50 Fun Facts About James Bond Theme Songs

Who composed the 'James Bond Theme' first heard in Dr. No (1962)?

John Barry arranged and performed it and later claimed authorship, but Norman won two libel actions, the last against The Sunday Times in 2001.

Which singer is the only person to have performed more than one Bond theme?

She sang Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker, and also recorded her own 'Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'.

Which was the first Bond theme to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song, in 2013?

It took until 2013; Sam Smith and Billie Eilish then made it three in a row.

Which is the only Bond theme to have reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100?

In the UK it was stuck at number two for three weeks behind Paul Hardcastle's '19'.

Which was the first Bond theme to reach number one on the UK singles chart?

Sam Smith's song entered at number one on 2 October 2015; Billie Eilish's later debuted at the top too.

Which Bond film has more than one opening theme, including a calypso 'Three Blind Mice'?

'Kingston Calypso' and a bongo interlude played alongside the main theme, which reached No. 13 in the UK.

Who sang the vocal version of 'From Russia with Love' heard at the film's end?

The opening titles used an instrumental by John Barry; the song was written by Lionel Bart.

Which lyricists wrote 'Goldfinger'?

They were shown no footage, only told about the girl killed by gilding; the Midas idea unlocked the lyric within days.

Which producer called 'Goldfinger' 'the worst song I've ever heard in my life'?

It went on to give Bassey her only US top-40 hit and the Grammy Hall of Fame inducted it in 2008.

Director Guy Hamilton played John Barry which song as a 'gritty and rough' model for 'Goldfinger'?

The Goldfinger soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 and earned the series its first Grammy nomination.

Who sang the last-minute Thunderball title song after 'Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' was dropped?

Broccoli insisted the theme must contain the film's title, and that the vocals not begin before the title appeared on screen.

Which two singers recorded 'Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang', the abandoned original Thunderball theme?

Neither version is heard in the film, though the melody runs through the score; they were finally released in the 1990s.

Who performed 'You Only Live Twice' (1967)?

Cubby Broccoli wanted her father Frank; the song's opening violin bars borrow a melody from Tcherepnin's First Piano Concerto.

Which Bond film has an instrumental title theme, with Louis Armstrong singing elsewhere in it?

'We Have All the Time in the World' was written by John Barry and Hal David.

Who wrote the lyrics for 'Diamonds Are Forever' and later 'The World Is Not Enough'?

He also wrote Thunderball and The Man with the Golden Gun, four Bond songs in all before Garbage's 1999 theme.

'Live and Let Die' reunited Paul McCartney with which producer, who won a Grammy for its arrangement?

It was the first rock song to open a Bond film and the first Bond theme nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar.

Which singer performed 'The Man with the Golden Gun', the only Bond title track to miss both UK and US charts?

John Barry called it 'the one I hate most'; its lyrics were notably suggestive.

'Nobody Does It Better' from The Spy Who Loved Me was composed by whom?

Carole Bayer Sager wrote the words and Carly Simon sang it; it spent three weeks at No. 2 in the US behind Debby Boone.

'Nobody Does It Better' was the first Bond theme since Dr. No to do what?

It still slips the film's name into the lyric.

Which singers were considered for or offered 'Moonraker' before the eventual singer?

Mathis withdrew, Paul Williams cut a version with different lyrics, and Kate Bush declined because of her Tour of Life.

Which Scottish singer performed 'For Your Eyes Only' and appeared on screen in the titles?

Conti had Donna Summer or Dusty Springfield in mind, and Blondie's submission was rejected.

Which band had a title song rejected for For Your Eyes Only in favour of Bill Conti's?

Conti's song was nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar and a Golden Globe.

Rita Coolidge's Octopussy theme, with lyrics by Tim Rice, was titled what?

John Barry wanted Don Black but he was busy with the musical Merlin, so Rice stepped in.

Duran Duran performed 'A View to a Kill' at which 1985 concert, their last together before splitting?

It was the last track recorded by the classic line-up until their 2001 reunion.

Which Norwegian band recorded the 1987 Bond theme with John Barry, who found it exhausting?

Pål Waaktaar wrote it; the band re-recorded it for their album Stay on These Roads.

Who sang 'Licence to Kill' in 1989?

