Yes, James Bond is the man

So, I heard this story on the radio a couple months ago. They had this music blogger on and he had done a top ten James Bond theme songs thing and they had him on to discuss it. Well, when he chose "You Only Live Twice" as Number One I knew there was a problem. However, I didn't have a blog back then. Now, I do. So, here goes.

Basically, the James Bond theme song accompanies the credits after the opening sequence of the movie, but it also gives you an idea as to what the movie's going to be about. Sometimes it's really vague, sometimes it's really obvious. It's also become a place where the Broccolis (the producers) can throw in a big name singer or band and get some super cache just from superstar X singing the theme to the movie. Sometimes said band isn't super-super and you may have never heard of them and you discover their music and like them all over again. Sometimes you discover super band X, love the theme, and then generally hate all the rest of their music. Sometimes the theme song is a super pop hit ("Nobody Does it Better") and sometimes you wonder how it got in a James Bond movie at all ("Tomorrow Never Dies")

In my personal opinion the song needs to say something about the movie, be really well written, even better performed, and, if it's really good, require a second listen after you've watched the movie. (BTW - This is NOT my top ten James Bond Movies. That list would come out different.)

10 "Nobody Does it Better"/Carly Simon from "The Spy Who Loved Me"

"Nobody Does it Better" is a total classic late 70's/early 80's power-pop-ballad. Not only does it totally fit the period in which the movie was made (1977) but it was a hit! If you listen closely to the song you can catch on to the whole love - hate - love/hate dynamic that plays out throughout the movie. What can I say, it's a great song! Plus, who doesn't enjoy Carly Simon? (And don't lie. Don't act like...."I'm a man, Carly Simon sucks!" Admit it, you're soooooo vain.)

9 "Diamonds are Forever" / Shirley Bassey

Alright, this song is on here for one reason.... Dame Shirley Bassey. If you don't know who Shirley Bassey is please get acquainted. (I actually listened to recordings of her few years back when I was retooling my sound.) This song is right to the point, totally indicative of what the movie is about, totally hints at the fact that this movie is REALLY funny. It's simple, and wonderful!

8 "A View to a Kill" / Duran Duran

Alrighty, another hit. I remember hearing this song on the radio back in the 80's. Yes, I remember the 80's, and I liked them. (Who are you to judge me!? Please pardon the minor Golden Girls reference.) Anyways, this song is insane. Totally whacked out (much like Max Zorin [and you wondered if I liked Christopher Walken!]), very 80's, and very off the wall. Yet, a major hit.

7 "The Man With The Golden Gun" / Lulu

If you're wondering who Lulu is, I was too. No matter, she's sings the song really well and it has this sort of eastern/70's feel which really fits not only the locale in the movie, but the time period of the movie. Once again, straight to the point. Wonderful song! However, on multiple listenings you start to get more of the lyrics and the multiple parts of the movie they're talking about all at once. My only gripe is that is doesn't end a tiny bit sooner. I really like "We.....Shall....See....." It could totally end right there.

6 "Goldfinger" / Shirley Bassey

Here's Shirley again. Yes, she's the real McCoy. Basically all that needs to be said about this song is the way she says "Goldfinger." Yeah, that's it. She's incredible.

5 "Thunderball" / Tom Jones

Way too many people hate on Tom Jones. Yeah, he doesn't have this massive range, but he has a powerful voice and a voice that was perfectly matched to this song. The song also perfectly matches the movie. Thunderball is pretty grandiose in scale (especially for 1964) and a grandiose song fits perfectly. Besides, who doesn't love that ole Tom can hold the last note of the song for like, a year. Come on, you know you like it!

4 "Live and Let Die" / Paul McCartney and Wings

Hit, hit, hit!!! You can STILL hear this song on oldies stations, sometimes multiple times per day. It's Paul McCartney. It's a perfect play on the phrase "Live and Let Live" (actually, moreso than the movie is.) It's imminently coverable (see Guns N Roses [and yes, their cover is good.]) It moves. It is in the American consciousness. Even if you could care less about James Bond movies you know this song. Yeah, Paul rocks!

3 "Goldeneye" / Tina Turner

Tina Turner is 69 years old people. Have you seen a picture of her lately. The woman is 69 and looks incredible. Moreover, she can SING! Bono and The Edge wrote this song and it definitely carries the feelings of anger and of being sullied by the business that Pierce Brosnan carries of in the movie so well. I would also say that this song has the second best art production for the credits in any Bond movie. Classic stuff.

2 "The World is Not Enough" / Garbage

Garbage is one of those bands I mentioned earlier. The theme song they do is soooooo good, then you try some of their other music and you're like "Dang, I didn't think it was gonna be like that!" The song is basically the premise of the movie....that one phrase...."The World is Not Enough." If you've watched alot of James Bond you know that he had one love in his entire life, and she's dead(putting what her name is aside, we know there was really only one.) That one line is where the entire movie is going. This song is constructed solely around that one line and James Bond's deep-seeded inability to get close to anyone. Then, when he finally does, he realizes he broke his own rules and he gets pushed to the edge and BANG! Yep, that's good stuff people.

1 "You Know My Name" / Chris Cornell

Here we go. This is the definitive Bond theme song, attached to the definitive Bond movie, and the definitive James Bond...Daniel Craig. This has the best Art Direction of any credit sequence of any Bond movie (the playing card graphics are killer.) This song makes sense when you listen to it the first time. Then makes more sense when you listen again after you've watched the movie. The third time you get even more out of it, and the fourth, and the fifth, you get the idea. The song completely parallels what's going on in the movie and is extremely insightful into the persona that becomes (not is, you don't get like that until after you suffer like he does in the movie) James Bond. It's perfectly written and played and sung even better by Chris Cornell. I'd say Soundgarden and Audioslave were exactly the preparation that were needed to write the grittiest, most honest Bond theme that preceeds the grittiest, most honest Bond movie. Enjoy!