578 replies to this topic

[Royal Dalton]

Another bringer with a slick trigger finger

"I know the player with the slick trigger finger"

I believe it's "blinger".

An apt description of James Bond if there ever was one.

At least no one can say that EON played it safe with this song.

They probably didn't have a lot of choice in the matter.

[Zorin Industries]

What - all that commitment to reinvigorating the series and the song is taken out of their hands...? Not a chance.

[spynovelfan]

And let's see it in the context of the film and its new style titles. It could work well with floating bodies underwater and 007s scrambling for oxygen.

Well, of course it will. But almost any song blasted into a cinema with eye-catching graphics at the start of a Bond film will be pleasing for the three minutes or so that you sit there, waiting for it all to begin. Die Another Day worked fine during the credits sequence, but on repeated listenings it's still a weak song, in my view. It has to work outside the titles sequence too for it to be a truly great Bond song.

I just listened to the Scott Walker song The Old Man's Back Again - I'm sure you could play that over Bond titles and it would work well. The songs by Muse and the Arctic Monkeys played just before Another Way To Die on Radio One this morning would work well. Seven Nation Army would work well. But... that's not really the point.

[Simon]

At least no one can say that EON played it safe with this song.

Indeed, and for this they should be commended.

I actually like it, and am sure once it is wrapped up in titles and graphics it will be splendid.

And once it has settled into the canon over the course of an ensuing 10 years, it will be classed as something or other.

[Royal Dalton]

What - all that commitment to reinvigorating the series and the song is taken out of their hands...? Not a chance.

The title song is the studio's call.

[Loomis]

Another bringer with a slick trigger finger

"I know the player with the slick trigger finger"

I believe it's "blinger".

An apt description of James Bond if there ever was one.

Yes, well, better not criticise it or you'll be slammed as a retired old colonel with a Shirley Bassey fixation.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

At least no one can say that EON played it safe with this song.

Been there, done that.

http://debrief.comma...showtopic=49213

The point I want to make clear is that at times it seems producers Wilson and Brocolli are not willing to take bold choises anymore. Opting for Alicia Keys and Jack White seems to me as a way to safe choice; to feed the needs from the MTV-generation.

Edited by Mr Teddy Bear, 18 September 2008 - 01:12 PM.

[YOLT]

The music is good but they have to shorten it. They really have to cut some portions between 2:00 and 3:30 of the song. The title sequence of CR was about 3:14 so they can AWTD up to 3:00.

And more music please not the duet

[double o ego]

I posted this in the other thread but I'll post it here too.

After hearing the entire song at least 5 times to be fair I'll say this.

There's no way that they're going to play the entire song over the opening credits because the entire song was executed as though it was a live performance at a concert with all that additional wailing. The actual music itself is perfect and if there's anything that the coke zero advert told us, is, that we're better off using the music without the vocals for the opening credits.

However, if they do use the music with the vocals, I think the song can be pulled off with using just the first 2 verses and then just letting the music play by itself, I can see it working with the title sequence visuals.

Overall, as a song, this is a Bond song that may only work when listening to it whilst watching the title sequences, it's not something I can just listen to and enjoy, unless it's just the music without the vocals.

Songs like GF,DAF,FRWL,TB,TLD are songs that work with and without the Bond title sequences.

[Zorin Industries]

The music is good but they have to shorten it. They really have to cut some portions between 2:00 and 3:30 of the song. The title sequence of CR was about 3:14 so they can AWTD up to 3:00.

And more music please not the duet

But the song IS a duet. That's sort of the point. And why should they cut down any of the music? What has the title sequence of CASINO ROYALE got to do with QUANTUM OF SOLACE? I'm confused. QUANTUM's title sequence could be a lengthy one, have you pondered that? AND - the new title tune may not actually just cover the graphics. It could well kick in over the climax of the pre title sequence action. There's certainly a natural start to that song and it's not at the beginning of it.

What - all that commitment to reinvigorating the series and the song is taken out of their hands...? Not a chance.

The title song is the studio's call.

Not always. It depends on the deal and the creative inputs at the time.

And let's see it in the context of the film and its new style titles. It could work well with floating bodies underwater and 007s scrambling for oxygen.

Well, of course it will. But almost any song blasted into a cinema with eye-catching graphics at the start of a Bond film will be pleasing for the three minutes or so that you sit there, waiting for it all to begin.

