In the ever-growing canon of James Bond theme songs, there are some that simply stand out from the rest. Over the past 60 years, these songs have been recorded by the greatest singers of their time including Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, and Adele. Songwriters have created a range of themes told from the point of view of villains, lovers, and even Bond himself.
Bond themes also range massively in tone. There's the lighthearted Nobody Does It Better told from the Bond Girl perspective by Carly Simon, which stands in stark contrast to the sinister and vaguely creepy lyrics of GoldenEye by Tina Turner. Each song acts as an introduction to what the viewer is about to witness: sometimes seductive, oftentimes ominous, but always with a signature Bond undertone.
This list breaks down some of the most popular James Bond themes of all time. Each song comes with its own backstory, which highlights the difficulty in composing these songs and how a fair number of them were intended for different artists. In the end, only a select few artists hold the distinction of recording a Bond theme. Which one would you call the best?
Film: Dr. No
Release Year: 1962
Why It’s A Classic: Written by Monty Norman and arranged by John Barry, this jazzy song kicked off more than 60 years of Bond magic. The song has become embedded in pop culture and is instantly recognizable with its cutting horns intro. The theme became so embedded in the Bond series that it was a shocking change to have it only appear at the end of 2006's Casino Royale, which introduced Daniel Craig as James Bond.
Standout Lyric: While there are no lyrics, it somehow manages to evoke feelings of excitement, fear, intrigue, and sensuality making it one of the most versatile songs in the series.
Timeless?Purchase
Film: Goldfinger
Release Year: 1964
Why It’s A Classic: Arguably the biggest hit of Shirley Bassey's career, Goldfinger has a larger-than-life tone, which was a deliberate move by John Barry. Seeking to write about a villain, Barry found inspiration in the classic Kurt Weil song Mack The Knife. However, Goldfinger is distinctly different, especially given Bassey's bombastic and sensual delivery. Apparently, Michael Caine - who was Barry's flatmate at the time - was the first person to hear the song, played to him by an exhausted Barry.
Standout Lyric:
Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death from Mister GoldfingerTimeless?Purchase
Film: Live and Let Die
Release Year: 1973
Why It’s A Classic: Written and performed by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his band Wings, Live and Let Die came at a turning point in the Bond franchise as Roger Moore took over the title role. Shirley Bassey and Thelma Houston were considered for the song, but it became clear that McCartney was the best person to perform his own work. The fact that it became a mega-hit for him speaks for itself.
Standout Lyric:
What does it matter to ya
When you got a job to do you got to do it well
You got to give the other fella hellTimeless?Purchase
!['Skyfall' - Adele]()
Film: Skyfall
Release Year: 2012
Why It’s A Classic: When it comes to contemporary artists, it's difficult to imagine a better singer than Adele to pull off a Bond ballad. The song starts out so subtly that the swelling chorus catches the listener off guard in the best possible way. Adele was reportedly hesitant to take on the task of recording a Bond theme, but she “fell in love with the script” and agreed to do the song. Adele's knowledge of the film comes through in the song's prescient lyrics.
Standout Lyric:
This is the end
Hold your breath and count to ten
Feel the Earth move and then
Hear my heart burst againTimeless?Purchase
!['Nobody Does It Better' - Carly Simon]()
Film: The Spy Who Loved Me
Release Year: 1977
Why It’s A Classic: Carly Simon delivers a warm and sensual performance. Nobody Does It Better was the first Bond theme not to be named after the film, although there is a reference to the title in the lyrics. The song's more lighthearted than past Bond themes, and the title is a sly wink at Bond's sexual aptitude.
Standout Lyric:
I wasn't lookin' but somehow you found me
I tried to hide from your love light
But like heaven above me
The spy who loved me
Is keepin' all my secrets safe tonightTimeless?Purchase
!['Diamonds Are Forever' - Shirley Bassey]()
Film: Diamonds Are Forever
Release Year: 1971
Why It’s A Classic: Diamonds Are Forever is the second Bond theme Shirley Bassey recorded, and has even deeper sexual undertones than “Goldfinger.” Composer John Barry reportedly told Bassey to sing the song as if the lyrics were about male genitalia rather than diamonds. Whatever she's singing about, Bassey's visceral and cutting intonation make it a standout among Bond themes.
Standout Lyric:
Diamonds are forever, sparkling round my little finger
Unlike men, the diamonds linger
Men are mere mortals who are not worth going to your grave for
I don't need love, for what good will love do me?Timeless?Purchase
