1942 replies to this topic

[bebel01]

Agreed.

Edited by bebel01, 30 September 2015 - 11:13 AM.

[The Dove]

Now that I've heard the song a few times, I'm pleasantly liking it more and more with each listen.Not quite sure how I'd rank it in contrast with the other Bond title songs but once I've figured that out, I plan to do a thread on ranking all the Bond songs..it'll work for me!

Try this one: http://debrief.comma...11#entry1317564

Thanks!! I thought there might be a previous thread.. I'll be posting soon!

[MrKidd]

I haven't listened to the whole version yet (the bbc have a 2 minute sample) - but from what I've heard it sounds pretty good to me and a shoe-in when played over the titles - seems 'Bondian' enough if you ask me. My problem (and perhaps others?) is not with the song per se but what it may represent about the film itself. For me the Craig era kicked off with the fantastic - if overlong - CR to the bloated, indulgent, it's soooo bleeding personal and frankly boring dirge that was SF (liked the song though!). If Sam Smith's song is anything to go by then Spectre is the most personal to date. OMG - kill me now. That. Would. Be. Bollocks. Again. If however, it turns out to be a right old lark with the shooting and the sexing and the quipping then I stand corrected. But I doubt I will be. What a shame.

[Harmsway]

Mendes is clearly interested in very personal types of Bond stories, but I don't think this will simply be Skyfall 2.

I dislike the song for being dreary, but it's no crime against humanity. The orchestral bits demonstrate that it would sound nice woven throughout Newman's score.

[Hockey Mask]

@Emrayfo well said. Probably that's what "feminine" means here, not that we didn't get this vulnerability in CR. But I feel EON is putting these words-thoughts into my mind, with the trailer, with the song. In OHMSS these things were so subtle yet still there, now the whole thing is in your face. That's why I said it's like tv, for me at least.
 
But instead let me emphasize again my growing enthusiasm for this Matt Forbes guy. I'm listening to his song more and more. Yes it's like Bennett but one cannot criticize a singer for the voice he was given. Bennett is old now so it's good to have a successor. Too bad now that he sang this, he won't stand a chance in hell to sing a real Bond theme. But kudos anyway!
 
(edit: Bennett supposedly sang this song, hahaha! And Andy Williams sang it a bit more masterfully than Forbes, his voice really cuts through the instrumentation, but this is still very good by today's standards.)

yes. I was in no way dissing him for sounding like Bennett. Bennett can sing. I had no idea he had already sung it though. Now that I think of it. It's a shame Bennett never sang a Bond tune.

[MattofSteel]

A few days in now and I'll say I feel genuinely bad for the people who don't like this as a Bond song. I understand, believe me - we've all been there, Bond films and music have existed across such a wide range of tones that when one lands which doesn't suit our individual tastes, it's gutting. QOS and its song come to mind, for me.

 

I can respect and understand that Smith's performance doesn't play for some, but the song itself - to me - is quintessentially Bond. I'm thrilled with it. 

[Harmsway]

I'm generally okay with the song (a bit bored, but not actively bothered) until the falsetto of the chorus, which is when my buttocks clench and I grimace.

[MattofSteel]

I'd readily admit that if they'd gone the route of continuing to build momentum through that chorus into something bombastic and classicaly Bond-ish to cap it off, I'd have preferred it.

 

In fact, if they had, there'd be an entirely different dual conversation happening: 1) They're trying very hard to emulate Skyfall, and 2) people tripping over themselves to call WOTW the best Bond tune ever.

[Dustin]

Could it not be that this time it's personal more for the bad guy than for Bond? Just an aside...

[Gay Bond]

Well I've listened to it a few times. I want to like it, but I just can't.

 

As others have said, orchestrally it's stunning. I'm looking forward to hearing the instrumental version and the way that it's worked into the score (with a little nod to OHMSS please).

 

The problems for me are:

 

a. The falsetto sounds ear-shatteringly awful. Maybe it could have worked if a different artist had performed it. It's possible that it's just Smith's voice that grates on me.

