1942 replies to this topic

[x007AceOfSpades]

I've listened to it several times now and my conclusion is that it's just not too good. Never cared for Smith's voice, and this song certainly won't grow on me. Will I feel differently upon hearing it tied with Kleinman's titles? Probably not.

Oh well.

[Harmsway]

I'm one of the five or six persons on this planet who suspect that Lana Del Rey may actually be a vastly overrated artist mainly pushed by the self-amplifying effects of the Internet. But right at the moment I feel she might have been the better interpreter for this song.

Lana Del Rey is hated by many.

That said, I do think her new album, Honeymoon, which was released on the 18th, is her best yet.

[dirtymind]

Funny, the poll is almost 50-50, but when you read the reactions it's mostly hate, negativity and frustration. Some people are trying too hard to prove that this is an awful song.

[Dustin]

Wouldn't say I hate Del Rey, just don't regard her as the second coming or anything. Bit samey I keep thinking. But she might have given this tune a different twist. Anyway, pointless now; we'll have to wait how WOTW works with the main titles written over it...

[Harmsway]

It's not awful, just mediocre. I'm sure the general public will be fine with it.

[Dustin]

Funny, the poll is almost 50-50, but when you read the reactions it's mostly hate, negativity and frustration. Some people are trying too hard to prove that this is an awful song.

People who are okay with something are generally not as likely to comment as those who can't stomach it.

[Navy007Fan]

Thoughts?

 

http://www.theatlant...d-theme/407383/

Edited by Navy007Fan, 25 September 2015 - 07:09 PM.

[FutureJamesBond]

I didn't like it all that much on my first listen. Since then, I've listened to it a few more times and it really has grown on me. It's not the best song and Smith's falsetto does become a bit annoying but I think it's better than most recent Bond songs (AWTD, DAD, TND, TWINE.) Is it Skyfall? Is it You Know My Name? No, but I think it's a beautiful song.

 

My guess is that in the titles sequence, they'll cut the song off at about 3 and a half minutes in. The rest is just filler. 

[Agent 76]

Meh, don't really like it at all. Doesn't scream Bond to me, and doesn't get me more pumped for the movie as a few other previous themes have done.

 

It's not horrendous like AWTD for sure.

 

 

 

 

PS: And it's nothing against Sam Smith, I quite like his song with Disclosure called "Omen".

[Guy Haines]

Thoughts?

http://www.theatlant...d-theme/407383/

Just read the article whilst listening to the song again, and it has occured to me - it's either meant to be Bond thinking his days are numbered - which Craig's Bond acknowledged in CR 2006. Or it is this era's answer to "We Have All The Time In The World" - save Bond already knows how such a relationship is going to end.

Or both?

[Hockey Mask]

I am not a Sam Smith fan and this is definitely a Sam Smith song. Don't know exactly why but I like it and I'm glad to have it added to the Bond universe. It isn't anything we've had before and I'd rather have something new than a rehash fan service. I think it screams classic Bond and for that reason I don't think it will have much radio play. This is definately not Skyfall but thankfully not Die Another Day.

[The Dove]

Something funny is happening...I'm starting to come around...   Who knows what I'll feel 24 hours from now...Again, I LOVE the orchestration and melody..it's just trying to get used to Sam Smith's terrible vocals... The good thing though is that the CD single does contain an instrumental version of the song, so I'll definitely be getting that. At least this song has a melody and orchestration..unlike Madge's technological terror that was Die Another Day...
 

Edited by The Dove, 25 September 2015 - 09:00 PM.

[MattofSteel]

 

Thoughts?

http://www.theatlant...d-theme/407383/

Just read the article whilst listening to the song again, and it has occured to me - it's either meant to be Bond thinking his days are numbered - which Craig's Bond acknowledged in CR 2006. Or it is this era's answer to "We Have All The Time In The World" - save Bond already knows how such a relationship is going to end.

Or both?

 

 

I don't agree with that author's core point, but that piece overall is phenomenal and raises a great question about the song's relationship with (or portrayal of) modern masculinity.

