95 replies to this topic

[crashdrive]

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me by U2 (from the 'Batman Forever' soundtrack). Play Dead written by David Arnold and performed by Bjork could have been an excellent Bond titlesong. I also think Fiona Apple could perform one hell of a Bond titlesong. Just listen to Criminal.

[Harmsway]

Detective by No Doubt... it has quite the spy/Bond vibe!

[right idea, wrong pussy]

Some excellant choices have been mentioned already, including Seal's "Kiss by a Rose", Annie Lennox's "Here Comes the Rain Again", No Doubt's "Don't Speak" and Britney Spear's "Toxic" (her best song since "Oops, I Did it Again!"). Some choices that haven't been mentioned yet:

"Hero of the Day" - Metallica, particularly in the orchestral version with the San Francisco Orchestra and Bond composer Michael Kamen. This is one of the only Metallica songs that doesn't give me a throbbing headache, it has an achingness to it that seems good for Bond, and the lyrics almost work too.

"Frozen" - Madonna. This song is everything "Die Another Day" wasn't, wonderfully mysterious, somewhat romantic, and yet subdued, and there are no stupid lyrics like, "Sigmund Freud. Analysis dis!" (sigh). "Don't Tell Me" doesn't quite work as a Bond tune, but there's a funky irony to it that at least warrants it an unhonorable mention.

Finally, my slightly less serious choice:

"Your Woman" - White Town. A great song. Sure, the lyrics, while absolutely super ("So much for all your highbrow Marxist ways / Just use me up and then you walk away"), don't quite work, but neither did the lyrics in the otherwise excellant Duran Duran song. The song has something about that seems almost perfect for Bond - fun, yet smelling of the staleness and sweat of Fleming's opening lines to CR. Just give the song a listen - it almost works!

Edited by right idea, wrong pussy, 14 December 2004 - 11:22 PM.

[Qwerty]

"Frozen" - Madonna. This song is everything "Die Another Day" wasn't, wonderfully mysterious, somewhat romantic, and yet subdued, and there are no stupid lyrics like, "Sigmund Freud. Analysis dis!" (sigh). "Don't Tell Me" doesn't quite work as a Bond tune, but there's a funky irony to it that at least warrants it an unhonorable mention.

An excellent choice and one of her best on the 'Ray of Light' album. Her performances of that one at live shows and in the music video always seem to be circling around mystery and as you say, she's very subdued in it, which makes it all the better.

'Don't Tell Me' isn't the best choice because it seems to be more of a pop song, like Die Another Day in a way, but not even with the Bond-ian like lyrics (I suppose) Die Another Day had.

[GreggAllinson]

You Held The World In Your Arms by Idlewild.

Jem could do a KILLER Bond theme, but I can't really think of any of her existing songs that fit Bond, except maybe 24.

EDIT: And how can I forget Requiem Pour Un Con by Serge Gainsbourg?

Edited by GreggAllinson, 15 December 2004 - 12:26 AM.

[Moonraker]

Jem could do a KILLER Bond theme, but I can't really think of any of her existing songs that fit Bond, except maybe 24.

I think Come on closer would be excellent.

[Moonraker]

I think Extreme Ways by Moby, would make a decent Bond theme.

[scaramanga]

Shape of My Heart by Sting. One of my favourite songs ever and I think it would be perfect for a Casino Royale movie. It plays at the end credits on Leon and was recently "borrowed" for Shape by the Sugababes, and in a more dilluted form: Rise & Fall by Craig David.

[spynovelfan]

The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - Massive Attack with Tracey Thorn

Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears

Smooth Operator - Sade

Dynamite - Stina Nordenstam

Spies - Coldplay

Into The Street - Twilight Singers

The Hounds of Love - Kate Bush

Don't Tear Me Up - Mick Jagger

First We Take Manhattan - Leonard Cohen

Bloodstain - U.N.K.L.E.

