621 replies to this topic

[agian 007]

It is better from every time I listen it.o.k it isn't a classic bond theme,but it blends with the dark,strong and violent Bond style in Craig's era.Quantum of solace is going to be a big success,and I wish the same for the song..I can't wait until 6 Nonember

[mattjoes]

I've listened to it twice, and it was better the second time. It's probably a good song, but it won't make any top 5 lists. It's a bit forgettable and it feels disjointed. I hope it grows on me though. Still, it won't beat You Know My Name, which was, in my opinion, a fantastic song.

[NMMan]

I think it's a decent track - not excellent, not crappy, just decent. "You Know My Name" made a far bigger impression on me, but I think once the fully arranged version of "Another Way To Die" is heard in the opening titles, people might warm up to it more.

[sorking]

I think it's a decent track - not excellent, not crappy, just decent. "You Know My Name" made a far bigger impression on me, but I think once the fully arranged version of "Another Way To Die" is heard in the opening titles, people might warm up to it more.

How dare you bring your balanced opinion into this forum!

Look, the rules are simple. you either love it or hate it. You either can't stand to hear it a second time (and thus gain a more informed perspective) or you adore it and want to have its musical children. If you start applying common sense to things, then where will we be?

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some opinions to present as absolute fact on another board.

[NMMan]

I think you're right, if I go vocalizing that balanced opinion in public, who knows what the world will come to?

Edited by NMMan, 19 September 2008 - 08:12 PM.

[SPOTTER]

This would have worked much better as an instrumental. I like the feel of the song and in particular the drumming but the vocals and lyrics are dreadful. This could have been a great instrumental. Sometimes you wonder what Eon are thinking of when they santion these people.

[Double-0-Seven]

I was going to wait for the film to see it with the titles, but I decided to give it a listen. I voted for "It's Okay" since I wasn't too impressed with the vocals. The music is good, and as others have said would work well as an instrumental and throughout the score. The vocals, however, I'm not a fan of. Perhaps they will grow on me, but for now, it's not my cup of tea.

[Harry Fawkes]

Wow! I love the theme. Now this is what I call a Bond theme! No matter how many times I hear it I like it even more.

Very very original and fresh if you ask me. It's dark and sexy.

Very good job!

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

will this appear on iTunes? not that i'd be prepared to spent 79p on it...

[Loomis]

The Independent reviews 'Another Way to Die'

First Listen: Another Way To Die, James Bond Theme, Jack White and Alicia Keys (Rated 3/5)

Bond gets the better of White and Keys

The beefy guitar riff bursts in, followed by piano notes picking out the unmistakeable James Bond tune to announce the song that will have fans salivating for the next instal-ment of the 007 chronicles.

The months of speculation over the soundtrack to the forthcoming Bond film Quantum of Solace – released in six weeks – ended yesterday when the title track got its first airing on Jo Whiley's Radio One show.

Another Way to Die is the result of an unlikely duet – the first in Bond history – between a blues rock star and a soul singer. The White Stripes' idiosyncratic Jack White and the Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys stepped in after a collaboration between Amy Winehouse and the producer Mark Ronson collapsed.

If the aim was to match the edgier, darker side of the agent captured by Daniel Craig, the song succeeds – from the piano which picks out the original Bond tune with a sinister twist, to the dark, fuzzy guitar riff that is instantly recognisable as belonging to White. What's more, their voices blend as they sing out alternate lines, the urgency of White's vocals and Keys' more powerful and accomplished voice first alternating, then simultaneous in the chorus.

But, as a song in its own right, Another Way to Die, on first hearing, sounds unlikely to join the ranks of the most successful Bond theme tunes.

Paul Stokes, the news editor of the New Musical Express, is yet to be convinced. "I thought their voices blended really well and they seemed to be quite different characters," he said. "But my concern is that it doesn't really feel like a Bond theme. It has the right chord progression and sinister sound, and is a million times better than the last one by Chris Cornell, which was not only the worst Bond song ever, but the worst song, so it's a step in the right direction. But it is a missed opportunity. It doesn't feel like a swelling Bond theme. It's making nods towards it, but just falls between doing something radical and not being retro enough.

"I'd prefer to see someone like Muse move it into a contemporary era, or the Last Shadow Puppets."