 

Strictly personal opinion to follow -

 

Superficially, yes, the song is 100% guilty of wimpify-ing Bond's character past a level that any audience has ever seen or would admit to be comfortable with. We like our archetypes to stay our archetypes. But I'd argue that in "subverting" the franchise/notion in that falsetto section (if that's what he's actually trying for) - Smith is reaching far beyond the superficial and exposing something that's quite possibly far more authentic. What's really behind staunch masculinity and bravado. I'm sure I'll be accused of oversimplifying, going all pop-psych in saying that, and lambasted by my peers for suggesting that's at all an acceptable read on the core of the Bond character.

 

Now - that's not to say it's as simple a notion as "behind every manly man there's a fractured human being trying to overcompensate." If anything, the song may be too on the nose with that concept - I'd like to think there might be a more nuanced, traditionally Bond-inflected way to convey that character conflict. Hopefully the film is the medium that delivers it.

 

I applaud them for reaching this far and trying something new. It's an extraordinarily personal song - for both Smith and the character, I'd assume - and it's speaking to me in a very personal way right now. Might well be why I like it, and why I'm feeling compelled to dive deep and defend it - maybe even deeper than it was ever designed or intended to go. 

[agentbug]

It has drama, romance and sincerity. In fact it reminds me of Bond songs past such as LTK in the romance regard. I think it'll go well with the film.

 

I too thought the lyrics referred to Bond and Swann.

[TheREAL008]

Oh dear....

I love the throwback to Tom Jones. It's awesome to have that style back. However, Smith uses too much falsetto. He's capable of a good baritone register and he should have used MORE of that. 

Of the song itself, it's monochrome and bittersweet. The lyrics are alright but it's too much damn falsetto.

Put me down for option 2.

Lorde could have done it better.

[Odd Jobbies]

Sadly it's all i feared it would be.

 

The neo-Aled Jones' falcetto warbles hoping to be piggy backed across the line by a hackneyed Bond theme-by-numbers horn & string arrangement.

 

Sure Jack Black's Another Way To Die is farrrr from perfect, but even that at least had some edge and took a risk or two. This is a desperate, undeniably cynical bid to the Adele audience, hoping they'll buy in. It makes the derided QoS theme seem like the heady heights of themology.

 

Fingers crossed it's a grower.

[PPK_19]

After a whole day of listened to this song...it's merely ok. It's Sam Smith singing a Bond theme with a brilliant orchestral arrangement underneath. It's the orchestra that holds the whole thing together.

The lyrics, the high voice absolutely ruins the whole thing. I just can't like it. His whole boasting about having done it in 20 mins doesn't help the formerly tubby bar steward. Shut your mouth.

I know I will like it more with Kleinman's credits more. I will just have to wait till then.

[The Shark]

Sure Jack Black's Another Way To Die is farrrr from perfect, but even that at least had some edge and took a risk or two. This is a desperate, undeniably cynical bid to the Adele audience, hoping they'll buy in. It makes the derided QoS theme seem like the heady heights of themology.

 

This, and I'd also add Die Another Day (but then I'm one of its few defenders).

[AMC Hornet]

I know I will like it more with Kleinman's credits more. I will just have to wait till then.

 

That's why I'm going to avoid listening to it until Nov 6.

 

I heard AVTAK before the film opened, and then felt I'd cheated myself out of the song/titles experience.

 

"Never again."

[iexpectu2die]

His whole boasting about having done it in 20 mins doesn't help the formerly tubby bar steward. Shut your mouth.

This is ridiculous. What relevance is his 'former' weight or occupation? I'd say comments like this, from people hiding behind website forums, are far more worthy of a 'shut your mouth'.

Edited by iexpectu2die, 25 September 2015 - 11:40 PM.

[PPK_19]

I know I will like it more with Kleinman's credits more. I will just have to wait till then.

That's why I'm going to avoid listening to it until Nov 6.

I heard AVTAK before the film opened, and then felt I'd cheated myself out of the song/titles experience.

"Never again."

Fair play, AMC, you'll probably hear it during the film and think it's brilliant

[Odd Jobbies]

 

His whole boasting about having done it in 20 mins doesn't help the formerly tubby bar steward. Shut your mouth.

This is ridiculous. What relevance is his 'former' weight or occupation? I'd say comments like this, from people hiding behind website forums, are far more worthy of a 'shut your mouth'.