 

b. Then again, I'm not on board with the whole 'Bond is emotionally tortured' angle either. To me it just echoes a wider cultural trend towards emotional diarrhoea where everyone is becoming so navel-glazing, self-absorbed, woe-is-me, like the sob story background of an X Factor contestant, that grown men have been turned into emotional wrecks. There seems to be something a bit narcissistic about it all, so I'm also turned off by that.

 

c. It builds and builds, but the satisfying pay-off never actually comes. For what it's worth, I think much the same for all the Craig era songs - either the chorus is too weak or it just lacks impact - but none as bad as this. I see Radio 1 spliced it with Jacko's Earth Song. Now while the general theme of Earth Song was a bit too soppy for my liking, it did at least know how to deliver a smashing pay-off with a thumping great chorus that included - get this - actual tune. A bit more of that would have been nice.

 

And ok, since I've chosen this moniker, I may as well add: I don't have a problem with the singer being gay (nor, fwiw, a gay actor playing Bond - though I'd be out protesting on the streets if they dared to make 007 himself gay!). I don't agree that choosing an openly gay singer is making a statement. It's the decision to de-masculinise him to this degree that's the problem. The two aren't intrinsically linked. Gender-bending artists like David Bowie, even Freddie Mercury in the day, would likely have taken a very different direction to Smith.

 

Oh and the Tony Bennett-like song earlier in the thread is awesome. If only there was still an appetite for that kind of vocal and melody. Maybe a retro Bond will be made one day...

Edited by Gay Bond, 27 September 2015 - 06:29 PM.

[ConneryFTW87]

After being a longtime lurker here (and Bond music fanatic) I have to say I'm more than a little disappointed with the direction they chose to go with the new Bond song.  Where's the intrigue and the drama? Or the epic horns and strings for that matter?  I think the best Bond songs manage to pack all the drama (and action) of the film into a tight 3 minute package -- that has a beginning, middle and end --  but I'm not getting that build here at all.  Take a listen to this alternate 'Skyfall' title song my buddy arranged last year.  While it's an established pop ballad from the '60s, I think the arrangement and vocals really capture that classic (yet contemporary) Bond sound that's missing here:

 

OddJobbies, Gay Bond and bebel01:  Happy to read you guys got a kick out of IWWFY, my buddies would be really pleased to hear your assessment! Drew, who orchestrated it, and Matt who sang and produced it I think really capture the spirit of John Barry, while giving a contemporary feel to it...and if you can believe it both these dudes are also only in their mid-20s! 

[DaveBond21]

I really like the orchestral parts (very John Barry-esque), sounding like a cross between the Thunderball and The Living Daylights soundtracks. I like the general theme, and I hope it features in the main score.

 

I agree with those that I was waiting for the "wow" moment to arrive. Too much falsetto.

 

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[Mr.Hinx]

Writing's On the Wall is by far one of the worst "Bond" themes I have ever heard in all of my life. I honestly think sam smith's theme should get rejected ASAP! He boasts about how only took 20 minutes to write it, well it damn well shows it. He should of never been given the oppurtunity PERIOD. His track makes me want to vomit...literally. He sounds like mickey mouse on helium. If his track doesn't get rejected then i am taking a bathroom break during the credits lol. I swear Barbra broccoli and Michael G. Wilson no longer care about the bond franchise anymore. They have been half assing the series since craig took over, taking away certain bond elements for absolutely no reason. They think changing the formula with make the series better but it has only made it worse. I actually started hating the bond series and i really hate myself to to admit that, it takes alot of courage for me to say that. Thomas Newman outta be fired as well, he gets the oppurtunity to score bond movies and doesn't even use the damn bond theme, inexcusable. I know i will here from fellow cbn members that "Oh newman did a fabulous job on skyfall".....well if that is the case then why are none of his tracks memorable and why do they sound so generic?

Edited by Mr.Hinx, 28 September 2015 - 12:34 AM.

[EyesOnly]

SF had the bond theme sprinkled through out. Regarding all your other comments, I'll let the rest respond.

[sharpshooter]

I think the song is quite good up to 3.30. If the "how do I live" sections were trimmed down near the end, I'd like it more. And I guess there's every chance that may happen in the title sequence editing process. 

[Matt_13]

I think the song is quite good up to 3.30. If the "how do I live" sections were trimmed down near the end, I'd like it more. And I guess there's every chance that may happen in the title sequence editing process.

