1942 replies to this topic

[PPK_19]

Yeah the first thing I thought of was Bond's name scrawled on the wall in the Spectre trailer.

Well, The Writing is on the Wall, along with the rest of him!

[Shrublands]

Press release from Eon/Sony/MGM

 

SAM SMITH TO SING TITLE SONG FOR SPECTRE

Posted 08.09.2015

The theme song for SPECTRE will be performed by Sam Smith it was officially
announced today. The track, ‘Writing’s On The Wall’, was co-written by Smith and fellow GRAMMY© Award winner Jimmy Napes and it’s the first James Bond theme song recorded by a British male solo artist since 1965.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the producers of SPECTRE, said, “Sam and Jimmy have written the most inspirational song for Spectre and with Sam’s extraordinary vocal performance, ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ will surely be considered one of the greatest Bond songs of all time.”

Smith said: “This is one of the highlights of my career. I am honoured to finally announce that I will be singing the next Bond theme song. I am so excited to be a part of this iconic British legacy and join an incredible line up of some of my biggest musical inspirations. I hope you all enjoy the song as much as I enjoyed making it.”

The song will debut and be available to purchase and stream on September 25.

 

[sharpshooter]

You Know My Name

Another Way to Die

Skyfall

Writing's on the Wall

 

Bond songs are more likely to have original titles these days.

[Guy Haines]

Yes, and they don't necessarily have to include the title of the film at all. YKMN didn't - Chris Cornell reckoned he and David Arnold couldn't use the same title as the film because it would have sounded like a Vegas lounge song - the title that is, not the song. The word "solace" slipped into AWTD. Skyfall lent itself to being used in the lyric though.

 

But lets not forget that YKMN included a lot of lyrical references to gaming, odds and the like, even if not the word "casino". And given how often we hear "the spectre of" in casual media use, I'd be surprised if this new song "Writing's on the Wall" doesn't slip the word "spectre" in one or more times.

 

(My first thought about the new title, by the way, was the same as others here - that clip in the summer trailer with "James Bond" scrawled over the MI6 Memorial Wall. Sam Smith had sight of the film's script - not alone in that, unfortunately! - and I'm guessing that scene was the inspiration for the title.)

[Vauxhall]

This is the original story from The Sun from August 2014: http://www.thesun.co...fter-Adele.html

 

Funny how these things turn out. Sometimes the most obvious answer is right out in front the whole time.

[DaveBond21]

I predict that this will be the first Bond theme to get to No.1 in the UK charts, beating the previous best of No. 2 by Duran Duran and Adele.

 

The best in the US is No.1 for Duran Duran.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[sharpshooter]

As we know, 'the writing's on the wall' means an impending disaster. Something difficult to avert. I'm guessing it could commenting on the rise of SPECTRE. And possibly Bond at the beginning of the film, ala Moneypenny saying people think he's finished. But he still has a lot more to give, and is ready to take on the challenges ahead. 

[Vauxhall]

As we know, 'the writing's on the wall' means an impending disaster. Something difficult to avert. I'm guessing it could commenting on the rise of SPECTRE. 

 

Spoiler

Yes, perhaps suggesting that whatever fate Bond is eventually going to face in SPECTRE has been a long time coming - even harking back to Craig's previous movies. That may be tying together the plots of his first three films.

[Guy Haines]

In reply to Vauxhall above, I think the expression may be "hidden in plain sight". Red tops say "Sam Smith" - given their reputation for accuracy, we don't believe it and speculate on just about everyone except. Even though at the end of 2014, Ben Whishaw  is quoted as saying he knows who is recording it.

 

As I said, when it comes to Bond the red tops are often inaccurate but like a stopped clock getting the time right twice a day, they sometimes get it right.

 

Hopefully though the report about David Beckham being lined up as Daniel Craig's successor as Bond will prove a reversion to type and that the Sam Smith scoop is the exception that proves the rule!

[sharpshooter]

 

As we know, 'the writing's on the wall' means an impending disaster. Something difficult to avert. I'm guessing it could commenting on the rise of SPECTRE. 

 

Spoiler

Yes, perhaps suggesting that whatever fate Bond is eventually going to face in SPECTRE has been a long time coming - even harking back to Craig's previous movies. That may be tying together the plots of his first three films.

 

Good point. Almost like his destiny. 

[DaveBond21]

http://www.bbc.com/n...t-arts-34176304

 

He wrote the song in 20 minutes back in January after reading the script.

[Vauxhall]

This was the point that the writing was on the wall for me about the title performer... 

 

Unfortunately, Sam Smith saying he's not doing the Bond theme does nothing to convince me that Sam Smith really isn't doing the Bond theme.

 

[sharpshooter]

http://www.bbc.com/n...t-arts-34176304

 

He wrote the song in 20 minutes back in January after reading the script.

Michael and Barbara are saying all the right things to get me excited about this song. And it's working. 

[DaveBond21]

 

http://www.bbc.com/n...t-arts-34176304

 

He wrote the song in 20 minutes back in January after reading the script.

Michael and Barbara are saying all the right things to get me excited about this song. And it's working. 

 

Me too!

[The Dove]

" The Writing's On The Wall"...have to admit it's a very cool title for a Bond title song!! Bring it, Sam Smith!! Can't wait to hear this!!!

[Blofeld's Cat]

So, no LALD like kick-arse song then. Oh well.

[SecretAgentFan]

I´m looking forward to a great song - even if I´m not sold on Smith yet.

 

In general, I wonder why they don´t announce the singer when he has written/performed the song and has been accepted.  

 

The song it self can and should be kept under wraps until the schedule for coordinating all things about the film´s release is ready.

 

But this whole denial-PR "I´m definitely not doing it" is completely unneccessary, and I don´t like being lied to.