I Wish - Eg and Alice

It Could Be Sweet - Portishead

I'm Not The Man I Used To Be - Fine Young Cannibals

This Love - Craig Armstrong with Liz Fraser

Play Dead - David Arnold, featuring Bjork

F.E.A.R. - U.N.K.L.E., featuring Ian Brown

Angel - Aretha Franklin

[Joyce Carrington]

I find Muse's "Butterflies and Hurricanes" quite appropriate actually. I think because of the chords and some of the strings in it. And I could totally picture some action scenes over it.

change,
everything you are
and everything you were
your number has been called
fights, battles have begun
revenge will surely come
your hard times are ahead

best,
you've got to be the best
you've got to change the world
and you use this chance to be heard
your time is now

[Sun Tzu]

Head Down by Soundgarden (for TWINE)

Gone by U2 (for TND)

No More Tears by Ozzy Osbourne (for LTK)

[Loyal Terrior]

Extreme Ways - Moby

[Bloodlust1966]

Here's a handful of my picks for songs that could have been Bond themes. Not always lyrically, but certainly musically. Most aren't very well known and would be worth tracking down copies for a good listen. They're well worth it, IMHO:

1978 - AL STEWART (Life In Dark Water)

Stewart was at the height of his popularity around here and this sounds like a passed over submission for The Spy Who Loved Me, complete with underwater motif and Bond theme (!) in the background. Actually, it's pretty darn good.

1980 - CHEAP TRICK (Stop This Game)

What would happen if you ate nachos & ice cream, went to sleep and had a dream that these guys ran into George Martin and decided they wanted to take a stab at a pseudo-Bond song? Well, it really happened. So did a lot of other weird things back then.

1980 - GINO VANNELLI (Nightwalker)

This song manages to sound classic and yet feel contemporary. Vannelli has the pipes to really belt out a good Bond theme a la Tom Jones.

1984 - RUSH (Between The Wheels)

If Dalton had've signed on for A View To A Kill and this had been the theme song, we would have gotten a much better film. OK, that's not too hard, but.....

1985 - TINA TURNER (One Of The Living)

Ten years before GoldenEye, Turner did a couple of great tunes for the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome soundtrack. We Don't Need Another Hero got all the airplay, but this song would've made a spicy Bond theme.

1986 - A-HA (I've Been Losing You)

A sign of things to come one year before they did The Living Daylights. Perhaps this is the song that convinced EON they were up to a Bond theme.

1987 - RUSH (Lock And Key)

It's true that A-Ha did a great job with The Living Daylights, but this song might've fit Dalton's tough image a bit better.

1988 - A-HA (The Blood That Moves That Body)

On the other hand, it looks like the boys from Norway had another good Bond-like tune up their sleeve.

1988 - DURAN DURAN (Do You Believe In Shame?)

Unlikely that they'd have been asked back so soon after doing a theme, but this song is actually better than A View To A Kill.

1991 - STING (The Soul Cages)

Anyone who doubts Sting could do a great Bond song should have a listen to this. Just change the lyrics and you're there. Would've been great for that third Dalton film we never got.

1993 - DEPECHE MODE (Rush)

Speaking of which, can you imagine a fourth Dalton film with this as the title song? Holy smokes, that would've been something!

1995 - PETER MURPHY (Cascade)

If EON wanted David Bowie but couldn't get him, Murphy would be a great compromise choice. This song's a bit on the dark side but any Bond film with this atmosphere would be very interesting.

2001 - ROLAND ORZABAL (Bullets For Brains)

Excellent tune from one half of Tears For Fears. Good lyrics as well that would only need slight alterations.

2002 - RUSH (Vapor Trail) or (Secret Touch)

This group has a big, expansive sound that would be well-suited for a Bond film. Both of these songs are good, if daring, choices.

2002 - SUPREME BEINGS OF LEISURE (Rock And A Hard Place)

Sounds like another audition. Would've fit better for Brosnan's swan song than Madonna's tune did.

2004 - MOTORHEAD (Line In The Sand)

If EON really wanted to go in a different direction, then this blistering tune would fit the bill. Excellent lyrics to break in a new Bond as well.

2004 - NEVER THE BRIDE (The Living Tree)

Channeling the spirit of Shirley Bassey's classic 007 songs. Anyone who tracks this down would swear its SB. Great homage.

[007th Heaven]

"If I close my eyes forever," by Lita Ford and Ozzy Ozbourne is very, very Bond.

[Mr Malcolm]

I'll second Joyce's suggestion for 'Butterflies and Hurricanes' by Muse. I quite like the idea of the piano section in the middle acting as a segue from the PTS to the credit sequence, before beginning the song proper.

I'd also suggest 'Barrel of a Gun' by Depeche Mode, and "Karma Killer' by Robbie Williams, the latter of which I've used in coming up with the credit sequence for my fan-fic script!

