "Are you kidding me? Such wonderful music and emotion, mismatched with Sam's voice?!!"
I realize that Sam is hugely popular among many younger listeners, his style and voice certainly hit well with a certain demographic of music lovers, and maybe... just maybe, those are who is wants to attract to getting into Bond. Us Bond fans know all the history of Bond. We understand his inception, his ideals, his way of doing things. We've come to appreciate Bond as he is... even through the character changes Roger Moore brought to Bond (my least favorite actor to play JB). I just feel that Sam Smith sings the song for his audience. He wants to remain popular with his group. If he came out with the Bond theme in the way most of us would've liked, he risked losing his fan base because he came out with something that doesn't match THEIR liking. I think Sam played it safe.
The more I listen to the WOTW, the more I do like its orchestration, and that's it.
- Troy
I don't think either the song or the main titles theme were noticed when OHMSS was released. I guess Lazenby had the spotlight on him pretty much all the time that period.
It had only been 7 years, though six films, since the last time Bond had an instrument theme over the titles. Also, at that time there were still many other films doing title sequences over instrumental themes, so it probably wasn't such a big deal. It's still common to have opening titles over an instrumental (like in the Marvel movies), but opening titles are much shorter. I can't imagine audiences today wanting to sit through a 3-4 minute instrumental piece.
Blasphemy? Deviation from what's expected? At least personally I have no idea what you are referring to. My favorite Bond themes are "You Know My Name", "The World is Not Enough", "Nobody Does It Better" and OHMSS opening instrumental theme. So I think my taste is rather eclectic. I am bored by the cliched Bondian trumpet fanfare in too many of the theme songs. Mixing things up is great. But you have to recognize a failure when you hear it.
The lyrics to "Writing's On the Wall" are merely serviceable. About on a level with "All Time High" or "Moonraker". Nothing particularly memorable. The song required a singer who could elevate it and bring out the emotions of the tune like Louis Armstrong. It doesn't have to be belted out a la Adele, but it must not be flaccid. Whatever power and emotional resonance TWotW has comes from the orchestration. Smith's lackluster voice does not elevate the music, or even match it, but instead undercuts it. He could have come off merely as the male Sheryl Crow, but then there is the falsetto. Who the hell thought that incoherent screech was a good idea? Those sections are literally painful to listen to and reach the abyssal depths of "Another Way to Die" and "Die Another Day."
Why the hate for Smith? Because within a day amateur and neophyte singers on Youtube are covering the mediocre song he wrote in 20 minutes and sounding better than he does. They are able to find and express an emotional core, that he - the author of the song - cannot. He obviously wrote the song without thought or reflection, and performed it the same way.
Is one of those things
If you like, you do
If you don't, you boo!
"The very words I live by."
Anyone else wants to hear TP humming the falsetto part over and over?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Apparently so even though he's 44 and would be 46 at first filming minimum and then around 50 at the second movie ?
All rumours, with loads of names in the frame.
I think you'd make a great Bond
Anyway, choosing Sam Smith was so predictable. I'd prefer Lana Del Rey. About the song, It's ok I guess. I love the instrumental but Sam's voice is so repelling. Adele was much better.
Start Idris stole my thunder.
Honestly I think the next guy, when chosen. We'll have to Google his name
To see what he's been in.
shot at it.
After Spectre, I'd say Daniel will do at least one more, maybe two ? If his arms
Twisted. As I can't see Spectre being anything but one of the top films of the year.
Yeah, I always wondered what happened to that campaign (TP IS James Bond).
I think it may have had something to do with the tag line. "Not as hard-edged as Moore and lacking the sophistication and savoir faire of Daniel Craig, TP is the Bond for the 21st Century."
As Bond songs go, I really like WOTW now. -{ I think it may gain many
Fans, on the build up to the release of Spectre.
I've only heard the last squeaky 30 seconds on the radio two times. I'll get my nephew to put it on CD.
With "You Know My Name" for CR by Chris Cornell is he American or British? as they say Sam Smith is the 1st British male singer since Tom Jones to do a Bond theme song?
Bleuville.
Uh, no. Even Frank's "suicide" albums (Wee Small Hours, Only The Lonely, Where Are You) had a pulse. And I don't think Frank ever sang a single note falsetto.
The only Sinatra "connection" to "Writing's On The Wall" comes from his "Concert For The Americas" video. After he finishes "Strangers In The Night", he says off-mic, "that's the worst f$^#@ng song I ever heard".
Not saying it would not have been a real daunting task to come up with something that was as good as Barry's work - since all the composers since him have struggled with creating good tracks for the entries, but I think it would have been worth a try. It could not have come off any worse than some of the poorest themes (and I put WOTW among them).
At least going instrumental would have relieved the pressure off EON from finding a singer for this film and all the press gnawing at the bit trying to find out every hour who it was going to be as well as whether or not they would produce a hit song.
As far as OHMSS, there wasn't the instant gratuitous media back then as there is today and much more was made over Armstrong's song than was Barry's title music. However, after it came out critics praised Barry for doing what he did (and thanking him for immediately not trying to write lyrics with the phrace OHMSS in them - which he knew could not be done). Since then it's become one of the top themes and for some the best in the series.
At least it looks like SPECTRE will be a strong film and perhaps at about the level of SF, and unlike QOS will help viewers like me get past Smith's vocals at the beginning. Here's hoping Kleineman comes up with title visuals that will also help brace up the whining enough to get through it. The other fact that will help is that full song's are always edited down, so at least it will not have as much an effect. My apologies to those who enjoy the song. I'm only being honest with my on tastes.
I'd also prefer Lana Del Rey :x
BTW, what were we discussing here?
Yes, Cornell is from Seattle and fronted Soundgarden and Audioslave.
Smith is the first solo male British singer since Tom Jones to sing a Bond theme. Matt Monro sang "From Russia With Love", but only as diegetic and end-title music.
The most common category is solo female American (7: Nancy Sinatra, Rita Coolidge, Carly Simon, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow, Madonna) followed by solo female British (6 films, 4 singers: Shirley Bassey x 3, Lulu, Sheena Easton, Adele).
This latest theme is serviceable, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the soundtrack. While I would probably never buy/listen to this song if it wasn't a Bond theme, and had never even heard of Sam Smith before he was hired for this gig ... I will end up liking the SPECTRE theme because I want to like it.
PS: For the record the best Bond theme ever is "Goldfinger".
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
TP - it's all your fault!! 8-)