With the release of No Time to Die, the Daniel Craig era of the James Bond franchise is officially over. It has been a long time coming, and while it is tempting to do a write-up on how it holds up as a conclusion of the actor’s tenure as the British superspy, that is not the purpose of this story. After all, plenty others have done that already.
Instead, let’s talk about an indissoluble element from the franchise: the opening songs.
A staple of the Bond series of films, the opening songs usually serves to set the tone and mood for the movie that comes after it, be it through their distinct composition and arrangement or its lyrical content. From the dynamic “Live and Let Die” to the entrancing “Licence to Kill”, Bond openings span across different genres of music.
Of course, that statement also applies to the Craig era of Bond opening themes — all of the openings from this Bond generation have their own distinct tastes — some sweeter than others, but all inexplicably different.
How do they stack up against each other? Let’s find out — subjectively, of course.
#6 Writing’s on the Wall — Sam Smith (Spectre)
An operatic song that lives almost exclusively on the minor territory complemented with an alluring voice (in this case Sam Smith’s) spells a recipe for an excellent Bond theme. What is it doing all the way up here?
While not a bad Bond song by all measures, Writing’s on the Wall is ultimately too melodramatic for a Bond opening. It overwhelms its listeners with melancholy and sorrow without any drop of excitement in it. Even though that is not to say that Spectre is a far from a Octopussy-type of Bond movie, it is clear that the song overcommitted to the film’s darker themes, causing the song to lack intrigue and charm that is usually present in other Bond openings.
On the bright side, it cannot be denied that Sam Smith has excellent vocal range to carry “Writing’s on the Wall”, and it is an enjoyable piece of music in its own right. It deserves to win that 2015 Oscars and fittingly so, since Smith had went on to say that it was a difficult song to sing.
Another slow-paced Bond song with a flair for the dramatic, this time sang by a singer known for her sleepy but entrancing voice. What edged this song over the previous entry on this list?
Like “Writing’s on the Wall”, “No Time to Die” runs in minor key, bolstering its haunting and at time tragic atmosphere. Although similar to Sam Smith’s piece at first glance, Billie Eilish’ signature moody voice works in the song’s favor, adding a layer of mystery that fits to the movie’s espionage-focused feel. Also unlike “Writing”, “No Time to Die” fits just right to Craig’s tragic Bond character arc, not overshooting or underdelivering on its themes.
Could the song have been more exciting? Absolutely. But “No Time to Die” plays to the strength of its singer and amplifies it with a suitably dramatic arrangement without coming off as overbearing. A good enough Bond theme in my book.
#4 Another Way to Die — Jack White & Alicia Keys (Quantum of Solace)
The first Bond opening sang by a duet, and quite possibly the weirdest-sounding of its kind. Still, it manages to snatch the middle spot.
With its abundance of drum beats, funky horns and dynamic voices courtesy of the two singers, “Another Way to Die” can sound a bit too much for first-time listeners. There is a lot going on in the song, inching it almost to the point of being chaotic and disorganized. On the other hand, that may have been the point: the song is supposed to be energetic and somewhat unpredictable, perfectly fitting the raw and deliberately disjointed nature of Quantum of Solace.
Both White and Keys brought much energy to “Another Way to Die”, and although it may not have come out as powerful as the audience would like, it still fits nicely into the Bond opening pantheon as an strangely exciting piece. Overall, it is an underrated song of the Craig era, much like the movie it was featured in.
#3 Spectre — Radiohead (originally written for Spectre)
Also known as the one Bond opening that could have been. English rock band Radiohead had to suspend work on their album A Moon Shaped Pool (eventually released on 2016) to work on a Bond opening titled “Spectre”, but it was unfortunately rejected due to being too “melancholic”. It was later released on December 2015, two months after the release of Spectre.
Most Bond fans found “Spectre” to be a more fitting Bond opening to the film compared to Sam Smith’s piece, and it is not hard to see why: the song simply fits the film more. It is undeniably haunting, but not too sorrowful like its replacer. It has glimpses of light undertones beneath the moody arrangement, making it eerily beautiful. Rather than signifying despair, it emphasizes on uncertainty and mystery — the bread and butter of a Bond theme, albeit in a darker delivery.
Could “Spectre” have won the Oscar if it was featured as the film’s opening rather than “Writing”? Maybe, maybe not. But at the very least this song’s rejection did not bury its subdued greatness, and Bond fans — both the uninitiated and the knowledgeable — can still enjoy this song today.
#2 Skyfall — Adele (Skyfall)
Closing in to the top now, and even though it was a close contest between the top two songs, this Adele masterpiece ultimately had to come second. Not that “Skyfall” has any major flaws — it all comes down to personal preference.
“Skyfall” is nothing short of an epic orchestral pop song only further augmented with Adele’s powerful voice. Like most Craig-era Bond songs, it has dark undertones, but still manages to sound triumphant and grandiose compared to its peers. After all, “Skyfall” — both the song and the film — is not just about death, but also about rebirth; a comeback, if you will. It may have been dramatic in tone, but it has a prominent sense of magnificence surrounding it.
The song’s accolades are well-deserved, and it belongs it the Bond openings hall of fame, if it exists anyway. Not only that it was one of the Bond opening songs of all time, it can also be considered as one of Adele’s finest works — a high compliment, considering the singer’s consistent quality in releases.
#1 You Know My Name — Chris Cornell (Casino Royale)
Arguably the most creative gunbarrel sequence in Bond history followed by the song’s hard-hitting guitar riffs was more than enough to kickstart the franchise’s then-dormant heart.
“You Know My Name” is one of one of the reasons the Bond franchise came back from the dead. It is fresh, exciting and dynamic, supported by Chris Cornell’s restrained but aggressive vocals. It has its slower moments, but when the chorus kicks in, it does not let up — much like the movie. But the song does not only fit the more physical parts of Casino Royale; it perfectly conveys Bond’s relative inexperience and immaturity, which also mirrors Daniel Craig’s then-controversial casting in the role.
“You Know My Name” is a statement on Bond, a reintroduction to the character, and it played a part in reinvigorating the spy film franchise. It is an integral part to the Bond resurgence ushered by the Craig era, and deservedly so.
Daniel Craig’s Bond films have had a plethora of openings — some mellow, some punchy, all different from one another. They also have some groundbreaking surprises; apart from the first Bond opening to be performed by a duet, the Craig era also has the youngest artist to have written and recorded a Bond opening in Billie Eilish.
Who knows what other surprises await the audience in the next generation of Bond theme songs with their own spin on musical genres? One thing for certain, it is going to take a while — the next Bond actor has not been announced yet. Here’s hoping we hear something next year; the year 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the Bond film series, after all.
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