A history of Bond themes... but which one is your favourite?
The most recent theme for 2012’s Skyfall was sung by Adele and won her both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
Here is a list of all the Bond themes, including instrumentals and those for unofficial movie releases, together with their highest chart placing in the UK top 40:
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad1962: Dr No: James Bond Theme - The John Barry Orchestra (number 13)
1963: From Russia With Love - Matt Monro (number 20)
1964: Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey (number 21)
1965: Thunderball - Tom Jones (number 35)
1967: You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra (number 11)
1967: Casino Royale* - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (number 27)
1969: We Have All The Time In The World (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) - Louis Armstrong (did not chart until 1994)**
1971: Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey (number 38)
1973: Live And Let Die - Paul McCartney & Wings (number 9)
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad1974: The Man With The Golden Gun - Lulu (did not chart in top 40)
1977: Nobody Does It Better (The Spy Who Loved Me) - Carly Simon (number 7)
1979: Moonraker - Shirley Bassey (did not chart in top 40)
1981: For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton (number 8)
1983: All Time High (Octopussy) - Rita Coolidge (did not chart in top 40)
1983: Never Say Never Again* - Lani Hall (did not chart in top 40)
1985: A View To A Kill - Duran Duran (number 2)
1987: The Living Daylights - A-ha (number 5)
1989: Licence To Kill - Gladys Knight (number 6)
1995: GoldenEye - Tina Turner (number 10)
1997: Tomorrow Never Dies - Sheryl Crow (number 12)
1999: The World Is Not Enough - Garbage (number 11)
2002: Die Another Day - Madonna (number 3)
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad2006: You Know My Name (Casino Royale) - Chris Cornell (number 7)
2008: Another Way To Die (Quantum of Solace) - Jack White & Alicia Keys (number 9)
2012: Skyfall - Adele (number 2)
* The 1967 version of Casino Royale and the 1983 film Never Say Never Again are not considered part of the official Bond franchise, but are listed here for completeness.
** Not the official title theme but an incidental song from the score for the film. The actual theme was an instrumental.
Read more...