[Qwerty]

Silence - Delerium & Sarah McLachlan

But only the original slow version!

[LooseCannon]

"You Blow Me Away" - Robert Palmer
"Who Do You Think You Are" - St Etienne
"Erase and Rewind" - The Cardigans

[Qwerty]

Welcome to the CommanderBond.net Forums, LooseCannon.

[Mr Malcolm]

Silence - Delerium & Sarah McLachlan

But only the original slow version!

That's not a bad idea. I suppose you could have the remix version over the credits. Well, it worked for MR!

And welcome to CBn LooseCannon!

Edited by Mr Malcolm, 09 April 2006 - 12:59 AM.

[Kingdom Come]

Marvelous idea for a thread.


So Hard sung by Pet Shop Boys
We Don't Need Another Hero sung by Tina Turner
Storm sung by Grace Jones
The Wild Boys by Duran Duran

Of course all the above songs would need tweeking with the lyrics slightly!

[pgram]

The Rythm Divine: Yello ft Shirley Bassey (a magnificent slow ballad, a quintessential Bond performance by Dame Shirley- OK I know, everything Dame Shirley sings is Bondish; how about Something?)

Tears run rings: Mark Almond (not the lyrics, just the music, especially the ending)

You on my Mind: Swing Out Sister (pop song, with a sixties feel)

Whatever you want: Tina Turner (a lot more interesting and powerful than GE)

Never trust a stranger: Kim Wilde (a little too bit dance pop, but the melody is Bondesque and I love the title)

Hunting High and Low: A-Ha (their best song so far, IMO the song that made the producers consider them for TLD)

Mad about you: Hooverphonic (excellent song, beautiful voice, it is not the only Hooverphonic song that has a vintage feel; IMO they could write a brilliant CR song)

Kiss by a Rose (has been mentioned many times, already. I would love it even more if sung by Kate Bush, another of my favourite candidates for CR)

Hijo de la luna: Monserrat Caballet (grand opera diva , in a lyrical performance, one of the most beautiful songs I 've ever heard. It is in Spanish, and it is a little more operatic than the usual Bond songs, but it would give a beautiful deviation from the canon. Surely, they could use a lyrical singer some day- Sarah Brightman, Emma Shapplin, Cecilia Bartoli etc- for a song that would make a different sensation. BTW, why does it have to be in English?)

All the man that I need: Whitney Houston (don't know why, but I 've always considered this ballad appropriate for end titles)

Can't let go: Mariah Carey (end titles, as well)

I 'm not Perfect: Grace Jones (would be fun if included in AVTAC soundtrack)

Edited by pgram, 09 April 2006 - 04:48 PM.

[Mr Malcolm]

The Rythm Divine: Yello ft Shirley Bassey (a magnificent slow ballad, a quintessential Bond performance by Dame Shirley- OK I know, everything Dame Shirley sings is Bondish; how about Something?)

Whatever you want: Tina Turner (a lot more interesting and powerful than GE)

Hijo de la luna: Monserrat Caballet (grand opera diva , in a lyrical performance, one of the most beautiful songs I 've ever heard. It is in Spanish, and it is a little more operatic than the usual Bond songs, but it would give a beautiful deviation from the canon. Surely, they could use a lyrical singer some day- Sarah Brightman, Emma Shapplin, Cecilia Bartoli etc- for a song that would make a different sensation. BTW, why does it have to be in English?)

Definitely yes to the first two! As for the third, I don't know it, but the idea of a truly operatic Bond theme could work well.

How about 'Bachelorette' by Bjork? It's a little different from a standard Bond-style song, but it's still got a certain mystery and power to it that I think could work quite well.

[pgram]

The Rythm Divine: Yello ft Shirley Bassey (a magnificent slow ballad, a quintessential Bond performance by Dame Shirley- OK I know, everything Dame Shirley sings is Bondish; how about Something?)

Whatever you want: Tina Turner (a lot more interesting and powerful than GE)

Hijo de la luna: Monserrat Caballet (grand opera diva , in a lyrical performance, one of the most beautiful songs I 've ever heard. It is in Spanish, and it is a little more operatic than the usual Bond songs, but it would give a beautiful deviation from the canon. Surely, they could use a lyrical singer some day- Sarah Brightman, Emma Shapplin, Cecilia Bartoli etc- for a song that would make a different sensation. BTW, why does it have to be in English?)