I'm thinking that the song will end around the 3:30 mark, with that orchestral bit without the lyrics leading us into the film proper, perhaps with an upswell added by Newman at the end. I've come around a bit myself. It's not terrible, just very different. I can live with it. It won't be in my top ten I don't think but it's very far from being the worst of the lot.

[sharpshooter]

I'm thinking that the song will end around the 3:30 mark, with that orchestral bit without the lyrics leading us into the film proper, perhaps with an upswell added by Newman at the end. 

That is most definitely the best end point for the song. It ends things on a high. What follows after that point isn't necessary. Fingers crossed that's what happens.

[DaveBond21]

 

I'm thinking that the song will end around the 3:30 mark, with that orchestral bit without the lyrics leading us into the film proper, perhaps with an upswell added by Newman at the end. 

That is most definitely the best end point for the song. It ends things on a high. What follows after that point isn't necessary. Fingers crossed that's what happens.

 

 

Good points here. And it will be interesting to hear how much it gets cut for the actual PTS.

 

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[DaveBond21]

 

 

Oh my...


Edit: This is bound to stay controversial, it's trademark Smith with only very little to suggest it as a conventional choice for a Bond song. I would say it's probably one of the least 'obvious' Bond songs, even more so than AWTD.

I agree it's one of the least 'obvious' Bond songs. But I don't think it's that trademark Smith either. For me, it would seem at home in a Broadway musical like Wicked.

Well, trademark may be the wrong word. But it's recognisably Smith, even for a layman as I happen to be. Obviously many hoped for at least a temporary transformation.

That said, it would seem the choice of artist for the main titles song now is firmly in the hands of the marketing stargazers. Smith said he knew for a year now he was going to do it, so the dice fell well before the first frames of the film were even shot. That suggests it now comes down to whoever had a solid run one or two years ago. Without knowing Smith's entire work I would say this is something like I would have expected from him; but I would hardly have expected it as the next Bond song.

 

 

Well actually it was clear that Smith was asked directly by Broccoli and Sam Mendes. Plus Mendes has said how much he loves it.

 

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[Dustin]

That was not really my point, I'm sure producers and directors are involved in the invitation process. But they don't just pick artists at random, they obviously take their pick with regard to profile at the time of making the decision. And in 2013/2014 he was probably the one newcomer with the highest profile and market visibility. I'm pretty sure if you asked ten different market watchers during that time for a list of people with the most market potential he would figure on each list at least in the top ten.

That may not have been the sole reason, he's also a songwriter on top of being already a well-versed singer with years of practice as opposed to being just an interpret. And I don't doubt for a minute that he's also a pretty hardworking person, otherwise he wouldn't be where he is. And these things certainly appeal to the producers just as much. But he's also of course a choice with considerable potential with regard to market and his own fanbase.

[SecretAgentFan]

Okay just for fun I've scribbled something down. It was around 30 minutes so that's that. I don't have the melody neither the style, but it's probably along the lines of what Adele has done, definitely not a rock song. I'm not english so the choice of words is not the most elegant but hopefully you get my drift.

 

 

Hunting on a spectral mission
Entangled in the invisible
Web you've built around
 -No way out here

Only feel the blood flow
Running through shards of glass
You'll see if love survives
 -The cold inside

(bridge)
Freezing, wrapped in your own arms soon
Meeting the future you cannot know
But still now you just have to

(chorus)
Survive this
Personal mission
Every way you can
Cee you on the road where
Things are bigger make the
Revenge finally
End

 

You should definitely wait for EON to call you.

[bebel01]

Agreed.

Edited by bebel01, 30 September 2015 - 11:14 AM.

[SecretAgentFan]

Subjectivity leads one to believe a lot of things.