Yes. And for the general audience that is all this song needs to do - and they are the ones that the film is predominantly made for. The average joe on a Friday night is not worrying about riffs on Coke commercials and whether the opening bars mirror FOR YOUR EYES ONLY when they pay their ticket money and sit down.

What - all that commitment to reinvigorating the series and the song is taken out of their hands...? Not a chance.

The title song is the studio's call.

And the director, composer and producers have no say then?

"The point I want to make clear is that at times it seems producers Wilson and Brocolli are not willing to take bold choises anymore. Opting for Alicia Keys and Jack White seems to me as a way to safe choice; to feed the needs from the MTV-generation".

There is nothing safe about Jack White. And the "needs" of the "MTV generation" are why we have title songs for Bond films. It's all about profile and presence in the charts (download, billboard or otherwise). The title tune is a savvy calling card to the film and dismissing the "MTV generation" in the way you do is really limiting when MTV is not just a channel showing pop videos. It is a canon and movement of media all on its own - the style of which has influenced almost EVERY film and TV show since the late 1980's. The fast editing of CASINO ROYALE can be traced back to the styles and visual trends of MTV.

[MattofSteel]

Call me convinced.

I was mildly impressed by the Coke Ad, I detested the 1:48 "sample" because it was simplistic, sloppy, boring, and amateurish (or so I thought). Now, hearing the whole song and how that sample fits in, it tends to work much better as a larger piece.

It's catchy to me. It's big, kind of ballsy, and I can see the Barry/Bassey influence Jack White often cites. I mean, what did people expect? Goldfinger II? It's a White Stripes song, no doubt. The vocals still jar in some places, but the song moves at a good clip and I'll be humming parts of it. It's not nearly as cohesive, tight, or entertaining as YKMN - but that would have been impossible, IMO. I loved that song TOO much, AWTD was never going to top it for me, but this is perfectly acceptable.

As White said somewhere recently, "It just has to sound like Bond." I wouldn't rank this as one of the best, or even better themes, but here and now I've come to like it. No thanks to my efforts to listen to the sample, which nearly shattered my opinion of the whole thing before I even heard it.

But there you go. Lesson learned.

[Safari Suit]

I believe it's "blinger".

An apt description of James Bond if there ever was one.

[spynovelfan]

And let's see it in the context of the film and its new style titles. It could work well with floating bodies underwater and 007s scrambling for oxygen.

Well, of course it will. But almost any song blasted into a cinema with eye-catching graphics at the start of a Bond film will be pleasing for the three minutes or so that you sit there, waiting for it all to begin.

Yes. And for the general audience that is all this song needs to do - and they are the ones that the film is predominantly made for. The average joe on a Friday night is not worrying about riffs on Coke commercials and whether the opening bars mirror FOR YOUR EYES ONLY when they pay their ticket money and sit down.

Sure. It'll work for the general audience that watches the film - I never said it wouldn't (in fact, I said it would). But that doesn't alter my opinion of it.

[HildebrandRarity]

This is exactly what I thought would happen...

THEN:

THE WORST JAMES BOND SONG EVER... I AM SO SAD... I HAVE no WORDS... Babs and Michal are completelly crazy if they approved this piece of bad song writing... It'll flop in the charts and it will be remembered as another TRY ... BAD BAD BAD IT HURTS!

NOW:

ABSOLUTELLY FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!
CLASSIC BOND!

This song deserves a place on par with Live and Let Die...

I don't meant to make a mockery of anyone but the above is classic...and all over a period of a mere 2 days!

I remember repeatedly saying in that other thread that people were dumping on an unfinished product which was ripped off a Spaniard's radio.

I even suggested to our dear Zencat to hold off judging, lest he taint his opinion.

O well, I have yet to hear the song. Amusing, though.

Anyone else here changed their mind on AWTD...either way?

[Mr Teddy Bear]

As amusing as the above is, at least the chap admitted to changing his mind. I would think most people would stay firmly in the camp they have prematurely chosen (that goes for both camps).

[Zorin Industries]

Not so much a lesson in waiting for the final product, but the fickle nature of fandom.

[kyleargyle]

I like it...it's gritty and weird, yet strangely Bondian. Should sound great up there with whatever visuals they dream up.

[Mister E]

I still haven't changed my mind. It's still a lame song that kind of sounds like it was made to be a Bond song.

