Duran Duran's James Bond Theme Voted Best Ever By Fans In Gigwise survey
by Jason Gregory
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Duran Duran's theme tune for the James Bond film A View To Kill has been voted the best ever by fans.
The song, which shared its title with the 1985 film, came top ahead of Shirley Bassey's 'Goldfinger' and 'Live and Let Die' by Paul McCartney & Wings in the Gigwise survey.
Carly Simon's 'Nobody Does It Better' – from The Spy Who Loved Me – was fourth, while another of Bassey's Bond themes, 'Diamonds Are Forever', came in at five.
The James Bond theme has become one of the most coveted recording tasks of in all of film.
Duran Duran were originally chosen to record the theme for A View To Kill – written in collaboration with composer John Barry - after bassist John Taylor approached director Cubby Broccoli at a party.
The track sees the band's trademark 80s electro collide with the lavish and sophisticated cunning found in many of the franchise's theme songs.
Other artists whose songs made the top-ten in the Gigwise survey included Nancy Sinatra and Tina Turner.
Meanwhile, Jack White and Alicia Keys' track for the new Bond movie Quantum of Solace rounded off the top-ten.
The song, entitled 'Another Way To Die', has already proved popular with Bond fans ahead of the movie's UK release tomorrow.
22. Rita Coolidge: 'All Time High' (Octopussy, 1983)
21. Lulu: 'The Man With The Golden Gun' (The Man With The Golden Gun, 1974)
20. Sheryl Crow: 'Tomorrow Never Dies' (Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997)
19. A-Ha: 'The Living Daylights' (The Living Daylights, 1987)
18. Sheena Easton: 'For Your Eyes Only' (For Your Eyes Only, 1981)
17. Garbage: 'The World Is Not Enough' (The World Is Not Enough, 1999)
16. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires: 'Kingston Calypso' (Dr. No, 1962)
15. Chris Cornell: 'You Know My Name' (Casino Royale, 2006)
14. Madonna: 'Die Another Day' (Die Another Day, 2002)
13. Gladys Knight: 'Licence To Kill' (Licence To Kill, 1989)
12. Tom Jones: 'Thunderball' (Thunderball, 1965)
11. Shirley Bassey: 'Moonraker' (Moonraker, 1979)
10. Jack White & Alicia Keys: 'Another Way To Die' (Quantum Of Solace, 2008)
9. Tina Turner: 'GoldenEye' (GoldenEye, 1995)
8. Louis Armstrong: 'We Have All The Time In The World' (On Her Majesty's Secret Service, 1969)
7. Matt Monro: 'From Russia With Love' (From Russia With Love, 1963)
6. Nancy Sinatra: 'You Only Live Twice' (You Only Live Twice, 1967)
5. Shirley Bassey: 'Diamonds Are Forever' (Diamonds Are Forever, 1971)
4. Carly Simon: 'Nobody Does It Better' (The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977)
3. Paul McCartney & Wings: 'Live And Let Die' (Live And Let Die, 1973)
2. Shirley Bassey: 'Goldfinger' (Goldfinger, 1964)
1. Duran Duran: 'A View To A Kill' (A View To A Kill, 1985) – The song was penned by John Barry alongside the band themselves, ensuring that it had an imprint from both sides – the 60 piece orchestra and grand arrangements of Barry together with the pop sensibilities of Duran Duran. The song appears at the zenith of our list no doubt thanks to Duran Duran's enduring popularity and hardcore fan base.
