In my Humble Opinion, keep the celebrity singers.

James Suzuki

Quite a few of the Bond fans, I think, have been negative towards the choosing of the title song singers for the past few Bond films. This may seem like a shameless way to advertise the film. The more well known the artist, the more chance of people hearing the song and then watching the movie.
I myself, forever the optimist of all things James Bond, find this to be ingenious. Why you may ask?
Bond films are forever changing and adapting. They are one of the only franchises who are able to move with the popularity. The same but different dish served up. In order for the bond series to keep going until the sun shines no more, it needs to grab at what is popular, while making new Nd fresh movies.
Why was it so brilliant to have Duran Duran and then A-Ha do a title song?
Cause it highlights those two films as a pop icon of the 80's.
Music taste is subjective. So I think it's right for the music of the films to represent the times they are set in.

Thunderpussy

I don't mind celebrity singers, I only wish the composer could be
allowed to work with them, just to get the theme woven through the
Film score.

James Suzuki

Thunderpussy wrote:

I don't mind celebrity singers, I only wish the composer could be
allowed to work with them, just to get the theme woven through the
Film score.

Yes!
It worked so well with John Barry working with Duran Duran.
The moments in the score when the melody for that song appeared was gorgeous. Such as in the piece "bond meets Stacey"

Matt S

James Suzuki wrote:

Thunderpussy wrote:

I don't mind celebrity singers, I only wish the composer could be
allowed to work with them, just to get the theme woven through the
Film score.

Yes!
It worked so well with John Barry working with Duran Duran.
The moments in the score when the melody for that song appeared was gorgeous. Such as in the piece "bond meets Stacey"

You could say the same for every film Barry worked on. In FRWL, however, Barry didn't write the theme but still fully integrated it into the score. Thomas Newman probably wasn't involved in writing the themes for his films because that's not where his skills lie. This really has nothing to do with celebrity singers, since John Barry written Bond themes for some hugely popular singers and bands, like Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra, Lulu, Duran Duran and a-ha, though the last two songs were collaborations with the bands.

Thunderpussy

I always thought Barry wrote the music to the Theme and Lionel Bart
Only did the lyrics. ;% so silly me there still you learn something
everyday. {[]