It topped the Swedish chart for eight weeks; Patti LaBelle sang the end-credits song 'If You Asked Me To'.

'GoldenEye', sung by Tina Turner, was written by which pair?

Nellee Hooper produced it and it reached number 10 in the UK.

Which k.d. lang song was moved from Tomorrow Never Dies' title sequence to its end credits?

Sheryl Crow's song took the titles, but David Arnold's score uses lang's melody throughout.

Which band performed 'The World Is Not Enough' in 1999?

David Arnold and Don Black wrote it; the band recorded most of it on tour, phoning Arnold as he cut the orchestra in London.

Which singer's end-credits song 'Only Myself to Blame' was dropped from The World Is Not Enough?

It survived on the soundtrack album, and its melody represents Elektra King throughout the score.

Madonna's 2002 Bond theme was co-written and co-produced with which French producer?

MGM wanted a global star after Garbage's theme underperformed; the lyrics even reference Sigmund Freud.

Which grunge frontman performed the Casino Royale (2006) theme?

Producers wanted a strong male voice for 'You Know My Name'; it was left off the soundtrack album and appeared on his solo record Carry On.

The Quantum of Solace theme is the only Bond theme that is what?

Jack White wrote it and sang it with Alicia Keys; Amy Winehouse had been rumoured for the job.

Adele's 007 theme was released at 0:07 BST on 5 October 2012 to mark what?

Adele wrote it with Paul Epworth after reading the script; it also won the Brit, Golden Globe and Grammy.

The mixed reception to Sam Smith's Spectre theme caused which veteran Bond singer to trend on Twitter?

Critics compared it unfavourably to older themes, yet it still became the first Bond theme to top the UK chart.

Which Radiohead song was submitted for Spectre but rejected because it had not been written for the film?

That made it ineligible for the Best Original Song Oscar, which Sam Smith went on to win.

How old was Billie Eilish when she recorded 'No Time to Die', making her the youngest Bond theme artist ever?

She wrote it with her brother Finneas; Hans Zimmer did the orchestration and it debuted at UK number one.

'No Time to Die' was released in February 2020, but the film was delayed until when?

The pandemic pushed the film back a year and a half; the song still won the Oscar in 2022.

How many Bond soundtracks did John Barry compose?

David Arnold is next with five, from Tomorrow Never Dies to Quantum of Solace, on Barry's recommendation.

John Barry's '007 Theme' repeats how many beats, echoing his cover of an Elmer Bernstein western theme?

It became the series' action theme and was last used in full in Moonraker's Amazon river chase.

Which session guitarist played the famous twangy riff on the original 'James Bond Theme' recording?

He used a 1939 Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe through a Fender Vibrolux amp.

Which Eon Bond film did NOT play the 'James Bond Theme' over its gun barrel sequence?

It reflects Bond's inexperience in the reboot; Cornell and Arnold even tried to write a replacement character theme.

Which three Bond themes were released as standalone singles rather than on their soundtrack albums?

All three came from the Daniel Craig era.

Which composer, on John Barry's recommendation, scored five Bond films from 1997 to 2008?

His mix of orchestra and electronic beats defined the Pierce Brosnan era.

Which Bond theme, apart from one word in a verse, omits the film's title from its title and lyrics?

It shares that distinction with All Time High, You Know My Name and Writing's on the Wall.

Which Bond film's end credits featured The Pretenders singing 'If There Was a Man'?

John Barry co-wrote it with Chrissie Hynde; a-ha had the title song.

The 'James Bond Theme' grew out of a song its composer wrote for a musical adaptation of which V. S. Naipaul novel?

'Bad Sign, Good Sign' was reworked into the riff everyone knows.

Who wrote the lyrics to 'We Have All the Time in the World', sung by Louis Armstrong?

John Barry composed the melody; the song has become as famous as many of the main title themes.

Which rock act recorded a rejected 'The Man with the Golden Gun' for their 1973 album Muscle of Love?

Blondie's spurned 'For Your Eyes Only' likewise surfaced on their 1982 album The Hunter.

Brian Wilson's intended Bond theme 'Run James Run' ended up as the title track of which album?

Johnny Cash also cut a 'Thunderball' that went unused.