NO TIME TO DIE (2020) by Billie Eilish - Theme Song Discussion

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Comments

  • ResurrectionResurrection Kolkata, India
    edited February 2020 Posts: 2,541
    I have no problem with bond showing vulnerable side but there is a difference between vulnerable and whiny.

    "How do I live , how do I breathe" - this is the problem. Bond doesn't cry for attention like a 12 year old.
  • edited February 2020 Posts: 3,272
    Trust me, this song will be used as a benchmark of Bond theme greatness for years' to come. It's going to get iconic status.

    It's a little early at the moment, but I have a feeling.

    You are getting a bit carried away. I can throw a flipside in here which is just as possible. This song could eventually be ranked alongside the worst, at the bottom of the barrel along with AWTD, DAD and WOTW.

    Especially if the film itself ends up being no good, or at least as bad as SP.
  • Posts: 3,272
    imranbecks wrote: »
    As far as I can see, only those that were against Billie or dislike her for some reason hates the new Bond song.

    Haters gonna hate. Haters gotta hate.

    I have nothing against her at all. I just don't like the song.
  • Posts: 503
    dragonsky wrote: »
    Wow, after this theme came out I realized that a lot of people hated Sam Smith's song?

    I think he is a talented singer and did a good job
    **they is a talented singer.

    Remember, he goes by "they" and "them" instead of he and him now. :))
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited February 2020 Posts: 4,416

    I hoped there going to be a better audio version, looking forward to hear the song on radio. My first feeling there are stil inspyred by there real story of DC era. Again the lyrics doing his thing, very much likes on You Know My Name and Skyfall with a stil a bit writings on the wall. Stil hope Billie Eilish videoclip will bring in more Billie Eilish.

    Need time / more views to grow on me, but after 6-7 times not yet. It more contuned on writings on the wall who like faster. Whyle i must say les is more and effect is possible more inportent, but mis a bit more Bond. No i don't mis screaming, because keep the litle whas what i like.

    So i try not to dive to fast in to lyrics, get feeling i whant to finish of ''Fool me once, fool me twice...''
    quote]if you don't look out for a 3th time i send people again to paradise.[/quote]
  • AntiLocqueBrakesAntiLocqueBrakes The edge
    Posts: 538
    Shardlake wrote: »
    You Know my name is a brilliant title to kick off the new era.

    A ballad would have been wholly inappropriate to kick off Craig's era. The decision to go with the song rather than the marketing angle, meaning they weren't looking for the flavour of the month but the best combination that would deliver a tune that would signal this is a new era a new beginning and a new Bond.

    I don't really think they could have done better than what Cornell delivered.

    Also anyone putting WOTW over YKMN I really can't take seriously.

    +1

    YKNM is the best song in the franchise since TLD.

    +2
  • AntiLocqueBrakesAntiLocqueBrakes The edge
    Posts: 538
    BT3366 wrote: »
    I am trying to also look at this song alongside the other title songs in the series history, and having listened to them one after the other in chronological order on compilations, I can anticipate the three last Craig era ballads playing consecutively will feel repetitious.

    I agree, it gives me the feeling when I listen to Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and All Time High back to back. Then the way A View To A Kill's opening bars jolt you out of a malaise like Bond getting hit with a defibrillator surge in CR!

    Similarly that MOR ballad trend started with Nobody Does It Better - just like this current run appears to have been inspired by Skyfall's success (number one in the pop charts, first Bond song Oscar win). The next two are in a similar vein tone wise. All yearning and introspection.
    Makes me look forward to the next Bond tenure to see a new approach.

    I group those four songs together too. Good to hear someone else does the same.

    I'm just going to have to get used to the idea that these latest songs are attempts to get new fans interested in Bond - even if they are terrible. At least we got YKMN and SF out of the Craig era.

  • OctopussyOctopussy Piz Gloria, Schilthorn, Switzerland.
    Posts: 1,081
    Shardlake wrote: »
    You Know my name is a brilliant title to kick off the new era.

    A ballad would have been wholly inappropriate to kick off Craig's era. The decision to go with the song rather than the marketing angle, meaning they weren't looking for the flavour of the month but the best combination that would deliver a tune that would signal this is a new era a new beginning and a new Bond.

    I don't really think they could have done better than what Cornell delivered.

    Also anyone putting WOTW over YKMN I really can't take seriously.

    +1

    YKNM is the best song in the franchise since TLD.

    Agreed. I don't think I've ever been as excited after a title sequence to watch a Bond film then following YKNM.
    talos7 wrote: »
    WOTW being from Bond’s perspective is one of the reasons it such a failure, that and the equally weak vocal. It’s possible that Bond can be vulnerable, but he would never expose himself as that needy.
    I have no problem with bond showing vulnerable side but there is a difference between vulnerable and whiny.

    "How do I live , how do I breathe" - this is the problem. Bond doesn't cry for attention like a 12 year old.

