1942 replies to this topic

[Vauxhall]

Impressive vocals, fantastic orchestration, but I can't imagine it over a Bondian title sequence right now.

 

He said it's a "grower". Hope he's right.

 

Better than 'Die Another Day' though.

[marktmurphy]

It's a bit meandering, isn't it? The first clip was the best bit, really. Shame there's no percussion. I got a little bored listening to it.

[sharpshooter]

The melody is decent I guess, but overall I don't find it a patch on YKMN or SF. Hopefully it grows on me, but I just didn't find it that engaging. 

[kneelbeforezod]

I liked it.

[sharpshooter]

It's a bit meandering, isn't it? The first clip was the best bit, really. Shame there's no percussion. I got a little bored listening to it.

My thoughts too. I'm actually not sure if this is better than AWTD. 

[Hockey Mask]

He still wouldn't have been my first choice but this was actually pretty good.

[antovolk]

While we wait for YouTube/iTunes, it's launched on Spotify http://po.st/WOTWsp

[# 11]

https://play.spotify...OnTheWall.Track

 

The orchestra is brilliant, the falsetto impressive.

Edited by # 11, 25 September 2015 - 07:03 AM.

[Vauxhall]

It's a bit meandering, isn't it? The first clip was the best bit, really. Shame there's no percussion. I got a little bored listening to it.

 

Same. At the moment, I'm in no rush to go and listen to it again.

[The Dove]

Musically it is gorgeous!! As Mr Smith... Meh!! The vote is still out for me on that.. Might grow on me with a few more listens..

[Logie]

I knew it was never going to be my cup of tea but this really transcends awful. Sounds like background music for a Dignitas ad.

[PPK_19]

While we wait for YouTube/iTunes, it's launched on Spotify http://po.st/WOTWsp

 

Excellent, thanks antovolk. I'll listen to it a few more times on my way to work, hopefully my opinion will change. It just hasn't grabbed me. The orchestral stuff and melody is great, like others have mentioned but it's SS's voice that grates on me

[thecasinoroyale]

I agree with it being boring - nothing grabs you and the novelty of the orchestra soon wears off when you know it's him holding it together.

 

Annoyed now I have to sit through this damp squib of a song to get to 'SPECTRE'.

[Gobi-1]

First impression, It's no Skyfall. Too overwrought and Mr. Smith's vocals are hard to understand at certain points.

[Hockey Mask]

I must say this gets my stamp of approval. It has everything to make up a Bond song. Just a matter if you can get past the falsetto.

[Guy Haines]

Well, the tune sounds like a Bond theme. I think Sam Smith's voice will take a bit of getting used to. It will be interesting to see how it works within the film.

 

No mention of the film's title. Surprising - I'd have thought "the spectre of...." could have been slipped in somewhere.

 

BBC Radio 4 - the main news radio channel on the "Beeb", though Five Live might disagree! - has just reported the release. Just shows what an event Bond is over here when a "serious" news channel includes this. The correspondent said at the end of the report - about whether the song will reach Number 1 in the UK - "Forget Blofeld. For the next week, Bond's arch enemy will be Justin Bieber."

[The Shark]

I like it. Not crazy about it, but I'll think it'll grow on me. The preview suggested something bombastic, but we get an intimate ballad instead. I can understand why some would be put off by that bait and switch.

The chorus is the weakest part. It just sounds a bit... limp. Like a number from Disney's Frozen.

[sharpshooter]

First impression, It's no Skyfall. Too overwrought and Mr. Smith's vocals are hard to understand at certain points.

Yep. The opening 15 seconds is the best part. The rest I find meh. I think it could've been a lot better overall without the falsetto. 

[Orion]

Finally listened to it. I like it, it's Bondian but different. How much you like it I think depends on how much you care for Smith's vocal style.

