Sam Smith Releases ‘Spectre’ 007 Theme Song

[Slim Khezri]

Any 007 fans here? I'm a James Bond 007​ junkie, since For Your Eyes Only​ in 1981! I have all the books, movies and soundtracks .. and even (almost) got to work on one myself!!!!



After teasing the song for weeks, SAM SMITH​ has finally released the new James Bond theme. “Writing’s on the Wall,” from the “Spectre” soundtrack, released online today, early Friday morning after its U.K. radio premiere.



My honest opinion, Sam unfortunately missed the mark, is its not a bond song, doesn't feel like one - Sam Smith wailing in a self indulgent 'I'm about to slit my wrists far too high for far too long' style, there's nothing Bond about the song but the strings type way. I love the orchestration, the strings, the structure, it does have (musically) the bond-ish tone..but not so quite. It certainly isn't "the best bond song ever" as the Smith fans are 'brown nosing' about. You're not drawn in and built up to a vocal bombastic climax, such as Goldfinger​, GoldenEye​, or Thunderball​ - you knew that was good after the first hearing! They could have done it like in From Russia with Love​, or On Her Majesty's Secret Service​ .. just use the instrumental of "Writing’s on the Wall,” as title music, and have the full version with the whining for the end-credits.



Even the Pop-ish ones of Duran Duran​, A-ha​, Paul McCartney​, Lulu, (even Madonna​) were far more superior.



Imagine someone else singing it (perhaps a female) and it just might've been much better - probably needed more than the twenty minutes (he needed to prepare for it, that's asinine, and arrogant) it was given - he should've researched and studied the catalog better. Don't get me wrong, I like it but not sure it is explosive enough, nor good enough to call it a bond theme. I can't say that I enjoy Sam Smith (No offense to him, he does have a great voice, he's talented), but Bond songs should be sung straight up Broadway-style, no need for the whinny, "soul" vibrations .. at times the vocals even get annoying, goes from whiny to crying .. ugh ..sounds like it was rather written for Mariah Carey​ or Christina Aguilera​ .



Not going to be a musical Bond classic piece.. it's very very low on my list, and forgettable just like that other crap "Another way to die" by Alicia Keys​, and Jack White​ (for Quantum of Solace​)





I miss the maestro John Barry​, who knew what a Bond song sounds like!!


>>>VARIETY LINK

[schmacko]

Sept 25, 2015 21:49:15 GMT -5 Slim Khezri said:

Any 007 fans here? I'm a James Bond 007​ junkie, since For Your Eyes Only​ in 1981! I have all the books, movies and soundtracks .. and even (almost) got to work on one myself!!!!



After teasing the song for weeks, SAM SMITH​ has finally released the new James Bond theme. “Writing’s on the Wall,” from the “Spectre” soundtrack, released online today, early Friday morning after its U.K. radio premiere.



My honest opinion, Sam unfortunately missed the mark, is its not a bond song, doesn't feel like one - Sam Smith wailing in a self indulgent 'I'm about to slit my wrists far too high for far too long' style, there's nothing Bond about the song but the strings type way. I love the orchestration, the strings, the structure, it does have (musically) the bond-ish tone..but not so quite. It certainly isn't "the best bond song ever" as the Smith fans are 'brown nosing' about. You're not drawn in and built up to a vocal bombastic climax, such as Goldfinger​, GoldenEye​, or Thunderball​ - you knew that was good after the first hearing! They could have done it like in From Russia with Love​, or On Her Majesty's Secret Service​ .. just use the instrumental of "Writing’s on the Wall,” as title music, and have the full version with the whining for the end-credits.



Even the Pop-ish ones of Duran Duran​, A-ha​, Paul McCartney​, Lulu, (even Madonna​) were far more superior.



Imagine someone else singing it (perhaps a female) and it just might've been much better - probably needed more than the twenty minutes (he needed to prepare for it, that's asinine, and arrogant) it was given - he should've researched and studied the catalog better. Don't get me wrong, I like it but not sure it is explosive enough, nor good enough to call it a bond theme. I can't say that I enjoy Sam Smith (No offense to him, he does have a great voice, he's talented), but Bond songs should be sung straight up Broadway-style, no need for the whinny, "soul" vibrations .. at times the vocals even get annoying, goes from whiny to crying .. ugh ..sounds like it was rather written for Mariah Carey​ or Christina Aguilera​ .



Not going to be a musical Bond classic piece.. it's very very low on my list, and forgettable just like that other crap "Another way to die" by Alicia Keys​, and Jack White​ (for Quantum of Solace​)





I miss the maestro John Barry​, who knew what a Bond song sounds like!!


>>>VARIETY LINK

I couldn't agree with you more. There's no tension or sex appeal to the song; it's drippy and loaded with melancholia - not things that work as a 007 theme.

[vermeerf]

The song builds up to a climax...that never comes. Missed opportunity this song.

[Xxxxxx]

I am a huge Bond fan and I'm extremely disappointed. As was said above "The song builds up to a climax...that never comes" While Smith has a good voice, I'm not very fond of it. George Michael would have owned this song and given it a proper conclusion, as would have Lady GaGa or Lana Delrey

[methos6848]

Sept 25, 2015 21:49:15 GMT -5 Slim Khezri said:

They could have done it like in From Russia with Love​, or On Her Majesty's Secret Service​ .. just use the instrumental of "Writing’s on the Wall,” as title music, and have the full version with the whining for the end-credits.


>>>VARIETY LINK

You've struck upon something very interesting here Slim, which hadn't occurred to me, until I'd read your post. Given the hints at OHMSS we've gotten from the trailers for SPECTRE (the OHMSS theme itself pops up in the feature trailer), it might very well be the case that Sam Smith's dreadful song won't pop up until the end credits and, like OHMSS, we get an instrumental score for the post pre-title sequence credits. I wouldn't mind that at all.

Yet, I absolutely agree with all that's been said above. I couldn't even make it to the three minute mark, when I heard this tripe last night. It's easily the second worst Bond song, behind the dreadful 'Another Way To Die'. It's shamefully disappointing and I'm hoping this song isn't at all indicative of the film itself.

[Xxxxxx]

[/a][/quote]You've struck upon something very interesting here Slim, which hadn't occurred to me, until I'd read your post. Given the hints at OHMSS we've gotten from the trailers for SPECTRE (the OHMSS theme itself pops up in the feature trailer), it might very well be the case that Sam Smith's dreadful song won't pop up until the end credits and, like OHMSS, we get an instrumental score for the post pre-title sequence credits. I wouldn't mind that at all.[/quote]

I wouldn't bet on this

[Xxxxxx]

Although others are having the same thought. This is from a post over at Mi6-hq.com:

"The song would make a lot of sense as the end-credit-song.
Maybe they put an instrumental version for the title-sequence - like they did in FRWL."

[Xxxxxx]

Here is a great cover; this should be used in place of Smith's