CINEMATIC 007 -- Head of Section offers up his personal top five rejected Bond songs, by artists including The Beach Boys, Alice Cooper, Blondie, Johnny Cash, and others. This is only an exhibition, not a competition, so please, no wagering.
TOP 5 REJECTED JAMES BOND SONGS:
Opening:
• Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – Dionne Warwick
• Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – Shirley Bassey
Other Remakes:
• You Only Live Twice – Julie Rodgers
• Goldfinger – Anthony Newley
Notable Rejected:
• You Only Live Twice – The Beach Boys
• The Living Daylights – Pet Shop Boys
• Goldeneye – Ace of Base
Alternate Titles:
• Tomorrow Never Lies – Pulp
• Beyond The Ice – Red Flag
Oddest Entries:
• For Your Eyes Only – Blondie
• The Man With the Golden Gun – Alice Cooper
• Thunderball – Johnny Cash
Runners Up:
• Quantum of Solace – Shirley Bassey
• Forever, I Am All Yours (Quantum of Solace) – Eva Almer
• Spectre – Radiohead
Top 5:
5. Sleep with Me Tonight (Casino Royale) – Sandra
4. The World Is Not Enough – Straw
3. The World Is Not Enough – Amar
2. Tomorrow Never Dies – Swan Lee
1. Tomorrow Never Dies – Saint Etienne
Hi
Just found the Rejected Themes video on YouTube and found my way here.
Firstly 100% agree with you about k d lang’s Surrender – might actually be my favourite theme ‘full stop’ – easily equal to Shirley Bassey at her finest.
And on the subject of the Dame, No Good About Goodbye is just beautiful. I’ve heard it suggested that it was never proposed for ‘Quantum’ but I find that hard to believe, especially as the motif is spread liberally through the film score. (Anthony Newley recorded a song called ‘What’s Good About Goodbye’ released a few years before Goldfinger – I wonder if David Arnold stumbled on it while he was researching Shaken and Stirred.)
And on the subject of ‘Quantum’, have you ever heard the rejected Amy Winehouse song? Someone overlaid her cover of Donny Hathaway ‘s ‘A Song For You’ on the titles of ‘Skyfall’ – it fits beautifully and only gives us a hint of what might have been. I can’t find it anymore on YouTube but try it for yourself – Just hit ‘Play’ as M looks out the window.
Anyway the real reason I was getting in contact was to check that you knew that Sarah Cracknell, the lead singer of St Etienne, was Derek Cracknell’s daughter… of course you did.
Now, when are they finally going to ask Caro Emerald to record a theme?