[Vauxhall]

Lyrics:

 

I've been here before

But always hit the floor

I've spent a lifetime running

And I always get away

But with you I'm feeling something

That makes me want to stay

 

I'm prepared for this

I never shoot to miss

But I feel like a storm is coming

If I'm going to make it through the day

And there's no more use in running

This is something I've got to face

 

If I risk it all

Could you break our fall

How do I live

How do I breathe

When you're not here I'm suffocating

I want to feel love run through my blood

Tell me is this where I give it all up

For you, I have to risk it all

Cause the writing's on the wall

 

A million shards of glass

That haunt me from my past

As the stars begin to gather 

And the light begins to fade

When all hope begins to shatter

Know that I won't be afraid

 

If I risk it all

Could you break our fall

How do I live

How do I breathe

When you're not here I'm suffocating

I want to feel love run through my blood

Tell me is this where I give it all up

For you, I have to risk it all

Cause the writing's on the wall

The writing's on the wall

 

How do I live

How do I breathe

When you're not here I'm suffocating

I want to feel love run through my blood

Tell me is this where I give it all up

 

How do I live

How do I breathe

When you're not here I'm suffocating

I want to feel love run through my blood

Tell me is this where I give it all up

 

For you, I have to risk it all

Cause the writing's on the wall

[Sharpe]

This is just so blah. It's so boring and a nothing song. At least awtd had a particular something to it, even if I don't like what they did there. This is just generic with whiney x factor vocals...

[SecretAgentFan]

It´s growing on me.  Listening to it the second time, without the expectations and fears, focussing on what is there instead of what I hoped it would be.

 

I am not a fan of Smith´s technique, going to falsetto so often.  But I am beginning to construct sense into this for this particular song. Since SPECTRE delves into Bond´s childhood - the singer alternates between the man´s voice and the boy´s voice.  And the lyrics seem to underline Bond´s dilemma: whether to live this life as an assassin or to find something else.

 

I love the orchestral arrangement.  I was irritated at first that there is no rhythm section - but it actually works for me now since the whole song is like a lament.  It´s kind of purer in that way than "Skyfall" was, not turned into "mainstream pop".

 

And maybe, especially after the fiery PTS, this song will work perfectly as a breather, underlining the tragedy that probably drives the film.

 

Listening to it for the third time I´m even beginning to really like it.  My problems with Smith´s falsetto fade away.  And the big orchestra driving the song again and again is very Bondian.  Lovely arrangement.

 

One thing´s for sure:  the song indicates another serious Bond, no light-hearted fun in sight.  

 

But I´m okay with this.

[Hockey Mask]

Yes, I think it did itself a disservice by releasing the first 15 seconds ahead of time. Had we heard 15 seconds of the chorus first and then surprised with the intro...

[sharpshooter]

Is the song referring to Bond's feelings about Swann, perhaps?

[Vauxhall]

Is the song referring to Bond's feelings about Swann, perhaps?

 

Was trying to figure it out. Maybe it's a love song to his job.

[Gobi-1]

I'm sure it will eventually grow on me but I see it working better in the context of the film, matched with Daniel Klienmen's credits, then as a piece that stands on it's own.

[Guy Haines]

"I never shoot to miss, but I feel like a storm is coming"

 

We know Sam Smith has sight of the script before writing the song - a reference above to 007 being, in Mr White's words "a kite dancing in a hurricane"?

[sharpshooter]

I'm giving it a good listen to now - about three or four non stops plays through. Perhaps I will get used to it. 

[HoneyDiamond]

I'm trying to see the visuals to this, it's hard. 

 

I think it's a pretty song.  It's good.  That being said, my initial response is that I'm not crazy about it as a Bond theme.  It is his voice that is an obstacle. 

 

Some time to digest and actually seeing it implemented with visuals will decide it's fate.  But it will never be a fave.  

[iexpectu2die]

I think it's going to do really well. I also think it's going to stand the test of time. Skyfall, to me, felt like a decent pastiche of a Bond theme. With this, they've properly gone for a ballad. It's a brave move to go for what could be called a 'slow burner' but this, more than much of what we've had over the last few years, feels like it's own song. I like it a lot. I understand that SS's voice is going to split people. But try not to be too scared of something sounding unusual.