    It's usually Bond falling for the winged dove, now with Craig's Bond he himself is the bearer of that exact quality. It's reflective in the tone of WOTW and NTTD, but I certainly prefer WOTW as a song if only for it's orchestral arrangement. I also prefer Sam Smith's voice to Eilish's wispy tone.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited February 2020 Posts: 4,416
    Dutch News program talks about song. Include spoilers from the trailer and litle opnion about Sam Smith making a Bond song. Nice that there take note of the Octopussy song and there did there home work.

  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    talos7 wrote: »
    WOTW being from Bond’s perspective is one of the reasons it such a failure, that and the equally weak vocal. It’s possible that Bond can be vulnerable, but he would never expose himself as that needy.

    I agree. Musically I think it’s very good but vocally and lyrically doesn’t work. The quality of the lyrics have been brought into sharp focus by NTTD, which by comparison absolutely nails it.
  • edited February 2020 Posts: 4,400
    Billie talks about meeting Barbara and how the film sounds fire 🔥 also interesting is that she was given the script only for the opening. Which I think hints to the song playing after Matera.....

    https://mobile.twitter.com/eilishupdates/status/1228348244570394625
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    While I wouldn't put it up with the true classics of the series, I do really like this song.

    I was in the kitchen earlier making some soup and popped this on a loop while I was cooking and it just is a real emotional piece.

    Billie's gentle whispered vocal at the start that some seem to object to is for me fine, while the song never builds to a Bassey like crescendo, I think she gradually increases the intensity of her performance that beautifully matches Zimmer's arrangement when it takes flight.

    I really love that refrain you can see appearing in the film in no doubt different arrangements from Zimmer and his team and already something memorable and powerful about it.

    I definitely think this is infinitely superior to what Smith did and although Billie's theme will have the advantage of having the composer use it throughout, this song just has much more power and real haunting quality that seems to resonate with the themes of the film.

    Also Billie I think really got under skin of where Bond is when we meet him again in Matera. I think she well and truly got her remit bang on and her taste of the screenplay was a real inspiration to deliver this classy piece of work.

    I also prefer this to Skyfall, this seems to have more about it to me, no it isn't complex or busy, it is quite simple but it has something that to me sounds like listening to and I haven't even seen it against the main titles.

    Skyfall never really blew me away and it took the main titles to appreciate what it was doing, this song is already hooked me in.

    I thought about the idea that I'm not a Billie Eilish fan and had never really heard her stuff until it was announced she was getting the job.

    Though a number of the artists, the golden era ones or into the 70's and beyond, I don't own much outside of what they bought to Bond, though it wasn't like I couldn't appreciate what they added to the legacy.

    It is going to work sometimes and others you are just going to be horrified at the results (I know I was last time). I'm happy to give anyone the benefit of the doubt and hear what they come up with, I did last time, although I will never understand what element Smith was really zoning in on. I think he saw a little morsel of something and then amplified that much more than its actual relevance to the story.

    Billie and Finneas appear to have picked up on something and from seeing the trailer having an idea of where this is going and also knowing Bond's state of mind at the end of SPECTRE that is going to be resonating theme from the get go.

    The moment Smith picked up on is only present towards the end and the film never commits to it to make it feel like his lyrical narrative has any real power or genuine relevance to deserve it being the concept of the title song.

    The idea that Bond has given up his life to be with this woman and then discovers something that leads him to think that it is all a lie (whether or not this is not strictly true) this is what is playing in Bond's head and using that as theme for title song the way they have done, is a very powerful and effective concept.
  • Posts: 1,314
    RC7 wrote: »
    Matt007 wrote: »
    Shardlake wrote: »
    Ryan wrote: »
    Shardlake wrote: »
    Ryan wrote: »
    Matt007 wrote: »
    Ryan wrote: »
    Matt007 wrote: »
    Horses for courses but I think Cornell’s song is poor. He is singing out of his range for the chorus and he struggles to deliver IMO. It’s dad rock.

    Out of his range? That's not even Cornell's highest register.

    Ok but to my ears it sounds like he’s forcing it out.

    Fair enough. He did alter his approach to singing the song in general when performing live in his final years. I'd recommend checking out one of his acoustic renditions.

    That is Cornell's style he isn't forcing it out at all.

    I never said he was. Matt007 said it sounded like he was and it's one of the reasons he doesn't care for the song, so I suggested he check out one of Cornell's acoustic versions of the song where he softens his approach to the chorus.

    I was replying to him not you, I thought quoting your post with an answer to his would make that clear, apologies for the mistake.

    Obviously a Cornell fan and like YKMN, Cornell sounds incredible on that track, don't know what hes going on about.

    I don’t like Cornell’s voice. Just my opinion. I think the outro where he shouts “you know my name” 3-4 times at the end sounds like he’s aiming beyond his natural register. He might be able to hit the notes but it sounds strangulated to me.

    It’s rock! Not a school recital.

    Mate, rock is my genre. I just think this sounds crap
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    Matt007 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    Matt007 wrote: »
    Shardlake wrote: »
    Ryan wrote: »
    Shardlake wrote: »
    Ryan wrote: »
    Matt007 wrote: »
    Ryan wrote: »
    Matt007 wrote: »
    Horses for courses but I think Cornell’s song is poor. He is singing out of his range for the chorus and he struggles to deliver IMO. It’s dad rock.

