The 10 Best Bond Theme Songs
What’s just as sexy and even more memorable than a Bond babe? A Bond theme song.
With the Daniel Craig incarnation of 007 gearing up for his 2012 mission, Skyfall, there’s rumored talk of serving Bond with some Buble (as in pop-jazz heartthrob Michael Buble), or retro crooner Adele. However, producer Barbara Broccoli reportedly says no artist has yet been selected to score the film’s opening.
So while we’re all waiting for the new, we decided to pay tribute to the old: 10 of the best Bond theme songs, ever. (*Unless noted, the song and film titles are the same.)
10. "The World Is Not Enough," Garbage, 1999
The world may not be enough, but Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson’s melancholy siren call holds its own with the rest of 007's spellbinding chanteuses.
9. "Diamonds Are Forever," Shirley Bassey, 1971
A little less knock-your-socks off than "Goldfinger," but still a powerful Bassey number.
8. "You Know My Name" (Casino Royale), Chris Cornell, 2006
Soundgarden’s grunge god Chris Cornell takes a shot at a spy serenade and delivers it with his Seattle-grown growl and gusto.
7. "For Your Eyes Only," Sheena Easton, 1981
A little more romantic, a little less lusty than Carly Simon’s "Nobody Does it Better," but still an alluring '80s Bond ballad that you can’t resist belting out when no one else (besides your dog), is listening.
6. "You Only Live Twice," Nancy Sinatra, 1967
Dreamy, haunting, and utterly mesmerizing -- like a suave secret agent who loves you and leaves you wanting more...
5. “Another Way to Die” (Quantum of Solace), Alicia Keys and Jack White, 2008
The edgiest 007 theme so far, shaken not stirred with the trumpety funk rhythm and bluesy slick harmony of Keys and White.
4. "A View to a Kill," Duran Duran, 1985
The only Bond theme that topped the pop charts (so far), it fuses rock-and-roll adrenaline with a dance-y drumbeat.
3. "Nobody Does It Better" (The Spy Who Loved Me), Carly Simon, 1977
Smooth and seductive, nobody does Bond in a better bedroom-voice ballad than Simon.
2. "Live and Let Die," Paul McCartney and Wings, 1973
Full of melodic drama and guitar-riffed danger led by Paul McCartney’s legendary pipes.
1. "Goldfinger," Shirley Bassey, 1964
The gold standard (pardon the pun) for Bond themes: soulful, epic, and sultry with a big vocal bang. When Bassey belts out "Goldfinger" her guns blast everyone else out of the 007 park.