After ranking the best Bond theme songs from the Sean Connery era, the Roger Moore era, the Timothy Dalton era, and the Pierce Brosnan era, here we are with the rankings of the Bond songs from the Daniel Craig era. Let’s dive right in!
The best Bond song from the Craig era was also the first to win the Oscar for Best Original song. Adelle’s powerful vocals on Skyfall put her right up there with Tina Turner and Shirley Bassey as the most important Bond Girls in the franchise’s history. Not only is the song fantastic, but the film arguably remains one of the best in the Craig era, on par with Casino Royale, and marked a strong return to form after Quantum of Solace.
The haunting theme from the upcoming No Time To Die sits at the #2 spot among Craig era theme songs. Though only just released, Billie Eilish’s entry feels like it will continue to hold up over the years. The song builds on Sam Smith’s styling (see our next pick) and certainly sets the stage for a tragic end to Craig’s run as 007. No doubt No Time To Die‘s theme song will be in the Oscar conversation once the film is finally released in theaters.
The second Oscar winner for Original Song in franchise history is our #3 pick in the Craig era. Sam Smith’s contribution to the series — Writing’s On The Wall from the film Spectre –also felt like a tragic set up for what was at that time supposed to be Daniel Craig’s final performance as Bond. Lest you think that knowing that No Time To Die is really, for real Craig’s final performance as 007 is coloring my ranking between our #2 and #3 theme songs, I can assure you that after spending way too much time listening to the two songs back to back to back for this piece that the Billie Eilish song is slightly better.
I like Chris Cornell’s music. I have no idea what’s going on here. Chris Cornell was never my choice for a Bond theme song. With You Know My Name from Casino Royale, he’s still not.
I like both Jack White and Alicia Keys’s music. I have no idea what’s going on here. While I would have loved Alicia Keys in a more Bassey-esque song, Jack White was never my choice for a Bond theme song. With Another Way To Die from Quantum of Solace, he’s still not.
Tomorrow, we’re taking all 25 Bond theme songs and giving you our definitive ranking of James Bond film theme songs. Where will each song we’ve ranked so far by era fall in the overall score? Where will we slot We Have All the Time In the World from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service? Come back tomorrow and find out!
