We’re following up on yesterday’s piece ranking the Connery era Bond theme songs today by taking a look at the Roger Moore era Bond theme songs. Moore had the longest run in the tux, giving us seven songs to rank in order from best to worst. Do we slot your favorite at the top of our list?
We start our ranking of Moore era Bond films with the biggest Bond theme of all time, Duran Duran’s theme to Moore’s final turn as 007, A View To A Kill. While this was the first Bond film I ever saw, it’s not just nostalgia that drives this pick. A View To A Kill was the only Bond theme song to date to reach #1 (and one of only two Duran Duran songs to land in the top spot).
At #2 on our ranking of Moore era Bond theme songs is 70s hitmaker Carly Simon’s “sexy if you’re into yacht rock” Nobody Does It Better, the theme to The Spy Who Loved Me. The song earned the franchise it’s second Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, the first being our next entry on the list.
Damn, there were some strong songs during the Moore era. Coming in at #3 is Live and Let Die. When introducing a new actor to take over for Connery after his return in Diamonds Are Forever, EON took a big swing, tapping Paul McCartney and Wings to perform the theme song to Moore’s first film in the franchise. As mentioned, the song earned the series its first Best Original Song Oscar nomination.
While not the first song that immediately comes to mind when you’re talking Bond theme songs, Sheena Easton’s For Your Eyes Only is an underrated number. The song continued the franchise’s string of Oscar nominations for Best Original Song and cemented Easton as a star outside of her native United Kingdom. Though it falls squarely in the middle of the Moore era Bond theme songs, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad song at all.
At #5 in our Moore era rankings is Rita Coolidge with All Time High, the theme for the film Octopussy. Holy shit, did they love their “sexy yacht rock” in the late 70s and early 80s. The song feels like the love child of Nobody Does It Better and For Your Eyes Only, only not nearly as good as either. All Time High sounds like it would have been just as at home as the intro for some late 70s to early 80s hourlong TV drama. Seriously, listen to it with your eyes closed and tell me that’s not the intro to a New York or Chicago set cop show from 1983. Do you see the Crown Vic squad car rolling down the snowy city street? Yeah, me too.
At #6 among the Moore era Bond theme songs is Shirley Bassey’s third and final contribution to the series, Moonraker. The film marks the franchise’s hard left turn into sci-fi and camp. Whether that’s a good thing or not is up to the viewer, but for better or worse, Moonraker the film is entertaining. Unfortunately the song is completely flat and forgettable. Bassey deserved better in her swan song.
Last in today’s list — The Man With The Golden Gun. The instrumentals are pretty funky. Then Lulu starts singing. And for that, we’re sorry.
Check back tomorrow for our ranking of the Timothy Dalton era Bond theme songs!