 

Indeed the weight and occupation bear no relevance. However, now having heard the theme the 20 mins remark he made only serves to reinforce the opinions of most here that it's a p*ss poor effort.

[Double Naught spy]

One of the small joys of experiencing a 007 movie is/was the opening gun barrel (I know, a different topic altogether, but bear with me here) and 007 theme music.  It was like a porthole welcoming us, the audience, into the World of Bond.  Then, to amp up the adrenalin even more, an action-packed PTS immediately followed (thank goodness we still have those!)  And, of course, after that, the main theme song. 

 

IMO, the theme song is a crucial part of that roller-coaster ride (even more so, now that the gun barrel has been shuffled off to the end of the movie like an unwanted step-child.)  The theme song should accomplish two things:  First, continue to remind the audience that they are about to experience the unique pleasure of watching a 007 film.  Second, it should lower the audience's adrenalin just enough to where they can settle back into their seats and get ready to focus on the nuts & bolts of the plot (think: the typical mission scene in M's office.)  

 

As songs go, this one's just sort of OK.  Although it's not my preferred style of music, I do think Sam Smith is a very talented, and blessed with an amazing voice.  However, as a Bond theme song, "Writing's on the Wall" fails horribly in both of the criteria mentioned above. 

 

Fingers crossed that the teased OHMSS music heard in the preview is played more than once in the film.   

[Odd Jobbies]

 

Sure Jack Black's Another Way To Die is farrrr from perfect, but even that at least had some edge and took a risk or two. This is a desperate, undeniably cynical bid to the Adele audience, hoping they'll buy in. It makes the derided QoS theme seem like the heady heights of themology.

 

This, and I'd also add Die Another Day (but then I'm one of its few defenders).

 

I'm not a defender of Die Another Day, but i'd still add it to the list of themes better than this  That list is about 22 long i believe!

Fingers crossed that the teased OHMSS music heard in the preview is played more than once in the film.   

I'll second that.

[PPK_19]

Im sort of sorry for saying that the guy who sang the song used to be a portly gentleman. I'm drunk, but most of all I'm fuming that this is just not what I wanted.

Adele's Skyfall may have been Bond "by the numbers" but it was perfect. Brilliant vocals, crescendo, Bassey-esque. Anybody who denies this is a fool.

But SS's effort is just "meh". Nice try. But just....pedestrian.

[DanMan]

Love the song.

[bill007]

I do not like it.  And I will not grow to like it.  Lyrics put me in mind of an effeminated pansified 007.  Falsetto?  Really?  Hmph!

[sharpshooter]

 

Sure Jack Black's Another Way To Die is farrrr from perfect, but even that at least had some edge and took a risk or two. This is a desperate, undeniably cynical bid to the Adele audience, hoping they'll buy in. It makes the derided QoS theme seem like the heady heights of themology.

 

This, and I'd also add Die Another Day (but then I'm one of its few defenders).

 

I'm a DAD defender as well - and think it's better than Smith's effort, even though WOTW could be used in the main score a lot easier. Smith's song and the falsetto make it too soppy for my liking. Madonna's song is divisive, but I like the energy and beats it has, and I think this one lacks energy. Madonna, McCartney and these types didn't try and ape anybody, they did their own thing. 

[Emrayfo]

Okay, when I first listened to this late last night I was nonplussed and slightly confused - I was unprepared for the sound, the approach and the structure. On second listen with fresh ears this morning I find Writing's on the Wall is growing on me. I'm actually beginning to like it. It is unique, no doubt, and those who struggle with any departure from formula will continue to resist. But I am now firmly coming to the view That Writing's on the Wall is a future classic. I think it defines Craig's Bond and where he is at in SPECTRE beautifully. It is a song for this film, just as YKMN was for CR, not just an attempt to write something "spy-ish" and "Bond-ish" like AWTD. I look forward to hearing WOTW integrated into the score.

[Methos]

I couldn't even make it to the three minute mark. This song is just godawful! I'm restraining myself from letting fly a string of expletives about it. It simply strikes me as being so incredibly wrong for a Bond film. Sure, as songs go (Bond title songs or otherwise), it's not as bad a Quantum's AWTD. Yet, this is still a horrendous tune to kick off a Bond film.