Why Skyfall Is The Best James Bond Theme Song

Why Skyfall Is The Best James Bond Theme Song

With over 20 different themes for 24 different movies, there’s one that stands distinctly higher than the rest: Adele’s Skyfall.

You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]

Why Skyfall Is The Best James Bond Theme Song

After 57 years of iconic films and iconic songs, Adele’s Skyfall still remains the best Bond theme to ever grace the silver screen. Last week saw the release of Billie Eilish’s haunting and soulful track for No Time To Die, the upcoming 25th Bond film, starring English actor Daniel Craig in the titular role. Craig’s run as Bond started back in 2006 with Martin Campbell’s gritty and grounded Casino Royale and will conclude when No Time To Die hits theaters on April 10, 2020.

Out of the four released Bond films starring Daniel Craig, none of them have been quite as successful as 2012’s Skyfall. Directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall was met with both critical and commercial acclaim, quickly becoming not only the highest grossing film in the James Bond series, but the only film in the series to cross $1 billion at the box office. Skyfall was praised for its moody atmosphere, standout ensemble cast, Sam Mendes’s bombastic direction, and its humanistic approach to the title character with a Bond whose age and experiences are finally catching up to him.

However, one of the biggest factors of Skyfall’s success was the stunning theme recorded by English singer and songwriter Adele. Hot off the heels of her second studio album 21, Adele was personally invited to write the theme by the producers of the Bond franchise, Eon Productions, after she was recommended by the President of Music at Sony Pictures, Lia Vollack. Despite reportedly writing the lyrics for the song in 10 minutes, the production of Skyfall took 18 months to complete, from first meeting with the singer to the time of the song’s release. Released on October 5, 2012, the song was instantly met with critical acclaim and became not only one of the best-selling digital singles of all time, but the first Bond theme to ever win Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. Alongside these accolades, there are many factors that make it the best Bond theme ever written.

See also  Johnny English Strikes Again Review Johnny Shouldve Stayed Retired

For starters, Adele and producer Paul Epworth began the composition process by watching and studying the first thirteen James Bond films. Epworth believed that there was a unifying element in the structure of each song from the films that made them instantly recognizable as James Bond themes. After months of deep diving and searching, Epworth finally identified that unifying factor as a “minor ninth used as the harmonic code” that all thirteen original Bond themes shared. Epworth and Adele then took this structural similarity and turned it into the very backbone of the instrumental element of Skyfall. This gives the theme that classic, 60’s jazz quality that’s shared by many of the early iconic James Bond songs, while at the same time allowing it to feel fresh by reinventing the structure in a unique way.

The song also makes distinct and powerful usage of Adele’s vocal range. Adele is listed as a mezzo-soprano, with a vocal range that extends from a C3 to a B5. However, for Skyfall, Adele’s vocal range extends an entire octave, from a low note of G3 to a high note of G5. This allowed the song to have a distinct quality apart from the rest of Adele’s discography, while also still making sure that it was a track that could have only been embodied by a singer of Adele’s talent. Adele cites her pregnancy at the time as the reason why the song has such a low register, but regardless of the circumstance, this contributes to the song’s sultry and sinister feel.

Finally, Skyfall’s lyrics are intentionally clever in that they hint at the themes and subject matter of the film without being too overt. Adele only agreed to write the song after reading the plot of the film, which she reportedly “fell in love with.” Her and Paul Epworth wanted to craft a song that felt like a dramatic ballad, while also incorporating the film’s themes of death and rebirth. The result is a heavily allegorical track, one that hints at the journey Bond is forced along in the film. This and a multitude of other factors sets Adele’s Skyfall apart from the rest and solidifies it as the best Bond theme ever recorded and a staple of pop culture eight years later.

See also  Harry Potter 10 Ways David Yates Changed The Film Series For The Better

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/skyfall-best-james-bond-theme-song-reasons-why/

Movies -