    Out of his range? That's not even Cornell's highest register.

    Ok but to my ears it sounds like he’s forcing it out.

    Fair enough. He did alter his approach to singing the song in general when performing live in his final years. I'd recommend checking out one of his acoustic renditions.

    That is Cornell's style he isn't forcing it out at all.

    I never said he was. Matt007 said it sounded like he was and it's one of the reasons he doesn't care for the song, so I suggested he check out one of Cornell's acoustic versions of the song where he softens his approach to the chorus.

    I was replying to him not you, I thought quoting your post with an answer to his would make that clear, apologies for the mistake.

    Obviously a Cornell fan and like YKMN, Cornell sounds incredible on that track, don't know what hes going on about.

    I don’t like Cornell’s voice. Just my opinion. I think the outro where he shouts “you know my name” 3-4 times at the end sounds like he’s aiming beyond his natural register. He might be able to hit the notes but it sounds strangulated to me.

    It’s rock! Not a school recital.

    Mate, rock is my genre. I just think this sounds crap

    Well if you don't like Cornell ( who was one of the most distinctive and powerful vocalists of the 90's and still for my money was able to nail it still even right to the end) then we can't help you I'm afraid.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,448
    Guys, please read the title of this thread.

    If you want to discuss Cornell, here is a good place to start:
    https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/1509/chris-cornell-talks-casino-royale-and-bond-themes

    Thank you.
  • QQ7QQ7 Croatia
    Posts: 371
    I am a bit late with my "final" verdict, but here are my 2 cents regarding the Bond 25 song.
    So pretty much my opinion stays the same as is has been since first, and after 20th listen.
    Every new listen confirmed my doubt that Billie and this song have been chosen exclusively for promotional and financial reasons. Song is nothing but mediocre, dull and utterly forgettable.
    "No Time To Die" is very similar in genre to Radiohead's "Spectre", but compared to Radiohead this seems like some music school student assignment.
  • Denbigh wrote: »
    Denbigh wrote: »
    My ratings for all the songs including video games, apart from Goldeneye cause that was just a cover.

    1. Skyfall
    2. No Time to Die
    3. You Know My Name
    4. I'll Take It All (Bloodstone videogame)
    5. When Nobody Loves You (QoS videogame)

    6. Another Way To DIe
    7. Writing's On The Wall
    Snap @JamesStock haha :D
    Yaaaas, I'm not alone! 😆😏
  • GatecrasherGatecrasher Classified
    edited February 2020 Posts: 265
    I honestly can’t get enough of NTTD. I love how the song rises and falls and has all the Bond sound elements, with the strings, piano, trumpet, and guitar licks. If I had only ONE complaint, it’d be the lack of drums to drive it more rhythmically, and maybe a little bit more wah-wah trumpets/horns. Other than that, I think Billie Eilish delivered a solid theme - one that’s still in her style, but respects the Bond legacy.
  • Music video is now up on YouTube.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited February 2020 Posts: 5,834
    Music video is now up on YouTube.
    It's not. It's a fan edit. The same person has edited two videos trying to make people think it's a music video.
  • RyanRyan Canada
    Posts: 692
    One I saw had even masked a fake account to make it appear as though it was the official Billie Eilish account.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 7,999
    Ryan wrote: »
    One I saw had even masked a fake account to make it appear as though it was the official Billie Eilish account.

    Mr. Kidd: “That’s most annoying.”
  • ConnorConnor UK
    edited February 2020 Posts: 20
    Entered at No. 1 in the UK in both Capital Radio and BBC Radio 1's respective charts.
  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    Posts: 4,343
    After hearing the song hundred times I'd say is my favorite of the Craig era*. I don't care if reflects Bond "vulnerability", NTTD is just beautiful, a perfect representation of the "less is more" mantra.

    *YNMN and SF are amazing as well.
  • Now that I've lived with it a bit, my feeling is that it's a good one but won't enter into the all-time greats list.

    As I sit here, it occurs to me that I can't really remember the tune to hum it. Whereas, say, LALD . . .
  • Posts: 15,785
    octofinger wrote: »
    Now that I've lived with it a bit, my feeling is that it's a good one but won't enter into the all-time greats list.

    As I sit here, it occurs to me that I can't really remember the tune to hum it. Whereas, say, LALD . . .

    I don't remember how it goes, either. I keep getting WOTW in my head instead.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 7,999
    I’ve only listened to it three times and remember it vividly enough to hum. Although humming is not that important to a song.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,586
    I’ve only listened to it three times and remember it vividly enough to hum. Although humming is not that important to a song.
    +1
  • Posts: 12,506
    The song is growing on me, but I have to say I am disappointed it is not a more upbeat tempo title song. The lyrics do pretty much spell out what this film is going to revolve around.
  • Was underwhelmed on first listening but it's definitely a grower. I love the orchestral flourish at 2.00 after she sings You'll never see me cry ...There's just no time to die.
    Also...the final guitar chord gives us a clear link with what's gone before, right back to Dr.No. It's very dark and none the worse for that. Overall a very welcome entry in the Bond song library.
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