There are certain things that one hears and thinks JAMES BOND. Whether it be quotes from the movie (“Shaken, not stirred.”) or his gadgets (Walther PPK, Aston Martin), you instantly associate them with 007. But, aside from the classic John Barry score, there is the theme song. Whether it be Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, or any of the other two dozen singers who have contributed title songs over the years, everyone identifies the film series with the music and ornate opening title sequences.
During Daniel Craig’s tenure, he has had two lackluster themes. For CASINO ROYALE, Chris Cornell lent a boring rock anthem that paled in comparison to the movie. For QUANTUM OF SOLACE, Jack White and Alicia Keys offered a better Bond song, but nothing that aspired to the classics of the Connery and Moore films. That trend looks to be broken for SKYFALL.
Adele has been spotted at Abbey Road studios recently and speculation has the Grammy winner as the voice we will always associate with SKYFALL. Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but the fact that Thomas Newman is currently scoring the film at the studios makes it seem likely. With SKYFALL scheduled to open in mere months, this seems pretty late in the game to be learning about the theme singer, but it is definitely a good choice if it turns out to be true.
Adele has that classic voice that sounds both contemporary as well as retro. The moment I heard her for the first time I thought of James Bond. We can likely expect to hear the track from Adele or whoever it may be before SKYFALL opens on November 9th.