# What's your favorite James Bond theme song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612 "2007-01-11T21:53:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/21 "2007-01-12T01:52:55Z")
[QUOTE=psycat90] Thunderball by Tom Jones. But I’ve got a little thing for Sir Jones. 😉 [/QUOTE] So, what’s new, **psycat90**? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/22 "2007-01-12T02:24:35Z")
“Goldfinger,” no doubt, even if Shirley Bassey is a bit of a bitch. Can’t understand people slagging “Die Another Day.” It was certainly a departure from the norm for a Bond theme but I thought it was brilliant. Part of its brilliance is Madonna’s manipulation of the “Bond theme” genre as a tool of self-promotion. The Carly Simon song is decent but it suffers from the clunky inclusion of the film title. “View to a Kill” is fun. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/23 "2007-01-12T02:36:50Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] The Carly Simon song is decent but it suffers from the clunky inclusion of the film title. [/QUOTE] _How_ is that inclusion clunky? I think it’s done gracefully. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/24 "2007-01-12T02:55:12Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Can’t understand people slagging “Die Another Day.” It was certainly a departure from the norm for a Bond theme but I thought it was brilliant. Part of its brilliance is Madonna’s manipulation of the “Bond theme” genre as a tool of self-promotion. [/QUOTE] Color me unimpressed with Madonna’s self-promotion: it’s really the only thing she does well, and even that is becoming old and tired. There’s a _Roger Dodger_-type depreciating monologue at her expense in here somewhere, but I was just hoping she’d get wacked during that inane sword-fighting sequence. No such luck. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Chum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@Chum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chum)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/25 "2007-01-12T03:04:06Z")
I really like “Live and Let Die,” mainly because I played it in band in junior high. And the saxophones (including me) got the sappy opening, which was fun. I’m not really a Bond fan. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/26 "2007-01-12T03:14:48Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Can’t understand people slagging “Die Another Day.” It was certainly a departure from the norm for a Bond theme but I thought it was brilliant. [/QUOTE] I wouldn’t call it brilliant, but I do like it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/27 "2007-01-12T03:41:52Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] _How_ is that inclusion clunky? I think it’s done gracefully. [/QUOTE] It just comes off to my ear like “we have to get this phrase in here, let’s put it…here.” > [@Stranger](#): > > Color me unimpressed with Madonna’s self-promotion: it’s really the only thing she does well, and even that is becoming old and tired. Maybe I’m just odd, but Madonna is about the only person on the planet who in my mind Can Do No Wrong. I’ve tried to express my rationale for feeling this way about six different times in composing this post but I keep finding myself using phrases like “transcending human boundaries” and the like and it’s just not gelling coherently. I’m a bit intoxicated at the moment so that isn’t exactly helping either. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/28 "2007-01-12T05:11:17Z")
The James Bond Theme Goldfinger Nobody Does it Better Moonraker On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Thunderball You Only Live Twice Live and Let Die ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/29 "2007-01-12T05:14:48Z")
I must confess to a hankering for the theme from the original Casino Royale by (if memory serves) Burt Bacharach, played by Herb Alpert. Movie was too cheesy for words, notwithstanding the talent they roped in. Nothing bombs worse than attempted satire that bombs. But those trumpets! Sensational. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/30 "2007-01-12T06:11:42Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Maybe I’m just odd, but Madonna is about the only person on the planet who in my mind Can Do No Wrong. [/QUOTE] Dude, have you even seen _Swept Away_? The only thing I’ve ever seen her in where’s she’s decent is _The Driver: Star_, and then only because she plays a barely fictionalized version of herself. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/31 "2007-01-12T07:15:15Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Dude, have you even seen _Swept Away_? [/QUOTE] Well, no, of course not, because if there were such a thing as this “Swept Away” you speak of it could require me to re-evaluate my “Madonna can do no wrong” policy. Actually the policy applies to music rather than film so this Swept Away thing you speak of doesn’t really figure into the equation regardless. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/32 "2007-01-12T07:25:55Z")
[QUOTE=Malienation] _Goldfinger_, no question about it. [/QUOTE] Man, me too! Best by far. I saw Bill Nye the Science Guy do a parody… Friction Fingah He’s the man the man with the frictiony touch it hurts so much 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/33 "2007-01-12T07:26:17Z")
In no particular order, my top 3: Live and Let Die A View To A Kill Goldfinger The rest are entirely forgettable. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/34 "2007-01-12T07:48:36Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] 1. _Live And Let Die_ - unique because of the male vocals (I think McCartney did a good job) [/QUOTE] Hardly unique, given Tom Jones, Matt Monroe and Louis Armstrong had all done Bond Themes before. I think “We Have All The Time In The World” from OHMSS is a lovely song, while “Goldfinger” is the gold standard by which Bond themes will forever be judged, and “The World Is Not Enough” was surprisingly good. But why all the hate for the film? mm ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/35 "2007-01-12T08:16:21Z")
[Deja Vu, anyone?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=366665&highlight=James+Bond) And mine probably wasn’t the first, either. [QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] Carly Simon, all the way! The Spy Who Loved Me. [/QUOTE] Agreed! Nobody Does It Better than Carly Simon. Makes me feel sad for the rest. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/36 "2007-01-12T08:41:01Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Dude, have you even seen _Swept Away_? The only thing I’ve ever seen her in where’s she’s decent is _The Driver: Star_, and then only because she plays a barely fictionalized version of herself. Stranger [/QUOTE] Her best movie was _Vision Quest._ ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/37 "2007-01-12T13:53:03Z")
Good lord, no love for A-Ha’s Living Daylights theme? I’d place it third on my favorites list - behind Shirley Bassey’s Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger - but considering how few of you named only one favorite, I’m surprised to not see it listed at all. Worst is Moonraker, with Live and Let Die just a notch above it. I think L&LD benefits too much from Paul McCartney’s reputation. Musically, IMHO, it stinks. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/38 "2007-01-12T14:48:52Z")
[QUOTE=mamboman] and “The World Is Not Enough” was surprisingly good. But why all the hate for the film? [/QUOTE] Six words: Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist. Appropriate for a Broken Lizard jokefest, asinine in a Bond movie. That film was such a self-parody of Bond movies that it kicked the feet out from under Mike Myers. It’s like Kevin Federline: such a absurd parody of what it’s trying to be that there’s really no way to exaggerate it’s most bizarre qualities. Still, it’s head and shoulders above _Die Another Day_, though. And Denise Richards could kick Halle Barry’s ass all over a stage any day of the week, thespian-wise, which is no complement to either party. Berry really needs to give back her Oscar and collect the “Lifetime Misachievement Award” from the Razzies. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/39 "2007-01-12T16:17:04Z")
Chris Cornell’s song “You Know My Name,” the theme song to the newest _Casino Royale_, didn’t do much for me the first time I heard it. But I liked it just enough to get it from iTunes, and now I like it a little more every time I hear it. Good bass line, and lyrics that allude to the movie without hitting you over the head. I guess I’d have to say that’s my favorite, closely followed by Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does It Better” from _The Spy Who Loved Me_, which is winsome and sexy, and Shirley Bassey’s theme from _Goldfinger_, for its sheer Sixties kitschiness. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612/40 "2007-01-12T16:24:20Z")
Probably “Goldfinger” because it’s so iconic and because well… it’s Shirley Bassey! I also like “Thunderball”. VCNJ~ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-james-bond-theme-song/387612.md?page=3)