Some had already heard the tune to Another Way to Die on a Coca Cola Zero advert, prompting the displeasure of White, who has since suffered a fit of artistic pique. After the musician heard his notes pushing the virtues of "Bloke Coke", his entourage retorted: "Jack White was commissioned by Sony Pictures to write a theme song for the James Bond film Quantum Of Solace, not for Coca Cola... Any other use of the song is based on decisions made by others, not by Jack White."

Some very harsh comments about 'You Know My Name' from the editor of NME!

Yeah, but I'm more concerned by his calling YKMN "not only the worst Bond song ever, but the worst song". What, the worst song ever?

[NMMan]

Seriously, that reviewer needs to get his ears examined if he's calling "You Know My Name" not only the worst Bong song ever, but the worst song of all time.

[DLibrasnow]

Seriously, that reviewer needs to get his ears examined if he's calling "You Know My Name" not only the worst Bong song ever, but the worst song of all time.

Agreed. I liked "You Know My Name" But he is entitled to his opinion.

[Orion]

Seriously, that reviewer needs to get his ears examined if he's calling "You Know My Name" not only the worst Bong song ever, but the worst song of all time.

Its just his opinion, we may disagree but he is entitled to it. I get his point about it not being a good song in its own right, but in fairness i dont think Bond songs are, they are uniquely Bondian, which i thinks kinda the point.

[Rogue007]

I can't say I really care for it. To be honest, most Bond themes outside of the Connery era haven't tickled my fancy.

[Orion]

I can't say I really care for it. To be honest, most Bond themes outside of the Connery era haven't tickled my fancy.

Yet oddly i not overly fond of the Connery era ones (although saying that i LOVE Diamonds Are Forever). Ain't fandom a funny thing?

[blueman]

I think AWTD will chart very high, best showing in a long time for a Bond tune. It'll hit big.

[HildebrandRarity]

I think AWTD will chart very high, best showing in a long time for a Bond tune. It'll hit big.

Really? How high does Jack White usually chart? Alicia Keys has charted high, but this is not really her demographic's cup of tea. If that means anything.

Out of curiosity, what number would you peg for it, blueman?

[Vauxhall]

Yeah, but I'm more concerned by his calling YKMN "not only the worst Bond song ever, but the worst song". What, the worst song ever?

Apparently... Obviously he's exaggerating, but it's still a pretty stupid thing for the editor of a respectable music magazine to say.

[HildebrandRarity]

Yeah, but I'm more concerned by his calling YKMN "not only the worst Bond song ever, but the worst song". What, the worst song ever?

Apparently... Obviously he's exaggerating, but it's still a pretty stupid thing for the editor of a respectable music magazine to say.

NME was the great UK musical publication of the later 1960s and their glory days are long gone. Everyone knows that editors for NME are normally dick suckers, especially this one.

[Publius]

Where in my post do I diagnose people as having a mental illness?

Way to ignore the rest of my post (and everyone else's) to nitpick my choice of words. Look at what you wrote "the people that say they love it are in denial" and you'll clearly see that you were diagnosing the mental state of other people.

If you didn't mean that, however, feel free to take it back. I don't hold any hard feelings.

How dare you bring your balanced opinion into this forum!

Haven't you noticed that much of the "pro" faction has consisted of the neutral and mildly pleased, just because much of the opposition has taken to flames setting forest fires over this? Talk about weird.

[Qwerty]

Wow. We've racked up 239 votes in a little under two days. Bond songs definitely spark a reaction.

[Kristian]

Where in my post do I diagnose people as having a mental illness?

Way to ignore the rest of my post (and everyone else's) to nitpick my choice of words. Look at what you wrote "the people that say they love it are in denial" and you'll clearly see that you were diagnosing the mental state of other people.

If you didn't mean that, however, feel free to take it back. I don't hold any hard feelings.

How dare you bring your balanced opinion into this forum!

Haven't you noticed that much of the "pro" faction has consisted of the neutral and mildly pleased, just because much of the opposition has taken to flames setting forest fires over this? Talk about weird.

Wow.... was YKMN this provocative and divisive?

[Publius]

Wow.... was YKMN this provocative and divisive?

Yes, or at least reasonably close. I remember engaging in a lengthy debate with at least one other forum member over whether I was "qualified" to say YKMN was a good song (I wasn't even trying to force that opinion on him, just defending it as valid for myself and others). He claimed his education enabled to objectively measure the subjective value of music.

