LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
I find it very similar, after two listens, to Sam Smith's WOTW...I don't dislike it, mind you, but I'm a bit surprised by the lack of distance, thematically and stylistically, between the two songs.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
At the end of the day, eon are probably only interested in who she brings to the table rather than the actual song itself, doesn’t mean they’re not disappointed behind the scenes mind you, they won’t admit to that.
I like those good Bond theme songs where the singer can hold a note and project. That's part of the Bond film experience, an important part.
But its not a lost cause yet, they still got a couple of weeks where they can find a proper singer to overdub this song before the film gets released, and we can just call this version a demo.
Hmmm have to say a bit underwhelmed. Even against Sam Smith, which if you line them up is much bigger in terms of projection and dare I say it, more memorable.
Maybe it will grow on me, not sure. It’s a bit whiny and I can’t really understand the words in the first part as it’s a bit mumbly, I do like the subtle Bond pick ups throughout but so far ... hmmmm
Thinking back to Sam Smiths song when it was released I remember feeling a bit of the same, when comparing it to Skyfall but when Spectre came out it had more context and I really grew to quite like it. This could be the same. I’ll keep listening to it over the weeks and see how I feel about it. Was expecting less of an emotional swan song for Craig and something with more get up and go about it. It’s quite vanilla sounding.
Skyfall still by far the best Bond song in recent times. Massively projected, memorable and totally Bond through and through. It’s a big one to live up to.
I find it very similar, after two listens, to Sam Smith's WOTW...I don't dislike it, mind you, but I'm a bit surprised by the lack of distance, thematically and stylistically, between the two songs.
I think that’s probably a Harbinger of things to come. This is setting up to be Spectre part 2. As though once wasn’t enough...
I really disliked WOTW and I'm generally a fan of Smith - both the song and the delivery. Smith has his own enunciation problems and it sounds like he's phoning it in. That song was a ballad but it wasn't sad, not somber -just melancholy.
This has the sound of dread and dying, or deceit. The songwriting itself is top notch. I understand that Eielish's delivery isn't for everyone, but it conveys the haunting and aching emotions the song expresses. It's not written to require a belter, even if she does bring it up a notch near the end. Imagine the song with main titles and a little more orchestra added (as they usually do).
Again - Judges accept. Not a Madonna, Keyes, Smith, or even A-ha.
Eilish is not my cup of tea but it was not bad at all . I was pleasantly surprised by how good the lyrics are. I don't have super high expectations for Bond themes these days as I generally don't care for the artists who are doing them......I just keep my fingers crossed and hope we don't get another "Die Another Day" or "Another Way To Die". I absolutely give credit to Eilish and her brother for the composition but I do agree with others that it could have reached another level with a different type of vocalist rather than the shoe gazing style of Billie (no disrespect to her intended, she has talent). I will say the song was better played over the visuals from the film, and should play well over the title sequence. I am more concerned with Zimmer's score than the theme song, however I did like what appeared to be Zimmer's contribution to the theme song and hopefully that bodes well for the score.
I have a bit of a theory... I'm always interested, when it comes to the Bond theme, as to whose perspective it is sung from. The obvious route would be that the new theme is from Bond's or Madeleine's... but what if No Time To Die is sung from the villain's perspective and the lyrics being about Safin and Madeleine's relationship.
My first impressions of the song are that I'm pretty happy with it. I think once that piano intro was teased it was fairly predictable what the song was going to be like, so no surprises there really - which could be a good thing or a bad thing. I thought that Eilish's vocals weren't bad, and I didn't have as much difficulty as others have reported with being able to hear the words.
The song plays it safe by being based around the same Bond theme elements that most of Craig's theme songs have stuck to, but I'm a man of simple tastes and they can always win me over with those chords. I also enjoyed the moments of bigger orchestration in the song, and I'm optimistic that Zimmer will reference the title song in his score. I just hope that they don't go for the lazy option, as in Spectre, and just put the instrumental version of the song into the movie at some point. I know we're always crying out for the title song to be woven into the score, but I don't think simply slapping the backing track onto the movie counts!
The theme is better than I expected. But it's like they took Writing's on the Wall and made it better, and that's not a difficult task. I have ranked it at number 21 out of 25 Bond themes. I don't imagine any new Bond themes would have the potential to be above number 18 for me, unless David Arnold was brought back to composer another theme.
I haven't considered yet where I think NTTD might rank in the series as a whole, but considering it against the competition of the four other Daniel Craig era songs I'd place it at number 3 after You Know My Name and SkyFall. Of course, my ranking might well shift with time and repeated listens and seeing it in the context of the film and the score.
Really thought I was listening to "The Sound of Silence" (probably more the Disturbed version not Simon & Garfunkel's original) at the start there—the melodies are very close!