[PPK_19]

But this whole denial-PR "I´m definitely not doing it" is completely unneccessary, and I don´t like being lied to.

But what do you expect? He signed a confidentiality agreement thingy when he first signed on to do the song...so when he is directly asked whether he is doing it or not, do you expect him to say, "actually yeah it's me!"

Like when Naomie Harris was asked about being Moneypenny, she had to lie about it. A necessary evil I'm afraid.

[Guy Haines]

Good point raised by someone on the MI6 website - the BBC is reporting that the song was recorded way back in January this year, which means it could be incorporated into the main music score by Thomas Newman. As I understand it, only one track on the Skyfall OST included the Adele song because it was recorded relatively late in the film's production.

 

Recording in January 2015, if the case, might also explain Ben Whishaw's comment that he knew who was recording the theme song.

 

January - just a month after the film was announced - is rather early to be recording a Bond theme though, isn't it?  Other forum members in the world of music might be able to answer this but I always got the impression that the theme tune was one of the later elements in a Bond film production schedule

 

I wonder if this new song has gone through re-writes - Sam Smith claims he wrote it in 20 minutes but I wonder if that was just the basic idea? Anyone who has the 1992 30th Anniversary Limited Edition version of "The Best Of James Bond" will have heard the "demo" version of "You Only Live Twice" performed by, as it turned out, Julie Rogers, although she received no credit on the double CD. It too was recorded in January (1966 it's claimed, although I wonder if it was really 1967?) and sounds almost completely different from the Nancy Sinatra song, even though written by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse - different melody, different lyrics.

[Orion]

I really like the title, even if I'm in a grudging wait and see position over Smith. Though the fact they've had it for months and stuck with it bodes well.

[sharpshooter]

Good point raised by someone on the MI6 website - the BBC is reporting that the song was recorded way back in January this year, which means it could be incorporated into the main music score by Thomas Newman. As I understand it, only one track on the Skyfall OST included the Adele song because it was recorded relatively late in the film's production.

I'm really eager to hear this song, because yes, there's a better chance Newman has spliced it throughout the soundtrack. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case. SPECTRE does give me a classic Bond vibe. 'Skyfall times ten', as Craig puts it.

[SecretAgentFan]

Good point raised by someone on the MI6 website - the BBC is reporting that the song was recorded way back in January this year, which means it could be incorporated into the main music score by Thomas Newman. As I understand it, only one track on the Skyfall OST included the Adele song because it was recorded relatively late in the film's production.

 

Recording in January 2015, if the case, might also explain Ben Whishaw's comment that he knew who was recording the theme song.

 

January - just a month after the film was announced - is rather early to be recording a Bond theme though, isn't it?  Other forum members in the world of music might be able to answer this but I always got the impression that the theme tune was one of the later elements in a Bond film production schedule

 

I wonder if this new song has gone through re-writes - Sam Smith claims he wrote it in 20 minutes but I wonder if that was just the basic idea? Anyone who has the 1992 30th Anniversary Limited Edition version of "The Best Of James Bond" will have heard the "demo" version of "You Only Live Twice" performed by, as it turned out, Julie Rogers, although she received no credit on the double CD. It too was recorded in January (1966 it's claimed, although I wonder if it was really 1967?) and sounds almost completely different from the Nancy Sinatra song, even though written by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse - different melody, different lyrics.

 

The "20 minutes"-remark surely is only PR-speak.  These things will be elaborated on ad infinitem.  Also, it was not written by himself but with a co-writer.  Even if he likes to neglect that in his media-friendly quote.

 

The question is: does it have a strong enough melody to work into the score?  Whenever the score composers are not allowed to write the song it gets difficult.  Some songs just don´t lend themselves to become great material for a symphonic score.  John Barry, of course, knew how to craft a great melody that would work as song AND score.

 

But really - "Goldeneye" would not have worked within a score, "DAD" did not, "Another way to die" neither.  If Smith´s song works for a score, then please incorporate it.  If not, I´ll happily stick with maestro Newman´s work.

[Shrublands]

Sam Smith has said that he has tried to make a "timeless Bond song" and that it is "an epic love song" for what it's worth.

Speaking on BBC Radio One this morning.

[SecretAgentFan]

So, another ballad then?

 

My next question is: since Decca is a label with Universal which also has the Capitol label for which Smith is under contract - will the song be part of the score release?

[Orion]

Empire says "expect the song online shortly" so we may hear it today.

 

http://www.empireonl...y.asp?NID=45328

[sharpshooter]

Empire says "expect the song online shortly" so we may hear it today.

 

http://www.empireonl...y.asp?NID=45328

That would be the best case scenario. Fingers crossed.

[thecasinoroyale]

I do feel the ballads are more clichéd for Bond films again now, much like the twangy guitar of the Brosnan latter era themes and soundtracks.

 

I'd love something more upbeat, but Smith just can't pull it off, and if this film is all about destiny, fate, mystery etc then it's just another 'Skyfall' to me without the range of Adele.

 

The media makes you think doesn't it how easily we can be led.

 

- The Ellie Goulding posting 'Live And Let Die' in a recording studio

- The Radiohead £15k bet (I think he's kicking himself now!)

- The number of times Sam Smith denied and ruled himself out

 

Crazy.

[Vauxhall]

Full Sam Smith interview on Radio 1:

https://soundcloud.c...-minutes#t=0:01

[antovolk]

Music video confirmed. Also "I wanted to make the most classic, timeless Bond song...and an epic love song"

[Pierceuhhh]

Bond themes have a tradition of howling camp and flash in the pan no-hopers, so I'm fine with this. Let's not pretend there's an unimpeachable musical legacy. And IMO the "rock" approach has been overdone in 2006/2008, so a camp ballad suits me.