The idea of a “Bond Song” is a time-honored tradition when it comes to James Bond and his film franchise. From Sam Smith and Adele in recent years, to Shirley Bassey and Paul McCartney in the past, whoever is going to provide us with the opening tone of the latest Bond flick has a lot riding on their shoulders.
But also, it isn’t typically a choice you’d think of. When thinking of songs to fit in with the spy world of James Bond, even Adele was not on my radar, and yet we saw how big “Skyfall” ended up being. So, when news broke that Billie Eilish was set to give us the latest “Bond Song” with her brother (and songwriting partner), I found myself extremely excited.
There is an art to every song in the catalog because, honestly, it isn’t necessarily about the artist but rather the feel of Bond. There shouldn’t be a group of artists who all sound the same, and that’s why each song from a James Bond movie is important and different.
I personally love “Diamonds Are Forever” in a way that is completely different from how I love Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” from Casino Royale, because that’s how it is meant to be. All of this is to say that Eilish is not an outlandish choice, nor is she one I’m questioning. I love her music and think the weirder the take on a “Bond Song,” the better. Do you think Alicia Keys and Jack White singing together was a normal decision? No! It came out of left field, which is … kind of like Eilish.
But the exciting thing about No Time to Die instead comes from the fact that so much of it is new and exciting. From Phoebe Waller-Bridge being brought on to do the screenplay to having Rami Malek bring Bond’s latest villain to life and adding Lashana Lynch as a 00 agent, so much of this movie screams 2020 to me, and it is, truthfully, what the franchise needs.
I’ve never been the type to say that Bond should be a woman, mainly because that character explores the problematic tropes of masculinity in a way that oddly works, but what I do think that James Bond needed was a refreshing new take. Lashana Lynch as the new 007 is a perfect step in that direction.
So, to me, Eilish being added as the music to this wildly fresh new world? Pretty in line with my excitement for it—mine as well as Twitter’s.
Billie Eilish has been officially unveiled as the musician to perform the title track for the latest 007 film, No Time to Die, becoming the youngest artist ever to record a Bond theme. pic.twitter.com/vpTbcncdmz
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) January 14, 2020
Yes @billieeilish on that Bond Theme flex is a great shout to be fair! #Bond25
— Tom Grennan (@Tom_Grennan) January 14, 2020
Every #JamesBond fan over 40 right now: pic.twitter.com/bc4ZdezCUx
— Rasika A.W. (@thelovelypossum) January 14, 2020
With Billie Eilish doing the bond theme song, if there isn’t a “I’m the baaaaaaaad guy” needle drop when Rami Malek’s villain appears, we riot
— Will Mavity (@mavericksmovies) January 14, 2020
The #NoTimeToDie title song will be performed by @billieeilish. Billie has written the song with her brother @finneas and is the youngest artist in history to write and record a James Bond theme song. pic.twitter.com/Qd5cYIRlmg
— James Bond (@007) January 14, 2020
All these old farts are upset because Billie Eilish is doing the Bond theme. Thank God I’m still cool. I say give him a chance.
— Damien Owens (@OwensDamien) January 14, 2020
Billie Eilish doing the Bond tune is absolutely the correct choice.
— Gaz Drinkwater (@Radio_Gaz) January 14, 2020
Billie Eilish please win an Oscar for Bond, Emmy for a new song written for Dickinson, and Tony for idk but I would like to see it https://t.co/Sneb3WkBDW
— Jackson McHenry (@McHenryJD) January 14, 2020
Looking forward to Billie Eilish’s James Bond theme, “Who Are All These Old People I’m Bored”
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) January 14, 2020
I can’t wait to listen to this on repeat and scream about it.
(image: MGM)
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Published: Jan 14, 2020 05:14 pm