Anyway, I think the lyrics are quite good, the instrumental accompaniment is excellent (which is to be expected on a Bond theme), but I'm just not sold on the vocals. It picks up a lot at the end but the rest is a bit monotonous, which after hearing a few of Eilish's other songs, was expected. Seems like there's lots of Skyfall and WOTW influence in the song as well, so not sure what the people who have been going on for years about how Smith's song is the worst thing that's ever happened to Bond music (maybe exaggerating a bit) will feel about it.
I really like it. It’s better than I expected. Mind you, I grew up with the DC movies and don’t have a very locked-in opinion of how a Bond movie and a Bond song should be made based on the old movies. I think it fits well with the mood and settings of the DC movies and it sounds fitting for his last one, based on what we know about the plot from the trailers.
Really thought I was listening to "The Sound of Silence" (probably more the Disturbed version not Simon & Garfunkel's original) at the start there—the melodies are very close!.
Exactly my first thought when I listened too!
Then it became Skyfall by Adele and by the end I was sure this was a rehash of WOTW too.
I'm pretty firmly in the 'it's not bad' camp I think, but agree with others that it just lacks some oomph in the closing bars.
Ok, listened to it enough times to have an opinion. Liked it. Maybe too melancholic, but I feel that's going to be one of the themes of the movie, what with Bond being retired and this movie possibly having a "last adventure" feel. That being said, it's well sung, the production and orchestration sound great, and the teases of the Bond themes are very well integrated. I hope this time around we will have a proper weaving of the theme into the score, à la CR instead of my namesake's in SP.
These final 45 days are going to feel like 90.
"Enjoy it while it lasts."
"The very words I live by."
Thanks, Barbel. I wonder who's POW this song is written in? My first thought is Bond himself, but we don't know yet. I liek the lyrics.
Billie Eilish has a voice that's different from what we've heard before in Bond title songs, but she uses a bigger voice a couple of times. Next to "We have all the time in the world" this must be the quietest Bond song ever. It takes some time getting used to as a Bond song. But I like the melody I hope and think the instrumentals after she sings the title will be re-used in the score.
one word: Beautiful!
this song don't have to grow in me I find it great right from the beginning.
When composing a Bond-Song there is this balancing act between saving your own handwriting as an artist and create that typical bondish-flair and that is exactly what happened here the mix out of Eilishs dreamy music and her soft voice combined with the orchestra works very well.
and yeah the music works great with the 'new' teaser, it creates a very melancholic atmosphere. Bonds face at the swimming scene and his look at the train-station is kind of sad : ( sometimes I think they make a tragical figure out of Bond, I kind of feel sorry for him from what I have seen so far. Eilishs Song underlines this perfectly
god...I'm 'afraid' that this is the first Bond-Movie where I have to cry in the theatres :'D
The new video from 007 lays song excerpts over new shots of Bond and Madeleine. And a standing by a tomb shot. Nothing more to say about that.
Listening to the lyrics from the point of view of Bond it can also go to Vesper again?
“We were a pair” has a very muted Barry/Bond horn riff heavily evoking the past.
“Fool me once, fool me twice”
Calling back to Casino? Would be a neat way to pay that off. Also it does retcon the last movie (in a good way IMHO) by placing some events further back in Daniel’s reign as Bond.
The tone of this song suggests the movie is going to be intense and personal and rooted in Daniel Craig’s take on the character since he took the role. Which is fine. I’ve grown to like it over the course of the movies.
Can’t help noting that it has been 67 years since Ian Fleming created the Bond/Vesper relationship and it is still there at the core of the character’s ongoing story. Kudos to BB and MW for using that with integrity.
When composing a Bond-Song there is this balancing act between saving your own handwriting as an artist and create that typical bondish-flair and that is exactly what happened here the mix out of Eilishs dreamy music and her soft voice combined with the orchestra works very well.
Dreamy as in it puts one to sleep? If so I agree with you
I’m not a huge Billie Eilish fan at all but I really like this. The arrangement (with trace elements of past and present) elevates it a lot and her lyrics are searching and reflect the inner turmoil of what Bond is hiding behind the facade (mask motif)
Fully orchestrated with opening credits I think it’ll be more than Noi shedding a tear or too.
Comments
. Risico.
Gun In My Hand
Never Dream of Dying
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
. Risico.
Gun In My Hand
Never Dream of Dying
But its not a lost cause yet, they still got a couple of weeks where they can find a proper singer to overdub this song before the film gets released, and we can just call this version a demo.
Maybe it will grow on me, not sure. It’s a bit whiny and I can’t really understand the words in the first part as it’s a bit mumbly, I do like the subtle Bond pick ups throughout but so far ... hmmmm
Skyfall still by far the best Bond song in recent times. Massively projected, memorable and totally Bond through and through. It’s a big one to live up to.