Definitely yes to the first two! As for the third, I don't know it, but the idea of a truly operatic Bond theme could work well.

How about 'Bachelorette' by Bjork? It's a little different from a standard Bond-style song, but it's still got a certain mystery and power to it that I think could work quite well.

You 've got to listen to it, it is magnificent. Bjork is always interesting; I 'm afraid I haven't listened to Bachelorette, though.

[Auric64]

Madonna`s "Beautiful Stranger" used in Austin Powers.

Great lyrics that speak for Powers but could equally speak for Bond. Slowed down and done more as a ballad, with a Barry influence, I think that would have been great.

It`s a pity Madonna sung a better song about a comic spy than a more serious one.

Someone else mentioned Depeche Mode`s "Barrel of a Gun" to which I would second that. Very Bondian.

Apparently Martin Gore, Mode`s main songwriter was asked to write the lyrics for TWINE back in 1999, but he declined.

As much as I love Don Black`s lyrics and Garbage`s rendition of it, I would have loved to have seen what the Mode would have done.

Best

Andy

[ACE]

Great thread idea, great suggestions, some of which I agree with and have incorporated below in my Song(writer)s That Would Be Bond.

To The End/This Is A Low - Blur
This Is Hardcore - Pulp
My Love Has Two Faces/The Liquidator/History Repeating/The Rhythm Divine - Burly Chassis
This Way Mary - Matt Monro
Storm/La Vie En Rose - Grace Jones
Batchelorette/Play Dead/Human Nature - Bjork
Erase & Rewind/Theme From Randall and Hopkirk Deceased - Nina Person
Tour de France - Kraftwerk
No Regrets - Scott Walker
No Regrets/Millenium - Robbie Williams
DJ Culture - Pet Shop Boys
Confide In Me - Kylie Minogue
True/I'll Fly For You - Spandau Ballet
Hunting High And Low/I've Been Losing You - Aha
You'll See/Take A Bow/I'll Remember/Bad Girl/Live To Tell - Madonna
Slave To Love/Don't Stop The Dance - Bryan Ferry
Loving The Alien/Absolute Beginners/Jump They Say/I'm Afraid of Americans/The Heart's Dirty Secret/Thursday's Child - David Bowie
Miss Sarejevo - Passengers (U2) feat. Luciano Pavarotti
We Don't Need Another Hero/Whatever You Want - Tina Turner
Home - Sheryl Crow
Te Amo Corazon - Prince
Every Breath You Take/Once Upon A Daydream/I Burn For You - Police
When The Angels Fall/Why Should I Cry For You/When We Dance - Sting
Cold Cold Heart - Wet Wet Wet
A Woman Like Me - Beyonce Knowles
Stole - Kelly Rowlands
Toxic - Britney Spears
Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics
You Are Not Alone/Stranger In Moscow - Michael Jackson
Head Over Heels/Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down) - Tears For Fears
Out Of Tears - Rolling Stones
Another Plane Went Down - Shawn Colvin
Lost In The Moment - Edie Brickell
Ship Of Fools - World Party
Sleep Instead Of Teardrops - Del Amitri
Lullabye - The Cure
Policy Of Truth - Depeche Mode
Here's To The Heros - Mario Frangoulis
Catherine's Wheels/Zen Roxy - Crowded House
Fake Plastic Trees/No Surprises/Creep/High & Dry - Radiohead
Trouble/The Scientist - Coldplay
The Wanker's Song by Ivor Biggun

[Sir Miles]

The Wanker's Song by Ivor Biggun.

I can just see the title sequence now

I think Goldfrapp's "Time Out From The World" would have made a great Bond song, as would have "Utopia".

[Mr Malcolm]

I know some Bjork songs have already been mentioned, but what about 'Isobel'?

I also remember someone suggesting 'Bald' by The Darkness somewhere else, though the lyrics would have to get tweaked even more than the Wanker's Song! As it were.

Edited by Mr Malcolm, 10 April 2006 - 07:35 PM.

[ACE]

The Wanker's Song by Ivor Biggun.

I can just see the title sequence now

Ask any Bond crew member and they will tell you the significance of this song. Probably as synonymous with Bond as Goldfinger if you've worked on a few Bonds!

[trumanlodge89]

"You won't be mine"-- matchbox 20

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]