William Simon sent me this link to a Chris Cornell song "You Know My Name" from for the new 007 movie CASINO ROYALE. I hope this isn’t actually the theme song…because if it is, it’s the dullest 007 title tune since Garbage’s "The World is Not Enough."
I think you’re out of luck, Lee. It’s got all the musical elements of your basic Bond title song. Except for the most basic of all: the title of the movie is not the title of the song. Although I didn’t expect them to have someone singing “Casino Royale”–even though the Peter Sellers original did–after Tina Turner’s “Goldeneye,” which for me was the lamest in recent memory. Cheryl Crow’s gets a close second since I can’t even remember the name of it. Probably doesn’t speak well for the Bond flick attached to it as well.
This is actually the third version of the song. The first was lambasted on Bond forums; the second a little better recieved as it has orchestra elements and made it sound like a Bond song; this third is a return to the hard-rock approach, and it’s not as good as the second version.
I like it.
Ouch.
The song doesn’t do anything for me.
I liked Goldeneye, but let’s be honest, that’s not Tina Turner’s song: Bono and The Edge wrote that song. That’s really like a lost U2 track.
Which makes me giddy inside.
I want to hear the orchestral track.
Let’s face it. If it’s Bond and it ain’t John Barry, it’s got the forget-me stamp on its forehead.
Unless it’s Live and Let Die, that is.
Here’s the deal with the song. I don’t particularly like it, but I love what it shows about the movie. I’ve read about it:
The rising bass line in the song is supposed to indicate a precursor to the infamous Bond theme. The title, “You Know My Name”, while not “Casino Royale” speaks strongly of Bond, before he’s bond. The lyrics itself are focused around the thematic elements of the movie.
That’s stuff I picked up from interviews with the composer of the movie, who co-wrote this song. It’s not that I love the song (I don’t), it’s that it speaks of a great attention to detail that hopefully will be present in the rest of the film.
Did David Arnold do the score again?
Yes.
I’d like to hear Michael Giacchino do a Bond movie.
Probably the most unmemorable Bond themes are the ones I don’t remember — e.g., “The Living Daylights,” which I think was by A-Ha. Most annoying to me was Madge’s “Die Another Day.” I actually liked “The World is Not Enough” — it had a touch of Shirley Bassey brassiness to it, in my opinion.
I liked K.D. Lang’s original TOMORROW NEVER DIES title song (aka SURRENDER)…which later became the end title tune when they got Sheryl Crow do an original song instead. IMHO, the Lang version was much better. The movie score was built around the Lang song in true John Barry style…her theme reprises through the film, the same way Shirley Bassey’s scrapped MR KISS KISS BANG BANG is reprised throughout THUNDERBALL (her song was scrapped for a Tom Jones song at the last minute).
“You Know My Name” reminds me of the theme from SNAKES ON A PLANE. Not a compliment.
I love “The World is Not Enough” — in fairness, Garbage has been a Top 5 band for me since they debuted. Still, I think it’s a quality song, and still listen to it occasionally on my Mp3 player.