[Jim]

Writing's On the Wall is by far one of the worst "Bond" themes I have ever heard in all of my life. I honestly think sam smith's theme should get rejected ASAP! He boasts about how only took 20 minutes to write it, well it damn well shows it. He should of never been given the oppurtunity PERIOD. His track makes me want to vomit...literally. He sounds like mickey mouse on helium. If his track doesn't get rejected then i am taking a bathroom break during the credits lol. I swear Barbra broccoli and Michael G. Wilson no longer care about the bond franchise anymore. They have been half assing the series since craig took over, taking away certain bond elements for absolutely no reason. They think changing the formula with make the series better but it has only made it worse. I actually started hating the bond series and i really hate myself to to admit that, it takes alot of courage for me to say that. Thomas Newman outta be fired as well, he gets the oppurtunity to score bond movies and doesn't even use the damn bond theme, inexcusable. I know i will here from fellow cbn members that "Oh newman did a fabulous job on skyfall".....well if that is the case then why are none of his tracks memorable and why do they sound so generic?

Most satirical; thanks for the laugh.

[The Dove]

Indeed.. I got a good chuckle out of that nonsense myself...Lol..

[DaveBond21]

 

Writing's On the Wall is by far one of the worst "Bond" themes I have ever heard in all of my life. I honestly think sam smith's theme should get rejected ASAP! He boasts about how only took 20 minutes to write it, well it damn well shows it. He should of never been given the oppurtunity PERIOD. His track makes me want to vomit...literally. He sounds like mickey mouse on helium. If his track doesn't get rejected then i am taking a bathroom break during the credits lol. I swear Barbra broccoli and Michael G. Wilson no longer care about the bond franchise anymore. They have been half assing the series since craig took over, taking away certain bond elements for absolutely no reason. They think changing the formula with make the series better but it has only made it worse. I actually started hating the bond series and i really hate myself to to admit that, it takes alot of courage for me to say that. Thomas Newman outta be fired as well, he gets the oppurtunity to score bond movies and doesn't even use the damn bond theme, inexcusable. I know i will here from fellow cbn members that "Oh newman did a fabulous job on skyfall".....well if that is the case then why are none of his tracks memorable and why do they sound so generic?

Most satirical; thanks for the laugh.

 

 

 

BOND IS NOT BLOND! Bring back Perice BronaSAN! Daniel Cregg looks like an inside-out E.T.!!! Bring back Moneypenny. Bring back Q! Bring back Bernard Lee!

 

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[DaveBond21]

 

After being a longtime lurker here (and Bond music fanatic) I have to say I'm more than a little disappointed with the direction they chose to go with the new Bond song.  Where's the intrigue and the drama? Or the epic horns and strings for that matter?  I think the best Bond songs manage to pack all the drama (and action) of the film into a tight 3 minute package -- that has a beginning, middle and end --  but I'm not getting that build here at all.  Take a listen to this alternate 'Skyfall' title song my buddy arranged last year.  While it's an established pop ballad from the '60s, I think the arrangement and vocals really capture that classic (yet contemporary) Bond sound that's missing here:

 

OddJobbies, Gay Bond and bebel01:  Happy to read you guys got a kick out of IWWFY, my buddies would be really pleased to hear your assessment! Drew, who orchestrated it, and Matt who sang and produced it I think really capture the spirit of John Barry, while giving a contemporary feel to it...and if you can believe it both these dudes are also only in their mid-20s! 

 

 

I like that song - it's good fun.

[iexpectu2die]

I know I'm in a vast minority here but I really like the song. I'm enjoying the change of tone - some are calling it 'wimpy', but I think the restrained quality is actually quite a brave artistic choice. The vitriol against it reminds me of the way people talked about Daniel Craig after he was announced. I doubt this will turn opinion around in quite the same was as Craig managed, but I have a feeling time will be kind to it, especially once we've seen/heard it in the context of Spectre. 

Edited by iexpectu2die, 28 September 2015 - 10:41 AM.

[thecasinoroyale]

I know it'll sound better (to me anyway) with the main titles going behind it and the actual thrill of seeing Bond back on screen and knowing what is going to follow for one big experience.

It'll be interesting to hear what and how they edit it down.


Interesting to see how we took to 'Skyfall' with the 2012 poll also:

http://debrief.comma...l-added/page-90

[Navy007Fan]

An interesting note regarding the "Bondness" of this song.  I had it playing on my computer when Mrs. Navy walked into the room.  Now she is by no means a Bond fan, but she has sat through enough of the films to know a thing or two about them.  Her first response when I tried to tell her what the song was, " I know, it's the new Bond song.  You don't have to tell me."  Her second reaction, "Turn that off, I hate Sam Smith!"