BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
With the opening of a new James Bond movie – “Spectre,” Friday, quite good – comes a new debate about the best Bond themes of all time.
What we all knew instantly is that Sam Smith’s tepid, tuneless ballad for this installment, “Writing’s on the Wall,” is destined to top the majority of worst-ever Bond themes lists in years to come.
Oh, heck, let’s just go ahead and put it there now.
And trust me, it is no better when played on movie theater speakers over the artsy opening credits of the film.
Even though there are 24 themes ripe for ranking, let’s keep this simple. Here are the Top 5 songs, according to me. You will likely disagree, so please share your thoughts in the comments section.
Oh, and yes, I’m completely disregarding the wretched late-‘90s-to-early-‘00s period that brought us forgettable entries from Sheryl Crow, Garbage and Madonna.
5. "Skyfall," Adele (2012, "Skyfall") – It's lush and ethereal with just a hint of eeriness – the perfect tone for this pensive film.
4. "Live and Let Die," Paul McCartney and Wings (1973, "Live and Let Die") – While it's aged better as a live spectacle (those fireworks!), there is no denying the well-timed musical punches that prompt us to whack the steering wheel every single time.
3. "Goldfinger," Shirley Bassey (1964, "Goldfinger") – It's sexy and swinging and with Bassey belting, does anyone doubt that you're being beckoned to enter a web of sin?
2. "A View to a Kill," Duran Duran (1985, "A View to a Kill") – Striking synthesizers and Simon Le Bon's typically theatrical delivery makes this taut, tense contender a Bond beauty -- and it's still the only Bond theme to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1. "Nobody Does it Better," Carly Simon (1977, "The Spy Who Loved Me") - Clearly, I'm a sucker for Marvin Hamlisch/Carole Bayer Sager compositions. But Simon's liquid vocals with just a hint of an ache convince us that Bond really was the best, baby.
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