I think that’s probably a Harbinger of things to come. This is setting up to be Spectre part 2. As though once wasn’t enough...
I was hoping it wasn't too late for the joke.
I really disliked WOTW and I'm generally a fan of Smith - both the song and the delivery. Smith has his own enunciation problems and it sounds like he's phoning it in. That song was a ballad but it wasn't sad, not somber -just melancholy.
This has the sound of dread and dying, or deceit. The songwriting itself is top notch. I understand that Eielish's delivery isn't for everyone, but it conveys the haunting and aching emotions the song expresses. It's not written to require a belter, even if she does bring it up a notch near the end. Imagine the song with main titles and a little more orchestra added (as they usually do).
Again - Judges accept. Not a Madonna, Keyes, Smith, or even A-ha.
Can't hear half the lyrics though. What is it with so many vocalists being so influent?
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Co-Host of the Très Bond podcast -{ @tresbondpod (Instagram/Twitter/Facebook)
The song plays it safe by being based around the same Bond theme elements that most of Craig's theme songs have stuck to, but I'm a man of simple tastes and they can always win me over with those chords. I also enjoyed the moments of bigger orchestration in the song, and I'm optimistic that Zimmer will reference the title song in his score. I just hope that they don't go for the lazy option, as in Spectre, and just put the instrumental version of the song into the movie at some point. I know we're always crying out for the title song to be woven into the score, but I don't think simply slapping the backing track onto the movie counts!
Anyway, I think the lyrics are quite good, the instrumental accompaniment is excellent (which is to be expected on a Bond theme), but I'm just not sold on the vocals. It picks up a lot at the end but the rest is a bit monotonous, which after hearing a few of Eilish's other songs, was expected. Seems like there's lots of Skyfall and WOTW influence in the song as well, so not sure what the people who have been going on for years about how Smith's song is the worst thing that's ever happened to Bond music (maybe exaggerating a bit) will feel about it.
Exactly my first thought when I listened too!
Then it became Skyfall by Adele and by the end I was sure this was a rehash of WOTW too.
I'm pretty firmly in the 'it's not bad' camp I think, but agree with others that it just lacks some oomph in the closing bars.
These final 45 days are going to feel like 90.
"The very words I live by."
I should've known
I'd leave alone
Just goes to show
That the blood you bleed is just the blood you owe
We were a pair
But I saw you there
Too much to bear
You were my life, but life is far away from fair
Was I stupid to love you?
Was I reckless to help?
Was it obvious to everybody else
That I'd fallen for a lie?
You were never on my side
Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?
Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die
I let it burn
You're no longer my concern
Faces from my past return
Another lesson yet to learn
That I'd fallen for a lie
You were never on my side
Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?
Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die
No time to die
No time to die
Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?
Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die
Billie Eilish has a voice that's different from what we've heard before in Bond title songs, but she uses a bigger voice a couple of times. Next to "We have all the time in the world" this must be the quietest Bond song ever. It takes some time getting used to as a Bond song. But I like the melody I hope and think the instrumentals after she sings the title will be re-used in the score.
Interesting line ……..
this song don't have to grow in me I find it great right from the beginning.
When composing a Bond-Song there is this balancing act between saving your own handwriting as an artist and create that typical bondish-flair and that is exactly what happened here
and yeah the music works great with the 'new' teaser, it creates a very melancholic atmosphere. Bonds face at the swimming scene and his look at the train-station is kind of sad : ( sometimes I think they make a tragical figure out of Bond, I kind of feel sorry for him from what I have seen so far. Eilishs Song underlines this perfectly
god...I'm 'afraid' that this is the first Bond-Movie where I have to cry in the theatres :'D
Listening to the lyrics from the point of view of Bond it can also go to Vesper again?
“We were a pair” has a very muted Barry/Bond horn riff heavily evoking the past.
“Fool me once, fool me twice”
Calling back to Casino? Would be a neat way to pay that off. Also it does retcon the last movie (in a good way IMHO) by placing some events further back in Daniel’s reign as Bond.
The tone of this song suggests the movie is going to be intense and personal and rooted in Daniel Craig’s take on the character since he took the role. Which is fine. I’ve grown to like it over the course of the movies.
Can’t help noting that it has been 67 years since Ian Fleming created the Bond/Vesper relationship and it is still there at the core of the character’s ongoing story. Kudos to BB and MW for using that with integrity.
IAN FLEMING WAS A GENIUS.
Dreamy as in it puts one to sleep? If so I agree with you
Fully orchestrated with opening credits I think it’ll be more than Noi shedding a tear or too.
No
Time
To
Cry
Pretty helpful, Barbel, but a bit lame
What is your expert opinion about the song - that‘s what everybody wants to know
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!