David Arnold
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Historically, David Arnold has been one of my favourite film composers, but the combination of being absent from feature films for so many years (he’s only done CONFESS, FLETCH [2022] in the years since PAUL [2011] in terms of solo-credit theatrical feature films) and my taste veering slightly in a different direction, means that he’s fallen a bit in my mental rankings. But I still love the 11 albums I have of him.
In either case, it seems he composed the new song for a James Bond videogame. I have no interest in Bond, but I have to admit it’s a solid composition, performed by Lana del Rey, that harkens back to his old work for the franchise.
Co-composed it with Lana del Rey actually according to the credits. It’s solid but somehow the chorus/hook lacks something for me… Not familiar with del Ray in general but I waited for here to take off a bit more…
The beginning sounds a bit like Shore’s “Gollum’s Song” using apparantly similar chord progressions but naturally that happens. Or do only I hear that?Btw, the 2nd time Arnold is involved in a Bond video game: GOLDENEYE RELOADED has “Themes by David Arnold – Music by Kevin Kiner” and he produced the new recording of the song.
Yeah, I had vaguely heard about that previous effort.
Lana del Rey (who is one of the few contemporary artists I like) isn’t really known for “belting it out” in the style of Shirley Bassey, but doing a more silky-smooth, dark and mysterious style. As in her lovely version of “Once Upon a Dream” in MALEFICENT.
Lana del Rey (who is one of the few contemporary artists I like) isn’t really known for “belting it out” in the style of Shirley Bassey, but doing a more silky-smooth, dark and mysterious style. As in her lovely version of “Once Upon a Dream” in MALEFICENT.
Yeah, that’s what I knew from here in general. But somehow expected a “surise belting” leaving her “comfort zone”
Btw, I was wrong, it’s the third time Arnold worked on a Bond video game score. He also did the theme (there is no song I think ) of OO7 LEGENDS which basically is an adaption of Barry. Score also by Kiner.
Apart from You Know My Name I am struggling a little with Arnold’s Bond song compositions. I absolutely adore his scores for Casino Royale and A Quantum Of Solace. But the songs he composed for his Bond scores like Surrender or this one miss a little the foundation of being foremost just a good song apart from being “bondish”. He knows well how to make a song sound like a Bond song. But I don’t think he is a great song writer.
I actually think “Surrender” is a great bond song and maybe his best witth You Know My Name (the official TOMORROW NEVER DIES of course misses the mark completely although not as much as Madonna’s ;-)).
STARGATE main theme sounds adapted from a piece from Tchaikowsky’s NUTCRACKER. I can not not hear that. Still it’s a nice score. But my favourite score of his is surely A QUANTUM OF SOLACE. It is kind of the ultimate modern Bond action score. Love it.
CASINO ROYALE is second. It might have the better themes and the better song. But it sometimes gets so noisy in the action tracks where AQOS stays well balanced.And by the way, I can’t stand INDEPENDANCE DAY.
Not a massive Arnold fan, but his 90s Bond scores are ok. And Play Dead from YOUNG AMERICANS is good.
Originally being in “Goldsmith experimental mode” I ditched STARGATE and INDEPENDENCE DAY back then as too traditional symphonic “we had it all before”. But since then I came to like both.
And Play Dead from YOUNG AMERICANS is good.
Indeed! I also like the Bond like theme song to RANDALL & HOPKIRK (DECEASED) performend by Nina Persson and co-written by Tim Simenon:
My favorite is probably indeed TOMORROW NEVER DIES as that was when I initially began to like him. CASINO ROYALE and QUANTUM OF SOLACE are also good as is his quite barry-esque LAST OF THE DOGMEN.
He also had a collaboration with oriental artist Natasha Atlas, who has also worked with Danny Elfman on HULK.
This song immediately reminded me a little of Play Dead.
At the pop songs I somehow see a 90s triphop ambiant angle just like Craig Armstrong. A little at least.
Yes, he also worked with her on the Bond cover album SHAKEN AND STIRRED.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZSYSu0oFCHere even the Proplellerheads loop that is also featured on the TOMORROW NEVER DIES track “Backseat Driver” comes from (I think the cover album was first but not sure).
That Nina Persson song reminds me of Grace Jones Piazzolla adaptation I’ve Seen That Face Before.
A bit I hear that. Maybe be a temp track or just coincidence. Arnolds RANDALL & HOPKIRK theme also pays a little reference to the original 60s theme (the series was a remake) by Edwin Astley:
This song immediately reminded me a little of Play Dead.
Interestingly there is a cover of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE by Björk that for unknown reasons was not on the album.
Interestingly there is a cover of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE by Björk that for unknown reasons was not on the album.
Aren’t you mixing that up with this one?
This one is on the “Natasha Atlas and David Arnold” ep.
Aren’t you mixing that up with this one?
No, I am referring to this one:
It was originally on some inoffical EPs/MCs but not included and as far as I know was never officially release:
https://www.discogs.com/release/5406782-Various-Bond-Songs
https://www.discogs.com/release/27744843-David-Arnold-James-BondArnold has a third GOOD OMENS soundtrack out. I’ve not seen a single episode of the show, or heard a note of the score, but it’s good that he’s keeping busy, I suppose.
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