[Janus Assassin]

IMO, most Bond songs are lame. With the exception of a few that I like. LALD, AVTAK and YKMN. Seriously when was the last time you turned on the radio and blasted "The Living Daylights" by a-Ha. But when it comes to this song, I'll make my judgement during the opening titles and see how well it goes with that.

[Shrublands]

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER is about oral sex.

Is it?

What a sheltered life I've led.

Don Black's gone on record (or a telly documentary if that counts?!) to say that the song was indeed about a love nosh.

"Touch it, stroke it and undress it..."

It just goes to show that Bond songs are best when they’re actually about lust, love and sex, not what it’s like to be a killer or not knowing who to trust when you’re a spy or sermons on losing your soul if you’re a paid assassin etc…

The singers always sound soulless and disconnected, the lyric irrelevant, the whole thing pretentious and forgettable. Just like we have with AWTD and YKMN.

[Lounge Lizard]

Not very fond of it. It's all over the place. Ah well, the Cornell song grew on me as well.

Edited by Lounge Lizard, 18 September 2008 - 03:09 PM.

[Mister E]

IMO, most Bond songs are lame. With the exception of a few that I like. LALD, AVTAK and YKMN. Seriously when was the last time you turned on the radio and blasted "The Living Daylights" by a-Ha. But when it comes to this song, I'll make my judgement during the opening titles and see how well it goes with that.

Boy, this post just really showed your age.

[Janus Assassin]

IMO, most Bond songs are lame. With the exception of a few that I like. LALD, AVTAK and YKMN. Seriously when was the last time you turned on the radio and blasted "The Living Daylights" by a-Ha. But when it comes to this song, I'll make my judgement during the opening titles and see how well it goes with that.

Boy, this post just really showed your age.

umm ok whats your point exactly? just out of curiousity

[MattofSteel]

I'll glady admit to changing my mind:). But as I said I haven't gone from one extreme to the other, more "disappointed" to "above average pleased."

Although, I'm assuming everyone hears the clear OHMSS riff at 3:10? I thought that was cool, and quite unexpected. Nice little nod.

[Zorin Industries]

I'll glady admit to changing my mind:). But as I said I haven't gone from one extreme to the other, more "disappointed" to "above average pleased."

Although, I'm assuming everyone hears the clear OHMSS riff at 3:10? I thought that was cool, and quite unexpected. Nice little nod.

Jeeez, you are right. COOL....

[HellIsHere]

I admit I was wrong 2 days ago. NO that I listened to the finished song, I praise MICHAEL and BABS, and WHITE and KEYS!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! PERFECT SONG!

[Safari Suit]

It's alright. It's not something I would buy myself, but the music industry doesn't revolve around me; believe me! I also don't think it really stands out, and I doubt I would stop and take notice if I heard it in passing were it not a Bond song; then again maybe that's part of the idea.

I don't meant to make a mockery of anyone but the above is classic...and all over a period of a mere 2 days!

There is also a poster around here who tartly answered "yes it is" to the "was DAD really that bad" thread. Unfortunatley he's archived forever as having included it in his top five films of all time a while earlier!

[Zorin Industries]

I admit I was wrong 2 days ago. NO that I listened to the finished song, I praise MICHAEL and BABS, and WHITE and KEYS!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! PERFECT SONG!

"You guys....."

A girl is entitled to change her mind, HellIsHere. It's only Bond fans that are unable to admit it as such.

[Publius]

It´s actually like a fanboy would orchestrate it. I had wished for a less cliché approach.

I think the only post-60s Bond songs less cliche than this are LALD, NDIB, AVTAK, and YKMN.

I've listened to the full version and it is a dirty whore of a tune... and Bond songs are allowed to be slutty.

Excellent point. I think the "sleaziness" of this song is a big part of its charm.

"I know the player with the slick trigger finger"

It's "ringer," not "player."

Songs like GF,DAF,FRWL,TB,TLD are songs that work with and without the Bond title sequences.

If Goldfinger came on the radio, my first instinct would probably be to throw it out the window. To DAF's credit, I'd probably just change the station.



Anyway, I wonder if we'd have seen a similar brouhaha in 1973 if there were web forums back then.

[MattofSteel]

I'll glady admit to changing my mind:). But as I said I haven't gone from one extreme to the other, more "disappointed" to "above average pleased."

Although, I'm assuming everyone hears the clear OHMSS riff at 3:10? I thought that was cool, and quite unexpected. Nice little nod.

Jeeez, you are right. COOL....

Indeed it is.