At first I liked it, but now, I just cannot stand the song. Boring sound, bland lyrics, the backing vocals. I understand it's suppose to equal to that of the classic Bond theme days, which I appreciate, but I just can't find a place in my heart or anywhere else for Adele's song.
Agreed. Though it didn't really seem that special to me at first either. The problem here is just that however - it is merely TRYING to be a vintage, classic Bond song. It sounds imitation to me, it doesn't sound like a great, original Bond song. It sounds to me ore like the kind of imitation Bond songs you get in modern Bond computer games. The lyrics are just.. whatever, rattled off over yet another standard base of the Bond Theme progression. Listen to it, that's all it is - if you're not very musically literate try this - just hum the basic line of the Bond Theme over this song, in time, and you'll understand that. It's actually more like those really cheesy, lazy *slight* reworkings of the Bond Theme, you know like you get in tv shows that can't pay for the rights? They change a note or two and stay on one of the notes instead of moving to the next. That's what this song does musically.
The difference of composition with something like Goldfinger or Diamonds Are Forever or You Only Live Twice, say, is if you play the basic melody in single notes, it is very signature and recognisable. This is how film composers at least used to write important themes and such - including John Williams. Get just those few main notes right first, then eleborate, and you get something special. If you start composing a Bond song, as I am sure they have been doing for a while now, by just looking at the old Bond theme again and trying to rework some of the key notes to make it 'different', you'll always just end up with something not as good, and often, with the Bond Theme, with something that's difficult to write solid lyrics to without it just rambling on.
Also, the classic Bond songs never used so much vocal reverb and had much better quality drumming and bass - well, instrumentation in general frankly.
Nice work Adele! Matching with Duran Duran for the most successful James Bond theme in the 50 year run... brilliant stuff.
Really? Interesting, never really looked into the Bond song's successes. I must say though, if that 80's power rock cheesefest that is AVTAK is the other one that made it big in the charts it just backs up my disinterest in what the charts say about music. Best Bond song ever IMO is Diamonds Are Forever. Rich melody, lyrics and dynamics, sexy as hell bass line, gorgeous instrumentation and composition. Very tight, very unique and very classy. This one, in comparison, is just generic and uninspired gumf.
