The Bond Whisperer
Posted on 02/13/2020 9:51:02 PM PST by BenLurkin
The more anachronistic the character of Bond became, the more the producers attempted to appeal to a younger audience through music. In recent years, they’ve tried everything from grunge (the late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell) to Madonna to an awkward duet between Jack White and Alicia Keys. But even so, commissioning Billie Eilish seems striking: it tells you as much about the 18-year-old’s ascent to the kind of artist your grandparents have heard of as it does the Bond franchise’s desire to appear hip.
Like her cover of Yesterday at the Oscars ceremony, No Time to Die sees Eilish taking a respectful approach. There’s a sense that this may all be part of a concerted effort to broaden her appeal to more mature audiences. It’s a moot point whether such an effort is really necessary – her multi-platinum debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? won praise from quarters that don’t ordinarily take much interest in music that appeals to teenage girls – but either way, the glitchy electronics of that record have vanished here, replaced by tasteful orchestration and nods to Bond tunes past.
There’s a vague hint of the opening of Diamonds Are Forever about the intro, an interpolation from Monty Norman’s James Bond theme and a guitar part that carries a distinct echo of Vic Flick’s iconic twang. Yet Eilish has stamped her own identity on the song. The tendency for vocalists tackling a Bond theme is to belt it out, as if in homage to the most famous Bond singer of the lot: Shirley Bassey is known for many things, but subtle understatement isn’t among them. Eilish, however, opts for her standard close-mic approach in which surliness does battle with vulnerability.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
No Time To Die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oAAlssVwEw
Can’t get into her music at all. Or her persona.
I liked the young singer ‘Lorde’ from New Zealand who is somewhat similar musically and style wise. (Far less dark though lyrically.) But she hasn’t struck the same chord with the general public perhaps because of the aforementioned difference.
Also like Lana Del Rey (who also gets compared to Billie.) But yeah...can’t get through the latter’s songs! Something about them. *shrug*
Eilish delivers this Bond theme in a remarkably mature manner. (Though at the start it is somewhat reminiscent of Emiliana Torrini’s haunting “Gollum’s Song”)
The only Eilish only song I was familiar with was this catchy (albeit tawdry) single:
“Bad Guy”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-TbQnONe_w
Thought she was going to be a “one hit wonder”
This was quite good, better than I expected from her. Her voice is remarkably haunting and sad here. Makes me think of Bond dying, which I assume happens. Hanz Zimmer did a nice job with the orchestration.
Agreed 100%
“ Makes me think of Bond dying, which I assume happens.”
So the producers want to kill the franchise?
James Bond is a legend which any properly trained agent can assume. otherwise there would not have been what, 4 or 5 different actors playing the role?
Lorde is talented...”Lorde covers Jeremih’s Don’t Tell ‘Em in the Live Lounge” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCSmROshIsQ
If it’s not James Bond, it’s not James Bond. Napoleon Solo wasn’t James Bond and neither is Jason Bourne.
I like the song and video to Bad Guy.
Weird Al Yankovich needs to do “I’m the Bald Guy”
I'll take Lana.
She’ll be nowhere in a few years. Her parents are both rich and in the industry..have label connections. Typical nepotism. There are tons more interesting and talented people out there trying to make it who don’t have mommy and daddy’s friends to help them. There has been a clear mass marketing push for this chick.
The Bond Whisperer
I did not enjoy her rendition of Yesterday. And I really don’t enjoy her persona. Maybe she will have lasting effect, but I don’t see it. I don’t think she is a wunderkind. JMHO.
No one can compare to Shirley Bassey
THAT’S the new James Bond theme song? Lordy! I hope the movie isn’t as boring as the opening music. Holy moly!
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