Since 1962 until now, the mysterious, martini-sipping spy James Bond has captivated audiences worldwide with his charm, intrigue, and daring escapades. But it’s the iconic music and the distinguishable theme that separates James Bond from other action-packed movies. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the history of James Bond music, exploring its birth, the artists who helped bring it to life, and the elements that make the James Bond theme so symbolic.

The Birth of the Bond Music

It all started when the composer Monty Norman presented his song “Good Sign, Bad Sign” to the producers of James Bond. Originally the song was written for a musical stage adaptation of an Indian novel.

Even though Norman made a few minor changes to the song, the producers still thought that the tune was heavy with Indian influence and wouldn’t be appreciated by a worldwide audience.

But then the English producer John Barry stepped in and saved the day, or more like helped shape one of the most influential and acclaimed songs in the history of music.

Barry gave the song an orchestral arrangement and just like that the “James Bond Theme” was created.

The song debuted in Dr. No (1962) and became synonymous with the character, opening and closing each film.

Iconic Bond Singers

From the dramatic tone of Shirley Bassey to the hauntingly beautiful voice of Billie Eilish, every artist has helped build the legendary James Bond music.

Here are a few artists that, in my opinion, are notable:

1.     Shirley Bassey

How can I not mention Shirley Bassey with her iconic performance on “Diamonds Are Forever”? But Bassey has not one, not two, but three James Bond theme songs.

a.     “Goldfinger” from the film Goldfinger (1964)

b.     "Diamonds Are Forever" from the film Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

c.     "Moonraker" from the film Moonraker (1979) 

2.     Nancy Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra gives her own unique touch to the Bond song “You Only Live Twice” (1967). She doesn’t follow in the steps of Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey before her. Instead, she gives a more gentle and graceful touch to it. 

3.     Tina Turner

In her performance of “GoldenEye” (1995), Tina Turner gives it her all. She is bold, mysterious, and her vocals at the end of the chorus are dauntless.

4.     Billie Eilish

It was her dream to write and sing a James Bond song, and Billie Eilish managed to do that at the age of 18 with her brother by her side. “No Time To Die” (2020) is the perfect example of a Bond song as it contains plenty of the motifs, the high piano notes, and chorus strings. Her melancholic voice only adds to the greatness of the song.   

What Makes a Perfect James Bond Song

But what is it that gives the James Bond songs that perfect spy feeling? That unites these songs from totally different eras.

According to Meredith Geaghan-Breiner, a video journalist who focuses on illustrating technical aspects of film and music production, with the help of Jon Burlingame, a film-music historian and author of The Music of James Bond, there are three key elements:

1)    The Instruments:

Let’s start from the beginning. The “James Bond Theme”. And here comes the importance of the brilliant composer John Barry. He is the one who brought jazz, rock, and orchestra together and created the instrumental template for Bond music.

Who hasn’t heard the classical:

#Da, da, da-da# #Da da da#

After being shot by Sean Connery.

And we hear all those brassy instruments merging with a full orchestra in all the James Bond themes songs. Even the ones that seem to stray from that Bond theme, like Madonna’s song “Die Another Day”. It’s more electronic but is still based on John Barry’s template, recorded with a 60-string orchestra.

2)    The Suspense Motif:

The suspense motif is the graceful rising and falling line. It’s a descending, often repeated four-note motif that started from Goldfinger and the composer John Barry. Essentially, it’s what gives the Bond theme that enthralling sound.

The motif is used in almost every Bond movie.

3)    The James Bond Chord:

The “James Bond Chord” or “Spy Chord” or “007 Chord” was first featured in the very first Bond movie, Dr. No. It was created by John Barry and performed by the guitarist maestro Vic Flick.

It is the last chord of the theme and it consists of more than three notes.     

**Fun fact: It’s also the last chord of the Pink Panther theme song.**

It is what makes the theme mysterious and dangerous.

In conclusion, the enduring allure of James Bond transcends its cinematic brilliance. The symphonic genius of John Barry, coupled with iconic performances by singers like Shirley Bassey and modern greats like Billie Eilish, has crafted a musical legacy. The harmonious blend of instruments, the suspense motif, and the enigmatic "James Bond Chord" collectively define a timeless, espionage-inspired musical experience.

Hello! My name is Eirini Katsika (but you can call me Rena). I studied Film and Television back home in Greece, and I am currently in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College in Canada (a long way from home.)

Now the good stuff. I grew up in a very music-friendly house. My mother introduced me to classical and opera music. And yes, I still love classical music. It’s great for cooking. I also have an older brother who is obsessed with rock and metal music, so I did go through that phase.

I took piano and electric guitar lessons, which sounds cool, but I can’t remember anything.

I am currently into house and Lofi music but I’m open to anything.