5 best James Bond theme songs
<p>There are few cultural icons as beloved as James Bond and the incredible cinematic adventures he’s had over the last 54 years, and as legendary as the actors who played 007 are, the theme songs behind the wildly popular films are just as memorable. Whether you’re a fan of Shirley Bassey’s classics or more recent Bond hits, you’ll love counting down these iconic songs with us.</p>
<p><strong>5. “A View to a Kill” by Duran Duran</strong></p>
<p>This hit song, recorded for the 1985 film of the same name starring Roger Moore as Bond, was the only 007 theme to reach number one in the US. Written and performed by Duran Duran, the very-1980s tune succeeded in working around the somewhat nonsensical title, actually making it work. The English new-wave band reportedly only got the job after their bassist drunkenly asked a Bond producer, “When are you going to get someone decent to do one of your theme songs?”</p>
<p><strong>4. “Skyfall” by Adele</strong></p>
<p>One of the most recent 007 themes, Adele’s “Skyfall” is the perfect modern take on the grandeur and drama of Bassey’s classics. It climbed to the top of the iTunes chart when it was released in 2012 and was the only Bond theme to win an Oscar, Golden Globe and a Brit Award. If you listen back to the song closely, you’ll notice its lyrics offer a glimpse at what’s to come later in the film: “Skyfall is where we start…”</p>
<p><strong>3. “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon</strong></p>
<p>From the 1977 film <em>The Spy Who Loved Me</em> starring Roger Moore, Simon’s hit song earnt her nominations for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Laden with sexual overtones, “Nobody Does It Better” is one of the smuttier 007 themes, but we love it all the same. In recent years, it’s appeared in films like <em>Mr. & Mrs. Smith</em>,<em> Lost in Translation</em> and <em>Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason</em> and has been covered by such artists as Julie Andrews, Celine Dion and Radiohead.</p>
<p><strong>2. “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings</strong></p>
<p>Written by Paul and Linda McCartney and produced by the iconic George Martin, “Live and Let Die” is often cited as McCartney’s greatest non-Beatles work. Recorded for the Roger Moore film of the same name, the song peaked in the top 10 in Australia, the UK, the US and Canada, and returned to the charts once more in 1991 when it was covered by Guns N’ Roses. Rolling Stone calls it, “one of those rare tunes that's worth the price of admission all by itself.”</p>
<p><strong>1. “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey</strong></p>
<p>Could there be any other theme song in the top spot? Bassey is the undeniable voice of the Bond film series, and as much as we love “Diamonds are Forever”, “Goldfinger” is simply iconic. Released more than 50 years ago, we think it’s just as wonderful as ever. In 2013 at the age of 76, Bassey asserted herself once more as the queen of 007 theme songs with a stunning performance at the Oscars. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eszhV1M3Dk8#t=3m12s" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Click here</span></strong></a> to watch it, she’s utterly incredible.</p>
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