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

The official website for the song, http://www.thirdmanrecords.com/, states that it is "available digitally worldwide 19th September". Which is today.

So - where to download?

And where is the soundtrack? You'd think it would be available to pre-order by now?

It's already on Amazon. I hope it clocks over 70 minutes since 4 will be wasted on this turkey.

[Johnboy007]

Wow.... was YKMN this provocative and divisive?

Yes, or at least reasonably close. I remember engaging in a lengthy debate with at least one other forum member over whether I was "qualified" to say YKMN was a good song (I wasn't even trying to force that opinion on him, just defending it as valid for myself and others). He claimed his education enabled to objectively measure the subjective value of music.

I would be fascinated to read what a message board in 1973 would have said about "Live and Let Die". I'd bet good money the responses would be exactly the same.

"'In which we live in?' Arrgh, bad grammar!" "You failed Paul!", "Schizophrenic!", "Aimless mess of electric guitar and weak brass!", "Why didn't they bring in Shirley Bassey!?!", "They picked this over Diana Ross?!!", "Robert Mugabe."

[NVT]

The reality is that they will make the Bond song which would be more applicable to a wider audience than the Bond fans. They are not a charity and want to make money so they will aim for the tastes of a wider audience. Most people who will go to see a Bond film do not care about the details, they just want some entertainment for two hours of their lives.

[Marquis]

I was hoping it would grow on me and that there might be hidden hooks or other tasty nuances that reveal themselves with repeated plays, but sadly listening to this over and over only serves to remind what a thoroughly rubbish song it is.

[Santa]

The Independent reviews 'Another Way to Die'

First Listen: Another Way To Die, James Bond Theme, Jack White and Alicia Keys (Rated 3/5)

Bond gets the better of White and Keys

The beefy guitar riff bursts in, followed by piano notes picking out the unmistakeable James Bond tune to announce the song that will have fans salivating for the next instal-ment of the 007 chronicles.

The months of speculation over the soundtrack to the forthcoming Bond film Quantum of Solace – released in six weeks – ended yesterday when the title track got its first airing on Jo Whiley's Radio One show.

Another Way to Die is the result of an unlikely duet – the first in Bond history – between a blues rock star and a soul singer. The White Stripes' idiosyncratic Jack White and the Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys stepped in after a collaboration between Amy Winehouse and the producer Mark Ronson collapsed.

If the aim was to match the edgier, darker side of the agent captured by Daniel Craig, the song succeeds – from the piano which picks out the original Bond tune with a sinister twist, to the dark, fuzzy guitar riff that is instantly recognisable as belonging to White. What's more, their voices blend as they sing out alternate lines, the urgency of White's vocals and Keys' more powerful and accomplished voice first alternating, then simultaneous in the chorus.

But, as a song in its own right, Another Way to Die, on first hearing, sounds unlikely to join the ranks of the most successful Bond theme tunes.

Paul Stokes, the news editor of the New Musical Express, is yet to be convinced. "I thought their voices blended really well and they seemed to be quite different characters," he said. "But my concern is that it doesn't really feel like a Bond theme. It has the right chord progression and sinister sound, and is a million times better than the last one by Chris Cornell, which was not only the worst Bond song ever, but the worst song, so it's a step in the right direction. But it is a missed opportunity. It doesn't feel like a swelling Bond theme. It's making nods towards it, but just falls between doing something radical and not being retro enough.

"I'd prefer to see someone like Muse move it into a contemporary era, or the Last Shadow Puppets."

Some had already heard the tune to Another Way to Die on a Coca Cola Zero advert, prompting the displeasure of White, who has since suffered a fit of artistic pique. After the musician heard his notes pushing the virtues of "Bloke Coke", his entourage retorted: "Jack White was commissioned by Sony Pictures to write a theme song for the James Bond film Quantum Of Solace, not for Coca Cola... Any other use of the song is based on decisions made by others, not by Jack White."

Some very harsh comments about 'You Know My Name' from the editor of NME!

I agree with pretty much all of this article.

[SecretAgentFan]

So Paul Stokes hates Cornell. Gee, can´t somebody criticize something (AWTD in this case) without putting down something else (YKMN)?

IMO, YKMN is definitely one of the best Bond songs and a great song as a stand-alone.

[Safari Suit]

So Paul Stokes hates Cornell. Gee, can´t somebody criticize something (AWTD in this case) without putting down something else (YKMN)?

In the NME? No.