Ever tried to hum a tune that feels like a tuxedo and a martini? That’s the power of 007. For over sixty years, the James Bond theme songs list has been more than just a soundtrack; it’s a cultural thermometer. One year we’re getting moody, minimalist jazz, and the next, it’s a high-octane synth-pop anthem that sounds like the 1980s exploded.
Kinda wild when you think about it.
Some of these tracks are permanent residents on "Best of All Time" lists. Others? Honestly, they’re a bit of a mess. But whether you love the soaring brass of Shirley Bassey or the whispering melancholy of Billie Eilish, there’s a weird, fascinating history behind how these songs actually made it to the screen.
The Official James Bond Theme Songs List (1962–2021)
Let's just get the chronological lineup out of the way first. It’s a long road from the surf-guitar riffs of the sixties to the Oscar-winning ballads of the modern era.
- Dr. No (1962): "The James Bond Theme" – John Barry & Orchestra (Written by Monty Norman)
- From Russia with Love (1963): "From Russia with Love" – Matt Monro
- Goldfinger (1964): "Goldfinger" – Shirley Bassey
- Thunderball (1965): "Thunderball" – Tom Jones
- You Only Live Twice (1967): "You Only Live Twice" – Nancy Sinatra
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" – John Barry Orchestra
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971): "Diamonds Are Forever" – Shirley Bassey
- Live and Let Die (1973): "Live and Let Die" – Paul McCartney & Wings
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974): "The Man with the Golden Gun" – Lulu
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977): "Nobody Does It Better" – Carly Simon
- Moonraker (1979): "Moonraker" – Shirley Bassey
- For Your Eyes Only (1981): "For Your Eyes Only" – Sheena Easton
- Octopussy (1983): "All Time High" – Rita Coolidge
- A View to a Kill (1985): "A View to a Kill" – Duran Duran
- The Living Daylights (1987): "The Living Daylights" – A-ha
- Licence to Kill (1989): "Licence to Kill" – Gladys Knight
- GoldenEye (1995): "GoldenEye" – Tina Turner
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): "Tomorrow Never Dies" – Sheryl Crow
- The World Is Not Enough (1999): "The World Is Not Enough" – Garbage
- Die Another Day (2002): "Die Another Day" – Madonna
- Casino Royale (2006): "You Know My Name" – Chris Cornell
- Quantum of Solace (2008): "Another Way to Die" – Jack White & Alicia Keys
- Skyfall (2012): "Skyfall" – Adele
- Spectre (2015): "Writing's on the Wall" – Sam Smith
- No Time to Die (2021): "No Time to Die" – Billie Eilish
What Most People Get Wrong About the 007 Sound
You’d think the "Bond Sound" is just loud trumpets. It’s not. It’s actually built on a very specific piece of music theory called the "minor-major 9th chord." If you play an E minor triad and add a major 7th and a 9th, you get that "spy" tension instantly.
John Barry was the architect. Even though Monty Norman is officially credited with writing the original theme—leading to decades of legal battles—Barry was the one who arranged it into the surf-rock masterpiece we know. He understood that Bond needs to sound dangerous, not just heroic.
The Shirley Bassey Factor
You can't talk about a James Bond theme songs list without bowing down to Shirley Bassey. She's the only artist to record three themes. When she recorded Goldfinger, she reportedly nearly fainted holding that final high note. She had to take off her bra to get enough air in her lungs. That’s commitment to the craft.
The Chart Toppers
Surprisingly, most Bond songs didn't actually hit #1.
In the US, only Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" ever reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Even Adele's Skyfall peaked at #8 in the States.
In the UK, the drought was even longer. No Bond theme hit #1 in Britain until Sam Smith’s "Writing’s on the Wall" in 2015, followed immediately by Billie Eilish.
The Rejected Tracks: What Could Have Been
The history of Bond music is littered with "what ifs." Producers are notoriously picky.
Take Thunderball. Before Tom Jones stepped in, Shirley Bassey recorded a song called "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." The producers worried it wouldn't work because it didn't have the movie title in the lyrics. Then they tried Dionne Warwick. Rejected again. Finally, they asked Tom Jones to record a new song with the title Thunderball in it. He reportedly passed out in the booth after hitting the final note. Apparently, singing for Bond is an aerobic exercise.
Radiohead famously submitted a track for Spectre. The producers turned it down for being too "melancholy." They went with Sam Smith instead. Radiohead eventually released their song, "Spectre," for free on Christmas Day, and many fans still think it’s better than the one we got.
Johnny Cash once wrote a country-western version for Thunderball. It’s... interesting. You can find it on YouTube. It sounds like Bond is about to enter a high-noon duel in the Mojave rather than a scuba fight in the Bahamas.
Why "Nobody Does It Better" Broke the Rules
In 1977, the franchise took a massive risk. For The Spy Who Loved Me, they didn't name the song after the movie. Instead, Carly Simon sang "Nobody Does It Better."
It was a power ballad. It was soft. It was romantic.
Traditionalists hated the idea, but it became one of the biggest hits in the franchise's history. It proved that a Bond theme could be a standalone radio hit without screaming the movie's title every thirty seconds. This paved the way for modern hits like Skyfall and No Time to Die, which focus on the character's internal turmoil rather than just the plot.
Actionable Insights for Bond Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the music of 007, don't just stick to the main titles. The real "expert" moves involve checking out the secondary scores.
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- Listen to "007 Theme": Not the main theme, but the secondary "action" theme John Barry wrote for From Russia with Love. It’s a banger.
- Find the "David Arnold" Era: If you like the modern sound, check out David Arnold’s work on the Pierce Brosnan films. He blended techno with the classic orchestra in a way that defined the late '90s.
- Watch the Documentaries: "The Sound of 007" (2022) is a great look at the recording sessions. You get to see Hans Zimmer and Billie Eilish breaking down the mechanics of the "Bond Chord."
- Compare Rejections: Queue up Radiohead’s "Spectre" right after Sam Smith’s version. It’s a great lesson in how different artists interpret the same "vibe."
The James Bond theme songs list will keep growing. Whoever takes over after Daniel Craig will need a new sound. Will it be Dua Lipa? Maybe a return to rock with someone like Muse (who basically auditioned with their song "Supremacy")? Whatever happens, it has to have that minor-major 9th chord. Without it, it’s just a pop song. With it, it’s a license to kill.