Chris Cornell talks 'Casino Royale' and Bond themes

JamesPageJamesPage Administrator, Moderator, Director
edited September 2011 in News Posts: 1,380
Soundgarden frontman, Seattle rock icon, and "Casino Royale" title song writer/performer Chris Cornell spoke to <a href="http://www.craveonline.com/music/interviews/174684-chris-cornell-interview"; target="_blank">CraveOnline</a> at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was asked a few questions about his 007 involvement for "You Know My Name".

<a href="http://www.craveonline.com/music/interviews/174684-chris-cornell-interview"; target="_blank">Click here to read the complete interview</a>.

CraveOnline: When you’re asked to do a James Bond song, what are the rules they give you?

Chris Cornell: Well, in the instance of Casino Royale, the theme was this is different. It’s different from any Bond film ever. So just go do whatever you want and do it differently. Don’t worry about any previous Bond theme. That was hard in that I’ve always had a hard time with if I’m doing anything and it can be anything, then I have to figure out what that thing is.

CraveOnline: There is a certain sound a Bond song has.

Chris Cornell: Yes, it’s true and I went out of my way, I worked with David Arnold on writing and producing the song. We went out of our way to avoid anything that could sound like that and still at the end of the process, it had a bit of that essence.

CraveOnline: Is the mix in the movie different than the mix on the CD?

Chris Cornell: Yeah, which is also the case of Machine Gun Preacher. It’s a different world when you’re sitting in a movie theater. It’s a different pattern that you’re listening to and it has to do a different job than if you’re listening to it on the radio or at home or something without the film.

CraveOnline: As a fan, could we get the film mix of You Know My Name as a single?

Chris Cornell: It could be. I don’t know if it’d sound very good.

CraveOnline: I like it on the Blu-ray.

Chris Cornell: There are several different ones. My favorite mix actually was the Dave Sardy mix that we did that I had to do just for a radio mix. It’s orchestral but you highlight certain parts of it and take out parts of it that I thought were really exciting. I could if it hasn’t been done in any form release the final movie mix.

CraveOnline: What do you think of Adele for the next Bond song?

Chris Cornell: It’s a great idea. It’s a great idea. She’d be perfect.

Comments

  • 001001
    Posts: 1,575
    Chris did a great job with You know my name. Great song.
  • WillardWhyteWillardWhyte Midnight Society #ProjectMoon
    Posts: 784
    I really enjoy his theme, one of the best the series has to offer.
  • Posts: 2,107
    I still get good feeling when I hear someone performing this song. Usually some rockstar always plays this one in the summer.
  • Posts: 2,341
    I really liked this song. It was such a refreshing relief after the crappy songs from Brosnan's final three films. The visuals were also very cool. Binder's nudes were not missed and the silhoutted figures fighting over Chris screaming those lyics: "ARM YOURSELF BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE HERE WILL SAVE YOU..."
  • What better way to do a Bond theme than have the lead artist from Soundgarden come along and put together a worthwhile effort, that is not only catchy and easy to listen to, but fits in perfectly with the Craig debut, just cold serious and sensible music, no 'strangling a cat' or abysmal effors aimed at a fourteen year old audience, it was a welcome relief, and remains the best 007 theme intro in recent years since Tomorrow Never Dies, it was a fine effort
  • Posts: 268
    Haha I love how they said to him that This will be different. Just do whatever you want.

    And then he goes and creates a theme which sounds like all the old good ones mixed together :P
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Someone did a great job cutting this montage set to 'You Know My Name'

  • Posts: 1,548
    Briilliant them tune. A million times better than Jack Black's theme tune although Adele's number ha snow got my vote as the best of the Dan Craig golden era.
  • Posts: 1,511
    The montage illustrates just how good Cornell's song is. Easily one of the very best Bond songs ever. Gets the blood pumping, unlike so much of the weaker fare.
  • Posts: 2,107
    LeChiffre wrote:
    Briilliant them tune. A million times better than Jack Black's theme tune although Adele's number ha snow got my vote as the best of the Dan Craig golden era.

    Don't you mean Jack White?

    jack-white.jpg
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  • That video was beyond awesome. I really do like this whole "James Bond" thing.
  • hullcityfanhullcityfan Banned
    Posts: 496
    I like all of Craigs songs all good and modern its what I like to hear
  • Posts: 7,653
    I do not mind Chriss Cornells song it was adequete, Jack White is a nutter with great musical talent too bad he had such an off-day & Adele did was asked of her deliver a song that did made a difference. Easily the best 007 tune since the Dalton era.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    Yes, I too like all of the Bond themes, although I was very slow to warm to Adele's Skyfall, despite this fact.
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