Quoting JazzX:
This is one of the annoying things about Tomorrow Never Dies: you get a really strong song at the start, but the score uses theme`s from KD Lang/Arnold`s effort which only appears at the end! You only get a point of reference to the music at the end! How stupid is that!
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that the kd lang track (Surrender) was the title song of the film and was actually called "Tomorrow Never Dies" up until very late in the production process when Sheryl Crowe became available. They change the lang track to the end-title piece, but the film had already been scored with references to that song throughout. IMO Surrender is a much stronger track with better music and lyrics than the actual title track.
I think something very similar happened on DAD, with the end-title track (written by Arnold) being replaced by the Madonna remix, and the original song ("I Will Return") being scrapped but remaining in the DAD score.
If anyone else has info on this or if my info is wrong (you can't believe everything you read on the 'net ) please post.
I personally love the TND theme song by Sheryl Crow. I think she does an excellent job at singing this song. The song has great music, great lyrics, and is bold and classy. Definitely a Bond classic in my book.
I like the TND title theme very much, and I play it often. But then again, for me, Sheryl Crow can do no wrong. I love all the songs to Brosnan's first three films (title and otherwise). I think they're all strong, noteworthy entries into the Bond musical canon. It's Arnold's scores that I'm rather indifferent to.
Quoting Sir Hillary Bray:
Atonal and shrill -- yuck. Thankfully, it's pretty short.
The key of this piece is clearly C minor - `atonal` implies that it has no key, no tonal centre. I don`t think it`s shrill either - her voice is more alto than soprano - it never sounds that strained either to be considered shrill.
Yikes, this is what happens when a musician reads my quotes. How's this instead -- it sucks.
In fact, the only two Bond themes that fall short of the majesty of the franchise are "License to Kill" (obvious "Goldfinger" rip-off) and "Die Another Day" (can't Madonna just die today?).
DAD is by far the worst of the Bond themes. No memorable hook and no chord progression to speak of. Crap.
I used to hate the song, but now I like it a bit. Nothing compared to Surrender though, that wins hands down. My friend went to see the k.d. lang and Tony Bennett concert and they cried at the opening number (you guessed it, 'Surrender'). They used the classic scrim effect with the women dancing behind the screen casting their shadows. Definately a Bond song to remember. A trio of Tina Turner, Shirley Bassey and k.d. would be excellent. But yes, I did like the title song, but I rathered Surrender.
Oh, and the score was written when Surrender was the title song hence the heavy reference. I've never heard of the Die Another Day version though, is the song available to hear? Because I'm sure an announcement would have been made about it, as I read about Madonna writing it in the newspaper.
TND theme...hated it! It was too blues-ish...I thought I was watching a Mike Hammer episode for a minute, there. It wasnt the style of song that worked. Nothing against Sheryl Crow...I like her.
I thought KD Lang's "Surrender" would have been better for the credit sequence; but not much better.
Yes, it's a great score, worthy of the special edition treatment. There's that great track as Bond exits Carvers newspaper printworks that sound superb taken from the SP/ED DVD.
But for my mind, the best soundtrack for num ber of quality tracks has to be LIVE AND LET DIE SP/ED
i like the main theme but it reminds me a little of gene pitneys town without pity...richard branson also thought this when he reviewed the song on a childrens tv show...has anyone else played the tnd credit sequence to the surrender theme...the edits work better and are a lot more in sync...try it
I must say, TND is a pretty much unispired song (same with TWINE)
Whenever I listen to it, I always feel like its getting ready to start somewhere, but never does.
Quoting taity:
I must say, TND is a pretty much unispired song (same with TWINE)
Whenever I listen to it, I always feel like its getting ready to start somewhere, but never does.
Yup, I enjoy it for the first ten seconds or so, then she sings, and I've no choice but to turn it off. When I listened to it for the first time, I expect there to be some build up, and then for the song to get a bit faster. Didn't happen.
He hates her because she represents all he fears - a woman powerful enough, and intelligent enough to kick his butt both cereberally and physically - and in real life, not just the movies!
)
!!!
That's good, but I'll stick to my original reasons.
...Now, I LOVE the TND theme - but I do think someone other than Sheryl Crow should have sung it. Somewhere out there is an exceptionally well done instrumental version (found it years ago and then lost it and was never able to find it again) that sounds utterly fantastic, with the 'Perry Mason'piano riff emphasized all the way through it.
It's a bit too slow. The pts isn't THAT exciting and Brosnan seems comtose in his delivery of his one liner, it all falls a tad flat - the music needs to be like LALD to liven things up a bit.
Absence of underwater montage a bit disconcerting too.
At first, I didn't rate Sheryl Crow or the title song much at all, but they both steadily grew on me over time. Now I regard the title song as one of the brighter moments in an otherwise weak film.
I absolutely agree. The Crowe track is awful, the really wailing chorus sounds like a flock of sheep falling down a mineshaft. I feel 'Surrender' is by far the better song, Langs vocals soar in the great tradition of Bond vocalists like Shirley Bassey. Written by David Arnold and the great Don Black, this had to be the intended main theme, but the producers doubtless felt that Crowe had a higher commercial profile than K.D. Laing, and so stood a better chance of getting the all-important clip-heavy video on MTV and other teeny-bop pop shows around the world. In my opinion, a bad move. Once the immediate bucks have been made, we are left with the enduring cultural artefact - soiled by this dire Crowe tune. I mean she can't even sing it for God's sake!
Comments
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that the kd lang track (Surrender) was the title song of the film and was actually called "Tomorrow Never Dies" up until very late in the production process when Sheryl Crowe became available. They change the lang track to the end-title piece, but the film had already been scored with references to that song throughout. IMO Surrender is a much stronger track with better music and lyrics than the actual title track.
I think something very similar happened on DAD, with the end-title track (written by Arnold) being replaced by the Madonna remix, and the original song ("I Will Return") being scrapped but remaining in the DAD score.
If anyone else has info on this or if my info is wrong (you can't believe everything you read on the 'net
Perhaps we should dub Lang's song over the title credits!
It's certainly worth a try!
Yikes, this is what happens when a musician reads my quotes. How's this instead -- it sucks.
In fact, the only two Bond themes that fall short of the majesty of the franchise are "License to Kill" (obvious "Goldfinger" rip-off) and "Die Another Day" (can't Madonna just die today?).
DAD is by far the worst of the Bond themes. No memorable hook and no chord progression to speak of. Crap.
Oh, and the score was written when Surrender was the title song hence the heavy reference. I've never heard of the Die Another Day version though, is the song available to hear? Because I'm sure an announcement would have been made about it, as I read about Madonna writing it in the newspaper.
Its got a kind of cacth to it. you feel like singing along.
but my favorite bond theme is live and let die! oh yeah!
I love that: Martinis, girls, and guns... It describes Bond so perfectly!
I thought KD Lang's "Surrender" would have been better for the credit sequence; but not much better.
But for my mind, the best soundtrack for num ber of quality tracks has to be LIVE AND LET DIE SP/ED
Whenever I listen to it, I always feel like its getting ready to start somewhere, but never does.
Yup, I enjoy it for the first ten seconds or so, then she sings, and I've no choice but to turn it off. When I listened to it for the first time, I expect there to be some build up, and then for the song to get a bit faster. Didn't happen.
!!!
That's good, but I'll stick to my original reasons.
Best Regards,
Silverwing
Absence of underwater montage a bit disconcerting too.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I do agree that it is a little shrill though!