How to create the perfect Bond theme
Tips and tricks for any musician who wishes to follow Adele down the barrel of that gun
There are certain stylistic elements that make for a great James Bond theme song, a toolkit of tradition that everyone who has been blessed with this most sought-after of jobs is aware of, and ready to put to good use. If you fancy yourself as a future , or even and , all you need to do is follow these steps, add a twist of your own personal genius and you can't go far wrong.
1. Pay close attention to the stylistic formulas laid down by the master, John Barry
John Barry: 鈥楽ubtlety鈥檚 not a virtue in a Bond film鈥�
Composer John Barry on how he wrote for maximum impact in his classic Bond soundtracks.
What that style of music was was me. It's what came out of me"John Barry
In this fascinating clip, the great film composer - who arranged 's original Bond theme for Dr No, then went on to compose 11 Bond theme songs and soundtracks, including classics like Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever - says: "I didn't sit down and concoct a Bond sound... It was a whole mixture of the guitar thing, that whole rock thing that I'd been through, plus... all that brass thing. That style of music for film was new, but what that style of music was was me. It's what came out of me."
He adds that Bond films are "broad-stroke movies", meaning that "subtlety isn't a virtue in a Bond score" - something which all (good) composers of the theme song have remembered since.
2. Pick a provocative, seductive singer (exactly like Shirley Bassey)
Bassey - How Goldfinger made Dame Shirley a star
Dame Shirley, John Barry and others remember 鈥楪oldfinger鈥� and how the 007 theme made her an international star in 1964.
I think Shirley should sing them all"Don Black
Lyricist , who co-wrote the Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever and The Man With the Golden Gun theme songs with John Barry is pretty clear in the above clip about who he think should sing the Bond song each time. "I think Shirley should sing them all," he says, "because a Bond song should be provocative, it should be seductive, all those things, and who better to deliver that than ."
Singing Goldfinger made a star of Shirley. "Goldfinger just changed everything," she says here. "I became internationally known."
3. Make it have lasting value, and feel like it's part of the film
Producer and songwriter collaborating with on the Skyfall song in 2012 turned out to be a huge success, bagging them an Oscar. And in a 大象传媒 News interview, just after the song was released, Epworth provided great insight into how to get a Bond song right. "It has to have gravity and dynamic, rather than being something that's an instant pop song," he said, adding: "The best Bond songs are part of the narrative of the film."
4. Ensure those working on the song are cool enough to have played Bond themselves
Jeff Beck on George Martin as a Bond figure & George mixes a martini
Jeff Beck describes how the suave George Martin was a James Bond type figure and to illustrate, George shows us how to mix a martini.
George Martin could have been a very suave actor. Almost a James Bond"Jeff Beck
Paul Epworth is a handsome, urbane man and John Barry is about the most caddish and dashing Englishman who ever lived (listen to him on - incredible stories). Does being a Bond-like figure help those involved with the music come up with quality material? Absolutely! And would agree. Speaking about famed producer , who was reunited with on the tremendous Live And Let Die, he says: "He could have been a very suave actor, I think. Almost a James Bond." As if to prove a point, in this clip, George goes on to make a perfect Martini.
5. Encourage wild speculation about who might be writing and singing the song
Ellie Goulding - Radio 1's Big Weekend highlights
Highlights of Ellie Goulding's set at Radio 1's Big Weekend 2013
In his 大象传媒 News interview about Skyfall, Paul Epworth says: "This has definitely been MI6-like subterfuge to try and keep it under wraps," and that's all part of the process and fun of coming up with a new Bond theme song. Is the Spectre song by ? ? Adele again? And how come someone put a £15,000 bet on it being ? This much we know: when the writer and singer is finally announced, it'll be massive news and - as ever - James Bond wins.
