For most artists, creating the theme song for a James Bond movie is nothing but a dream since, besides the films, the theme songs have also had lives of their own, often making it into the top 100 charts. Almost everyone has a favorite Bond theme song, and apparently, Justin Hawkins’ pick would be Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does It Better’ for 1977’s ‘The Spy Who Loved Me,’ and here is why!
“I kind of know this arrangement inside out. I love the orchestral elements, too. Marvin Hamlisch has done an awesome job all over this soundtrack,” revealed Hawkins on a recent episode of his Justin Hawkins Rides Again show. “Listen to this, there’s a pedal going on, there’s some other cool stuff, and the violins are up… It’s just building and pulling you in and making you feel awesome. Isn’t this one of the most uplifting of the Bond themes? Surely.”
“There’s a, what was that thing called when the arrangement, when it’s a fluke leaf layoff? I don’t know, I forgot now what it’s called, but there are several different kinds of melodic ideas over the song that are harmonically sympathetic with the chords happening there,” continued Hawkins explaining the details that make the theme song his favorite.
He added, “Then they’re laying on top of one another, and it works; it’s genius when that happens. And then the trumpet comes in; listen, I’m not sure why I’m doing this, I was doing the trombone; that’s where I went wrong, actually. The fade, oh my God, it’s awesome. What a brilliant song, so there you have it, the best, in my opinion, James Bond theme song.”
It’s no small task to be a part of a James Bond film, and it sure does come with its rewards, including an Oscar. Several Bond theme songs like ‘No Time to Die,’ ‘Skyfall,’ and ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ have won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Besides all the glitz and the glam, being a part of the history of films is a privilege in and of itself. But back to Hawkin’s pick, even though it didn’t win an Oscar, it was the first time a Bond theme song was titled differently from the name of the film since Dr. No, which makes it unique.
